I Tried Canal Boat Life For 48 Hours
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I tried canal boat life for 48 hours. I am a huge fan of alternative living and tiny houses and I've always wanted to try boat life. When I came across this beautiful narrowboat which was available to rent in Glasgow, Scotland, I decided to book it! The houseboat is located on Speirs Wharf, part of the Scottish Canals network. The UK canal network and Scottish canal network have fascinating histories and this floating home is conveniently located around a 20-minute walk from Glasgow city centre.
In this video, I share a full narrowboat tour and what I get up to while living on a narrowboat for 48 hours...
I paid for my stay - this is not sponsored
Here is the link to the boat on Airbnb: www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/9958879
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WHO AM I?
I'm Ruth 👋 and I recently bought a campervan to travel my home country of Scotland after living overseas for 12 years. I’ve hardly seen anything or been anywhere in my home country Scotland and now is the time to change that!
I am a huge fan of campervan travel and alternative living and I've spent over 600 nights living in vans, it’s my favourite way to travel due to the incredible freedom, adventure and affordability.
My campervan is a 2001 Toyota Hiace high roof van. It was originally used by the Royal Mail and then purchased by the previous owner and self-converted into a DIY campervan.
On this channel, I’ll be sharing about my campervan, any DIY I do, and most importantly my road trip adventures as I finally get to travel my beautiful home country of…. SCOTLAND!
DISCLAIMER: Affiliate links may be included in the description.
Have you ever tried boat life?! I've added the link to the Airbnb listing to the KZhead description. Don't forget you can get 10% off your Manta Sleep Mask by using the code "RUTH" at checkout - tinyurl.com/5xjs95d8
Hi no not yet but some day))
Have a small motor boat in Denmark. Not as grand as your Airbnb
owned a 45 foot cruiser stern narrowboat, loved it, but you had to keep the heating on 24/7 in the winter! then got into sailing!
Are you coming back to Japan?😅
I bought one a month back., lived on since! And it’s not all been too easy 😂 but makes for funny KZhead viewing I guess lol
I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay on our wee house boat in Glasgow. We try to anticipate what guests enjoy and do treasure such positive feedback. You're welcome back to stay at any time.
Your houseboat is so beautiful and it's decorated so nicely. Thanks for having me!
Thank you for a well produced and informative video. After this experience do you think you would ever exchange the dream of living in a house for the freedom of boat life?
Really clean and nice looking boat. Ruth said it built recently, but was that when it was retrofit? I saw the bow thruster on the panel That would certainly help with docking and pushing off if there is not a lot of room along the canal wall.
it’s a lovely boat! 😊
Patrick How can one get in contact with you ? Do you have a website ?
Hi Ruth! As I live on a narrowboat I’d like to clarify a few points from your excellent vlog: Narrowboats are 6 feet 10 inches wide, any canal boat wider than this is a widebeam (which you stayed on). They sail under their own propulsion (a Diesel engine or more recently an electric motor). A houseboat is static and has no propulsion. The bow-thruster you mentioned is an electric powered propeller in the bow of the boat to help with steering (nice to have as canal boats have a mind of their own in strong winds!) On the English waterways widebeams are restricted predominantly to the Grand Union and the Kennet & Avon canals where the waterways are wide enough to allow widebeam boats to pass each other and for one to fit in the locks (or two narrowboats side by side). They are not cold in winter as someone mentioned. Just like a normal house, they’re cold if you don’t heat it but if you do they’re toasty warm. Grey water is indeed pumped into the canal but there’s a lot worse in our waterways courtesy of the water companies…. Black water (toilet) either goes into a holding tank and is pumped out periodically or you have a chemical toilet which you empty at an ‘elsan’ point every few days. Anyone who would like to know more about the canal boats and network in the UK, there are many KZhead channels but I’d recommend ‘Cruising the Cut’. Hope that helps clears up a few things.
Thanks for sharing!
I live on a narrow boat that one looks like a dance hall palace 😂 very nice thoth
@@peterjonesz I now have boat envy. Feel like my 36 footer is a shed after seeing this 😂😂😂
Nice dissertation. Thanks for explaining the differences.
@@peterjonesz Won't be the last. Seems I've run across at least a thousand narrow boat owners the last couple years over here in the States. Must be millions in Britain.
I love this! I could live on this charming boat permanently. It's cozy and roomy, just perfect. Also, it's beautifully appointed, tasteful with beautifully done bathrooms. That wood heat is the best heat. Cheers to the owners who did a wonderful job in decorating this lovely little paradise on the water. I'm completely in love with this boat. 😍
I live in the USA. Have always dreamed of seeing the Scottish coast in person. Glad I found your channel since your videos are so enjoyable and informative. Simply wonderful.
