Lancaster or nottingham

[rgreg]

 

Which bit don't you agree with "very nice", "40 odd miles long" probably not so I guess "you'd soon get bored of it" is the issue? If you're in the middle then 20 miles each way no locks so 5 hours to either end, if you like to go places it's not the best. Lots of people love it with good reason, it is a much under rated part of the world loads of really nice places to moor up and watch the world go by, but when you set off there's 2 choices north or south. A 2 week holiday would be book a passage on the Ribble and back and work round that. I looked at it but I feel it didn't work for me, you only have to look at the number of boats on it to see it does work for lots of others, I feel it is too restrictive in size for me to enjoy for long.

There are 6 locks on the Glasson branch. It works for a lot of people, just as well not for everyone! The downside is the semi-isolation caused by the Ribble and if you want an extended cruise on the rest of the system you can't just decide to go without prior planning.

[Alan&sue]

http://www.bridgehousemarina.co.uk/boatmoreinfo.asp?BoatIDParam=12http://www.bridgehousemarina.co.uk/boatmoreinfo.asp?BoatIDParam=14http://www.bridgehousemarina.co.uk/boatmoreinfo.asp?BoatIDParam=15http://www.bridgehousemarina.co.uk/boatmoreinfo.asp?BoatIDParam=16As you're going past the end of the road, these may be worth a look.

Hey guess what ! Great minds think alike

we did see these boats & went aboard 2 but not our boat

 

Thank you

Sue

[rgreg]

Hey guess what ! Great minds think alike

we did see these boats & went aboard 2 but not our boat

 

Thank you

Sue

It's worth a walk around Garstang Marina, if you haven't already, as there are a few boats for sale that are not with a brokerage.

[Ange]

I'd recommend a trip to the Midlands - I know it's a fair way away for you but there's a whole bunch of brokerages within quite a short distance, well worth investing in B&B for a night or two.

 

When we were boat shopping we travelled hundreds of miles (we were living in Kent at the time - miles from the nearest canal!) We spent most of our time looking in the Midlands but ended up buying our boat from a now defunct brokerage in Northwich, about a 5 hour drive away. I think the value of our time in the Midlands was that we got to step aboard loads of boats which gave us a much better idea of what was out there at the price we could afford.

 

Best of luck

[junior]

I'd recommend a trip to the Midlands - I know it's a fair way away for you but there's a whole bunch of brokerages within quite a short distance, well worth investing in B&B for a night or two.

 

When we were boat shopping we travelled hundreds of miles (we were living in Kent at the time - miles from the nearest canal!) We spent most of our time looking in the Midlands but ended up buying our boat from a now defunct brokerage in Northwich, about a 5 hour drive away. I think the value of our time in the Midlands was that we got to step aboard loads of boats which gave us a much better idea of what was out there at the price we could afford.

 

Best of luck

Good advice from Ange. If you drop a pin in Rugby on the map, you can probably look at over 100 boats for sale within 30mins driving. Including the well respected Rugby Boats and ABNB Brokerage. If you increased that time by another 30mins you could probably up it to over 200 boats by adding in the Leics and Milton Keynes area.

 

I'm afraid I don't know much about Lancaster as I believe it is 'Up North' which, as I understand it, is smelly and crime ridden.

[Alan&sue]

I'd recommend a trip to the Midlands - I know it's a fair way away for you but there's a whole bunch of brokerages within quite a short distance, well worth investing in B&B for a night or two.

 

When we were boat shopping we travelled hundreds of miles (we were living in Kent at the time - miles from the nearest canal!) We spent most of our time looking in the Midlands but ended up buying our boat from a now defunct brokerage in Northwich, about a 5 hour drive away. I think the value of our time in the Midlands was that we got to step aboard loads of boats which gave us a much better idea of what was out there at the price we could afford.

 

Best of luck

Thanks for the advice:) it does look like a trip to the midlands & we are enjoying looking especially the staying over in hotel bit

 

Good advice from Ange. If you drop a pin in Rugby on the map, you can probably look at over 100 boats for sale within 30mins driving. Including the well respected Rugby Boats and ABNB Brokerage. If you increased that time by another 30mins you could probably up it to over 200 boats by adding in the Leics and Milton Keynes area.

I'm afraid I don't know much about Lancaster as I believe it is 'Up North' which, as I understand it, is smelly and crime ridden.

Hi

We are planning on visit there oh & don't believe everything ushered about the north

[Alan&sue]

Bye the way juinior I thought i was asking advice from narrow boaters not narrow minders ???

