Description

Tilly – 50ft Traditional Narrowboat | Off-Grid Ready, Beautifully Maintained & Ready to Cruise in London

Meet Tilly – a charming 50ft traditional stern narrowboat, built by renowned boatbuilder Mike Hayward in 1983. She’s been a well-loved home, thoughtfully upgraded for off-grid living, and carefully maintained to keep her in top condition.

About Tilly:

Fully Off-Grid Setup - Tilly is ready for continuous cruising or moored life with everything needed to be truly self-sufficient. Tilly is ideal if you are looking for low running costs, independence, and flexibility

- Compost toilet (Compoost)
- Water filtration system (Water Freedom) and large onboard tank
- Solar power system – solar panels, 2000W sine wave inverter and three leisure batteries for reliable 12v and 240v power
- Calorifier – hot water heated by the engine as you cruise
- Full-sized gas fridge and oven
- Morso solid-fuel stove for heating
- Reliable BMC 1.5 engine – recently serviced (April 2025) and runs smoothly


Thoughtfully Designed Interior - Tilly has been lovingly refurbished to create a warm, homely space full of character. In total, she sleeps up to six comfortably – a great option for guests and longer journeys. There's smart storage throughout, making her perfect for a couple or solo live-aboard.

- Reclaimed wood flooring, white walls, and neutral decor throughout
- Double Murphy bed in the stern with storage space – space-saving and comfy
- Fitted kitchen with generous worktop space and storage
- Dinette that seats four and converts to a double bed
- Bathroom with shower and compost toilet, set just off the galley
- Lounge in the bow with a mounted TV and additional seating that converts to another double bed


Recent Maintenance and Survey – Fully Ready to Cruise. Tilly has been well maintained and is ready to go:

- BSC valid until March 2027
- Surveyed and blacked in July 2021 (report available for serious buyers). All recommended works at the time of the survey were completed, including:
- Hull welding for pitting
- Two coats of Rytex blacking (strong reliable protection against hull corrosion that is easy to maintain over time_
- 4 new anodes
- Stern gland repacking
- Full gas system overhaul

Tilly is currently moored on a peaceful leisure mooring in North London, Grand Union Canal, a short walk to the tube and cruising distance to Little Venice. You could cruise from here or decide to keep her on a leisure mooring (current mooring subject to mooring agreement - please ask for further details)

Tilly is more than just a boat — she’s a well-loved floating home, full of charm, character and ready for her next adventure.
If you're seriously considering life on the water and want to see what makes her special, viewings are available on weekends by appointment - please get in touch.

Specifications

Location Map