Awesome! Thank you!
That houseboat was so quaint and spacious and very cozy. Thank you for sharing this!
Yes it was! thank you 🙏
Oh I could happily live on that full time. What a beautiful boat. The owner has decorated it beautifully.
It really is!
Bourbon (we pronounce it like burr-bin), is a whiskey made from corn and aged a minimum of 2 yrs, unlike its cousin scotch made from barley and aged a minimum of 3 years Something interesting we learned during our speyside distillery tours is that a lot of scotch distilleries us Ex-bourbon barrels (which are whisky casks which have been previously used to mature American Bourbon.)
Thanks for sharing, I'll need to try some!
Bourbon to be bourbon also had to be aged in oak barrels.
Just a quick clarification on bourbon. It has to be at least 51% corn, but doesn't have to be corn exclusively. Most bourbons have a secondary component of rye or wheat, and typically a small percentage of barley as well. Some bourbons include all four grains. It actually doesn't have to be aged for two years unless it's to be called "straight" bourbon. It can only be made in the USA, and it must be aged in new charred American oak barrels. As someone pointed out, most of those barrels get a second life in Scotland and elsewhere. Many of my favorite scotches are matured in ex-bourbon barrels. All that said, I love the canal boat and could see myself living in one.
Hi Ruth Thank you for a fantastic video. I used to work in Glasgow in the early 70's and brought back happy memories. The houseboat is a credit to the owners it has been very well thought out, what a gem. Regards Crawford
Thanks for watching Crawford!
I just watched this again & loved it...again! I love this Canal Boat! It is so cute & cozy, with so much ambience in every room. The boat is very spacious with lots of room inside though. I really love the wee wood burning stove as well! That is so cute & looks like it would keep you toasty warm. I would love to live in this amazing boat all the time, with the lovely, peaceful view of the water, along with the ducks on the Canal. Thanks again Ruth for sharing this unique & delightful wee boat! Blessings to you!
After last week’s scintillating toilet review, this was a nice change of pace. What a gorgeous and spacious canal boat. Perhaps again you can try sailing one down the canal! Lovely video… thanks so much for all you do.
Haha, yes a bit of a change from toilets but the toilet video was very popular to my complete surprise. 😂 I'd love to try a trip on the canals, maybe next year! Have you ever done it?
Just found your channel recently. I love your videos on really remote places. As someone who's nervous when it comes to travelling and really hates crowds, you've given me lots of destinations I will attempt to go to!
That's great to hear James, glad the videos are useful!
Lovely adventure upon the water. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you, Ruth. An excellent and fascinating report/review!
I loooved the houseboat !!! I could easily live there. You're in a city with all the conveniences, but when you go home, you basically separate yourself from all the insanity and crawl down into you cozy cubby hole .Best of both worlds .
Thank you for sharing your stay on the long boat, Ruth. It was a cozy boat house. ❤️
It was so lovely!! 😊
Glad you enjoyed my boat.
A very chilled out video, boats do that I find.
Use dinner plate for lid for fry pan if steaming
This looks like it was a fun adventure! Thank you for sharing your travels.
It was fun! 🙏
Hi Ruth, that was a great insight into living on a houseboat. I had an Uncle who lived on the canal for many years just a bit further along in his houseboat and he loved it. Thanks for also doing the cooking of Asian cuisine, I actually had some edamame soy beans with my spicy Korean chicken & tempura rice for my dinner tonight. Have a great week. 😊x
How interesting that your uncle lived near there. Your dinner sounds amazing!
Outstanding! That was just awesome! This Canal Boat was very charming & so cozy! I loved it! And docked in Glasgow no less! Who knew? LOL. Also, there was so much room inside the boat! I would never have guessed that it could be so spacious in there. Also, all the amenities that it had on board as well.Even a wood burning stove! Amazing! I would love to live on one of those cute boats now. That would be very cool & a real adventure. Everything about this boat was totally unique! On top of that, was your sharing your interesting & delicious looking Japanese/Chinese/Asian dish there, along with the Japanese Beer. All quite unique & fascinating! As well as, your interesting Commentary on the Canal systems in Scotland. All most enjoyable! Indeed! Thank you for sharing another delightful experience! Blessings to you Ruth!
Thank you so much Annie, it was a really nice experience, just a shame John Taylor couldn't join me for a whisky 😂
@@ruthaisling LOL "Tis my pleasure as always Ruth! Way to go lass! You managed to squeeze Old John in this time. LOL. Nice one! Well I'm sure he would have loved to join you for a whiskey if he could. As well as some Japanese porridge perhaps? LOL. "Twould be a wee bit hard to eat with chopsticks though! LOL. Thanks again for sharing this delightful experience! Have a lovely day Ruth!
