Hi, I am new to boating and this forum, I am considering buying a boat and becoming a livaboard Continuous Cruiser. I have done some research including reading many posts on this forum which I have enjoyed very much, so I hope that my questions aren't too tedious. I am hoping to buy a NB for £30,000 I would like it to be 45ft, have trad stern, cassette toilet and a washing machine. I am flexible about the length say 10ft either way.
I have been thinking about this boat http://www.braunstonmarina.co.uk/Findaboat/tabid/66/id/261/boat-name/Allsorts/Default.aspx which I like very much, My concern with it is that when I first saw it it was priced at 29,000 it went down to 27,000, it then had a period of being "Under Offer" this period ended and now it is priced at 25,000 this all happened in just a couple of months. My suspicion is that the offer was subject to a survey that then turned up nasties and the sale did not go through? Is there another logical explanation for this series of events? also why the rapidly decreasing price quote? Obviously I would get a survey before buying but they are not cheap and if the signs are that it has problems I would rather save the money. I feel that I would need to improve the specification by adding a washing machine, which would also require plumbing and a new inverter would it not? and I would like a diesel heating system, Webasto or similar and a couple of radiators. what would these modifications cost roughly, could I afford it? Where would be a good place to do to get this work done? Is the Rockwool insulation adequate for a livaboard boat? or do I need better insulation?
Another boat I am considering is http://www.braunstonmarina.co.uk/Findaboat/tabid/66/id/306/boat-name/Eclipse/Default.aspx it has a much better specification but the sellers would have to accept a lower offer, some of the styling is not to my taste but how hard can replacing the carpet, the kitchen unit doors and some other minor interior decoration be? would this be a more viable option then improving the other boat? I am aware that everyone has their own solutions and what is best is what works for the owner, but any guidance or just personal opinions on these matters would be very much appreciated, thank you for taking time to read my post and thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer