Latest news with #JoelSanders
Leader Live
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Stand-up comedy 'Angry Boater' tour to start in Llangollen
Joel Sanders is bringing his 'Angry Boater' evening of comedy and stories to Llangollen Fringe Festival this evening at the Town Hall at 7.30pm. In 2008, the former Las Vegas comedian gave up life as he knew it to live on a narrowboat on the UK's unpredictable an archaic waterways. Seventeen-years-later, and he's still floating. (Image: UGC) Formerly, Joel was the comedian with a grand plan of becoming the first Brit to play all 50 US States. He managed 40, performing everywhere from the Deep South's redneck bars to casinos and theatres in the more traditional destinations. Joel, originally from London, lived the dream and worked with many of his comedy heroes, including Robin Williams. And yet, he gave it all up... Speaking to the Leader, Joel said: "There are several somewhat quirky reasons why I moved onto a narrowboat. It's a big chunk of the show so I don't want to spoil it for the audience. "One of the reasons was I figured if I didn't like my neighbours I could untie my ropes, drift off, and... new neighbours. "I've been on a boat 17 years now and that's not how it works anymore. If I don't like my neighbours, I untie their ropes..." Last year, Channel 4's Narrow Escapes followed his adventures, the highs and lows, as he travelled between shows in London and The Midlands. The most recent series even followed Joel as he prepared for his biggest adventure yet - taking his narrowboat out to sea. Joel says it was a privilege to be invited back for a second series after the first was highly praised. "It was tremendous fun", he said. Now in its 12th year, 'Angry Boater' will take everyone on an authentic journey unlike anything you'll see this year. READ MORE The tour kicks off in Llangollen and will tour the UK until late-November when it will conclude in Nottingham. The evening promises to be revelatory as Joel documents his joys and the madness that comes when you swap the comforts of suburbia for a nomadic life on the UK's waterways. The show is a smart, sharp and totally original evening of stand-up, storytelling and brutally honest reflections on chasing dreams, letting go of everything you know and floating into the unknown. Joel adds: "The paradox of narrow-boating is that many people associate it with tranquillity, whistling kettles and windchimes. Once you've lived afloat though, you'll soon encounter a world of stress that a traditional land based lifestyle shields most people from." Get your tickets by visiting
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Grim find: 57yo's boat home nightmare
A man who ditched his house to live on a small boat in a canal claims he has saved a fortune. Joel Sanders decided to move on from his one-bedroom flat after spending time on the water and loving it. The 57-year-old spent time working on a cruise ship before deciding he wanted to stay on the water permanently after he returned home to the UK. After a short conversation with boat owners along the canal in Hemel Hempstead, Mr Sanders took the leap. 'Within a week I had bought a boat, travelled across London in it and was in that same marina,' he told The Sun. 'I am very intolerant to noise and in a flat I felt that my private space was invaded by other people's noises. 'You could always hear your neighbours. 'A boat has all the benefits of a detached home and if you don't like the place where you are because it is too loud then you move. 'I live a simple nomadic existence. You get a sense of independence and freedom on a boat which is very hard to get on the land.' Mr Sanders spent 12 months living in the marina before upgrading his boat to an AUD $125,000 1996 Colecraft which allowed him to move around the country. He now splits his time between Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Oxford, Bristol, Reading, and Gloucester. Despite the savings made from not having an apartment or car, Mr Sanders spends significant amounts of money on maintenance of his vessel as well as more than AUD $3000 annually on a boat licence. It hasn't all been smooth sailing for Mr Sanders either – he recently found a dead body floating in a canal. Despite the negative aspects of his new lifestyle, Mr Sanders is happy with the move from land to water. 'With boating the good days are great but the bad days are very bad. It is a life of extremes,' he said. 'Boating is a fairly intensive part time job. It makes you feel more alive somehow when you have to manage those things that you once took for granted. 'It really toughened me up. I have learned a huge amount. 'Most of my friends when I bought it said I was mad, and I wouldn't last three months. The things it gave me were so thrilling to me that I ploughed through the difficulties. 'I will take the physical challenges for as long as my health will allow me to for the benefits. 'With the housing crisis a lot of people are deciding to buy boats, but it is not a lifestyle that is right for people who just can't afford to live on the land. 'You need to want the lifestyle.'
Scottish Sun
08-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I live full-time on a boat & save thousands every year – it's much better than a house… but I've seen some awful things
SAIL AWAY I live full-time on a boat & save thousands every year – it's much better than a house… but I've seen some awful things Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN who moved out of his home to live on a narrowboat has saved a fortune after growing tired of suburban life. Joel Sanders, 57, ditched his one-bedroom flat in Watford, Hertfordshire, after getting the bug during a stint on water. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Joel Sanders has lived on water for the past 15 years Credit: SWNS 3 Joel moved out of his flat in Watford and hasn't looked back since Credit: SWNS 3 Joel Sanders on his boat Credit: SWNS The comedian was offered a gig on a cruise ship and wanted to replicate that feeling when he got back to the UK. After a brief chat with boat owners along the canal in Hemel Hempstead, Joel put his money where his mouth is. "Within a week I had bought a boat, travelled across London in it and was in that same marina," he said. "I am very intolerant to noise and in a flat I felt that my private space was invaded by other people's noises. "You could always hear your neighbours. "A boat has all the benefits of a detached home and if you don't like the place where you are because it is too loud then you move. "I live a simple nomadic existence. You get a sense of independence and freedom on a boat which is very hard to get on the land." After spending a year in the Hemel Hempstead marina, Joel upgraded to a bigger boat- a 1996 Colecraft- for around £60,000 and began moving across the country. Since the switch, he has docked in Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Oxford, Bristol, Reading, and Gloucester. However, life on a boat is not all positive, with Joel adding that it is extremely hard work managing your own limited water, gas, and electricity supply. Woman who pays no rent and lives in London gives a tour around her amazing houseboat Joel forks out around £1,600 annually on his boat licence, is set back £800 on heating and spends tens of thousands of pounds on upgrades and maintenance. The boat owner has also experienced tragedy since he took up his marine residence. Recently, Joel found a dead body floating in the canal in Nottingham. Despite its flaws, he says he doesn't regret a thing. He continued: "With boating the good days are great but the bad days are very bad. It is a life of extremes. "Boating is a fairly intensive part time job. It makes you feel more alive somehow when you have to manage those things that you once took for granted. "It really toughened me up. I have learned a huge amount. "Most of my friends when I bought it said I was mad, and I wouldn't last three months. The things it gave me were so thrilling to me that I ploughed through the difficulties. "I will take the physical challenges for as long as my health will allow me to for the benefits." Joel added that the main trick is to find the right boat, saying that if you buy a bad one with lots of problems then you would "have a better quality of life on a park bench." Joel said: "With the housing crisis a lot of people are deciding to buy boats, but it is not a lifestyle that is right for people who just can't afford to live on the land. "You need to want the lifestyle."