Terrific video. What a great accommodation.
Another fine production, Ruth. What a beautiful place to spend a couple of days. Always enjoy your videos! Cheers!
Many thanks!
Great video Ruth! Watched it on the TV. Looks like a cozy place to stay. Love the kitchen in it! ❤
Thanks Mary! It was so cosy, would love to go back haha!
Nice to see a sunny cruise 👍
Thanks for another great video. Very informative, as usual, and so well edited. Great to see you enjoying yourself as always.
Glad you enjoyed it!
That's definitely a house boat not a canal boat - it's huge! What a lush place to stay, thanks for the tour.
Thanks for watching!
Awesome, thanks. Worked in Spiers Wharf for two years and always wondered what they looked like inside. Much bigger and nicer than I thought. It's such a cool area.
Thanks for watching, nice place to work!
I love cannel boats but yours is very high class I'm not used to home from home I've been on a few years ago and loved it thanks for sharing Ruth 😊
Thanks for watching Paul!
@@ruthaisling Ruth I love your videos and I respect you your good lol from me in Birmingham xx 😘
ルースさんが日本に居てるときもグラスゴーとエデンバラ城は良く聞きました、わたしもぜひスコットランドにいけば立ち寄りたい町と城です、憧れますね😃✌️👍
日本ではとても早く目が覚める！ いつかグラスゴーとエジンバラにも来てください。
What a wonderful video! And what an amazing boat! Thank you so much for sharing! ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sounds like you had a fab time. The canal boat looked superb and what a spot to be moored in. I enjoyed you enjoying a less hectic lifestyle ❤
It was nice to chill out and not worry about driving anywhere for a few days
Hi Ruth, just love your Doc's, keep them rolling!!
Thank you! Will do!
What a brilliant houseboat, thank you!
Glad you like it!
What a lovely houseboat, beautifully decorated, and it has all the facilities you need.
Yes indeed, it was fabulous!
Awesome Ruth...Thank you !
Thanks for watching!
I can't believe how big it is and every comfort you could wish for, I am amazed !
I was surprised too!
Great vid. When I saw you reach into the woodburner with your white top, my heart sank. Glad you got it out.
You and me both! 😆
This house boat looks so cozy and romantic!
It was lovely!
Lovely video again - you are so right that canal boats and many of their fittings are just like campervans - we love them both. Note that this was a wide beam boat (~14 feet wide) - if you really want to feel like you're in a floating campervan you need to try a narrowboat (~7 feet wide, so really like living in a long thin van)
I'll need to try a narrowboat sometime!
The house boat is a lot bigger than I imagined. Looks great 👍
Hi Ruth really enjoyed your canal boat stopover very interesting and must of been a great experience for you .
Thanks John, it was a nice experience!
What a great idea. I love Scotland. My father was in the US Navy as was I. We lived in Edzell when I was in primary school and I was stationed there myself in 1974-75 and 1980-83.
If you were in the US Navy, you might enjoy seeing a place I visit in my next video!
Beautiful Scottish bird
Your joy and enthusiasm are always contagious and make your videos so much fun. Thanks.
Thanks!
Such a beautiful boat! Love how cozy it is, feels like home and there is nothing better than a log burner 🤩 Would definitely have a wee Laphroaig in the evening 🙂thanks for sharing Ruth 🥰
also, loved all the old photos of the canal!
You guys are the log burner kings haha! 🔥
@@ardview-vanlife So interesting to see what it used to look like and how important it was for business and trade!
That's a very lovely Dutch Barge.
What a joy you are! Came upon you today for the first time. You lift my heart and help me dream! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Such a lovely video - really enjoyed watching your mini adventure 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
I spent a wonderful Aug & Sept of 2000 at the National Piping Centre just across the motorway at the top of Hope St. Speirs Wharf at that time was derelict, disreputable, and more than a bit creepy. Even so, I had a lovely afternoon walk along the towpath as far as the Partick Thistle stadium, then down through the University and back via the subway. Not only was the Glaswegian accent unpenetratable to my American ears, but I found quite a number of folk speaking Scots, which for me was even worse! It's so nice to see how the area has been cleaned up and rejunvenated. Since then I see they've also completely rebuilt the Stockingfield Junction, where the Monkland Canal - of which Speirs Wharf is the current terminus - meets the Forth & Clyde, with new foot bridges in all directions. Thanks for the beautiful and informative video. I love your cozy canal boat.
