Making a boat a home.

Making a boat a home.

For the last 6 years my family have lived on a narrow boat. most of people ask “How can you live in a boat with children?” “What about the space?”

When the truth of the matter is, most narrow boats are about the size of a one or two bedroom apartment. One of the main things that people struggle with no matter where they live is space, and buying things that they relly need and not always what the want.

When we live in a world where we are somewhat encouraged to be materialist, we forget that 9 times out of ten we buy things that we do not really need.

When it comes to raising a family on a boat we find that we end up buy more things that we do not really need and a 100 things that we do.

When raising children you have to cove all eventualities and also make room for the changes that seam to take place over night when our children grow.

Yet the main things that children need are food, warmth and shelter.

When raising my children I found that the market for children items still is very limed to the travelling community and is amid at people who live in a standard tersest house and not even a modern apartment or new home.

Most furniture to day is also cheaply made and flat packed to help with “space saving/practicality.” Yet if you live on a boat the last thing that you want is something that is made from MDF, yet the items need to be robust and light weight where ever possible.

One of the things that I am looking into to designing and making product for boating families and would like to know about the types of things that you are looking for and struggling to purchase.

I know that the following are an issue.

Sleeping arrangements, (beds and bedding)

Storage, (for every day baby items)

Pushchair, car seat, baby slings and storing them.

Safety gates

Baby alarms

Then all of the other ways to help Child prof a boat.

I would like to know of any other times are an issue and of any product that you would be looking at buying and are unable to find.