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sirweste

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Posts posted by sirweste

  1. So I bought him! Picked him up from Ely on Friday and spent the night there after the owner giving me a lesson on driving and turning etc. Saturday was mostly faff, went the wrong way for a hour before realising at popes corner that the map I was using mislead me into thinking I could get to March that way, turned around and leant on the engine a bit to make up some lost ground!

     

    Spent the second night just north of Ely in Littlesomethingorother, then today I've been motoring along at 6mph before comic to a dead halt at Denver where there's this massive structure that I can't get through without booking.

     

    Just ridden me bike back to Ely to get the van and am now settled in for the night! Loving it so far, though it gets a bit chilly, I need a better coat! It's lovely to be indoors again living the easy life with all the mod cons!

     

    Cheers

  2. I realise that the fellow who posted seemed to be trying to get peoples backs up, and then someone posted a link to the NHS guidance, and then lots of people said it's doesn't say anything about preferential treatment....well if you can be bothered to read it(I'm bored at work):

     

    It is also important that Gypsies and Travellers are wherever possible fast-tracked into

    primary care services – recognising the fact that they may be forced to move on, and thereby be denied

     

     

    section 8 PAGE 7

     

     

    I also realise this is massively off topic

  3. Survey was doing be today and the boat passed as was expected. Couple of pits, but are both coated for now and not of concern. Glad I got it done though, was well worth it for £200 outlay (with the bill split and survey in vendors name as planned).

     

    Deposit paid, just got o find a lender that will give me £20k now!

    Sorry. Mistakes - on the phone

  4. Yep you're pretty much on the money there Loafer.

     

    I've had direct experience with seller, surveyor and boat yard, having made it this far through life I'm happy to trust my opinion of them.

     

    I absolutely want a regular survey done, just don't want the paint scraping off for no reason. What does a survey compomprise of? Measuring the hull thickness and...? is that all thats done? If so it's tempting to just rent an U/S from olympus!

     

    A quick edit to say I'm obvioulsy not serious about renting the kit, in the future it would be something I'd consider though, like at it's next painting.

  5. Obviously the hull thickness needs measuring, else what's the point of having a survey, my point is that I am going to try to get it done without removing the paint as that's a completely unnecessary step when the surface is smooth.

    At this point I'm still using the guy that the owner got the number of, I have absolutely no issue with this, and I am still continuing with the 50/50 split but I take on board the advice given.

     

    Cheers

  6. A wee update.

     

    Boat yard has been suggested just over a hours "boat drive" (what do you boaty people say?) from the current location, by the surveyor.

    Price is good an I'm happy. I suggested me and the seller go 50 / 50 he cost with the survey in his name so if it fails he has a survey, if it passes I have a boat and a copy of his survey.

     

    My only concern now is the 3 layer paint (Hempal Hempatex). I'm going to speak to the surveyor again as I didn't realise it was likely that they wouldnt be using standard U/S equipment to measure the depth. The hull should be smooth and so is highly likely to create a good surface for acoustic coupling, as such I'd really rather the paint wasn't unnecessarily removed.

     

    Cheers

  7. Aye so I wasn't too far out then, only gonna get a hull survey as I don't see the need for out else.

    Will be contacting the number he gave me first as a starting point, I'm happy about going with the number he got, I don't feel he is trying to scam me nor do I think the Boat Yard who gave him the number is. It comes down to time with me, I want the boat asap and so that will have most bearing on who I use

  8. Interesting point there from Alan about storage space and staying warm.

     

    So the original boat was really really good. Externally there was no rust to be seen, paint all looked good. The blacking looked very good too (visual comparison to the others I've seen). Engine is a early 70s 3.152 but started up from cold promptly and with no smoke. Lots of room in the engine bay too, fresh alternator. Fresh starter battery too. Also externally it looks better in person than in the pictures - but it's still no pretty traditional thing.

     

    Internally it's all right nice, modern and simple. Has all been well fitted - his folks fit kitchens and bathrooms for a living.

     

    In all its a grand looking boat.

    Guy very honestly now really regrets not getting survey done when it was out of the water this September (having the 3 layered different coloured "blacking" done). He's got me the card of one of the local inspectors so I will col him tomorrow to find out how soon it can be done. Want.

  9. Unfortunately the bloke with the un-named boat on the Peaks canal never got back to me until late on today as he wasn't able to fix his alternator problems. an oil leak on the van means there no time in the morning before heading to Cambridge to see the original boat.

    Still I'm right looking forward to seeing the original one.

  10. Yer the leaflet that they had for the boat tells you nothing useful but i got given the results of a very thorough inspection that this couple had done before they bought it in dec 2013.

    Like I sad a good boat, bot over priced perhaps and not for me.

     

    Still had reply from the nameless covered in old biddy doilies, so I took a ride down the canal to find it. Found it at Whaley and knocked on. Alternator has packed up so he's been without electricity for a few days hence no reply.

    Going to see it at some point today.

  11. Ok so I visited two Marinas this afternoon and looked at 3 boats.

    The only one that were any good was Winds of Change:

    http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=393236

     

    Boat it is way too built up for me, all those fitted unit make the place feel right cluttered. Didn't like the traditional back end either, decided I do want a cruiser or semi traditional. On the whole a nice boat but interior need a tart up for sure, and not right for me.

