Bettie Boo

The way I see it, is a survey would pretty much be a waste of time & money for you ol' timers who have been around boats & engines since you've been knee high to a grass hopper, you know what to look for and where to look for it. However, for us folks who are new to both the world of boats & engines, a surveyor is a good investment. For instance, when we were looking for a boat, I knew enough to open cupboard doors and sniff to identify if there was any damp smell, but I wouldn't have had a clue to ask if there was an inspection hatch in the main cabin to see if there was any signs of damp or water in the bilge. I wouldn't have had a clue how to check to see what condition the insulation was in or how thick it was, nor would I have had a clue what to look for when looking at the hull unless there were large gaping holes. I also had no clue about the proper amount of ventilation to look for and the list of things I didn't know just goes on and on. So with that said, we were very clear with the gentleman selling the boat that our offer price would solely be based on the outcome of the survey - after all, we were paying for the survey, he was taking it out of the water to be blackened anyway so it wasn't costing him anything extra. He asked if we would mind if he was present during the survey so that he could rectify anything that was found on the day, even though he was fairly confident there wouldn't be much. Most things he was ale to sort out whilst Trevor was there, there were a couple of jobs he was unable to complete on the day as he either didn't have the tools or parts, but sent our surveyor pics of the completed works within a couple of days. Since he completed everything highlighted on the survey we were happy to pay the asking price which as it happened was a few thousand less that what the surveyor said the boat would be worth in his opinion. As it stands, boats of the same size, condition and age as ours are still being advertized for a few thousand more than what we paid for ours 3 years ago. And if the boat is anywhere close to London, then we are talking over 10 - 12K more For some folk, 10 - 12K isn't a lot of money, for us it is. But that's just our experience, I appreciate others are different.

Oi - folks will think you can't be bothered to read my posts

LOL - Just a wee one, 6.5 x 7 foot - just big enough to use for coal storage in the winter and during the summer a couple of deck chairs and a small table - lovely for catching late afternoon sun and consuming some refreshing bevvies once we are moored up for the day if the sun is behind the boat or the tow path is ucky

Ahhh talk about bad timing...we gave 4 of them away a couple of days ago to a boater we met on the towpath as we were mooring up. Bought them for ours, but they didn't fit, so Dave will now make ours out of some spare decking boards he has on the roof.

Well we lost one in Braunston marina along with the chinaman's cap, the second chimney on the GU going into the off side bushes as the hire boat coming towards us felt they needed to stay in the middle of the cut while we passed each other, the 3rd one is held on with a chain Some lessons take a little time to properly learn

If it were me, I'd either get someone in to give me an estimate to have everything put to rights and that along with the survey ask for a reduction in the asking price to cover the costs of having everything put right OR if it's being sold through a boat yard ask them to fix all the highlighted items to Your & your surveyor's satisfaction if your happy to pay the asking price. However, I personally would be rather cautious in buying a boat that sounds like it wasn't very well looked after or serviced. As in, if they couldn't be bothered to afix the tiles properly in the bathroom or look after the stove, I'd be asking how well they looked after the engine servicing. Just my thoughts... I'm sure others with more experience will be along shortly to give their advice & opions Good Luck

I've had ours going for the past two nights We are now dipping into the wood we had set aside to dry out & cut for next winter's kindling I've still got the winter duvet on the bed as well

Sincere & thoughtful condolences from both of us to you in this time of need. If there is anything practical that we can do please don't hesitate to either ask here or through a PM - even if it's just to chat Betty & Dave

Sorry can't help with any practical experience on this one, but IMO (& pilfering one of MtB sayings) I think they look Fugly Wasn't there a female forum member who kept a MB in/on her front well deck? If said Motor Bike isn't already in your position, why not look at a couple of folding electric bikes? To be honest, I thought giving up my car would be the hardest change - to be honest 2 & 1/2 years in, and it hasn't been an issue at all.

