His Striking Modern Minimalist Houseboat on London’s Canals

If like me you've ever really idealised the idea of living on a canal boat and waking up each and every day right next to the water, then this is one that you have to watch. But be warned because it is every bit as good as you think. Gidday Mark, how's it going mate? Hi boss, how are you doing? Very well thank you, it's an absolute pleasure to be here. You're very welcome. On the water like this, this is about as good as life gets isn't it? It's not bad, this suits me and yeah I love it. Love being here and been here 10 years now. And so 10 years on the water, what was it that made you choose this way of life? Boat life, yeah that probably began 40 odd years ago as a child. My parents took me on a few canal boat holidays with my siblings and my cousins and that's stuck in my mind. And then years later leading up to my divorce I kind of started reminiscing. Yeah and I decided to buy a boat and revisit those childhood memories and that's what I did. I moved on my boat, I left my marriage and new life began. You know when you think about life in London, I do not picture it being this peaceful. I suppose we're on the fringe of London really. Hampton Court which is just over there behind us. Yeah we're in the suburbs of London really, right on the border. But you know where I live, I can be in central London in half an hour, train straight through. It's peaceful, it has its moments you know. Saturday morning can be quite busy with all the rowers coming past and the boat will be rocking. It's a different kind of traffic though isn't it? It's a different kind of traffic and then you get the party boats coming past at night with discos and all of that. I love all of that, it's life and it's good to see. And as you say the palace is just over there and I think you've got a better view than the royals right here. Yeah and I didn't pay as much either. It's cheaper, they get to look at me. And tell me about the boat because you designed and fit this one out yourself didn't you? I did yeah, I knew the length that I wanted. I took that to the boat builder, said what I wanted, told him where to put the windows and then fitted it all out as you'll see. This is my second boat, I had a little narrow boat before this which was the same length but half as wide almost. And you did have a past life as a builder didn't you? I did yeah, I worked in building and property all my life. Building, decorating, refurbishments, carpentry. Did it all? Yeah. I kind of just took that to the water and just did what I did on land, on water yeah. So when you come onto the boat did you retire from building? Not entirely, I carried on decorating but I packed up my building work. I kind of had enough of the stress of that, employing and big jobs and yeah. I just wanted a more chilled existence really. And the boat, what size is it? It's 45 foot long by 10 foot wide and it's the same length as my last boat but just wider. The little boat was great, I loved it but I do have more space on there which is the real bones. Yeah, 10 foot wide, that's quite big for a canal boat isn't it? It is, it's bigger than what we've got behind us which is a narrow boat but yeah. So 60 by 12 is about as big as they come and this is 45 by 10 which for me is perfect. It's cheaper on the license, it's easier to get moored, it's easier to maintain. So that's what I wanted. I didn't want a great big lump of a boat so this is quite manageable. Yeah, nice balance between finding good parking spots, being able to move it quite easily but still having a really good amount of living space. Yeah and I think I maximized and got the most out of it that I could out of a boat of this size. It's good. Tell me about the name of the boat. Ah, the name of the boat. The name of the boat is called Credence. Again, my first boat was called Credence which I called it Credence after the band actually. Right. When I was up in Northampton doing my first boat I was jogging. I used to go for a run down the canal and I'd had Credence playing in my ears as I ran down the towpath or jogged and I thought yeah Credence, that's a good name for a boat. Yeah. So I called my first boat Credence and then when I was building this people said are you going to call it Credence again? I thought yeah, I'll call it Credence again instead of Credence 2. Yeah, I like that. And I see you've got the solar panels on the boat as well. So are you mostly off the grid in the boat or do you plug into shore power mostly? I plug into shore power mostly when I'm on my home mooring but I still use that. You know, that works great in summer. It does all my 12 volt. Even in the winter it does my 12 volt so that works. It's a small setup but it's good enough for what I need. Yeah. If I was living full-time on the