weswally
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Posts posted by weswally
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Good luck with the search.
Thanks for your time BluString,
In response to your questions / topics:
I've been keeping an eye on Whilton marina for a few months, I actually saw that 'Leap of faith' boat listed a while back, and loved the tug style bow. It was £17,900, dropped to £7,900 so I called instantly this afternoon but someone's already put a deposit on it. Apparently she needed overplating. Man, I just want a boat of my own so bad but I think the crux is I need to save a lot more and find something more sustainable to my lifestyle.
I've looked into boat finance before, so i could pick up a £30k boat for instance and pay it off, but usually mooring is essential as they won't let one CC with finance.
My main things in the boat is a nice kitchen. A good sized bed (I'm a tall lad) and an area to work that's seperate to my living area. I'm a designer / musician by trade, most likely need to hide some instruments under the bed etc.
Solar panels - these are one of the first things I looked into when I started my NB hunting crusade a few months back.
Once again, thanks for the help Blue String! I might need to keep saving so I don't end up with a hunk o' shite!
Wes,
Honest answer; for the 30 litres of fuel plus a good lunch in Cardiff (cheaper than Penarth!!) I wouldn't bother looking at the one in Penarth Marina. I suspect it will need a lot of work to get it to a suitable state to cruise continuously, from more suitable equipment to 3 or 4 batteries, plus it will be expensive to get it onto the main canal system.
Look at boats on The Duck, say south of the Midlands, as you now appear to be doing.
If you and the girlfriend haven't done it yet, go and hire a boat for a week or two, and see how you get on.
Good luck.
Graham, Thanks for the offer mate.
I might ask the seller a few more questions regarding power etc, but the general forum consensus is this boat is not right for me, and me for it at this stage.
I think I'll make a trip up to Whilton this weekend and have a gander at what's on offer!
Cheers!
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What's your budget, Wes? I'm sure we can point you in the direction of other boats to look at that are better kitted out for what you want to do and so will likely cost you less in the long run and be less likely to fail to meet the needs of the lifestyle you're trying to create.
The argument over CCing in London is a whole n'other issue which I won't go into as it'll take the whole thread off topic as always on this forum. But I do suggest you have a backup plan (eg. Have a think about how far and how much money are you prepared to spend on commuting to London from a range of other waterways should you struggle to CC in London)
My Budget's currently around the £15000 mark. I'm willing to buy something that needs refurbishing, as I work freelance and can take time off when required to renovate. I've looked into Marinas in Essex and Uxbridge as my "second option" though really like the idea of moving around regularly, although winter's coming!
My min capacity would be 40" such as the boat listed above. As I'll be sharing it with my girlfriend. Probably max would be 50".
There's a few boats on 'duck which I might go view this week/weekend in London which I'll post below:
http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=386141
http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=386262
http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=386034
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I emailed the seller and requested more photos, hope these help.
You can see the space where a shower would fit quite well if those cabinets were removed.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4hviubr3xc23fqu/AACQY2f_9HSg1R070hZCz8Jwa/DSC_0592.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4hviubr3xc23fqu/AADgDCsp71LIOAQM0W7Vk-KKa/2014-09-25%2012.45.23.jpg?dl=0
Thanks again for all the feedback so far. You've changed my perception from a mouth frothing rookie buyer to a sceptical marine power surveyor analyst.
He also mentioned they would get a BSC for her as part of the deal.
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As others have suggested above Wes it seems that a little extra research would be a good idea. To get you started though...
Assuming you want to CC (as you have stated) you will be off grid. So you will be creating all of your own power. Your main source of power will most likely be your engine, but you may also have solar (a very good investment) and or have a small generator. Whichever combination of these power sources you have, they will all do the same thing, which is to charge your battery bank. This battery bank will then allow you to use electricity on board your boat. The batteries produce (well technically they don't produce it, only store it) 12V DC electricity, and it is most efficient for you to use DC devices on board (your lights for example, will be 12v DC, you would be wise to acquire a DC laptop charger etc). You can also get 240v AC electricity from your batteries (to run "normal" devices like in a house), but this will require an additional piece of kit called an inverter.