Thanks for watching Eric, it sounds like you had a lovely trip to Glasgow back in 2000. There are some areas of Glasgow which do still feel a bit run down, but it's nice to see how nice Speirs Wharf is now.
@@ruthaisling Yes, I did. And thanks for the lovely almost opening shot of Sauchiehall St. at the corner of Hope St. - my old neighborhood!
Hi Ruth.Thank you for another wonderful programme.As always done very well, & a very interesting watch.Looks very cosy indeed on a house boat in Scotland.Well done.Tom 😁
Amazing. Living most of the time in a 6 meter campervan, this is very appealing
運河に浮かぶ『ボートハウス』、素敵ですね💘 そして… 『薪ストーブ＆スコッチウィスキー』これ以上ありませんよ。 ボートの中も、スコットランド流の内装で最高！！
スコットランドの雰囲気がある。本当に楽しい経験だった！
Well Ruth that’s a change from a campervan!! We have been on a holiday in England travelling to Wales and back, it was a narrow boat. Yours is so spacious by comparison, very nicely fitted out, all the mod cons!! I notice the previous comment from a narrow boat dweller tells you all the interesting things about different kinds of craft, so I won’t duplicate. Well done with the video all good content as always. Cheers Mike🍷🍷👍
How did you find the cruising on the narrowboat as a first-timer? I'd like to try it sometime!
another great video, interesting, informative and hugely enjoyable
Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it!
thank you for sharing...what a lovely boat 🥰
Thanks for watching, it's so beautiful!
Just beautiful, I would definitely spend time there ! Perhaps some day. Cheers
Another wonderful video. Beautifully fitted boat. ❤
Thanks Wilf!
I chanced upon this video by accident and I am so glad I decided to watch it! I loved your accent, Ruth, I live in Brazil now but in 1967 I lived in Clydebank beside the Forth and Clyde Canal! It brought back so many good memories. Thank you! I have liked and subscribed, I am a fan now! Thank you and keep up the good work!
Thank you Geoffrey!
A different type of adventure!👍👍
Use another pot for a lid if it is similar diameter, or bunch everything into a smaller pile in frying pan and cover. Also, when showering in mobile home or canal boat, have a military shower, wet yourself and cloth or sponge, water off, soap up and scrub, rinse off. A major difference in water usage! You probably already do, as you seem the type of adventurous person who would already know this. Many thanks for the review, never thought it would be so confortable inside a canal boat. Was goping to buy one here in London years ago, I am re-thinking now. Cheers!
Nice video once again. Just to give you the correct terminology: the 'buoy' between the boat and the jetty is called a 'fender' . 😀
Thanks for the info!
What a tremendously good and informative video. The bathrooms looked better than in a decent hotel and in fact the facilities on the boat in general looked excellent. And having a washing machine - how fortunate! No wonder you enjoyed your stay there.
Thanks Raymond! It was a great experience!
we live on narrowboat full time so seeing you experience canal boat living for the first time was so exciting and wholesome 🥰 so glad you enjoyed it!
Wow, so cool! How long have you been living on yours for? Do you have a mooring or do you do continuous cruising?
@@ruthaisling Been living on it for 2.5 years, this will be our 3rd winter. We continuous cruise and loving it! covered a lot of the english canals already 😊
Very interesting. Well done. I love your positivity
Thank you so much!
Excellent content Ruth really proffesional keep up the amazing work
Thank you so much!
@@ruthaisling stay blessed
I enjoy all your videos, as I did this one. Your canal boat break looked wonderful, as did the magnificent canal boat.
It was such a lovely experience, thank you so much for watching Gabby!
Another great video Ruth, the houseboat looked amazing. 🏴
It was!! Thank you 🙏
That boat's massive !!
Hi Ruth, glad you enjoyed your time in my home toon of Glesca, the boat looked great, obviously a wider boat than some canal boats. You can't beat a fire with flames, I could almost feel the heat from the log burner. The boat was moored next to what was a whiskey storage warehouse, now converted to flats. in fact the area had a few distilleries locally. Look forward to the next video.
I've seen new firefighters try that with a fire flap. 🤣 They learned sorta quickly that the fire was spreading and getting bigger. 😁 How would you hold the flames in your hands to beat the other fire with? I just realized what you wrote. duh. 🙄
The history of whisky in Scotland is so fascinating, I've been learning a lot about it recently!
@@ruthaisling and how are you learning about whisky???? by drinking it????🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@JohnSmith-uy7sv Of course, how else?! 😅
@@ruthaisling watching someone else get drunk. 😁
It was a luxury houseboat you were allowed to rent. A nice fireplace and comfortable beds. Nice to walk along the canal and fun to go to a concert.
