Hi Dave, thanks some good advice there, the fit out I am planning will be of the higher end and I dont intend on skimping on too much. My eldest brother is a semi-retired cabinet maker as is my future father in law, so I'm expecting a lot on the fit out, another of my brothers is a plumber and a good all rounder. I work in a tech college as a tutor and previously worked as a self employed builder, as most builders dream of building a house I just want and always have done dreamt of building my boat and living on the cut with like minded people.
I understand what you say about buying second hand but I know exactly what I want, a 57' go any where traditional narrowboat with a reverse layout, bespoke ivory cottage style kitchen, Eberspacher heating, squiral stove, four port holes, five 32" windows and a sky light in the bedroom centred above my full length bed!! She's even got a name Mallory...