Leaderboard

Presumably since on the whole C&RT don't cope, the few stalwart copers who do cope need repairs more often?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Narrowboat-50ft-Traditional-Stern-/194388530273?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0 I am not in the market but spotted this boat on eBay recently. At only 2 years old (& 2-packed hull) it seems like it could be a good buy for someone. Obviously it isn't set up for cruising and would need some money spending to equip it for being used as a actual boat rather than a floating caravan. Anyway I thought I'd share in case it fits the bill for someone.

When I fitted my bare shell out I paid £100 for the engine (ex Telecomm Sherpa BMC 1.8). Comprehensively re-conditioning the engine was all part of the enjoyment.

So was Peter !

Directional log-periodic on a pole plus a sub £20 signal finder. Probably b=get the lot for £30 or so

I suspect its a home fitted job and maybe does not have the paperwork to satisfy brokers, so the owner wants shot. That might explain the price. And if so, a marinised secondary Kubota industrial engine may well be a money saving thing. I would not take the Beta as necessarily being true.

I wonder if we could have some equivalent of an 'L' plate for new members, pinned to their first few posts, so old timers are reminded to cut them some slack. A new member may well be totally unaware of just how much of a bear pit this forum can be. I still can't wrap my head around why anyone would have a problem with a new member posting about a good experience from a canal business. We need more positivity on here. I note those members have not apologised. You could buy a used outboard and get yourself home with that for less than that.

Well I guess that's another new member well pissed off because some didn't like their first posting. I am surprised anyone joins if they lurk a bit first and see how new members get treated

I've had those after a lot of beer and a curry

I disagree - if someone knows little or nothing about a subject, how can they know if a boat is at 'market price' or 'overpriced' ? Knowledge and experience of a market is the only way to tell. If a boat is considered to be overpriced by someone then they will not buy it, but someone who does buy it considers it to be 'market price' I think diesel is 'overpriced at ~£1.40 per litre as I used to pay 28p per litre, and some years before that 5* petrol at 4 gallons (18 litres) for £1.00 Maybe I should stop buying it so the vendors know I cannot be duped ! In the last 3 years some of my vintage Gun collection have increased in value / price by over 3x using actual achieved auction sales of similar models. In the last 5 years ,my house has more than doubled in value, and since it was built in 2006 has more than trebled. in value. One 'person of thrifty origins' perception does not a market price make.

Why do you lose the VAT, I've never understood this statement, particular as there are instances of people buying and then selling the boat for a higher amount. For years, people have been on waiting lists / booking build slots for new boats, cars etc and then selling it as soon as it is built, the new owner has no waiting and gets his instant gratificatiions for which he is prepared to pay a premium. The VAT is part of the purchase price, just as is the Buisness Corporation tax, light and heat, labour costs and profits are. The purchase price is the price you pay. Do you worry about the VAT content when you buy a new car, new shoes, or windows ? The seller loses the VAT because he has to pay it to HMRCE. Please explain it to me and show your workings.

I have 4 UFO vents fitted, including 1 over the shower, there's never been any condensation drips from them, personally, I chose to fit them on the new build and find them very good.

Decent inverter etc needed. Be interesting to know if anyone here has been to look at it. I suspect Tony's caution is justified. Aaaaah - composting toilet, that will have knocked a few grand off! 😄 I wonder how many new boats get fitted with a rebuilt engine? Is this quite a common money-saving practice? I'm intrigued.

I certainly can't argue with you about hassle of obtaining up to 10 25kg bags of coal each month, and hauling them around the boat. I'm not a fan of that. But that said, if you can use the fuel boats, that does minimise the 'gathering' bit, although it does mean having several bags of coal on the roof, in the cratch, etc. I used my diesel CH (radiators, but blown air) in Oct and Nov last year whilst CCing, and I found the boat generally felt a bit damp and cold in the mornings. I set the CH to come on early, but the racket it makes put me off a bit, especially if there was a another boat moored close behind. But the transformation when the coal stove was put in was a game changer. Immediately the boat felt drier at all times (none of the early morning dampness in the clothes I'd left out), and the humidity levels plummeted from 60% or more to about 40-45%. Maybe even too dry at times. I did a few social trips by bike to visit boater chums during December, and although my legs felt frozen when I got back, the stove had kept the boat warm and welcoming. It was almost worth the trip just for the pleasure of getting back into the boat at 9pm on a freezing December night. I am a coal convert, I must admit, but I can understand those who are not fans. No matter how careful I am, I can never stop some dust escaping, so there is the constant job of keeping on top of that. Each to his own, of course, and I think blown air is a great option (and deals with the humidity issue as well), but I bloody love that coal stove. I think its become almost a religious thing. I may start sacrificing small mammals to please the Fire Gods.