aimlesswanderer15

Has anyone used The New and Used Boat Co to buy a boat? If so, what is their service like?

That's really helpful, thank you!

Hi All, I have been looking for insurance and there are a number of companies out that offering similar packages. Do any of them have particularly good / bad reputations? I'll be new to narrowboating with no experience (gulp) so any insurance company that looks kindly on this will be a benefit!

Sounds like a plan

Oh ok, that's cleared things up - thanks!

Hi all, I've seen a number of narrowboat for sale and they have been advertised as "tax paid". What does this mean? Do you have to pay tax when you buy a narrowboat?

What kind of after-sale support would you be looking for? I've never bought a boat so wouldn't know lol

Hi all, I am looking at buying my own liveaboard and have been looking around to see what's on offer. I've come across a number of different marinas and brokerages, some of which have rather poor reputations. I'd like to hear about peoples experiences with different marinas and brokerages when they bought a boat, both good and bad!

Well, as I don't have a boat in Birmingham yet my opinion wouldnt be based on any actual experience. I think any investment in the canals would be welcome - having lived in Brum for 10ish years some of the canal network looks like its been abandoned. I hope the new money, if and when it comes, would help to redress this. Narrowboats played a crucial role in Brum's development yet its not something Birmingham takes much interest in beyond encouraging tour boats. I think there needs to be more of a focal point for boaters, esp liveaboards and narrowboat-based business, in the city.

I've been reading about the HS2 development in Birmingham and about the so-called "canal quarter". Does anyone have any opinions on this?

Any shop that sells tupperware gets a plus in my book

I've heard that Birmingham has much better facilities than other parts of the country. Obviously I have no idea if this is true - anyone got any thoughts?

I prefer a longbow to a shotgun, call me old-fashioned

I used to live around Kings Norton - it seems nice but has a terrible problem with graffiti and litter. One of the boats I was thinking of getting would need to come up the GU from whilton. What are the main things to look out for on the GU?

Dave_P Thats interesting as all I've heard is people complaining about GSB. How long have you been there?