    Externally it's seemed alright, lick of paint here and there but fine otherwise. Perhaps a bit much too £40k for a 2001, though an upside is that the engine is 2001 as well.

     

    Then I went to Norton Junction and got given keys for Ichthus and William.

    Both were shite inside. Damp wood, gaffa taped carpets, leaks, rats nest wiring etc. The Ichthus was real nice externally.

    http://www.norburywharfltd.co.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/William%2010337.pdf

    http://www.norburywharfltd.co.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All%20Files/Ichthus%2010340.pdf

     

    So on to the next one tomorrow hopefully - if I finally get hold of the guy.

    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171547356602

  12. Winds of Change does look good, its one third over my original bugdet so they'll have to move on price alot. I would actually prefer the radiators to be heated by the stove, but thats minor. The decor is appauling yes.

     

    Here's an outside shot from the 2009 sale:

    http://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/narrowboat-blog/2009/10/narrowboat-winds-of-change-arrives-at-whilton-marina/

     

    Yep I know the original needs additional batteries, that minor though.

    Yep I know it doesn't look pretty, I'm not fussed though, I am fussed about not losing money on resale so that is a consideration.

  13. Ok sound cheers.

     

    The original boat sounds better and better then, built by what I can tell is a good builder in "the internet's" opinion. Young compared to almost everything else priced under 45k. The looked after bit I will find out when I get there and then from the survey.

     

    Will be interesting to see the boat in the flesh and see how my opinion of it changes!

     

    Going to try to view this on the drive north tomorrow:

    http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=393236

    It's got good headroom for me, needs to drop in price a lot though

  14. I'm yet to even buy a boat but I'm already very frustrated by this.

    I had naively thought that I would be able to buy a boat in th East Midlands and take it North to my family for Christmas who's house is pretty much on the Peaks canal.

    I will be calling CRT tomorrow to express my frustration and so hopefully theirs more planning where possible next year.

  15. Aye that's the key really, I not too fussy like, if it were a mini / other old British car I would be right fussy, but to me it's just a boat.

    Need to get is soon as the back of my van is somewhere in between a van with a mattress in the back and a camper! Only 4 nights a week but it's getting colder now and I'm starting to cave to the thought of renting somewhere temp / hotels - which is throwing boat money away.

    As for fixing stuff regular I'm fairly good at that given the ownership of several old British cars, the Cooper Garages Mini was the worst needing a cyl head rebuild every 12'000 miles if I treated it gentle (which I never did).

     

    I'm quite surprised that Neil thinks they are all over priced - the original boat seems to me to be very well priced compared to anything else I've see in the mid to late noughties. There's, for example, a lovely boat just gone on eBay called Bubbles, which is of similar age with some extra bits and it's advertised at £50k.

    The original boat isn't perfect but it's pretty good, my ideal would be: 60ft cruiser (but not loads of deck space), open plan interior, square shape for headroom, stove, pump out bog, solar panels, split charger, 240V, one bedroom with fixed double, floor space for my bike obsession and a fuel efficient British engine. So out of that I need to adjust the interior, have to suffer the big outside and put up with a bit more fuel consumption.

     

    So far what I have gleaned from all the replies is that:

    Must get a Survey

    Radiator heating, and thus boat heating, is only through the stove.

     

    I'm right glad I came on and asked as all the replies have been interesting and helpful, and I wouldn't have got a survey had I not posted on here.

     

    I have a question about age though, at the moment I'm viewing it as quite important, however does the age of a boat not matter too much? I guess it's all down to how it's been looked after, if it's 20 years and been with loads of owners that's quite different from a one owner - but in general is there much benefit of buying a newer boat?

  16. The square roof is a big bonus for me - much more useable height inside for my lanky 6'2" frame.

     

    On paper it seems like the best buy I have seen for the age by quite a margin. See what its like in person and then post survey.

    There are some downsides to it for sure - internal lay out and excessive outside space for starters, but on the whole it so far seems like the best I have seen.

     

    Seen a couple of others at Ashford Marina in the Midlands - but I'm waiting to hear back on internal height.

     

    Cheers

  17. I'll have another go at calculating to monthly costs, but even if I'm out by £100 per month it's still cheaper than renting so I'm not really arsed.

    Will be a bit of fun to live on and tinker with a boat for a couple of years or so too.

     

    I also plan to have the fire running constantly. No point letting all the latent heat dissipate is there.

  18. yep fair enough, I will dig further into costs then.

    My costs include everything for the whole year, fuel, ins, licence, blackening (every 2 obv.) etc etc.

     

    I still think it will work out cheaper than renting a place on my own per month, but definitely not cheaper per month than owning a house.

     

    Either way I'll look into this, i figure it's come up many many times.

  19. Yep I am seeing a few first, point noted.

    I have done some sums and research and it seems like £350 - £400 per month is a sensible figure. Which in my opinion is a good price, certainly better than continuing to throw money away on rent. The big motivating factor is that it's going to be cheaper and it can move! Boats wise I'm not too fussy, I do love the idea of punting along though. And finally work wise it doesn't seem too hard like, but I guess I'll have to try it to see aye.

     

    Cheere for the replies

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