river I'd double that because we've got grey skies here over Hanson Court. Yeah. So you do have a marina berth where you're parked up most of the time. Do you travel much in the boat? My last boat I took all over the country. I took it to North Wales and back. Oh wow. Up through the canals, up through Oxfordshire, up the Thames that way to Oxford. That must have been beautiful. It was stunning. Yeah, it was a great trip. I was gone about six weeks. But you haven't travelled so much in this boat? Not so much in this one. I did take it up to Watford. Right. For, I was gone a couple of weeks. I took it up there to Blackett which is painted on the side of the boat. So I took it up there and we craned it out and cleaned up the bottom. Blacked it all. I did take it under Tower Bridge and through central London and Camden Town and Regents Canal. So I've done a little trip in it but I haven't done the kind of trip I've done in my old boat. Yeah. Which this wouldn't do. You couldn't get this to Wales anyway because it's too wide. Right. You need a narrow boat to get that far. In that respect, you kind of have the best of both worlds here, don't you? Because you've got a permanent mooring where you can have the real sense of home and being a bit grounded in place. But then you do also have freedom to move and travel when you need to. Exactly, yeah. It's perfect, you know, if I'm going out locally. Kingston or Hampton Court, wherever. I quite often take the boat and just moor up and go out. Then it's a short walk home. Yeah. It's nice after a night in the pub. Yeah, and I don't think there's anything more peaceful than life on the water. It's got a calmness and I like that, yeah. I think there's actually something that's innately connected with human psychology that when we look at water, because water, I think, is so intrinsically connected with human survival, if we can see water, I think there's a very primal part of our brains that just becomes calm. Says we're okay. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Well, standing here right now, it's actually quite hard for me to picture a more idyllic way of life and I cannot wait to see what you've done on the inside of this boat. Can we have a look? Of course you can. Come on in. All right. This is absolutely brilliant. One of the things that just immediately hits me standing in here is obviously the view, looking out onto that water. And one of the things that I love about these boats is how low they sit in the water. So when you look out those windows, all you see is water. Yeah, I think the water would be up to your knees if it was in here. Yeah, we're about two foot below the waterline. Yeah. Sitting in here. And yeah, you've got the view, you've got the ducks and the swans and it's a good view. Yeah. And this design is so spacious. Yeah, I kind of maximized it. I knew the length of the boat that I wanted and designed the boat with that in mind and just tried to get the best out of every inch, really. I wanted this boat to feel modern, clean. I'm a bit of a clean freak. Yeah. And just be chilled with the river and quite minimal, really. I'm quite minimal in how I live my life. So this is your second houseboat that you've lived in. What was it that you absolutely had to have in this home to make it work for you? I wanted dining for four and I wanted more wardrobe space because my last wardrobe was like that wide. Right. And now I've got six foot of wardrobe. So yeah, I think those were the two things that I wanted more. Wardrobe space and dining and a washing machine. I desperately wanted to have a washing machine. My last boat was as lovely as it was. I just didn't have the space for it. So yes, I've got a washing machine now. Definite touch of luxury living on the water with a washing machine. Yeah, safe humping everything to the laundry, right? Yeah. And I really do like the way that you've done this dining table as well. So spacious. It becomes extra, obviously, prep area as well for the kitchen when needed. But again, having the chairs there right by the window, looking out onto the water. What a lovely place to sit and enjoy a meal. I love having that. But being by the window, I wanted it really center to the window, but it took up too much room. So I've actually designed it so it moves. Oh, really? Yeah, it slides along to be center to the window so you can all sit and enjoy the view. Even better. What a clever idea that is. Yeah, it's just very simple, really. There's no clever mechanics to it. It's just it shunts along. Yeah, and a great, very spacious design for this kitchen as well. You've got so much storage, so much prep space here. Yeah, there's more storage in there and worktop than there is in some houses, I think. So I wanted lots of worktop and I wanted a big sink. I can't abide