[FidoDido]

I would go to New and Used at Willington, then go down the M1 a bit further and look at the ones John6767 mentions. Castle marina in Nottingham is OK, Sawley i never had any joy with, thought they have alot of boats for sale, never saw one I liked, and they dont tell you anything, just hand you keys and you go look yourself. New and Used give really good advice, have a selection of good boats. Nottm castle marina also very helpful, but generally were of a higher budget than I had. Didnt like Wilton - lots of scrappy boats, and again no advice whatsoever. Look there later when you have a better idea maybe, but dont start out there. Rugby, Braunston, Crick, ABNB all good suggestions. Blisworth also in that general area (Also New and Used Boat co). Shardlow Marina, Redhill, Beeston Marina all only ever have a very few boats for sale, so dont go there yet. Pillings Lock also not far from Nottingham (down M1 2 junctions, then 10 mins) - they have a few. Didnt go there to look though, so cant comment.

 

Have fun Nice B+B in Shardlow, if you want to stay somewhere boaty for the evening, and 7 pubs...

[Alan&sue]

I would go to New and Used at Willington, then go down the M1 a bit further and look at the ones John6767 mentions. Castle marina in Nottingham is OK, Sawley i never had any joy with, thought they have alot of boats for sale, never saw one I liked, and they dont tell you anything, just hand you keys and you go look yourself. New and Used give really good advice, have a selection of good boats. Nottm castle marina also very helpful, but generally were of a higher budget than I had. Didnt like Wilton - lots of scrappy boats, and again no advice whatsoever. Look there later when you have a better idea maybe, but dont start out there. Rugby, Braunston, Crick, ABNB all good suggestions. Blisworth also in that general area (Also New and Used Boat co). Shardlow Marina, Redhill, Beeston Marina all only ever have a very few boats for sale, so dont go there yet. Pillings Lock also not far from Nottingham (down M1 2 junctions, then 10 mins) - they have a few. Didnt go there to look though, so cant comment.

 

Have fun Nice B+B in Shardlow, if you want to stay somewhere boaty for the evening, and 7 pubs...

 

 

Cheers:)[/ that's really helpful

 

Sue

[Alan&sue]

I would go to New and Used at Willington, then go down the M1 a bit further and look at the ones John6767 mentions. Castle marina in Nottingham is OK, Sawley i never had any joy with, thought they have alot of boats for sale, never saw one I liked, and they dont tell you anything, just hand you keys and you go look yourself. New and Used give really good advice, have a selection of good boats. Nottm castle marina also very helpful, but generally were of a higher budget than I had. Didnt like Wilton - lots of scrappy boats, and again no advice whatsoever. Look there later when you have a better idea maybe, but dont start out there. Rugby, Braunston, Crick, ABNB all good suggestions. Blisworth also in that general area (Also New and Used Boat co). Shardlow Marina, Redhill, Beeston Marina all only ever have a very few boats for sale, so dont go there yet. Pillings Lock also not far from Nottingham (down M1 2 junctions, then 10 mins) - they have a few. Didnt go there to look though, so cant comment.

 

Have fun Nice B+B in Shardlow, if you want to stay somewhere boaty for the evening, and 7 pubs...

 

Hi

You don't happen 2 have name of b+b sounds just the place to stay

 

Sue

[Matthew Dowson]

Hi armed Dwarf

Yes you are right it is a lot closer but sadly no narrowboats for sale

Did you see my list for what we wanted for my oopps our boat thing I missed off was budget £35000 / £40000

Have a look & opinions greatly received

 

Sue

There was trad sterned boat moored up with a £35K ticket in the window at Skipton, traditional engine room as well, nice looking hull that needed a repaint. Can't remember its name. It may still be there, as it opften takes a few weeks for the crowd to disperse after the festival.

[Suzie_q]

Hi

You don't happen 2 have name of b+b sounds just the place to stay

 

Sue

 

Only one in Shardlow is here.

 

http://www.holden-house.com

 

There is supposedly a B&B Boat in Mercia but I have no experience of it.

 

Kev.

[Alan&sue]

Well so far we have been to Doncaster Lancaster Skipton:) & Sheffield

Seen quite a few boats & been on some of them but sadly we've not found our boat

 

 

Next plan of action is the midlands seen a few boats which Look like could be the one on new & used Willington & notts.

 

 

Thanks 2 u all for valuable info especial John6767 & FidiDido

 

Thanks

Sue

[deckhand]

HI

 

I would suggest Nottingham , we have just bought our boat from there, they have a number of different types and also new ones, which they make for your requirements.

Alongside that, We have just secured our mooring at Mercia Marina, They were very very helpful and is a smashing marina.

Hope you have a good weekend.

