Starting over after a breakup usually means searching for a new place to live, but Eleanor Sutcliffe took a route most people never consider. The 28 year old British firefighter sold the home she had shared with her former partner and realized buying another property near Birmingham was out of reach. Rather than lock herself into high rent, she went looking for something that could still feel like a real home. What she found was an older narrowboat that reshaped her budget and her day to day life.
Sutcliffe said she needed a solution that matched her reality, not the housing market. “I had to think outside the box, and living on a narrowboat had been a long time dream of mine,” she explained. Her family did not dismiss the idea as a phase or a stunt, and that support mattered because she was stepping into unfamiliar territory. “My parents have always supported my slightly unusual ideas, and my dad said he would help me with the renovation if I needed it,” she said.
Even with help, the decision came with plenty of unknowns. “None of us had ever lived on a boat before, but he is a great handyman, and I have always been practical and I love learning new skills,” Sutcliffe added. That mix of confidence and curiosity became the backbone of the entire project. She was not just buying a floating room, she was committing to building a functional home from a worn out interior. It was a bet on her own ability to adapt.
@el_sooty_ Replying to @racheljreviews Updated narrowboat tour! We've changed some parts and added new furniture – what do you think? Thank you so much Ray for sending me the crystals you can see hanging from my windows! Remember you can support me by liking, commenting, saving and sharing my videos or via the Amazon wishlist link in my bio ❤️ #housetour #narrowboat #tinyhouse #boat #renovation ♬ How`s Your Day – aAp Vision
She found her boat on Facebook Marketplace and set her sights on a 49 foot narrowboat named Dartline that was built in 1986. She bought it in May 2024 for £15,000, which is about $19,000, and then took out a loan to fund the renovation. “I fell in love with the boat the moment I saw it,” she said. The boat was in rough shape, but she liked the idea of restoring it rather than settling for something already polished.
The pace was fast because life does not pause for renovations. She moved in during October 2024 right after the house sale, even though the boat was not remotely finished. “I was living on it while the walls were still going up,” she recalled. That meant daily life happened alongside sawdust, tools, and half built spaces, which can test anyone’s patience. For her, it was simply the price of gaining stability on her own terms.
Inside, the transformation was extensive and hands on. “The boat went through a complete interior renovation,” she said, describing how they stripped it back and rebuilt it piece by piece. “We took it back to bare metal, protected the structure, installed new insulation and ballast,” she explained. “Then we made new walls and floors, built a kitchen, partition walls, a built in bed with storage, and refitted the hearth and wood burning stove, the list is really long.” It was the kind of work that turns weekends into construction shifts and makes every upgrade feel earned.
@el_sooty_ The best decision I've ever made 💗 #fyp #narrowboat #diy #renovation #lifestyle ♬ original sound – certainlybee
Her monthly costs also changed the math in a way that made the hard work feel worthwhile. “The costs are much lower,” Sutcliffe said. “My monthly expenses for the boat, including the mooring, license, insurance, and fuel, come to just under £500,” which is roughly $630. She compared that to renting near her job and said it would have been about £750 or more, or around $950 and up. For someone rebuilding after a major life change, that gap is not just numbers, it is breathing room.
She has been sharing the process with more than 31,000 followers on TikTok, where the updates now focus on finishing the bathroom. Her interior budget is £10,000, about $12,600, and she has already spent around £8,000, or close to $10,000. There is still major work ahead outside as well. “The exterior of the boat needs a complete repaint,” she said, adding that professionals quoted her more than £10,000 for the job, so she plans to tackle it herself with a separate budget.
Life on the water is not a constant postcard, especially in winter. “In winter it is cold,” she admitted, and said she experienced her first snowstorm on the boat this year and that it was “pretty tough.” Space is another daily reality, even when you love the coziness. “Having guests can be a challenge,” she said, remembering one night when she served dinner on the roof because there was not enough room inside. Balancing a demanding renovation with full time shifts at a fire station also took a toll, but she summed it up simply with “I would not change a thing, I have learned so many new skills.”
@el_sooty_ Narrowboat Renovation – Day 38 ✨ I can't believe there's 10,000 of you following me! 😭 I can't explain how lovely the support is from you all. I never thought so many of you would see and interact and enjoy these videos. It means the world 💕 You can support me via my Amazon wishlist in my bio! #CapCut #foryoupage #fyp #canalboat #boatlife #tinyhome #narrowboat #boat #renovationproject #Home #diyproject #DIY #renovation #canal #canalboat #woodwork #carpentry #cooker #kitchen #kitchenrenovation ♬ How`s Your Day – aAp Vision
For now, her boat is docked in a marina while she finishes the work, but she plans to travel more once it is ready. “I like that I can move my home whenever I want,” she said, and she praised the culture around boat living. “The community of people who live on boats is great, everyone is incredibly helpful and will always lend a hand if you need it,” she added. She also described how the lifestyle reshaped her mindset, saying, “This really is a wonderful way of life, closer to nature.” In her view, living with finite water, power, and space teaches awareness, and she said it made her “take nothing for granted and be much more grateful.”
If you are new to the idea, a narrowboat is a long, slim vessel designed to fit the locks and canals found across parts of the United Kingdom. Many people live aboard full time, but it usually requires planning for essentials like heating, insulation, fresh water, waste management, and safe electrical systems. Mooring fees and licensing rules vary by location, and some marinas include hookups for power and water that can make daily life easier. Renovations often focus on moisture control, ventilation, and efficient storage because small spaces punish clutter quickly. Communities of liveaboards are known for sharing advice and tools, which can be a lifeline when something breaks far from a hardware store.
What do you think about trading a traditional apartment for a renovated liveaboard boat, and would you ever try a life like Eleanor Sutcliffe’s?
