Who own the boat / who is running this residency?
The boat is solely owned by Ted and the residency is currently independently run by himself as a self-initiated work and applied experiment in mutual aid theory.

How will I find the boat if it's always moving and mooring is within a general area?
An exact location pin can be sent to you, along with a What 3 Words code locating the boat to within 3 meters, at least 24 hours hours before your stay once the boat has arrived at its location.

How will I check-in to the boat?
You can either meet me at the nearest train station if arriving a suitable prearranged time, or meet me at the boat itself, whereafter an introduction to the boat can be made and any questions answered. Alternatively a code can be given to you inorder to access a combination lock box onboard the boat and containing a key to the boats padlock, with a printed 'how to' guide to the boat provided.

Am I able to move the boat myself during the residency?
For safety and insurance reasons guests are unable to cruise the boat and it will remain statically moored to the riverbank for the duration of the residency.

Do I have sole occupancy / undisturbed privacy within the boat for the duration of the residency?
Yes.

Is the boat cold in autumn and winter?
The boat is equipped with a cast iron multi-fuel stove with kindle/logs/coal provided. The nature of the tiny living space means the whole boat becomes warm/cosy quite quickly once a fire is established. The boat also has a 7 Tog duvet with spare a 4 Tog duvet that can be added to provide extra warmth if needed. A hot water bottle is provided. Guests may find overnight frosts 'bracing' especially first thing in the morning when the fire may have gone out overnight, though is in many ways has its own charm and is nothing that can't be dealt with by putting on more layers or relighting the fire again.

What is provided and what might I need to bring?
The boat has recently been renovated and includes everything required for it to be a 'liveaboard' (permanently occupied) boat and to cook/sleep/wash. Clean bed linen and towels are also provided where residents aren't using the Eco/Ecoc model (see below). Complimentary drinking water/ground coffee/tea bags are provided, with a range of vegetarian Hienz tins and Kellogg's variety pack breakfast cereal, carton of Oat milk available should they be required on the first night/morning of stay and based upon an honesty box payment. Each mooring locations is within 10-15 minutes walk of chain supermarkets should further groceries be needed. It should be noted that the boat has no fridge, however, so any foods requiring refrigeration will not be able to be stored for any significant period.

Can I bring a bicycle / lock a bicycle on the boat?
Bicycles are permitted on Greater Anglia Trains without the need for pre-booking to all of the residency locations with the exception of stated busy periods (7.45-9.45 / 16.30-18.30 Mon-Fri). Bicycles can be securely locked to the permanent back deck rails of the boat. No liability for loss can be taken, however.

What are the limitation of a residency's artistic production given the small space and off-grid nature of the boat?
The fireside desk space can accomodate works up to A3 in size, with a larger work top of 130 x 57 cm allowing for up to A2 in size, or equivalents. The work top can also be flipped over to a bare wood side for uninhibited use of paints or cutting material if needed. Energy supply for laptop based work can be facilitated by a Jackery Explorer 240 v2 powerstation which is trickle charged by a Jackery 80w solar panel (sunshine permitting). The fully charged powerstation allows for 2 full charges of a Macbook Pro 15" by example, facilitating many hours/days of laptop use. Where there is no/limited sunshine to recharge the powerstaion in the daytime it can be taken to a nearby coffeeshop or public library to be recharged 1-2 hours (weighing only about 8lbs and small enough to easily fit into a tote bag).

Is the boat safe?
The boat holds a valid BSS (Boat Safety Scheme certification) valid until 2026 and is equipped with carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, 2 x fire extinguishers, and emergency exits at both front and rear - making a residency as safe as possible with risks mitigated. However, like traditional bothy's guests are requested to agree upon booking that "the licence holder accepts no liability for loss or injury whilst on thes premises and all guests enter at their own risk".

Is the towpath safe / safe at night?
The boat always adheres to an informal code of boating conduct that finds safety in numbers and will always be moored within a few meters (eg within clear eyeshot/earshot) of the license holders own boat, and other occupied boats so residencies will never be left in complete isolation. Guests have access to a loud horn and bright exterior light which will raise attention of other boaters should they need (though my own experience has seen nothing worse than drunks thinking it might be funny to dry and untie your mooring ropes on their way home). A "super bright" 800 lumen hand torch can be borrowed if you're coming back to the boat at night. Should you feel concerned about personal safety further arrangements can be made to locate the boat closer to; train stations / better lit residential areas / the license holders own occupied boat for reassurance.

How accessible is the boat?
The nature of mooring to the riverside towpath means that an upward or downward step of up to a few feet may sometimes need to be taken to board the boat. Entering the living area from the back deck also requires a downward step of a few feet. This may prohibit those with limited ability unfortunately. It should also be noted that the boat has no fridge so any medication requiring refrigeration will not be able to be safely stored.

What is PWYC and how much is a suggested donation?
Pay what you can (PWYC) is a non-profit or for-profit business model which does not depend on set prices for its goods, but instead asks customers to pay what they feel the product or service is worth to them. It is a variation on the gift economy and cross-subsidisation, in that it depends on reciprocity and trust to succeed, and is also sometimes known as Pay what you want. A suggestive donation could be considered at around £25 a night, though all payments are at the guests discretion upwards or downwards of this amount without pressure or cohesion.

What is Eco/Ecoc?
Eco/Ecoc is a newly authored model whereby guests contributing to lessen the ecological impact of a residency are offered an economic advantage. In this case guests who bring their own bed linen and towels to their residency are offered to deduct the equivalent cost of a laundrette wash and dry. Given the use of laundry energy and water resources can often be unwarranted in the context that many stays will only take place for a few days, and yet providing fresh laundry for hygiene reasons allows few other means to mitigate the excess use of resources. Eco/Eco has subsequently been attributed a Creative Commons license allowing others to find new means to couple ecological benefits with economic advantages.

What if I have a question which isn't answered here?
Please email ted@thefloatingbothy.com