Right, so that's all of the components in the system... The difference between a boat and a house is this: In a house your power will keep on coming, however much you use, in a boat your batteries can run out. Even the basics of modern life (lighting, phone charging, fridge, running water, laptop, beard trimmer) constitute a significant amount of power for a small boat set up, and you may find you have significant issues providing even that amount of power. For this reason anything that can not be electric, is done away with. Heating is provided by a solid fuel stove, or gas. Cooking is done with gas. Lighting is often provided by oil lamp or candles. In colder months fridges are turned off and food stored outside. And many of life's luxuries are just not an option! Power tools for example, microwaves, food processors, hair dryers, washing machines, immersion heaters... Very few people on boats (and almost none on boats in your economic group) have the power to run these devices.
It is essential that you understand what all of this means before buying a boat, otherwise you could be left in a very sticky situation indeed! If you don't know this stuff and you go to view a boat you may well be served a nice cup of tea (made with the electric kettle on the shore power connection) in a cosy warm saloon (heated by a freestanding oil filled radiator), while you transfer a deposit to the guy using his laptop (plugged in to shore power, and using the marina WIFI), thinking you had a pretty sweet deal. BUT none of these things would be possible once you bought the boat and were chugging down the GU!
Boating is a lifestyle change, what I have talked about above only really deals with electricity, which is a small scratch on the surface. Do you know other people on boats? Probably a good idea to chat to them... Also, as mentioned above you should do some serious research into what it means to CC in London.
Best of luck!
Edited for type O's.
Thanks for this very thorough response Tom, I really appreciate it!
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Look, I don't want to burst any bubbles here,
Whilst non of us have seen the boat, just (from) the photographs it suggests that you've some very high power requirement equipment aboard, (oven, hob, 'fridge) - - the first two require 32amp 240v supply, (which very few moorings are supplied with - - hen's teeth springs to mind). You could, if really needed, run a fridge from both a 16amp shore supply, (more common on moorings) or from a large battery bank together an inverter (circa £2k) - - and some means of charging the batteries (as your boat engine probably isn't sufficiently powerful - it'll need a decent generator)
I seriously hope you have checked out all the requirements of that statement - and, if you are really clever, telephone your nearest CRT office and have them explain how they expect you to move, and maybe also look at London Boaters Facebook pages.
The bubbles been burst!!
I'll contact the seller and ask about the voltage requirements. But as you've pointed out it seems this boat is designed to be permanently moored in a (Cardiff) marina, and not CC'd. I've done a lot of research on CCing in London, recently joined the London FB group etc. It seems a lot of people do it. How come no-one else has trouble running their fridges and microwaves?
Pay me my diesel and a good lunch and I'll take a trip down there!
This is a very tempting offer!
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Where in the boat were you imagining the space for a shower?
I was imagining opposite the current toilet location...
At that price there will be something seriously wrong, like it needing a lot of welding. But I am sure you have done the homework and are well aware of the pitfalls.
I have done the homework over the past few months, but for this boat, I haven't had it surveyed. The ship broker told me the hull was blackened 2 weeks ago? Sounded promising.
Could the bathroom/toilet not be turned into a wetroom? Mine has a very similar looking corner sink, except it has a central mixer tap, the head of which pulls out and can be mounted on a bracket on the wall, this forms the shower. I'd say my wetroom is only slightly larger than that bathroom.
That is what I was thinking too, though I've read some nasty things about NB wetrooms in the winter, trying to keep the area dry etc.
Unless I'm missing something - - you will only be able to run (any) of the 240v electrics providing you are connected to a shorepower supply.
Do you have a mooring (with power) already organised?
(Or will you be buying a 5Kw generator?)
Hey Grace,
Thanks for this. I'm not really aware of how boats are powered and what is required to run a boat of this size. By the sounds of your post, there is something not right with the boats power supply? I plan on CC'ing the London network.