OMG - can't believe I've only opened this thread this evening. What a great thing you are creating! A true craftsman I know nothing about plumbing, fiberglass stuff or motors & their mounts - but after spending numerous years as the partner of a traditional wooden boat builder back in Canada, I can say you have some Very fine wood working skills. You should be very proud of your work and what you have achieved so far.

^^ Very good advice IMO

I'm sure some would like it Ray, but it's two square for my taste, I'd have the electronic one on that red boat you linked to earlier before I'd have the square one above. To each their own

Funny - when I started this thread - who would have guessed it would turn into a competition of "The Weakest Link" ? Just joking, thanks all for the reassurances, suggestions & experiences, as always much appreciated Ta B~

See - I just knew you would "get" what I was suggesting...I guess it comes from working in a business which relies just as much on "customer service" as it does on the quality of the finished product. Some businesses believe they can still get away with poor customer service as long as their finished product is of a good/grand standard. IMO this is no longer acceptable, and customer care should be given the same level of attention as the finished product. It would certainly make the difference to me as a customer if I was going to recommend someone or not. When it's a "product" based business, I expect them all to provide a certain standard of finished product, it's the customer care that can more often than not be the deciding factor on the recommendation I give.

Fair point - however if I was paying upwards of 140K for a boat, and someone asked me to share my experience about the boat builder, I'd be happy to share both the good and not so good points...but like I said, I don't exactly fit the "norm", nor am I British so I tend to look at things somewhat differently as far as customer service goes hasten to add - ^^ wasn't meant as a dig against British customer service, it just differs to what I was accustomed to for the first 1/2 of my life

Give me a break - U know that's not what I was implying They (the builder) would Obviously contact the previous customer first to ensure they were happy for them to hand out their email address, I do believe they would be breaking data protection if they didn't, never mind it wouldn't be setting a very good example of their customer care would it?

Not sure how this would go down, but if I was looking at choosing a boat builder, one of the things I would be asking them is if they could supply a name and contact (email even) details of anyone they have already built a boat for recently...and then make contact with them asking questions about how they found the customer service / quality of build was.... but then I not exactly normal or British

OK - I'm sold....however 'im at the back says somethin along the lines of "over my dead".... (that's when I stopped listening)

That's not a cratch cover Ray - it's a bloomin conservatory! I wonder if they do one for a Wide Beam

When we had the cats it was great, we used to keep the covered litter tray out there and which ever side of the boat was on the tow path we'd leave the back zipper up about a foot and they could come & go as they pleased. They would both want out about 10 ish in the evening, one would use the loo and come right back in; Zebby wouldn't be seen again until the wee hours of the morning; so if we were both wanting to go to bed we could shut and lock the front doors and not have to worry about him being left out in the rain overnight (no cat flaps in front doors) he'd happily curl up on a wee kitty blanket which I kept on top of the litter tray Since we lost both cats, the front cratch cover has been rolled up and tied to the top board, it will be put back into use this winter and again used additional storage for coal and drying out wood. Although our front doors are wood they are virtually draft proof, the glass in the doors are double glazed. I get more of a draft from the mushroom vents than I do the front doors.

Kinka but not much OMG - We were ROCKED today All because 'im at the back, didn't put the "steaks" in properly nor did he tie us up tight enough He used 2 pins at the stern, but only one on the bow line and didn't pummel it in deep enough, & sure enough no sooner had he left the boat (and me) than the first couple of boats passed and the front pin came loose and all of a sudden the bow is a foot - 2 foot adrift. Another boat comes by and I'm in a WB thats rockin & rollin - for the life of me I couldn't figure out what was going on till I stuck my head out the side hatch and noticed the amount of play in the bow line. On with my shoes and out I go to reset the pin and tighten up the ropes/lines. All is better now, but just thought I'd share the experience. Now I can understand, with first hand experience what happens when using mooring "steaks" if they aren't used properly or with two together...even a WB can be made to rock & bang about Also, I now have a bit more empathy for narrow boaters who moan about their boats rocking = it wasn't a very pleasant experience

I thought the same as DC