Magpie

Hi any boat movers or crews available after the 14th of May to move a 40 foot narrowboat from half way up the Ashby to Mercia Marina near Burton on Trent? If you are available please reply with contact details and price to bricabrac16@gmail.com. I can pick you up and drop you back within a reasonable distance thanks

All winter permits · Permits will be sold only to continuous cruisers registered with us as at 15th June 2013. I am new to boating and due to licence the boat at the end of this month when the current licence expires - at the moment its not a CC licence but I will change it to that. I assume the above means I cant get a permit this year? this seems very strange that they picked a date when they issued a notice not taking into account new licences or renewals.

A good report on the BBC website today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22781247

A good source of free wood is the local authority tree cutters - they actually prefer to give it away than take it to the landfill tip, so if you see any in your travels stop and ask. Its normally in the winter/early spring when then prune the larger trees, but you would need a van/trailer to take it away and somewhere to store it. A friend of mine heats his boat with free wood sourced this way

Survey completed very extensive took the surveyor 8 hours! now waiting for the written report, but it appears there are only minor problems that I think the vendor will be sorting as part of the sale. so all being well i should finally own the boat by the end of next week!

Wow deckhand I'm impressed you have secured your mooring so early. just sorted mine out to move onto it next week. Dave_P dont know what to call it? cant call it magpie as its blue not black

thanks for this Grace & Favour i have just saved this in my bookmarks - at the moment I am in a motorhome in a car park and didn't realise the local council office block was blocking my signal moved forward 10 feet signal restored!

just getting a full pre-purchase survey done at Merica marina £562

thanks everyone all sounds like sound advice - especially as I'm a novice even though as Phoenix_V says its a cut down version of the full cover

Thanks again everyone for your good wishes, guess I better find a copy of the short story and have a read then Susie_q yes going to keep the boat at Mercia at least for a couple of months whilst I get used to life afloat

Poor guy lets all wish him well

Hi does anyone use the Towergate Mardon Breakdown Assistance provided by RCR as part of their boating insurance? I have been offered it as an add-on to my boat insurance for £45 - as a complete novice just buying my first boat I think it would give peace of mind a bit like the AA with a car

Thanks everyone for your good wishes I'm sure the survey will be OK - yes its "Socksy Boy" which seems a funny name to me especially as I hardly ever wear socks, its normally just deck shoes

Thanks for the quick replies - and I shall be offering drinks to anyone who is around when the sign writer finishes

I am a complete novice so please bear with me, I have finally gone and done it - after looking for what feels like months but was probably only a few weeks I went to Mercia Marina on Friday and put a deposit on my first narrowboat a 40 footer from 1992! managed to get a boat survey booked for next Thursday so really excited. I have been on the net for a few hours getting quotes for insurance etc. I think I need to rename it, is that bad luck? If the boat already has a licence do I have to still apply for a new licence once I take ownership?