Pete Smith, 54, and Tracy Sansom, 57, have traded their suburban lifestyle for life on a narrowboat, a decision they say has left them 'living the dream'. The couple will feature on Channel 4's My Floating Home series next week, showcasing their purpose-built floating home, Amber Dreams, at Derbyshire's Mercia Marina.
From House to Floating Home
Pete had already been living on a narrowboat for several years when he met Tracy in 2019. The couple split their time between Pete's boat and Tracy's home in Nottingham until she sold her house last year. Pete also parted with his previous narrowboat, and together they commissioned a new vessel from Ovation Boat Builders at Redhill Marina.
Their boat was already under construction when Channel 4 producers contacted the builders. The couple agreed to participate in the show, leading to intermittent filming over several months. Presenter Mark Evans spent a day with them, whom Pete describes as 'absolutely fantastic'.
Life on Amber Dreams
The couple collected their completed boat last November, naming it Amber Dreams after Tracy's daughter's middle name. They now enjoy stunning views and feeding friendly swans. Pete emphasizes that life on the narrowboat is not as restrictive as some might think. 'We've got everything we wanted on the boat that we'd have in a house,' he said, citing a large television, surround sound, and a washer-dryer. The boat also features heated taps to prevent freezing in winter.
Mercia Marina offers a 'strong, dynamic community' and closeness to nature. Pete highlights the flexibility: 'In a house, if you don't like your neighbours or you want a change of scenery, you've got to sell your house and find a buyer - whereas within a marina, you can just say, Right, I'm leaving this month'.
Changing Perceptions
Pete hopes the TV show will open people's eyes to narrowboat living. 'A lot of people think they're really small because they're 6ft 10ins wide, 60 feet long - I think a lot of people wonder how you live in a small little metal box. Hopefully, when they see inside, they'll see that actually it's a lot more spacious than you think.' He adds, 'It opens up a lot of opportunities to relax, and you don't need all the space and all the clutter around you that you can accumulate in a house. We're really living our dream.'
The couple feature on episode three of My Floating Home, airing on More4 on Wednesday, July 22 at 9pm.
