which ones please

[Dar Kuma]

I've had a few days to have a look round the internet at some boats and plan on going to see a couple

in the next week.

I won't be able to do all of them due to being in cornwall and have to do a course on the 6th may and have to be back

for that, I have made a shortlist.

So I'm hoping a few of you will set my path so to speak and bearing in mind some of these are at the very maximum I can afford.

 

thank you in advance.

 

38"Saiorse : http://www.bluewatermarina.co.uk/BoatDetails.aspx?boatid=130

27'Colvic northerner : http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatMergedDetails.jsp?boat_id=2524474&ybw=&units=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=32024&url=

Hancock & Lane : http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/105939715/narrowboat.html


Yes, I know it's one of those.
http://greathaywoodboatsales.co.uk/images/pdf_files/Random%20Brochure%20Main%20Page%20%28Read-Only%29.pdf

a touch bigger
http://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/used-narrowboats/details/2256.aspx

Colecraft : http://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/used-narrowboats/details/2480.aspx

something different? : http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/motor-boats-for-sale/canalnarrow-boats/8m-offshore-lifeboat-NWT076

Muffin : http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=280492

And lastly, jade : http://www.boatshopuk.co.uk/index.php/page/sale-boat/boat_index/0932

[Naughty Cal]

The Colvic is the only one there that I would even bother going to look at!!

[Dar Kuma]

I quite like the colvic too Naughty, only problem is that I can only use half the canals with it unless I go coastal which is scary.

[Naughty Cal]

Not a problem.

 

Our boat is too wide for the narrow canals but where we cruise from we have a huge range of wide waterways to use. We have moored in Lincoln for five years now and have hardly scratched the surface of the avaliable cruising ground and that isnt through lack of trying. We use our boat a lot, at least four nights per week including every weekend of the year (we have missed one weekend in the last five years due to being snowed in at home)

 

Plus we are only a days cruise in either direction from the coast when we fancy heading out onto the salty stuff, which is usually for at least three of our five weeks holidays per year. This year we are back to Wells next the Sea at the end of May and have a couple of weeks off to do the trip to the Norfolk Broads in the summer. Coastal cruising is great fun.

[Dar Kuma]

If you have a boat fast enough, the colvic is a fair bit slower than yours, I would be coastal crawling.

[Ally]

A good few of those have their BSS certificates running out currently....don't go for them unless the vendor is willing to get them re-certified for you first.

Random looks interesting for the money, and has 3 years BSS remaining. Doesn't say what the insulation is, but I would take a look at that one possibly. Hard choice though.

My personal feeling would be to look at ones I could cruise wherever I wanted. Ask yourself if you want a permanent bed or are happy making one up daily. Will you need a shoreline or not? etc etc...that will reduce a few boats to even less. Any idea of recent surveys is always helpful. Haggle hard. Get your own survey. In the end, one of them will just 'feel' right, and you'll walk on some and walk straight back out shuddering.

I would try to get to ones in brokerages though, if time was limited, as they may well have other boats to see that you have missed or aren't on the internet. Don't rule out ones slightly above your budget, just haggle lots....then some more! Try and plan a route that takes you past other brokerages so you can nip in on spec and see what is available too. Early starts, late finishes, make notes as you go, and have a large bag of sandwiches and drinks with you!!

Good luck!

[Naughty Cal]

If you have a boat fast enough, the colvic is a fair bit slower than yours, I would be coastal crawling.

Nothing wrong with that. You get to enjoy the scenery.

[Dar Kuma]

yeah, will be taking a 35 litre lite pack for the trip, good call on the certs Ally, I'll keep that in mind.

 

shoreline no as I will be CC'ing most of the time after I get my belongings on board, this will be my future home so I can't

really mess about, It's gotta be right the first time, and I hope I don't bugger it up by making a wrong choice.

I can cope with making a bed up, as long as it has a good hull and engine with heating/stove that's all I really care about.

I have a solar panel to charge small electronics up and have actually made some small LED lanterns.

 

Can't wait to enjoy the scenery Naughty.

[Naughty Cal]

Even though you plan to CC it is worth having shore power for the odd time you might find somewhere you can plug in and recharge the batteries.

[Dar Kuma]

A shore hook up seems reletively easy to set up, shouldn't be a problem.

[nb Innisfree]

Our boat is too wide for the narrow canals .

 

Phew...

