sirweste

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

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

well this guy was sat in a large black chair with his back to me, when I entered the boat he spun the chair round and revaled he was stroking a white cat. So I figured he was sound, as nice people have cats don't they.

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

Yep he went to the local dry dock to get a guys card, gonna ring him tomorrow. I'm gonna be looking at about £200 for the dry dock and £300 for inspection? About right?

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.

Tomorrow late afternoon, will have looked at 6 boats in total by then so should give me a good idea if it's worth the pennies or not.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

I just had a google for the phone number (only did the name before) and again I coulnt find anything in googles cache. Interesting, what I'v read said that £400 per month is average. What do other folks feel the monthly cost is then?

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

See to me the first one (ebay) looks like not such a good by compared to the original boat. Way older with a interior and not somewhere I'd want to live! Other than personal preference for the kit out - is there a reason why you think these two are better? They both had the same amount of owners, so thats not a factor. I'm going to try to view them all anyway, just to give myself a better grounding before I see the original

Cheers for all the replies. I've emailed in reply to say I will get a survey post viewing. Very useful advice about feeling for pitting. Engine wise I'm confident, having rebuilt a couple of engines in the past. Other boats I'm hoping to see I this weekend; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171547356602 Issue here is the headroom potentially. It is however about 2 miles from my family home which is a bonus! http://www.apolloduck.com/feature.phtml?id=394238 This I need to check isn't too long to get it where I might need to. But both seem expensive compared to the original to me...

No the boat has not had a survey, the reason being I have had the boat 4 years and blacked it religiously every 2 years, when I bought it, the boat had only been in the water 6 weeks from new. So it has only been in the water 4 years despite being 7 years old. When the boat went into dry dock in September I had the hull stripped right back ready for the hempatex and we didn't think it needed it since there was very little pitting let alone serious corrosion. The boat is second hand and I bought it as a lined she'll, which I ended up ripping out and redoing because it was done badly. I can try to get some photos of the engine bay, however it is pitch black and I don't think I have any to hand. I'll try to get some to you though. If you would like a survey then please feel free to organise one and we can try to get it done, however I honestly don't think it needs it since it has only been I the water 4 years. I hope this helps

As far as I can gather from googling it's onl been up for sale as long as the apolloduck ad, so 5ish days? I already spoke to him and he accepted £35k as I explained the interior layout isn't quite as I'd want it and I'm overbudget as is. As for fit out, I've seen a few posts about diy jobs, but I guess it depends on the quality of the work really. As such will only know from a viewing really. An advance search on google shows that he has only had this boat for sale. Thats all google has caches at least - I think their cach is usually a few months...? Bottle did he definitely have another boat for sale?

Interesting stuff Goat. I have googled Gary Gorton and results show he was still building into the 2000s and from what I can gather builds / built tugs mostly and hence the shape of this one. The old engine is an odd one to me too, I figured that who ever commissioned the boat ran out of money so opted for a running 2nd hand unit... Or that Gorton built the boat without customer in mind and fitted a working engine he had...? Dunno, I should ask. The 3.152 is quite a general term for an engine that was produced over many years from what I can gather. Modern 3.152s are now called 3HD45 or something like that cheers And to reply to Loafer, point noted about surveys. And about the stove, I did figure that it might keep some embers burning through the day. I agree the deck is a little big for my tastes too, but I then that's kinda an advantage for the summer.

I'm quite tall at 6'2" so this puts quite a few boats out of the running, the square roof shape means more usable head room for me! Cheers for all the very quick replies! I have emailed the owner about the survey. Cheers