tiny sinks. I like good, deep sinks. I agree. That's what I've got. Well, especially if you don't have a dishwasher, then a nice big sink like this, it becomes essential, doesn't it? Even in my small boat, I have a sink that big. It's a must for me. Absolutely. Really good sized oven and cooktop. Yeah, that's fine. It's on Calagas. There's two bottles at the back of the boat. That works for me. And you've got the bathroom through there. Yeah, bathroom's through there. I've got a lovely little basin. I've got a really good sized shower and cassette toilet, which some people don't like, but you know, it works. It's simple. It doesn't foul. Yeah. And I just deal with that where I'm moored. I guess that's one of the benefits as well to having a permanent mooring at the marina is that they would have that infrastructure there. Yeah. That's a once a week affair. Yeah. And this lounge is just so nicely done as well. Putting that skylight right in the middle there was such a great idea. It adds a real nice feature to the lounge. Yeah, I love that. It gives me so much more light and a bit more headroom, which I think you'd probably appreciate that. I always appreciate more headroom. But you know, to that end, it is really spacious in here. I don't feel sort of enclosed at all. I have been on boats before where I felt like I have to duck the whole time, but I don't have to in here. No, I think we've got about seven, just under seven foot in here, which is pretty good. And we can even fit you in, Ross. Can even fit me in. Thank you for some good design there. Yeah. And great sized couch. Yeah, that came in pieces. It didn't get through the door. That works. The kids sleep on it. Yep. I've slept on it. Yeah, it's really cozy. Brilliant. And I really like the way that you've included the television in here as well. Sort of recessing it into a bit of cabinetry there. Very tidily done. Yeah, that's kind of stuff I used to do work-wise, like building carpentry. And yeah, I just brought that onto the boat and carried on doing what I've always done, really. Yeah. Nice to be able to take those skills that you're so used to using for other people and use them for yourself as well. Yeah, and it's nice to do my own projects for myself and not being governed by other people's wants. It's just how I want to do it. Yeah, absolutely. The fireplace. No home is truly complete without one, is it? No, that's great. I burn coal and wood on that. It keeps the boat completely toasty. There's nothing to go wrong, apart from me forgetting to buy wood or coal. That's always there. There is central heating on the boat as well. Right. I've got radiators and a boiler and hot water and all the rest of it. But yeah, the log bands, that's great. Yeah. Even with all that other stuff, you just can't beat the ambience of a fire. No, it's lovely. Yeah. And you've got the bedroom down the end there and really cleverly done with the raised bed platform so you can fit all of that storage in underneath. Yeah, there's an abundance of storage under there. There's two rows of drawers and then there's further storage behind that. The water tank is right in the bow of the boat. And I've got my wardrobes and there's storage either side of the bed. Yeah, it's great. It's a little higher than it should be. Right. Slight slip up with a tape measure. Hence the box at the bottom, the step up. Gotcha. But yeah, I think when I built that, I didn't account for the mattress, the depth of the mattress. The mattress went on there and then I realised it's actually a lot higher than my last one. But anyway, it's fine. I'm used to jumping up there now. Yeah. And it did give you a bit of extra storage. Yeah, it's given me extra storage. We'll just call it a happy mistake. Yeah, happy mistake. Yeah. How big is your water tank? The water tank, I think, is about 750 litres or so. That lasts me a couple of weeks or so. Yeah, fantastic. And really nice window placement in the bedroom as well. You've got that nice central opening window and then the two port lights either side. I wanted to be able to see through the front as you come through the back. I wanted to keep it as open as I could, which is why the wardrobes are central so you can see right through. And also, you know, if you're cruising and you open up those windows, you get the air just flows through the boat. And looking around the boat in general, I can see that you have not skimped on storage. No space has gone to waste in here, has it? There's lots of storage and you've just got to use every inch that you can. But, you know, I'm quite minimal as well in how I live. So there's plenty for me. The cupboards, obviously, you can see them. There's storage underneath all the units. And then I've got my cupboards at the back, which house the electrics, the washing