Newbie wants to Liveaboard?

[ceryni]

Firstly, apologies for the thread necro. All will be explained.

 

 

 

Students? It will have been the beer and curries I expect!

The girlfriends family

 

Back story

 

I have been thrown into turmoil, excitement, stress and a strange feeling like im dreaming.

 

 

My girlfriend, since I started this thread, was resistant to the idea of living on a boat. Well, she graduated, and got a well paid job in Cambridge. Only problem is, we literally cannot afford to live there.

 

All previous reasons for the boat idea (original post) came back. Only this time, the suggestion came from her, and her parents!!! I'm putting 25% down and they're paying the rest. Rough budget 40k, ideally less, maybe slightly more, depending on what we find.

 

Now obviously, all of the previous warnings about 'people who do it for financial reasons often don't make it', this much is obvious, and I am aware and have warned Yolanda. I personally love life on the water, and recently I have been out of sorts, building a gaming computer, buying an espresso machine etc. I figured if I wasn't allowed to live in a teepee in the woods, and society was forcing me to live a modern life, then I'll go all out consumerism and enjoy the benefits of a student over draft. However, the hobbit within me has been pining to get rid of my superfluous possessions that are choking me, cut ties, claim back my freedom and live simply, closer to nature.

 

Yolanda (my partner now of 4 1/2 years) is well up for taking the plunge, at the very least, this life experience is something we can tell stories about for the rest of our lives.

 

I have found several promising 55-60ft boats for roughly 35-42k I will be viewing. I have spoken to people down at the marina, and know the dealio - survey, license, insurance(I imagine this is important?), and we have secured a residential mooring in commute distance that we are viewing tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

NOW - the reason for my post. (TL:DR)

We have to be settled by the 10th October at the very latest.

How realistic is it to find a boat, get it pulled out, surveyed, purchased and moved to our residential mooring in as little as 2 weeks? Is this even possible?

 

The rental situation in Cambridgeshire really is pretty dire, and we're in a bit of a tight spot.

Edited September 23, 2015 by ceryni

[Woodstock]

Even when we had found our boat and that took a while - it took a few weeks to arrange test drive, agree prices, pay for it- the broker would only take a cheque and waited for it to clear and arranging a survey may take a couple of weeks to get a slot to lift it. Friends recently found a number of yards fully booked as people take boats in for blacking now

 

It may be possible but I'd be looking to get a surveyor on stand by

Good luck

Just a thought but do you have any friends with a bit of land. Friends bought a cheap caravan which they lived in whilst sorting their boat and then sold it for what they paid

[Seti-Yeti]

Oooo.... two weeks is not going to cut it. You could end up just buying a boat just because of the time pressure and regret it for a very long time. If it were me and I was "dead-set" of doing this then I would consider buying a VERY cheap plastic palace, the equivalent of the afore mentioned caravan, and suck it up until I find The Boat. You'll be cold, damp and miserable no doubt but at least you'll be there.

 

Another option could be to scout round the hire companies and see if an "off-season" low rent deal could be struck on an unused hire boat. Many dispose of one or two each year at this time of year. For a reasonable rent they may delay selling it. Don't ask, don't get.

 

(they may make you a deal on the boat as a sale you can't refuse!!!)

[Lmcgrath87]

That's a big time restraint you have, it took us MONTHS to find the right boat, but we were in no rush. I'd be concerned about buying for the sake of buying it, not buying the right one.... have you been to look at any before? do you have any idea what you want?

[ceryni]

That's a good idea thanks, but unfortunately noone I know nearby.

 

The broker for the boat we like the look of sold the boat only 6 months ago, so I'm wondering is a a survey is necessary since the owners basically never moved it, and the same broker is selling it again. Just suddenly they're expecting a baby and so are moving to dry land.
The only problem with the boat we really like the look of is that the owners haven't found somewhere else to live yet. We need to kick them out haha

 

There shouldn't be a problem getting it lifted as the broker at Ely marina is very helpful and said they could do it without a problem. Though I understand now that it may not be possible to do it in this short amount of time. I had better make some phone calls.

 

Lets say we have chosen a boat, we have can lift it out in less than a week, and the survey at the same time.

How long do these deals usually take to close?

Edited September 23, 2015 by ceryni

[Athy]

Gosh, what a surprise, welcome back! You're going to be busy these next few weeks, but do let us know how things progress. If Ely Marina are busy, other people in the area do some boat work (such as Garth/ Garf who lives in the big Dutch barge on the other side of the river from the marina), don't think he has a slipway though.

 

Reading between your lines I'm assuming that you and Y. are currently living in the Ely area?

Edited September 23, 2015 by Athy

[ceryni]

 

Reading between your lones I'm assuming that you and Y. are currently living in the Ely area?

 

Thanks!

