Ex-Member

No I didn't mean that. They are far too new. Yes I think that is exactly what their purpose is (especially as one smells of coffee ) I just wondered if anyone had seen anything like them before. I probably would not have noticed them had I not become interested in buying a narrow boat so it seemed a coincidence. Plus they were only 50p each!

Not sure if this is the correct forum - so apologies if it has to be moved. I found these 3 cannisters in a charity shop and wondered if they could be canal ware. Either way they are unusual and have some age to them. The cannister is ceramic, with wooden lid, and the decoration is hand painted but the unusual thing is that there is a 'loop' which carries a small wooden spoon. All 3 are intact. They drew my attention because they looked like canal/barge ware and, at the price, I couldn't resist buying them.

Wow this is political not to metion personal, so I will tread carefully. I first joined this forum over a year a go and found a couple of people a bit 'spikey' which deterred me from using the forum directly however the archeived material has been invaluable. I apprecaite tone cannot be conveyed 't,over tint,ternet' but at the time members privately messaged me to offer support, thank you guys. Being in the process of buying our first boat I started using the forums activley again over the last month or two and found the atmsosphere more inviting. I accept that people just give opinions which can be subjective based on experience or just say so which is fine, all in all I found it to be an healthy place to bounce ideas around; I would like to contiue to be a member and hopefully contribute something myself. I have been members of other specialist forums in which certain members rule the roost with no moderation, which is not good as it is basically dominated by a few for the few. I have not got a clue who runs this site but it is free and whoever it is must put some time & money into it so I thank you. I am going to brain dump a few things: transparency,,,,,,a framework for members to refer to,,,,,a membership fee,,,,code of conduct.

It is a 57' trad called Charlotte May at ABNB Crick http://www.abnb.co.uk/boat_pages/3065web/3065abnb.php?BoatID=3065 http://www.abnb.co.uk/boat_pages/3065web/3065abnb.php?BoatID=3065

We went to Crick yesterday for a demo run on the boat we are buying. There was another couple there and the lady (jokingly) said 'Oh it's you is it? It turned out she wanted to buy our boat as her partner (who was with her) had built it!! Although she was upset she couldn't buy it she said it was Ok as she needed to sell her house anyway but we got to chat with Mike and he told us all about the build. He said that although the details said 'oak veneer' in places it is all actually solid oak throughout, plus lots of interesting info and we swapped numbers as he said I could call him anytime if I had any questions or needed info.... a weird coincidence which only added to our feeling about the boat being the right one for us. The demo went well, the engine purrs and the interior is immaculate. The owners are leaving absolutely everything from egg cups to vacuum cleaner, which is great as initially all we will have to buy is towels and bedding, ( they have left the quilt and pillows but , well you know), including dozens of Canal Books and an incredibly detailed list of instructions etc. Survey is next week by Craig Allen and we should complete at the end of the month. We also secured a mooring at Ventnor Marina which is absolutely great. Just can't wait now!!!!!

yes,,,one of us can see the logic,,,the other is a skin flint,,,,thanks

Re: Barby moorings,,,on their website it says 20% off annual mooring so I check what the tarif is (£1950) wow me thinks that is a good price, after ring them up it teuns out they have already applied the discount to the traif,,,,I think this is mis-leading and given their history. Still a very basic marina for the money. Anyways we have decided on Ventor Marina which is part of the castle group of marinas they are all very nice, well over the phone, have all the facilities and flexi-mooring as well; all for £2225.00 pa

Can anyone recommend/advise comment on insurance which is the next thing I have to arrange? Thanks

I guess we could always by a Smart car and tow it on a pontoon??

great minds think alike,,,,,,,we need to get afeel for things,,,we do not want winter moorings because it will be used and when spring bekons the world will be our lobster!

Ok...... so which end is the front???

Yes I have thanks their costs are about 2500, top of the list so far is Venton Marina & Fenny Marina both about 250 thanks for that,,, Ihave though perhaps an hire car whcih you can drop off at a different place from where you pick up.

Have emailed Limetree, will check out Napton, but Barby! wasn't there some kind of scandal? and is it Ok now?

Cheers Thanks You may wish you hadn't offered that though!!! More good advice. I was taught plumbing at school so I guess I am old fashioned and like to do things in the traditional way although I have used plastic piping. A few years ago we bought a classic 1960's VW campervan from America (long story) which I did the servicing on for the short time we had it so maybe I am worring too much

Yup....appreciate that Absolutely the cost of moorings was factored in. I just wondered if there was an alternative, as we won't actually be in the marina that much, before I commit. Well I think that is what we originally planned, I don't want just a winter mooring as we want to be able to visit and stay on the boat (maybe even venture out) and from what I can gather 'winter moorings' don't allow that. Well the boat is a Crick and the marina say they may have moorings, as do most in that area which is where we initially want to be. Although it is a 2 1/2 hr journey we thing it is a more central area that some which are closer to home.

