SKD Marina, St Katharine’s Docks, London, E1W

This is a unique opportunity to buy a comfortable, flexible and spacious home or pied-a-terre in central London at a fraction of the price of an apartment of the same square footage. Moonanbac is moored on the sunny and quieter side of St Katharine Docks (SKD). The boat has views towards the world-famous Dickens Inn and is amongst pretty neighbouring boats but retains a tranquillity in its sunny corner of the Marina.

Architecture and interiors
Entry to the barge is via a coded locked gate for residents and visitors to the boats only. Moonanbac sits on a wide pontoon against the Marina wall making her safe and not prone to turbulence. The wheelhouse provides a spectacular room with windows on all sides, comfortable fixed seating and a table – the ideal spot for WFH or a wonderful entertaining space. A few steps take you into a fully fitted and roomy kitchen with built in oven, hob, fridge, freezer and lots of cupboards and workspaces. There is also a cosy dining space here. Both the seating area in the wheelhouse and in the kitchen could be converted to create occasional sleeping areas.

The sitting room is surprisingly spacious with a pot belly working stove and built in shelving. There is a full bathroom with toilet, shower and hand basin and clever storage throughout. There is a separate toilet adjacent to the dining area.

The cabin/bedroom easily takes a large double bed and has built in storage and wardrobe space. There is also a hatch which opens to the front deck and allows sunshine to flood into the cabin not only via the traditional portholes but also from this hatch feature.

In the neighbourhood
St Katharine Docks occupies a huge marine basin just next to Tower Bridge – an icon of London around the world. From here it’s both easy and pleasant to walk the Thames Path either towards The City of London past The Tower of London and other landmarks and on to the West End, or in the other direction towards Wapping. The list of eating and dining opportunities in the area is too long to contemplate here!

Everything that London has to offer is within easy reach and yet living in St Katharine Docks is a restful, community-driven experience akin to living in a charming village. There is a full-sized Waitrose store about two minutes’ walk from Moonanbac.

December is a particularly pretty time of the year at the Marina, with a traditional decorated Christmas tree and lights outside the Dickens Inn, as well as festively decorated boats. The Marina community is very welcoming and sociable. Marina management organises events for licence holders throughout the year, including pontoon movie nights, Christmas get-togethers, a Santa visit, exhibitions, dog-socials, as well as the frequent welcome of Dunkirk’s Little Ships.

Transport and communications
Excellent transport links: 7-minute walk to Tower Hill Underground, Tower Gateway DLR, Millennium Pier, 12-minute walk to Fenchurch Street. All Uber boats from Tower Pier to Central London, Battersea, Putney and beyond and in the other direction to Canary Wharf and Greenwich.

Material Information

• Property construction: steel hull
• Heating type: gas and electric
• Utilities: Gas, electric & water/sewerage
• Gas Supply: Connected bottles
• Electricity supply: Independently supplied by St Katharine’s Dock Marina, pay as you use
• Water supply: Supplied by St Katharine’s Dock Marina (included in licence)
• Sewerage: 2 holding tanks – cost to empty included in licence (as required)
• Broadband: Standard Download speed – 20mbps; Upload Speed: 1mbps. Ultrafast not available. Source:Ofcom
• Mobile signal/coverage: Likely good external coverage on all major networks. Limited internal coverage noted for EE & Three) – source: Ofcom
• Rights and easements: Public walkway and communal access to areas surrounding the marina (marina itself is reserved to licence holders and permitted visitors)
• Accessibility/adaptations: Not suited for wheelchair users.
• Flight path: Yes. Source: FlightRadar24

Technical Specifications

• Steel-hull, wide-beam narrow boat, fitted with inboard diesel engine
• Powered by both 240V and 12V power supplies
• Length 17.37m, beam 3.73m
• Mooring charges TBC with St Katharine’s Marina upon application for mooring licence (payment options available). Current year is £19,726 payable over 5 instalments.
• You will need to secure a licence agreement for the mooring (from St Katharine’s Marina). The mooring licence allows you the flexibility and the freedom to take Moonanbac up the Thames for excursions, adventures or just a change of scenery.