1930s Captains Cabin to rent on Dutch barge in central London

Many of you know that I live on a big ol' Dutch barge (you may have even seen us on tv last year!), and since our lovely renters have gone and bought themselves a boat of their own, our Captains Cabin will be available to rent in a few weeks time.

If you or anyone else you know fancies living on a boat in a very unique "floating village" in central London, please either reply, PM me, or email me at squirrellypooATgmailDOTcom

thanks!

The Captains Cabin: Available for rent is the Captains Cabin on the Dutch barge Hendrik. The cabin, equivalent to a one-bed flat, has plentiful period features including original woodwork, marble, and stained glass from 1933.

The Captains Cabin is comprised of a bedroom at the very aft of the boat, with standard-size double bed and thick mattress, wardrobe, storage, skylight and two opening side windows, central heating, and two sliding doors that can close off the area. The lounge features a large 3-person built in sofa, separate bucket chair, central heating fed off the main diesel boiler, plus backup replica diesel stove in its original marble fireplace, ample storage cabinets with marble tops, new carpeting and underlay, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The lounge also features a large, opening skylight, and four side windows which let in lots of light during the day. The kitchenette area features a new oak countertop, combination microwave oven and grill, under counter fridge and pantry area, kettle, and large sink. The kitchenette faces the shower area with full sized shower with fantastic water pressure and large medicine cabinet. The toilet area is across the hall, with a macerating, water-saving toilet and discreet storage area.

The cabin has its own access separate from the rest of the boat, and the rental includes sole access of the aft deck with views of Tower Bridge, plus shared access of the wheelhouse (also with new carpeting and underlay), five meters off the water with 360 degree views of the London skyline, including Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf.

Included in the rent are council tax, electricity, water, diesel, and wireless broadband internet (Be broadband).

Suitable for one person or a couple. Non-smoking. No pets.

The boat: MV Hendrik was built in 1933 and throughout its life has been used as goods transport for a Dutch biscuit factory, Nazi commandeered during WWII and subsequently rescued in a dramatic struggle, and most recently used as a canoeing hotel for 26 guests in Eastern Holland. The current owners bought her in 2007, sailing her across the North Sea to London and are in the process of renovating the rest of the boat into a family home. We are a young professional couple, recently married, with one cat and live in a separate part of the boat from the Captains Cabin. We are therefore available and on hand should any questions or problems arise.

The mooring/area: Hendrik is moored in a very friendly, outgoing mooring with gated access and full postal address, surrounded by beautiful floating gardens and lots of neighbourly activities, parties, and barbecues.

The mooring is located on the south bank of the Thames, just east of the Design Museum and Tower Bridge. Bermondsey, London Bridge, and Tower Hill tube stations are a short walk away, with ample bus routes along Jamaica Road and Tower Bridge. The location would make for an ideal commute into the City or to Canary Wharf.

Rent: Price is £950 per calendar month. One month deposit required. Available from 7 June.

lovely woodwork....did you refinish that yourself?

Oh man, that is just cool- if I lived in London, I'd love that!

Wow, now that is somethin!

lovely woodwork....did you refinish that yourself?

No, that's all the original, French polished 1933 woodwork in those photos. For the back wall in the bedroom, we ripped out some awful (and non-original) plywood and replaced it with similarly "striped" light and dark woods, which I then put about 6 coats of french polish on myself. And it's still nowhere near as shiny as the original stuff. I have a lot of respect for polishers after that! (actually, you can just barely see the new striped wall through the doorway in the first photo)

Oh, and I doubt it matters much, but apart from me, there are at least three other expat Americans on the moorings, too, so plenty of opportunities for nostalgic conversations!

I have PM'd you.

Well I don't see any haze, which is a testament for sure to work done 80 years ago, and is always a good sign as far as the absence of water damage. The leaded glass is very nice too.

That place is gorgeous!  If hubby and I were in London now instead of next year, I would totally take you up on it!  We've talked about possibly renting on a boat, if we could.

This is probably a stupid question but how do people living in boats recieve mail correspondence?

This is probably a stupid question but how do people living in boats recieve mail correspondence?

From a postman. The post for the whole moorings is delivered all together up at our gate at the road, and we take turns sorting it into the various cubby holes for each boat. The moorings owner has his office by the entrance so they sign for any big parcels for us in there, too.

My address is:
Our boat name
Our moorings name
# Street Name
London
Postcode

It's not nearly as stupid a question as "How do you do your laundry?" which we answer with "well, at low tide we go down onto the foreshore and beat our clothing against the rocks... uhhh we've got a really boring washing machine, it's over there."   Pfff! You'd be surprised how many times we're asked that. And really, life on a big barge is not all that different from land - we have mains electricity in addition to our super-sweet DC solar/battery system, big water tanks and all the usual mod cons...

Thanks to everyone who's passing this along! Unless I say so in this thread, the cabin is still available!

From a postman. The post for the whole moorings is delivered all together up at our gate at the road, and we take turns sorting it into the various cubby holes for each boat. The moorings owner has his office by the entrance so they sign for any big parcels for us in there, too.

My address is:
Our boat name
Our moorings name
# Street Name
London
Postcode

It's not nearly as stupid a question as "How do you do your laundry?" which we answer with "well, at low tide we go down onto the foreshore and beat our clothing against the rocks... uhhh we've got a really boring washing machine, it's over there."   Pfff! You'd be surprised how many times we're asked that. And really, life on a big barge is not all that different from land - we have mains electricity in addition to our super-sweet DC solar/battery system, big water tanks and all the usual mod cons...

Thanks to everyone who's passing this along! Unless I say so in this thread, the cabin is still available!

Haha thanks for answering! That makes a lot of sense. I would love to live on a boat. It seems like such good fun.

This is probably a stupid question but how do people living in boats recieve mail correspondence?

By pigeon

I would love to live on a boat too-- but london is both too far of a commute and too expensive for my northwest job

By pigeon

Pfff Though actually we hardly ever see pigeons on the moorings. My usual neighbours are the ducks, geese (both grey and Canada), coots, swans, and seagulls. The coots are my favourite because they like to nest on the moorings and they've got SO much personality...

I don't live in London, but I do have a question....

Do you have a regualr oven?  How does that work? They take up a lot of room and use a lot of energy.  I have stayed on a few barges and they all seem to have a kitchenette.