chubby

Hello all Does anyone have any general info or opinions as to the standard of Coles Morton boats at all please . I have seen a 52 ft cruiser on Apolloduck . Infact its been there a long time . Im a little concerned as to its age - built in 1982 , which seems old but if they are / were a good builder then i might be less so. This boat has a BUKH DV20 engine which my research seems to suggest are very good . The ad says the engine and gearbox were rebuilt 2 yrs ago . Is this standard thing to do with an oldish engne - rebuild it ?? Also it has no BSSC , no recent survey , no license etc ( i wouldbe arranging a survey if i go any further ) . Price is 21000 which i d seek to lower further too . Im just seeking some honest advice really as to whether an old boat like this , with rebuilt engine and gearbox is worth considering . My budgets are quite low so it could be an option but not if its likely to turn into a floating money pit but have no probs paying out for repairs etc if its viable . Many thanks Any opinions would be v helpful - this would be my first boat .

Mike , Cheers again . My thoughts exactly re " peak buying time " . Last week you helped me with your thoughts on a boat called Jenny Wren & Whilton marinas buying procedure and i thought then that i have shown my interest & if come the autumn its not sold i will / might get back to them . I want to buy soon ish because its to become my home but ultimately theres no hurry . All the extra time means more learning &, more looking , which will only help in the long run . The weird thing with Springer - my thoughts are similar to yours , are that A - it appears to be a high standard of refit - DIY or otherwise B So , its possible that this work / money / investment was done because the hull is sound - it seems like a reasonable amount of money to spend on a refurb on the off chance of hoodwinking a novice blinded by " a lovely bathroom " , but i daresay it does happen . Lots to think about Cheers again Mike , and again to everyone who has replied - maybe in the fullness of time i ll be able to help someone else going thru similar predicents Chubby

Richard , Please accept my sincere apologies . I thanked Alan for the link to the thread re the recent Springer survey . Im mortified , especially as people are so generous with thier help - Sorry again Chubby

Alan & Mike Cheers yet again . It is a pretty shocking price . On the apolloduck ad the date at the bottom i noticed is from april so its been for sale for 3 months(at least)? I can only assume that its looks are going to be a "clincher" eventually .? Why on earth would a broker put a boat up for sale at £ 7,500 - £ 10,000 above its value ?? Do people get blinded by looks etc? Can there be any point contacting the marina about ( very ) cheeky offers ? I was v interested to see that thread about another Springer - thankyou Alan .i do think , to a certain extent , there imight be a bit of truth to the theory that steel may of been of a higher quality yrs ago ?? Headaches are on the way - its not even 8.30 yet !!! Cheers again , chubby

Hi Chris Thanks for your reply . Expensive - this too is my opinion at this point . Nice fit outs are all very well and good but ........ Could it ever be worth considering ? Even with a huge reduction in price ? Lots of things seem good , but its a long way from home to go to find out otherwise - especially if the mechanics are likely to be knackered too . Seems like too much potential for problems !? Cheers again Chubby

Hello all , Ive asked a couple of questions recently and been very nicely surprised with some replies . People are very generous with thier help & opinions for which i am extremely grateful . Ive seen a boat for a liveaboard . Interior is , for me , very nice . 55 ft - perfect as i can go anywhere on it , Cruiser stern , inverter , oven , hob , ( important - i used to work as a chef infact on a narrowboat restaurant . Best job i ever had ! Sorry , i digress ) fridge , solid fuel stove . BUT its 30 + yrs old . Springer . - and hull / steelwork is way way more important than looks . So my complete novice question is - is this too old for the money . Even replated is it too risky ? Its up for £27,500 . ? Thanks as always for any help - Bluwater marina - sorry cant do the link thing ? Bluewater Marina , thorne , yorkshire Did not seem to endmy question politely !!! Thanks for all help and opinions , Cheers - chubby

Hello Thankyou everyone who has replied. Ive been away for a few days and have just checked to see if i had any more opinions . This site is fantastic - everyone is so helpful . I have got to be the most hesitant potential boat buyer ever ,but its bigmoney to buy and possibly an evenbigger pit to throw what littles left into ! Just to clarify - i would need to get it onto the Thames as i work in London in tourism , so for around 8 months a yr at least i need to be close ish . The rest of the time ??? . Maybe travel overseas , or maybe travelaround on my boat - its why i want my liveaboard to be a narrowboat . My only real option mooring wise is Gravesend , on the Thames as just about everthing else costs a small fortune and almost impossible to get . No CC ing for me in London . Any alternative mooring suggestions would also be very helpful . Once again heartfelt thanks to all whove helped - im going to open a new can of worms about Springers shortly ! Cheers Chubby Chubby

Hi goodboy Thanks . its a 2 way thing really because these boats do alot of hours , but i would imagine this means they get serviced regularly ? As hire boats i imagine them to be solidly built , or at least there might be parts / areas of the hull that are strengthened ?? Might be wrong ?? Im considering a 60 footer and it too will need alot of work inside ( any engine or structural stuff will be left for the experts if i proceed after veiwing) , but mainly cosmetic stuff and electrical or plumbing . They appear to provide more space for less money provided the hull and engine come thru largely unscathed . Its all theory with me at the moment - i need to go and view it . Its on apolloduck 24995 tingdene marina Cheers again , chubby

Hello , Im looking to buy a narrowboat to live on ,moored up in marina s for most of the time , but will want to take my boat out from time to time . Budgets are quite tight - 25000 max really as i m looking to keep some money for contingency probs . Does anyone have opinions on these black prince ex hire boats ? Pro s and cons ? Horror stories or happy endings etc . Im sure they might divide opinion but are they built strong , solid reliable engines ; probably thrashed )? Any help , advice , very welcome , cheers chubby

