Talpa

Hi, Apologies in the delay at getting back to you all, I had no time in the week to look into this until yesterday. All it took was a tightening up of the connection at the starter motor and it then started first time. Such a simple little thing, but I think we assumed the worst when it wouldn't start. Thank you all for your advice!

I'll make sure this is the first thing I do next and I'll report back. Cheers.

I did just check the starter with a meter with no load. Tried to jump start with domestic batteries, which had been charged on a generator beforehand with no luck. So I'm assuming it's the starter.

Yes there is a clicking noise when the key is turned. And pretty sure there is a drain on the battery when doing so as the light dims. I will check all the connections tomorrow. Engine is a mercedes om636 if this is of any help.

Hi, Our narrowboat engine will not start. It is not the starter battery as we have checked the charge on this. What can we do to check the starter motor? We have tried giving the starter motor a knock (as advised by a fellow boater) but this hasn't worked. The other advice was to spray WD40 all over it (don't have any on the boat atm). We were going to try this tomorrow, but firstly any more or any different advice? We would like to solve this ourselves if possible before having to call someone out to have a look at it. Any advice please? Cheers in advance

Thanks all for your responses, Im glad this is just a problem with living on a boat (well for some) and not a underlying problem with ours. Just one more question, I was going to carpet with under carpet insulation the entire floor of the boat however Im worried that condensation will form under it and I'll have to replace a moldy carpet once a year? Any recommendations? Thanks again Stuart

Hello We've recently bought a boat and this is our first winter on board but are having a few problems with condensation forming on our floors. The main areas where it forms is under our furniture and bed. The floor is not the best surface, its old office flooring very shiny laminate floor boards. We have tried putting some carpet under the furniture and bed to insulate however condensation just forms under the carpet :-( If anyone would be able to offer any suggestions or has had a similar problem please let me know. Thanks for reading Stuart

I've been to view the first boat, and it's not good! Engine was under water and inside the carpets were wet. Thanks for the suggestions though. My predicament is that I thought I had found 'the one' a few weeks ago, paid for a survey, but the hull was really badly pitted. On the surveyors advice I walked away from the sale. I don't have a huge amount of cash so now I'm wary of taking the risk of getting a survey on a boat which doesn't have a previous survey for me to see. I can't afford to keep getting surveys. I am considering asking sellers to pay for the survey and refund them if it is good and I want to go ahead with the sale. Would that be reasonable?

Thanks for the feedback so far. I'd just like to add that I have viewed these four boats (aswell as many others) and from those viewings I have decided they are boats that I would possibly like to purchase. I am now looking for other opinions before I decide on one or none of these.

To clarify to everyone else, I am planning on getting a survey carried out before making any purchase.

Hi, I've decided to buy my first narrowboat to liveaboard. I've decided to get something between a 40' to 50' because my budget of max £20k and I want something easier to handle. There are a few I have looked at recently (I've viewed a lot more!), all with their different pros and cons. Below are links to the different boats and so I'd just like people's thoughts and opinions on them, whatever they might be, to help me decide on which to look at further. http://www.notts-boats.co.uk/narrowboat-rallentando.html A 47' 1984 cruiser. Needs a lot of work inside, remove the carpets, pin up ceiling, put in multifuel stove, build a fixed double, but could then be made to my taste. Also it has been lengthened in 1998 and I have not heard of the builder. Good hull survey from 2011. Obviously I would offer a lot lower than the asking price due to the work. http://www.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=254550 A 40' 1997 cruiser. Ready to go inside, all works. I've not heard of the builder. Never had a survey, but regularly blacked. http://www.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=253922 A 47' 1974 cruiser. Not much info on the advert but I've viewed the boat and the inside is exactly how I'd have it, so nothing to do. Beautiful Harborough Marine bow. Only worry would be the age and condition of the hull. Not been surveyed by current owmer of 9 years. http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=259272 A 40' 1989 cruiser. Inside all ready to go, a few changes to make to personal taste. Above budget so lower offer needs to be made. I'd prefer the extra space provided by the 47 footers but not essential. The fact they are all cruisers is just coincidence.