tonyt40

When I look at what's available in the sub £20k budget at some of the bigger boat yards you are right. I accept we are looking at the budget end of the market but even so there look to be some decent boats out there with more modern engines and much better layouts even in the smaller boats. After 15 yrs of caravaning I really don't want to make the bed up every night! Where we are in Yorkshire there aren't any big yards around which I suppose takes the pricing competition out of the market. I have just been browsing ads for yards around Nottigham and there are quite a few in our price range. I think we may be taking a trip south in the next few weeks.

Hi Alan. He's having the work done at Supreme Marine at Castleford.

Well went to have a look at the boat. It is down as a semi trad but wasn't. It was trad and access at the back was tight. The paintwork is tidy. The interior is pretty much 1983 as it left the factory and to be fair wants ripping out. The owner has booked it in for £5k worth of overplaying but has put the price up yesterday to £18.5k!!!! For what is pretty much a project. The layout is all along a central gangway and is set up to sleep 5. It hasn't had any batteries in the last 4 years. The bilge was about 3 inches deep ( the pump is not auto and the bowl had overflowed). Over all not impressed. I am a bit concerned that if it is overplayed the skin cooling will be affected and I mentioned this to him as it is due for fully plating to top rubbing strip. The weed hatch needs replacing and extending as reported on survey but if it's extended I wouldn't know how you would be able to get to it anyway. On the plus side he will get the hull survey redone on completion but I'm not sure I will be going back. Too little boat for too much money I think.

So I just spoke to the owner and we are going to look at the boat on Sunday. It is currently at a boatyard ( he is not sure if its in or out of the water) awaiting a new bottom as the owner had a survey done (which I haven't seen yet) and that was the recommendation. Assuming we like the boat I would intend to agree a price and leave a deposit based on an" all o.k." on the remedials basis from the surveyor. Does that sound like the way to go? He is also getting the BSS done at the same time.

Hi Tony Thanks for the info. I will take some pics when I go on Sunday and try and work out what it is. I can't get my head round why engines from the 50's were making there way into boats in the 80's? Would you normally find an hour counter on an engine like this? Anything I should be looking at or asking about the gearbox / drive? Thanks Antony

Thanks guys. I will go and have a look at the weekend and see what its all about.

Anybody got advice on the engine - Are spares still available? What should I look out for?

Hi Alan. I think the BSS is just due soon and from what the seller said the surveyor had recommended he get it re-done to appeal to buyers.

Sounds like the best idea Alan. Thanks

Hi Richard. Thanks for that. It is advertised at £16k (with repairs and new safety cert). From the pics I have seen it is immaculate but dated. The chap only lives a few miles away from me and I think the boat is local so it should be easy to keep an eye on any works that are done. Antony

Points noted. The seller says he is intending to get the work done and a new safety cert before he sells it. I am wondering If I would be better for me to get a quote and get the work done myself and get him to reflect it in the price. I will get to see a copy of the survey when I go to view.

Hi Mike Thanks for your prompt reply. It's 6ft 1inch. Antony

Hi All. We are currently looking for a boat and are going to look at one at the weekend. Its an 1983 Colecraft 37ft fitted with a BMC 2.2 engine. I am no expert but this seems a bit large for the boat size? I assume fuel consumption will be higher than a smaller engine. Will this engine size effect handling? I am also concerned about the age of the engine and spares availability. The seller has had a survey done and overplating has been recomended. The seller is intending to get this done before selling (although I am not sure its been done yet). Are there any questions I need to ask about the works - what thickness of overplate? Thanks for any advice you can offer. Antony

Hi All. My name is Antony. My wife and myself are currently looking for a boat. We have been looking for quite a while but not found the right one yet.We have hired and went to Crick this year to get the low down and some new ideas. I have been gongoozling on here for a while and decided to participate in the forum. Thanks for having me. Antony