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Hi guys,
I've found a boat which i'm keen to go view this weekend, it's in Cardiff I'm in London, and I'm keen to turn it into a live aboard for me and the Mrs.
The only thing is, it has no shower.
Can someone lead me in the direction of someone that fits showers/ or a website where I can browse NB shower prices?
Here's a link to the boat:
http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=385613
The boat will also require lifting out the water and transporting to a Canal, possibly near London. I've been quoted £1000 by the Ship brokers. Is this an overpriced estimate?
Thanks for your time again!
Wes
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You could try Latelink
Thanks David
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Hi,
I'm not sure if anyone's aware, but a music festival called Jabberwocky in London got cancelled yesterday, 3 days before it was due to happen this weekend, and myself and my friends (including some coming from Berlin) have had our plans blown out the water!!
I'm currently saving for my first narrowboat and thought it would be a fun idea if we hired a narrow boat for a day cruise / overnight trip somewhere close to London?
Does anyone have a boat we could hire, or know of the best option. I understand that it's really last minute but thought I'd give it a go.
Thank you very much!
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I asked this very same question, albeit about a couple of other sites, a few weeks ago. Hang around here and read the forums, and do a lot of searches. Next to the search box there's a button to do an advanced search. Click that, then put a keyword or two in the keyword box. Then use the drop down to only search in titles. Doing this I've learned a hell of a lot from these guys over the last few weeks! Good luck
Alright, thanks Trailer Trash, will do.
I'll definitely be steering clear of these bait offers, and am grateful for your help guys. Thanks to Pete & Helen for their in depth memory bank of boats for sale too! Funny how it was for sale on these forums for £30k, only a few months ago but now on these scamming sites for £6700. Abysmal.
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If you do a bit of searching you can normally find the real advert.
one of the boats you saw for £10K
is in fact up for £49,950 on here, the real advert
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Canal-Narrow-Boats-for-sale/starline-measham/27266
I've reported this one to the owners (via the real advert) just in case the scam affects then
Thanks Pete & Helen,
Here's another website to look out for:
http://www.pumaprint.co.uk/boats-for-sale/1994-leet-gien-ii-40-ft-traditional-narrowboat/
This boat listed is too good to be true. I tried calling the "owner" last night, and the number didn't exist...
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Pick on some strange or unusual combination of words and google them with an exact word match, scammers are so lazy they usually lift the whole ad so you'll find both the scammers ad and the real one. Zoom in on the pics and see if you can read the licence plate and boat name, real owners show the outside, scammers usually don't, too much of a give away.
Thanks kevini for the tips!
I usually google search the boats name, and then search google images. It comes up with an array of different interior and exterior shots from multiple websites of the same boat. Obviously some of these websites prices seem to good to be true, and the websites themselves feel like they were thrown together to con a few scams then disappear into the ether...
Fake advert (£5,150).... http://www.boatsforsaleuk.co.uk/starcross-narrowboat-traditional-stern-with-new-isuzu-engine-2270/
Real advert (£29,000)... http://narrowboatstarcross.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/starcross-is-for-sale.html
Brillliant mate! haha!
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Hi !
I'm really interested in buying a Narrow boat to cruise England and live on board, and have come across some legitimate, and some not so legitimate websites, websites selling really good looking narrowboats for really cheap?
Does anyone recognise the following sites?
http://www.boatsforsaleuk.co.uk/
Some of the Narrow boats are selling for around £6000 -£7000, and they look better than boats on apolloduck selling for £25k +
Could anyone help me?
Much appreciated,
Wes
Fitting a Shower!?
in New to Boating?
Posted
The boat that started this topic was based in Cardiff
. I've never been restricted to London. i actually WANT to find one outside London cause I couldn't think of anything more satisfying then cruising it around the UK for a month.
There is still hope!!
haha, such a good point. I was talking about Royscot larch, who I'd imagine would be pretty onto it. But I'd imagine a lot of people do this.
Thanks for the tips guys!!