tonyt40

Can anybody recommend surveyors in West Yorkshire?

Well folks my original concerns are now settled - I had an offer accepted (subject to hull survey) on an 11 year old boat that's been out every 3 years for blacking since new so i'm not expecting too many issues. Thanks for all your input. That is some serious project JohnV.

Thanks for all your input on this one. I shall try and keep away from plating if possible but as Neil said, it's down to the depth of my pockets at the end of the day. Accepting that a good job is carried out has anybody had problems with cooling? I also heard that it affected how the boat sat in the water at the next BSS examination it failed for the exhaust being too near the water. I guess a survey will pick up on any skin fitting issues.

Thats one way to find out Athy . Obliviously not one you want to repeat. I have seen a couple of boats around the year 2000 so I'm presuming that they won't have had or need any work on the hull. One was last blacked in 2011, the other in 2012 so they have been maintained and anodes are visible on both. Nearly all the boats at the boat graveyard (Whilton) had evidence of plating. I read somewhere the correct way to check the weld is go over every inch with a centre punch and check for bad welding. Not an easy task for any body particularly after its been blacked. I asked the question about the effects on the cooling after the swim was plated over on the that was awaiting work. I was told it would be fine?

Hi I've been to look at lots of boats this week both locally (Yorkshire) and over to Whilton / Braunston / Crick. I have seen a few that appear to have had overplating works done on the swims and sides and therefore I would suspect that more had been done under the bottom. One was awaiting a full overplate that was going to be re-surveyed later by the owner. After are fair bit of reading the downsides I can see are:- Problems with skin cooling boat sitting lower causing problems with skin fittings Sagging bottomms leaky welds leading to corrosion between the plates On the plus side its got new metal and extended life if done correctly. What are your thoughts on overplating. Should I just keep looking?

We went to Whilton today. My son described it as the Narrowboat graveyard. We looked at about 8 in the sub 30k range. I felt I needed a shower when we had finished. Only one of the boats was even passable.

I went to have another look today. The hour meter isn't connected (spade connector on + is off) so that answers that. Not sure how long since it was started but after 15 secs of pre heat it kicked up quite quicky and settled at idle showing 40PSI on the oil pressure gauge. No smoke to speak of. It has an oil leak round the sump that needs some attention. I found the cause of the rusty water stains - the seal on the top of the cap is missing so once the spring lifts there is nothing to hold the water in! I wasn't able to take it for a run but will be doing soon. Decision time me thinks!!!!!!

Hi Is it reasonable to ask the seller to pay for at least the basic survey or split the cost? The boat I am looking at hasn't been out since 2011 and there is no other surveys available. That way we both gain (and I cut my losses). If its not to be the seller would then have a copy which is an obvious selling point. What do you think? Antony

The clock on this one is reading 0298 but its a 4 digit clock so is it 0298 or has it been round and is 10298? Is it even the original clock? Who knows. If it was the higher I would expect the boat to be quite "lived in" at 14yrs old that equates to about 7.5 hrs a day, 5 days per week for 20 weeks of the year for 14 years . The rest of the boat just doesn't show that much wear. Bearing in mind it is a leisure craft I would think that would take some doing!

I have seen these at work and thought they would be good for freeing snagged items. They are designed for cutting rope / fabric / webbing etc. They are completely blunt on the outside so you don't accidentally shop off bodily parts if you slip. http://www.spservices.co.uk/item/Brand_Res-Q-HookRescueKnife_76_0_2463_1.html There's even a hole to attach a cord so you don't lose it.

Sorry Alan my mistake got it confused with another boat. You are right the listing states perkins.

Hi Can anybody identify this and tell me a bit about it. It's in a boat I'm looking at. Thanks in advance.

All this food talk is making me hungry but back to the matters in hand. Well we went to look. Two completely different things. We have taken into account that we won't be living aboard and it will be used for holidays and weekends for us and our 14 year old son. In a few years when he doesn't want to spend time with us we would look at something with eventual liveaboard in mind. Here are my observations:- Calm Waters For Modern Boat - We could use it straight away. Pram hood provides good external space - we like it New batteries (1 x start, 2 x leisure and a huge one!). Eberspacher hydronic heater plus calorifier. Large Durite inverter. Modern electrical and plumbing systems. Ideal starter boat? Two saloon areas (ideal for teenager) Against Engine compartment cluttered but generally tidy. No bilge pump evident so possibly why there is water in the bilge. Quite a bit of black oil below the engine needs investigating (not started today). Needs blacking No Oven (or microwave). External paint a bit dull but generally o.k. No stove Bed needs making up. Trinary Venturer For Quality shell - although tired Stove Size Permanent double bed Paintwork tidy Blacking and anodes look recent. Good space on front deck. Against Ford engine Interior wants gutting from the saloon backwards - we want something that doesn't need too much work straight away Systems all original Pump out toilet - not ideal for short term usage So there we go. Time to reflect and consider what we saw and plan in some more viewing. Going to Cambridge next week so I think we'll arrange some viewing in that area.

Were pikey engines common in narrowboats? I suppose there will be plenty of spares available . If I buy it do I keep quiet about the engine to avoid shame or use it as a talking point for the purists?

No. Just a preliminary look to see if we like either layout. There are more pic's of the boat on Google - It used to be burgundy with a wooden interior. Looks like its had a recent makeover. More here https://www.flickr.com/photos/21742037@N03/2102516141/in/photostream/

Hello I'm going to look at these two in the morning. What do you think? Calm Waters - http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=388476 Trinary Venturer - http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=388544 Any thoughts on these? Thanks for your comments in advance.

Hi Peter. It is CV Marine at Dewsbury where I am viewing on Saturday. He has two on the brokerage I'm interested in and one of his own that's just being painted. I haven't been to Thorne for a while. I will see what they have listed. Thanks for the offer. If I see anything I will let you know.

I'm new to boating only having hired before. There is this thing called the "Pennines" between us and Manchester. The shortest journey from Manchester to here would involve 126 locks and the Standedge tunnel. I like a challenge but I wouldn't really see this as goer for the first time out in my own boat. How many weekends would it take me? One step at a time me thinks.

I agree Peter. Just a bit tight for holidays at the moment as I'm changing jobs in December so it would take me quite a few weekends. Have you seen much for sale down your way?

We are looking for a boat at the moment (1st one). They seem to be selling lie hot cakes - at least the ones in our price bracket - up here in Yorkshire. we are viewing another two (poss 3) next Saturday. If not we will have to look further afield. Quite a few in Lancashire but don't fancy tackling the enormous number of locks between here and Lancashire just yet and don't really want to mess about with road haulage!

Thanks egret. I just did some searching on the web and filled in the detail.

Hi Has anybody had any work done by Supreme Marine at Castleford? I am looking at a boat that is going in for a full overplate job there shortly. Thanks Antony

Thanks Ray.

Newbie error! How do you do that? What is the gearbox then - any ideas?

These are the piccies that went with my original post Engine https://www.flickr.com/photos/127728847@N07/15293256087/in/photostream/ Gearbox https://www.flickr.com/photos/127728847@N07/15479477832/in/photostream/ From the sellers description it is a BMC 2.2 engine but what is the gearbox?