What this tool does

This interactive calculator estimates your annual living costs for boat life in the UK, breaking down expenses into clear categories like mooring fees, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and utilities. It takes into account your specific boat type, size, location, and usage patterns to give you realistic cost projections.

The tool helps you understand both the obvious costs like mooring and the hidden expenses that can catch new boat dwellers off guard, such as heating fuel consumption and regional price variations across different UK waterways.

When to use it

Use this calculator when you are seriously considering boat living and need to budget properly, or if you are already living aboard but want to review your expenses. It is particularly helpful if you are comparing different mooring locations or boat types to see how your choices affect annual costs.

The tool is also useful for existing boat dwellers who want to check whether their current spending aligns with typical costs, or if they are planning to change their cruising patterns or heating arrangements.

How it works

You answer questions about your boat specifications, where you plan to moor, how much you expect to cruise, and what type of heating you will use. The tool then calculates costs based on current UK rates for each expense category, showing you both monthly and annual totals.

Each cost is broken down as both a pound amount and percentage of your total budget, so you can see which areas take the biggest bite from your income. Nothing you enter is saved, and you do not need to create an account to use the calculator.