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I live full-time on a boat & save thousands every year – it's much better than a house… but I've seen some awful things
A MAN who moved out of his home to live on a narrowboat has saved a fortune after growing tired of suburban life. Joel Sanders, 57, ditched his one-bedroom flat in Watford, Hertfordshire, after getting the bug during a stint on water. 3 3 3 The comedian was offered a gig on a cruise ship and wanted to replicate that feeling when he got back to the UK. After a brief chat with boat owners along the canal in Hemel Hempstead, Joel put his money where his mouth is. "Within a week I had bought a boat, travelled across London in it and was in that same marina," he said. "I am very intolerant to noise and in a flat I felt that my private space was invaded by other people's noises. "You could always hear your neighbours. "A boat has all the benefits of a detached home and if you don't like the place where you are because it is too loud then you move. "I live a simple nomadic existence. You get a sense of independence and freedom on a boat which is very hard to get on the land." After spending a year in the Hemel Hempstead marina, Joel upgraded to a bigger boat- a 1996 Colecraft- for around £60,000 and began moving across the country. Since the switch, he has docked in Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Oxford, Bristol, Reading, and Gloucester. However, life on a boat is not all positive, with Joel adding that it is extremely hard work managing your own limited water, gas, and electricity supply. Woman who pays no rent and lives in London gives a tour around her amazing houseboat Joel forks out around £1,600 annually on his boat licence, is set back £800 on heating and spends tens of thousands of pounds on upgrades and maintenance. The boat owner has also experienced tragedy since he took up his marine residence. Recently, Joel found a dead body floating in the canal in Nottingham. Despite its flaws, he says he doesn't regret a thing. He continued: "With boating the good days are great but the bad days are very bad. It is a life of extremes. "Boating is a fairly intensive part time job. It makes you feel more alive somehow when you have to manage those things that you once took for granted. "It really toughened me up. I have learned a huge amount. "Most of my friends when I bought it said I was mad, and I wouldn't last three months. The things it gave me were so thrilling to me that I ploughed through the difficulties. "I will take the physical challenges for as long as my health will allow me to for the benefits." Joel added that the main trick is to find the right boat, saying that if you buy a bad one with lots of problems then you would "have a better quality of life on a park bench." Joel said: "With the housing crisis a lot of people are deciding to buy boats, but it is not a lifestyle that is right for people who just can't afford to live on the land. "You need to want the lifestyle." The Pros and Cons of Living on a narrowboat It might seem an idyllic lifestyle living on a narrowboat and taking this at a slower pace but it's not always plain sailing. The Pros Freedom – you get to choose where you stay and can move from the countryside to a city in possibly a few hours. If you don't like your neighbours you can simply move. Work anywhere – remote working has shot up with the Covid-19 pandemic and what could be better than working from a barge. Declutter your lifestyle – There's not a lot of space on a narrowboat but this can be an advantage as it forces your to get rid of things you don't actually really need. Decluttering your life can do wonders for your wellbeing. Life at a slower pace – anyone fed up of the 9-5 rat race and the pressure to earn money to pay for high-cost living can benefit from the easy-going life on a barge. More environmentally friendly – while not entirely carbon neutral, living on a narrowboat can help the environment as you use less electricity, gas and fuel. Improve fitness – living on a narrowboat doesn't suit a sedentary lifestyle. There are endless tasks that will keep you active, such as operating locks, carrying coal and gas canisters, toilets to empty, wood to chop and weed hatches to clear. Sense of community – many boaters feel a strong sense of community as they are with like-minded people to share tips and advice. Saving money – one big advantage is the amount of money you can save. Big savings can be made on monthly living costs not only from using less gas and electricity but you don't have any costly mortgage or rent payments to cover. The Cons Having to plan ahead – if you have a cruising licence you will need to move every 14 days, so you have to think about the future, where to next, do you have enough supplies to get there? Limited space – narrowboats are restricted in space and you may find you feel claustrophobic living in a confined space. Plus, you may have to chuck out some prized possessions to fit everything you need in. Lack of security – criminals may see a narrowboat as an easy target and you may need to invest in some quality security to keep your things safe. Maintenance – Beware that you will need to learn about engine maintenance, such as how to repair a bilge pump or water pump. You will also need to ensure it is properly insulated and ventilated or you could be battling dampness and condensation. The cost – while living on a boat is certainly cheaper than living in a property, it is not cost free. You have to pay for things like: a Canal and River Trust licence, insurance, engine and pump maintenance, blacking the hull, as well as running costs such as fuel and a TV licence.