Hello Mike ,and indeed all who have responded , I have spent a good deal of time recently looking on Apollo duck and there are several boats from time to time that are possibly just within the budget if i pushed my luck . Maybe up to 26000 max . Not much maybe - if i could spend more i would , but im looking to hold back some " contingency " funds for work that will almost certainly (definately ? ) crop up . My budget is part of what made me consider Jenny Wren as if they had they moved on the price a little and then I had to spend some money on various internal and mechanical/structural work then it could all have been good . Never mind . I m not looking to hammer down prices , or make a "steal" etc , just to find a fair price dependant on condition that is good for all involved. The search continues ........................ Cheers again to everone - some important questions are being answered and helping with my dilemmas . This forum is fantastic - i ought to have signed up earlier Chubby

Thanks again Mike , As we see demonstrated above - i am not quite there yet ! Your comments as to the BSSC certainly make sense now . At the back of the boat ( the stern ............see i AM learning !) in the bedroom there was a tangle of wires looking like someone had thrown a plate of spaghetti against the wall . Even to my inexperienced mind it did not look like work that should have a certificate declaring it as "Safe" and that there really ought to be some sort of box there instead !!! ( I have a friend who is pretty clued up as to what this actually is called which is just as well really ) So , i guess that this would be one of the jobs needed to be done when , and only when a deposit had been received . You have cleared up this question so thanks alot Mike . Cheers again Chubby

Hello Mike the boilerman To answer your question - yes i am struggling ( a little ) . Computer literate i am not , but hopefully i am making some progress ??? Cheers Chubby

Hi Graham , Honestly - its nothing like that . It seems to me that the narrowboat community is a smallish one and i really don t want to come accross as someone " bitching and sniding " about brokers etc . Even if the broker is trying to take advantage of my naivity then i understand that - we all have to make a living etc and to them i almost ceratainly came across as as novice and a " fender kicker "( like that expression ) and treated me accordingly ( my offer was a serious one though ). That said i have no intention of passing on excessive amounts of my hard earnt money . ITs at Whilton Marina - called Jenny Wren 23,000 - 1991 , burden bros , BSSC - 2016 , anodes 2011 , blacking 2011 . Its BECAUSE they are a big marina , and BECAUSE they sell alot of boats that i am a bit baffled by thier buying process ." we 'll make it legal , put a safety certificate on it etc " is how they put it .................... but thier website indicates it already has a BSSC !! It just seems to suggest my inexperience is dictating thier stance . Ultimately , im prepared to walk - there will certainly be other options so i don t understand the reluctance to do a deal. Again , many thanks to all who help - v much appreciated

Dear Dave , Tam and Richard Thanks very much for your very quick replies - i am very pleasantly surprised . I will go back to see the boat again if i can be sure im not being taken for a ride . Also , its not a complete rip out and start again interior - more like - fit some new kitchen units / flooring / move the stove sort of a job , so no reconfiguring layouts etc but an updating or facelift It seems to me that either - The broker knows it to be basically sound ( blacked 2011 , anodes 2011) and may need v little work were i to have a full survey done and therefore the full asking price minus this work ( if any ) represents a greater profit / fee / percentage and is expecting me as a consequence of my inexperience to say " go on then " OR The boat is not in the best condition , but is prepared to do the minimum necessary work ( this boat is for me to live on so im not looking to achieve " barely legal " but want to feel confidence in its structural integrity ) to get it insurable . And is therefore also looking to take advantage of my inexperience . I am happy to pay a price quite close to the asking price and arrange a surveyor who is working on MY behalf - not the vendor/broker . I receive a written report which i then use to decide whether or not to proceed . Even if , for some reason i went on to sell it a year later for instance , i would still be in possession of a recent enough survey to make it possibly more attractive to any other potential buyer .But the broker seems as if they will accept nothing but the asking price . Its only a headache for me beacause i do really like the boat . I walked on and went " yes " , but then who whole offer / buying process seems to have been turned on its head ?? Maybe im too cynical - but this does represent a good deal of money to me and im happy to spend it and whats needed to make it as i want it to be , but cannot afford to get taken advantage of just cos im new to the way of life .. Many heartfelt thanks again - and to anyone else who offers advice , Chubby

Hello all , I hope i haven t started a topic covered elsewhere , so i apoligise if this is so . I m new to narrowboats and new to forums . Life seems like one big learning curve lately . Anyway , I ve been looking into buying a narrowboat for a while now , doing lots of reading on here and elsewhere on internet . it seems that many say you choose a boat using both brain and heart . I ve viewed a boat lately that seems to tick many boxes - mostly of the heart and budget . My brain is not yet convinced - mainly because of inexperience i guess. I put in a bid , subject to a survey , which was rejected ( it was a few grand under ! ) . My " problem " is this - The broker has said if i pay the asking price he will ensure it is "legal" for insurance purposes.If i were to pay the asking price it would still be quite low ( i think ),( 1991 cruiser , 50 ft ) and fits my budget . It needs work inside , no worries - its the mechanical stuff that gives me the fear of committting. To my mind this seems like its not the usual way of buying ( according to my research ) and for reasons i cannot put my finger on makes alarm bells ring . So am i right to worry ? or is this quite common ? 23,000 plus fit out costs seem ok to me but at the same time i don t want to be taken for a ride because im a novice . any opinions will i'd be very grateful for as my mind is suffering a meltdown - hearts says yes , budget yes - brain says no .. Many Thanks - sorry if its a bit long , chubby