 

Kim

[Alan&sue]

HI

 

I would suggest Nottingham , we have just bought our boat from there, they have a number of different types and also new ones, which they make for your requirements.

Alongside that, We have just secured our mooring at Mercia Marina, They were very very helpful and is a smashing marina.

Hope you have a good weekend.

 

Kim

Thank u

congratulations on finding your boat wishing u lots of happy hours cruising the fun defiantly starts hear for you roll on long summer nights

 

Ps I'm a slight shade of green :0)

[deckhand]

Our boat wont be ready until beginning October so I dont think we are going to enjoy the summer spoils this year, We are going to be initiated into the autumn and winter. Still, on the bright side, if we can get through that then spring and summer next year will be a delight.

 

It might be worth looking at the Boat Show in Crick next weekend (25th i think). I have never been before myself but am definitely going this year.

[Alan&sue]

Our boat wont be ready until beginning October so I dont think we are going to enjoy the summer spoils this year, We are going to be initiated into the autumn and winter. Still, on the bright side, if we can get through that then spring and summer next year will be a delight.

 

It might be worth looking at the Boat Show in Crick next weekend (25th i think). I have never been before myself but am definitely going this year.

Have u had her built ! & it sounds like u planning on loving aboard if so I've just gone a darker shade of green

Would have loved to have gone to boat show but g'daughters birthday then work .

[deckhand]

Yes, having her built and loving on board sounds great ( ) but if you meant living on board , yes thats the plan. Selling the house, furniture, etc and getting out there. Cannot wait,

Its been really interesting planning the boat, as like you we had a list of wants and not wants. Looked at loads of boats and they all had something or other which didnt quite match the requirements. Then we came across the new one and have slid dramatically down that path as we could design our own. There are some fantastic boats already out there and if we hadn't been going to liveaboard and it be our home, then we probably would have compromised our list, but hey ho, .

 

Are you looking for one for leisure or living, have you done some boating before?

[Alan&sue]

Yes, having her built and loving on board sounds great ( ) but if you meant living on board , yes thats the plan. Selling the house, furniture, etc and getting out there. Cannot wait,

Its been really interesting planning the boat, as like you we had a list of wants and not wants. Looked at loads of boats and they all had something or other which didnt quite match the requirements. Then we came across the new one and have slid dramatically down that path as we could design our own. There are some fantastic boats already out there and if we hadn't been going to liveaboard and it be our home, then we probably would have compromised our list, but hey ho, .

 

Are you looking for one for leisure or living, have you done some boating before?

Oops yes I did mean living but hey dont think theres anything wrong with loving abroad lol, we are looking for a boat for leisure but I think I'm going to have to make some compromises

 

We have just sold our boat a Sealine S24 which we moored at York Marina & we loved it but the boat was just too small, so used to river but we have never even been on a narrowboat until we started looking for one:)

 

Sue

[deckhand]

Sounds like you have a fair bit of experience under your belt. If you can cope with rivers..... its the rivers that are the scary bit for us. We have done canals but no rivers, part of the learning curve i suppose . Let me know how you get on if you go to Nottingham.

[Alan&sue]

Sounds like you have a fair bit of experience under your belt. If you can cope with rivers..... its the rivers that are the scary bit for us. We have done canals but no rivers, part of the learning curve i suppose . Let me know how you get on if you go to Nottingham.

Hi

We only had our boat Avalon for a year! so not that much experiance & none on canals

 

Good luck with your build & keep us updated on how things are going

 

Will defiantly let you no when we go to nottingham hoping the boat which looks like it could be the one is still there

 

Sue ( I can only do sad & happy faces )

[deckhand]

Hi Sue,

 

You can do more faces btw if you look on the header when you are writing a message, there is a little smiley face, click on that and lots of others come up, just click on one of them

[Richard T]

Alan and Sue - very nice 60ft boat for sale at Sileby Mill. 6 berth, sofa bed in saloon, fixed double, boat mans cabin. Solid fuel stove + stove in BMC. Unusual arrangement for engine - BMC2.2 recond one fitted last month - it is offset in the engine room allowing for washing machine to be fitted on the other side.If you need more info ring the boatyard. Oh vital info circa £38k

[Alan&sue]

Alan and Sue - very nice 60ft boat for sale at Sileby Mill. 6 berth, sofa bed in saloon, fixed double, boat mans cabin. Solid fuel stove + stove in BMC. Unusual arrangement for engine - BMC2.2 recond one fitted last month - it is offset in the engine room allowing for washing machine to be fitted on the other side.If you need more info ring the boatyard. Oh vital info circa £38k

Thanks for info had a quick peep only prob is a bit far too go & see

Cheers

Sue