machine, tumble dryer. Yeah, and then obviously we've got the DVD cupboards next to the telly. Yeah, there's all of that. Loads of storage under the bed, the wardrobes. Yeah, as much as I could make. So you've been living on the water now for 10 years. How long have you been in this boat? I've been in this boat just about three years now. And what's it like living here? It's great. There's a good community. You know, we help each other out. I've met loads of friends. It's been a whole new life for me. Yeah. From the outside looking in, this would be such an easy way of life to really idealise. And I know that I'm guilty of that myself. What is the reality of life on the water like? On the whole, great. But you do need to be practical. There's always something to do. There's always something to fix. You need to make sure you've got diesel and wood and coal. And yeah, it can be harsh in the winter. This boat will freeze in the winter if you don't keep it warm. It's much, much colder. So yeah, you just need to just prepare, really. Yeah. What do you do to insulate the boat? Insulation is foam spray, which is pretty good. It's probably the best, actually, insulation that you can put in a boat because it holds back the humidity. Because being a metal boat, it will compensate. If the humidity gets to the metal, it will compensate. Right. So foam spray stops that humidity touching the metal and stops it condensating. And can we talk about the cost that was involved in building this boat? Yeah, we can talk about that. I paid about 50 grand for this boat, this shell. And then I kind of lost track with what I spent on it. I don't know, maybe another 20, 25 grand I spent on it. And my time. I worked long hours for a good three months doing it. I bet. And it is pretty easy to lose track of those running costs when you're right in the thick of a project like that. I started a spreadsheet and I just got bored with it and I stopped adding it up. I've got a mental idea of what I spent on it. Yeah. Or some of the best times I would say of my life. I've been on and around the boat for sure. The calmness. Just being there. The water. The nature. You don't have the traffic. You don't have... It's just a more chilled way. And I think it rubs off on you in every aspect of your life. I'm a more chilled person than I was 10 years ago for sure. So I think I've absorbed the calmness of the water. And what does the future hold for you now? I'd quite like to do another project. Yeah? Yeah. I think I'm probably going to sell this one. Right. And I'd like to do another one. I might do another narrowboat because I fancy the idea of going off on another long trip again. I think the ultimate dream for me would be to buy a little plot on the side of the canal somewhere. Somewhere I could park my boat at the bottom of my garden and have something a bit rustic and rural and some sheds. And somewhere to park my boat. That's living the dream there, right? That's a bit of a tour. Yeah. A little house garden right on the river with the narrowboat parked right down the bottom. That's it. Now you're talking. Yeah. I think that would be pretty fantastic. Yeah. Well, when you make that happen for yourself, you have to let us know because I would love to come and check that out. Yeah. If that ever happens, I shall let you know for sure. And amazingly, next week we are visiting your brother who also lives tiny. Yeah, James. Yeah. He's more of a creative than me. You know, I'm a creative but in a more practical way. And I let practicalities sort of govern my design. James is a bit more... Yeah, and you'll see. I can't wait. Well, looking at what you've done here, I can just see it runs in the family because you're both very, very creative, clever people. Thank you very much. That's very kind of you, Simon. Yeah. Well, Mark, I'm just so impressed with what you've created here. Your life on the river just looks so magical. And standing in this home right now, I really feel like you've created the best of both worlds for yourself. You've got this wonderful outdoor playground to explore on the river. But in here, you've created a place that truly feels like home. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. You're very welcome, Bryce. Thank you. I think there is an unrivaled peace to life on the water. To be here just in such close proximity to nature and the elements is such a special way to live. And what Mark has created with this lifestyle on this boat, I think is just the perfect blend of both worlds. Because not only is he so connected to the river, but also he's just a stone's throw from London and the big city and everything that that has to offer. All of that encapsulated in the most wonderful, practical, modern home. This really is a beautiful way of life that Mark has created for himself.