Is this really something I could do myself? I would'nt say I was brilliant at DIY but I can plumb (the traditional way with copper & solder) I have fitted bathrooms and kitchens and can do general repairs but I know my limit. When I was younger (much younger) I always looked after my cars myself (until I was earning enough to buy new) even once putting a new engine etc in a mini. I am not afraid to get me'ands dirty There are, I have found on the web, various courses you can attend - does anyone have any experience of them or think they are any good?

Ok so we have put the deposit down on a boat, subject to survey which is in hand, and expect to 'own' it by the end of the month. I have a number of questions so I will keep them separate and appreciate any advice/comments. Firstly moorings: we won't be residential nor constant cruisers but we do expect to use the boat throughout the year anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks (or more) at a time. I realise I need a mooring but as I don't need it all year is there anyway round this? i.e. Other than somewhere to keep the car I am not sure about paying for 12mths when I may realsitically only use it for 4 (not necessarily consecutive) I trust I have explained that ok?

No although my heart said yes my head and a lot of research and advice said no.......... so alas not for me, perhaps if I were more experienced etc...... I have however put a deposit on a trad stern boat which I hope will do us fine....time will tell

Once again thank you one and all, it really has helped to have others to bounce off. We are not gong to pick any more brains, for now anyways, we will find out sooner or later what she can do and hopefully if we do not expect too much from her it will be bon voyage. If you see us out and about say hello, I think we will be based around the Crick/Nhants area for the first year. Ian & Paul

What do you call large from what alan-fincher say's my 60A is on the low side,,,,,,am I to assume once connected to a land line the vcitron charger will ensure a quicker charge, that so when we are out n about with no services would a generator be useful to power the victron/batteries rather than relaying on the engine to?

the alternator is 60A with 5 leisures 125Ah and engine starter 110Ah there is and I quote a "victron 120A charger/invertor in multi-stage automatic operation when landline connected, engine & cabin batteries are separated by a relay to avoid flattenning the engine battery" means nothing to a numpty such as I

Update!!!!! Thanks for all you help/advice/comments/suggestions etc. etc. This afternoon I made a lower than asking price offer............. and it was accepted I don't know how it compares to other/boats prices (apart from the ones we have seen and dismissed) but it just feels right to us. We can use it straight away and make any modifications as and when we want to or it becomes necessary. I know I have gone from wooden boats to Aqualines but at the end of the day, as someone said, we feel it is the one for us & I can't explain it more than that. Who knows what the future holds, I am 62 my partner 54 so life is definately too short for regrets. If it all goes through OK I hope to meet some of you on our travels although I think we will change the name (update you as & when) In the meantime....does anyone know a good surveyor in the Crick area and, given the comprehensive history/documentation would you recommend a full survey or just a hull survey??? ps. this one was also at ABNB It looked great on the site so we viewed it but was a very poor quality fit, varnished (quite badly) plywood and not very clean etc. We knew straight away it wasn't for us. The next people who viewed it made an offer just below the asking price and it was accepted....... so who know's who is right and who is wrong, if indeed anyone is!!! http://www.abnb.co.uk/boat_pages/3057web/3057abnb.php?BoatID=3057 (Also if anyone moors at Crick and recommends it pm me.......)

now then boys & girls,,,,,,,as anyone any pratical advice to my question in #23

Thanks for a comprehinsve reply and very much in line with our own thoughts. We actually wanted a cross over bed and a cratch cover is not important (they tend to get used for storage anyway) and this one has a special table (and padded seat covers not shown) so it is more likely to get used as an extension of the saloon. When we first viewed it we were put off by the green carpet but on closer examination it is all in immaculate condition for it's age and clean (and not just for selling, I think that is the way they have looked after it) All the main wood is American light oak and has a feeling of quality and solidness, a bit like Ercol furniture (which we have). It can be used straight away and modified if necessary as we go along. I have never seen or heard of a boat with such a comprehensive written history/documents etc. One further question: It only quotes having one alternator, is this sufficient as most boats seem to have two, but it also has a Victron 120A charger although that is only operational when connected to a landline.

Hi no it is at ABNB at Crick. They say (along with other brokers) that boats are 'flying' out. One side of the adverts shows 'New Instruction' and the other 'Sale Agreed' We have spent a year saving up a further 10k because we wanted to buy a better boat than we were seeing this time last year but prices have definately gone up. The Aqualine we saw last year was on at £57 and sold, the guy has now put it back on the market 12 mths later at £65 just reduced to £60k. We went to Whilton yesterday but were extremely disappointed at the quality of some of the boats we had booked to see. They say they have hundreds for sale but a lot of them are sheds (in my opinion). The one I have specifically asked about this time just has a 'nice feel' to it, like when you buy a house, but I am not knowledgeable enough yet to know what is a good buy or not and, of course, everyone has their own opinion which I respect. Is anyone else looking to buy at the moment and having the same trouble?