 

Only joking, can't post a wink emoticon.

[Dar Kuma]

you are not trying hard enough nb.

Edited April 23, 2013 by Dar Kuma

[Naughty Cal]

Phew...

 

Only joking, can't post a wink emoticon.

ASBO is though so we can always come and visit

[junior]

They all look very erm...., small to be living on!!!

 

I am used to basic living. I currently live in a converted double stable (24ftx12ft) and have been used to military barrack rooms for 10 years previous to that. I've been to look at loads of boats over the last 6 months and there is no way I could live on anything smaller than 40ft without going stir-crazy. In fact I've stopped viewing anything less than 45ft now.

 

Is there a mooring specific reason why you're only searching ikkle boats?

[OldPeculier]

Nothing wrong with little 'uns I spent 2 1/2 years in a 20' springer. Only moved out coz of a lady.

[tree]

Nothing wrong with little 'uns I spent 2 1/2 years in a 20' springer. Only moved out coz of a lady.

I recon it all depends on each individual person and their personal requirements, my boat is only 38ft but she is perfect for me and I will even be able to incorporate an office area for work I have lived on a 70ft trad many moons ago adn with 2 lickle 'saplings' was always tidying up lol and the boat seemed never ending. The only reason that I will upgrade to a 45ft in say the next 4 -5yrs is for when one of my 4 ' saplings' may make me a 'nannie noo-noo' lol ( granparent for those who dont understand 'tree talk'

 

When i was looking for a boat over 2 yrs ago,I did look at bigger boats, but then decided what space did I actually need. Once I saw my boat I decided that to make it absolutley perfick for moi, would be a pram cover and a front cratch cover. I am at present living in a 4 berth caravan and the space seems enormous ( even with my massive amount of clothes lol). IMO it all depends on how a boat is laid out as a 70 footer can seem cramped and tiny while a say 45 footer can seem opulent.

[Taslim]

Hi Dar Cuma.

 

I also ask why so small a boat?

 

I am looking to move aboard but feel the need for something about 50'+ for a narow boat.

 

Tree has a point about percieved size & I am ok in a horsebox saloon but it is tall and wide.

 

Of your list I'd be up for the "one of those" 'cause it is & all in the best posible taste(ish). #2 would be Annie B as a blank canvas but the orange number has got to be the winner. Never mind the truck, just motor it back from Aberdeen to where ever?

[Grace and Favour]

Hi Dar Cuma.

 

I also ask why so small a boat?

 

I am looking to move aboard but feel the need for something about 50'+ for a narow boat.

 

Tree has a point about percieved size & I am ok in a horsebox saloon but it is tall and wide.

 

Of your list I'd be up for the "one of those" 'cause it is & all in the best posible taste(ish). #2 would be Annie B as a blank canvas but the orange number has got to be the winner. Never mind the truck, just motor it back from Aberdeen to where ever?

I think you'll find that the OP - Dar Kuma, went off in a huff (or maybe a minute and an huff) over a week ago

[junior]

I think you'll find that the OP - Dar Kuma, went off in a huff (or maybe a minute and an huff) over a week ago

Link?? I like reading people going off in a huff.

 

There are a couple of threads on the General Boating page ('Fed Up' being one of them) where several posters have given the classic "I will not be reading or posting in this thread again", only to go on posting plenty of times.

[Ange]

Link?? I like reading people going off in a huff.

 

There are a couple of threads on the General Boating page ('Fed Up' being one of them) where several posters have given the classic "I will not be reading or posting in this thread again", only to go on posting plenty of times.

It's a forum classic. There's a few people do that all the time - I try to stay true to my word when I say "I'm done here" but it is difficult sometimes! Some of us are truer to our words than others

 

I can think of one member in particular that has to have the last word at all costs, even when he's said "I'm out of here" a few times.

[IanM]

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=56028

 

Starts going downhill by post 16

[Naughty Cal]

I think this

 

http://www.burtonwaters.co.uk/used-boats-for-sale/boat-details.php?BoatID=4325418

 

is a cracking boat for the money. Tidy thing as well.

[Dar Kuma]

twin control on a single engine naughty?

 

i do like that though....

[Naughty Cal]

Twin diesels.

[Dar Kuma]

In the ad it says only 1 engine though, unless I'm missing something.

 

obviously missed something, allthough it does state twin engine in the description.

Edited May 12, 2013 by Dar Kuma