It was a great 2 days!
On a vessel the kitchen is called the galley. Love your vids!
Thanks for telling me, I'm new to boats and all the terminology!
Very charming, and livable - just lovely
It's a lovely boat!
Loved your small cabin on the island for a week!
So did I! 😍
This video was about canal boat life, which I was interested in. It's amazing that you can rent a place to stay. The beautiful scenery and Ruth's lifestyle were a perfect match. Please play an active role as a Japanese-language travel guide exclusively for Scotland. I'm looking forward to the next time. It was strange that there was no ventilation fan.
Please look forward to the next video, I'll be speaking some Japanese haha!
Truly that is fantastic, we have spent many a holiday on a canal boat in Amsterdam, Paris( right below the Eiffel and in Bruges! Then we dared to go barging on the canal midi. That was magical!
Sounds like great holidays you’ve had!
Oh my gosh I could see myself living on that boat full time, no problem. All the comforts of home!
Absolutely!
I’m so glad I stumbled across your channel. We love watching you here in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho! We just love hearing your accent! You bring light into otherwise ugly world right now. If you ever come to America, you’d love our town!
Thank you for watching in Idaho!
Here in Glasgow we also refer to water as “ corpy pop “ corpy being Glasgow corporation (the council) and pop referring to ginger (iron bru) so corpy pop was our water!
Haha love it, so many funny expressions! 😂
I love to visit Scotland someday. Be nice to see the castles, the old castles.
Plenty of castles! You need to plan a trip 🏴
I've rented a boat and spent a week cruising up the Caledonian canal a couple of times - awesome, and the first time we left the canal at Fort Augustus into Loch Ness it felt like heading out to sea. Fabulous experience. Something special about being on the water
That sounds like a great trip!
What a beautiful boat, what a beautiful home, the owners should be very proud of it. Great video as always too.
Thank you very much!
Thanks!
Thank you! ❤
Great vlog Ruth. Must try it on a future trip to Scotland x
Thanks for watching Richard!
A pleasure @@ruthaisling
very nice boat and a great place to stay.
It really is!
Ruth I really enjoyed your video . I am American and want to come to the UK more than any other place . The Boat life is so. interesting to me. Your Dinner looks very good. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for watching, I hope you can visit the UK soon!
What a lovely houseboat! (A tip from someone who loves to cook and has stayed in many Airbnbs: a baking sheet works well as a skillet cover in a pinch!)
That would have been a great idea! I'll know for next time haha!
ルースさん 楽しい動画ありがとうございます。枝豆やポン酢を買って紹介してくれるなんて想像もしなかった~。 これからも楽しみにしています。
本当に日本食が恋しいです。 近いうちにまた日本のスーパーマーケットに行かなければなりません。
@@ruthaisling ルースさんからお返事いただけるなんて嬉しい💕
never saw such a clean one
A kitchen on a boat is called a galley bedrooms are called state rooms and bathrooms are called a head.
Great! I could live forever on one of those. I know a few people who do and they really like it.
Amazing!
I've seen the topic of life on a ship in France on a Japanese program, but this is my first time seeing it in Scotland. It's fun to see the various ideas for life in a car. Unfortunately, this used to be the case in Japan, but regulations are no longer strict in modern times.
That sounds interesting!
I've always loved Scotland!
Very nice stay on the canal boat. It looks lovely, and has all the comforts needed or wanted. Your meal prep was super interesting. My Korean wife makes dumplings like those you had. She calls them “Mandoo”. We’ve made many trips to Korea, and I recommend it highly. Looks like it’s time to visit Scotland next!
Wow, they sound great, would love to visit Korea sometime!
Just found you Ruth and what a great widebeam few days. Tiny bit different than on a narrow boat and of course can go a lot of places a widebeam can't. Be careful you could catch the bug of that way of life. Have fun.
Thanks for watching the videos! It does seem like vanlife in a way, easy to get addicted 😂
I’m glad I found your channel. You are such a sweetheart, and your videos are very interesting and informative. I look forward to watching more.
Thank you so much!
Great video Ruth
Thanks 🙏
You have been spoiled by it being a wide berth and not a narrow boat as more commonly found on the English Canals. You will have to try one of those now to compare the two. Great video. Thank you for sharing. 👏👏👍😎
I'd love to see inside one of the more narrow ones. Thanks for watching!
@@ruthaisling You will be shocked how much smaller it will feel, in all dimensions 🥴
Looks the perfect stay
It was fab!!