 

We still live in Norwich, but are moving due to Y getting a job in Cambridge. All a bit stressful and hectic, having to up roots and move in as little as 3 weeks

[Athy]

"Reading between your lones", wot am oi loike? Should have been "lines" of course. I'm the local king of the typo, or one of them.

 

Do not discount the March area. Further away from Cantab than Ely but much cheaper. Fastest trains 35 minutes. AND there is a marina there, Fox's. I can testify to the excellence of their work.

[dmr]

Finding the boat is the hard bit.

Buying a boat is a whole lot easier than buying a house, mostly because its practical people (boatyards and surveyors) involved rather than bureaucrats (solicitors and mortgage companies).

If you have the cash available, and can really find a suitable boat, then you should be able to get it all done in a week or two.

One problem is that if the current boat is not right then you will need to look around and the boat you find may be some way away. Then you need to find a local surveyor and yard, and move the boat to its new home.

Do look at lots of other boats before you make a final decision.

 

A good surveyor, or experienced boaty friend could have a look at the boat in the water and make a good guess at the condition of the hull, but that's a bigger risk than an out of the water survey.

 

..............Dave

[Peter-Bullfinch]

Don't go and rush into it like this. Look at lots of boats. Take some time. Can you both persuade a friend or maybe a relative to rent you a spare room for a couple of months? You may possibly save the rental by finding a good deal on a boat. This time of year might not be a bad time to buy though as the season for some drawing to a close.

[ceryni]

"Reading between your lones", wot am oi loike? Should have been "lines" of course. I'm the local king of the typo, or one of them.

 

Do not discount the March area. Further away from Cantab than Ely but much cheaper. Fastest trains 35 minutes. AND there is a marina there, Fox's. I can testify to the excellence of their work.

The job is in Cambridge so March might be difficult but I have looked at it. I would like to talk to you about Foxs actually. There is a newly refurbished boat there I'm looking at tomorrow I might buy. Any thoughts?

 

Finding the boat is the hard bit.

Buying a boat is a whole lot easier than buying a house, mostly because its practical people (boatyards and surveyors) involved rather than bureaucrats (solicitors and mortgage companies).

If you have the cash available, and can really find a suitable boat, then you should be able to get it all done in a week or two.

One problem is that if the current boat is not right then you will need to look around and the boat you find may be some way away. Then you need to find a local surveyor and yard, and move the boat to its new home.

Do look at lots of other boats before you make a final decision.

 

A good surveyor, or experienced boaty friend could have a look at the boat in the water and make a good guess at the condition of the hull, but that's a bigger risk than an out of the water survey.

 

..............Dave

Finding the boat may not be so hard as there a couple around we like, we have the financial backing of Yolandas parents, and once we have one, can re-sell and get a new one. I know there is 1-2k involved that might be lost that way, but one of the boats we are looking at we are particularly fond of. There is a possibility we can push back the move date to the end of October, that's when our lease runs out here in Norwich. How does that sound?

 

Don't go and rush into it like this. Look at lots of boats. Take some time. Can you both persuade a friend or maybe a relative to rent you a spare room for a couple of months? You may possibly save the rental by finding a good deal on a boat. This time of year might not be a bad time to buy though as the season for some drawing to a close.

It's quite possible this could be now or never, though if we rent for 12 months we can use that year to look for a boat and then move. The longer we leave it, the less likely we are to be able to buy our on house on land in 10 years time though.

 

Yolanda might be able to rent a room from her Aunt in Cambridge for a few weeks, giving us a bit of time, but only her, that leaves me until 31st October, not just to sort a place out, but to shut this place down, cleaning, repairs, utility bills and furniture.

 

 

 

 

 

Are there any questions I should be asking boat owners before I buy? I only really know what I like to look at inside the boat, as I want to live on it, I know very little about engines etc

Edited September 23, 2015 by ceryni

[nbfiresprite]

The job is in Cambridge so March might be difficult but I have looked at it. I would like to talk to you about Foxs actually. There is a newly refurbished boat there I'm looking at tomorrow I might buy. Any thoughts?

 

 

Commuting from March to Cambridge is not problem. It is something that I have done for a number of years (as do many others). Foxes is only a few minutes by bike from the station. The first train of the morning to Cambridge is the 7.32am which arrives at 8.03am.

Edited September 23, 2015 by nbfiresprite

[Alan de Enfield]

It depends on your outlook to risk.

 

I have had first viewing, paid cash for and then driven away a boat within an hour. (It only took that long as the owner had to remove all his personal stuff)

If you want lift outs, surveys, blacking (to replace what the surveyor has removed), transfer of money by banks and so on and so on it WILL take weeks.

 

I have said it before - but - if you roll up with to the viewing with £30 - £40,000 in a carrier bag it is a big incentive to the seller to 'do the deal'

 

 

Edit - Particularly if its only advertised at £10,000 !!!!!

Edited September 24, 2015 by Alan de Enfield

[Athy]

The job is in Cambridge so March might be difficult but I have looked at it. I would like to talk to you about Foxs actually. There is a newly refurbished boat there I'm looking at tomorrow I might buy. Any thoughts?

 

.

 

 

The only one I know of which is for sale there is one of their hire fleet, a 62 footer which will be available at the end of the hire season, i.e. soon. Is that the one you mean? Fox's hire boats are built on site from the ground up (unusual nowadays) and you need not worry about the quality.

 

Fox's don't do brokerage, so if that's not the boat you mean, it must be advertised independently and I haven't seen it, I sold a boat at the marina last year and I had to advertise it myself.

[cuthound]

Having found my boat, it took 17 days from my offer to being dry docked, surveyed, and transferred to my ownership.

 

Finding the boat took 9 months before the 17 days.

 

Don't rush it, or you may well regret buying in haste.

[Peter-Bullfinch]

I would have thought any bank manager might have raised eyebrows if any one turned up with £30-40,000 in cash and said they had just sold a boat.

[Alan de Enfield]

I would have thought any bank manager might have raised eyebrows if any one turned up with £30-40,000 in cash and said they had just sold a boat.

 

Could not comment - once I have handed over the cash, the boat is my 'problem' and the cash is their 'problem'.

[dmr]

Its getting quite hard to pay your own money into your own bank account these days, and for a sum like that the bank would want written evidence of where the money came from.

Its actually easier to take it out than to put t in!

 

.............Dave

[John V]

Its getting quite hard to pay your own money into your own bank account these days, and for a sum like that the bank would want written evidence of where the money came from.

Its actually easier to take it out than to put t in!

 

.............Dave

 

Your right....I was startled a few months back when I was queried over of cash I was paying in, It wasn't what I would consider an out of the ordinary amount.

[patty-ann]

I guess with all the scams about banks have to respond. I've just had to block and cancel all my cards and accounts following software hack into my Mac. The banks response plus fraud squad very reassuring as things now put in place to recognise these attacks. At banks for me it's reassuring when they check money issues. I guess some people think it's intrusive tobe questioned about large deposits etc but if there hadn't been criminal activities in the first place then these measures would not have been set up.

[ceryni]

OK so aside from talking about banks cash and fraud.....



The only flat that we were happy with has been denied to us on account of my not having a job yet.....pricks.

 

We have a mooring and we're putting the deposit down tomorrow. That's that sorted. It comes with utilities, parking space, postbox, storage, security gate to marina and costs £660 per quarter.


We are still looking at boats but we are confident we will be moved in by the end of October. I have listened to all of your warnings, but the fact is, cosmic synergy, or whatever is telling us, this is the path of adventure we take.

 

We're doing it guys, I'm actually going to liveaboard. I only dreamed of this moment when I started the thread.

Edited September 25, 2015 by ceryni

[Athy]

OK so aside from talking about banks cash and fraud.....

 

 

 

The only flat that we were happy with has been denied to us on account of my not having a job yet.....pricks.

 

We have a mooring and we're putting the deposit down tomorrow. That's that sorted. It comes with utilities, parking space, postbox, storage, security gate to marina and costs £660 per quarter.

 

 

We are still looking at boats but we are confident we will be moved in by the end of October. I have listened to all of your warnings, but the fact is, cosmic synergy, or whatever is telling us, this is the path of adventure we take.

 

We're doing it guys, I'm actually going to liveaboard. I only dreamed of this moment when I started the thread.

What a very heartening post, Have a greeno. Where is the mooring? It sounds like quite good value. Not Bill Fen by any chance?

[blackrose]

Since you started this thread a couple of years ago it's clearly not a flash-in-the-pan idea for you. Good luck with it.

 

Not sure where you are but you're welcome to visit me if you're anywhere near the Warwickshire Avon.

[MtB]

The only flat that we were happy with has been denied to us on account of my not having a job yet.....pricks.

 

 

 

Any landlord renting to someone without an income is asking for trouble. I'd have turned you down too.

 

Calling a landlord a 'prick' for making a sound commercial decision makes you sound like the 'prick'.

[ceryni]

Well well, that's a stout assertion to make about someone you know nothing about, since you don't even know what the conditions were or what the situation was. My partner who would head the lease could afford the rent for both of us for starters.

So how about you get the hell out of my thread? I may be a newbie after all but I would have thought a community man with 17k+ posts would be a little more tactful. Typical forum soap opera BS. Seen it all before.

 

Thanks.

 

 

P.S. Landlords have protection for that kind of thing, especially around here.

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: wording

Edited September 25, 2015 by ceryni