Dave_P

I have to say this is really disappointing and short sighted. Not just because it makes a mockery of the current morring reduction trial period but because of the further impact on the towapth. Back in 2016, the north side towpath was resurfaced from the city centre,, out towards Wolverhampton. At that time I was doing my post-grad thesis on 'towpath conflict' and how changes to the built environment could either increase or decrease it. I spoke at length with A*** M******* who was the project lead for Birmingham City Council and J*** H***** who was the project lead for CRT. As part of these meetings we discussed the towpath 'improvements' on the north side and I was told that the same would be done on the south side at some point. I expressed my concerns about this, my comments being along the lines of "now that one side is done, it has pushed many towpath users to the other, muddier side so they can get away from the cyclists. if you do the other side the dog walkers etc will have nowhere to go". Having 2 towpaths means that 2 different surfaces and approaches can be adopted and everyone can be catered for. It was like talking to a brick wall. Both of them simply couldn't conceive of a reason why a towpath shouldn't be tarmacked if there's money to do it. I was met with blank stares from both of them when I tried to explain the problem. In 2016, the money came from the DfT via a thing called the Cycle City Ambition Grant. I presume another pot of grant money has now been awarded and again CRT and BCC can't think of anything to do with it but to tarmac more towpath. I was told in 2016 that the towpaths were chosen because they were "quick wins". In case you were wondering, yes I found various postive correlations between 'improving' towpaths and various negative outcomes, including more accidents and injuries and towpath users being driven away. It's also worth mentioning that the works done on the towpaths are often in direct contravention of the Trust's own guidelines for towpath design, introduced in 2013 https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/original/6873.pdf?v=cafb81

You first. https://www.lpropertylawyers.co.uk/is-it-a-good-idea-to-raffle-your-house/

When I'm ready to sell, I'll certainly put it on here.

Is this for me? I can see the potential but what if I fail to sell enough tickets? Those house raffle things work because the companies doing it have a big reach and advertising budget. It could be a money-spinner though I suppose? £2 a ticket maybe? I'd like about £45k for my boat so if I sold 23,000 or more tickets, then I'm winning. Are there 23,000 people who would buy a raffle ticket for a boat? I quite like this approach.

What gave you the idea that the mooring is transferable?

The paint is FAR worse than just blistered with rust. Also as said earlier, it's part repainted, but it's also been touched up over the years with various non-matching paints. If it was just blistered with rust, I'd just polish it, definitely. I think so too. Like said earlier, it's a sound boat. Reliable, well equipped, in good nick inside etc. But the first impression of it is bad. I have an experienced amateur painter who is pencilled in to paint it for me in April (I've seen their work and it's a lot better than mine). I've got to get the angle grinder out first though to do the prep.

Ok well Beau's paintwork is nothing like that. It's also partially repainted last year so really does need doing. It's a good honest boat but the first impression of it isn't great right now.

You haven't seen the state of the current paintwork...

Do they charge VAT on the selling price or the brokerage fee? I'm not too bothered about that. I'm either on the boat or 10 minutes away.

I like it! Perhaps I should also befriend an influencer and get them to post something about it? I hear this!! I think my priority is to maximise the price. But maybe the reach of a good broker means I can get more for it which would offset the broker's fee? Is £4k standard? I think I'm in the wrong job!

What about option 3? Do you think that would attract more buyers, especially first time buyers?

That depends on the asking price surely?

I'm planning to put my boat up for sale in the spring. I'm not quite ready to sell yet as there's some jobs I want to get done first and I'm having her painted in April to make her look her best. I've never sold a boat before so I'm wondering the best way to go about it. My options: 1. Take the boat to a brokerage and let them sell it. Pros: It might sell quickly and I don't have to do much. Cons: They take a cut, but I'm not sure how much? £1000? £5000? Anyone know? 2. Sell it myself from my current mooring (they don't have any rule against this). Pros: I get all the sale price. Cons: I do all the selling work. 3. Sell it myself from my current mooring but offer to take it to wherever the buyer is. Pros: I might get a higher price. I get to enjoy one last cruise. Cons: Not sure? 4. Take her down to that London and put her up for sale there. Pros: Might get a higher price. Cons: Time taken to get there, then I have to keep going down and moving on, unless I sell very quickly. What are the wise thoughts of the forum on all this? Of course, if anyone reading this is looking for a tried and tested liveaboard, let me know...