Thanks guys. Well, if it is Ł47,000 a year, then I will probably go for a 40 year old Snapdragon instead. I thought I would buy a boat for equal value to the house, but with the 20% maintenance and the present falling prices in the housing market I might just be able to afford a Mirror Dinghy!

Yeah, I too am looking forward to the posts of those who have been there done that. Have any of em written a book about the costs etc?