Movin' on

Wow where to start................. Deciding on your budget is pretty critical and whether the reasons for high price are an issue for you like who built it what vintage engine is inside and what level of electrical provision you want being a particular one - IMHO you don't need to go over over £60k and for under £40k you will be buying work or compromises I wouldn't buy privately but that'd just me and it depends on budget as cheaper boats say below £30k tend to transact without brokers (all of these are generalisations but based on 50 years experience and ownership of app 15 very different boats over that time). I'm not so keen on the reputable broker philosophy as there are good and bad but I would rather buy the right boat than worry too much about which broker - BUT you do need to understand who you are dealing with so you react accordingly. You will get many opinions on here as to who are good and bad based on hearsay and direct experience so work out which is which. Based on actual experience I would be careful buying from Whilton/Venetian and GHBS and would have no issues buying from Rugby Braunston Longport Limekiln and ABNB - many others are available.......... If you are a real newbie HIRE first and look at as many boats as you can in your local area and definitely visit the Braunston Triangle. That will get this topic going so lets see what others have to say ............. Just noticed you have a connection to Langley Mill so visit Paul Barbers Yard and go and see Ian Parrott at New and Used both are boaters and both will give you good advice

Hartford used to be a great Marina - in the 70's my parents bought a Carrington ex hire from Erith and they restored it and kept it there

Many thanks for all that - I've looked at other pics and there is no trim tab - the anodes are relatively new - rudder kit ordered as I might as well as she is coming out and marina manoeuvring is very tight around some very posh boats. Thanks for the manual link J

Just ordered a rudder/hydrofin kit as boat coming out next week so no time to wait and deliberate hopefully £200 well spent This my leg - 1988 vintage - don't know what model it is

I suspect its all about 5 tons with 150HP v 20 tons with 18hp! Once my morse cable is chawed and the controls work smoothly and can be relied upon I suspect I will do better BUT I didn't know about bolt on rudders so that might be a good thing as there is a lot of slow speed manoeuvring in the marina to get to our berth. Is this a normal thing to do or is it a bit like trining wheels on a bike?? Also would a bigger/smaller wheel help with or without a lorry drivers handle?? Cheers

I'm already finding the downside to (Volvo) sterndrives firstly the bl**dy thing won't go in a straight line - driver error I suspect?. Secondly you have to take it out of the water even just to change the morse cable - as is happening next week. The trouble is our chosen boat only came sail drive or sterndrive not shaft! All a good learning curve - but we are still glad we bought her as we are enjoying our boating again...............

Or not - doesn't anyone want my "proper" chimney chain....................!?

This examination and certification may well be a requirement of your marine insurer.’ ................ we can all edit text to suit our own purposes as I intimated much earlier in this now very boring thread why would anyone want to try to find a way around regulations designed to ensure your safety just accept them and move on and you and your boating neighbours will be safer

"Boat Safety examiner, Andrew Phasey, explains the regulations regarding gas safety:‘If your privately-owned boat is used by you for leisure or sporting purposes, there is no legal requirement for you to use a properly trained, qualified and Gas Safe registered operative to work on the gas system of your boat’.‘You are required, though, to ensure that the work conforms to PD 5482-3:2005, the code of practice for installations in boats, yachts and other vessels of lengths up to 24m.‘Furthermore, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, you must take account of the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions.‘If, for example, you fit a gas appliance to your boat, best practice recommends that you employ a Gas Safe registered operative, who is qualified to work with LPG on boats, to examine the gas system and appliance. If the requirements of PD 5482-3:2005 or BS EN ISO 10239:2000 are met, the Gas Safe operative will issue a Gas Safety Certificate. This examination and certification may well be a requirement of your marine insurer.’" The above text is not edited by me and is a full and direct copy not to be edited to suit differing messages.

This year will (hopefully) be a one off so any tips based on past experience however well intentioned will probably be unreliable - but I guess its a fair bet that anywhere that is usually busy will be busier??

If you carry out a mod under the BSSC regs that isn't done properly you could have an issue next time around Insurance definitely affected - read your small print - try to make a claim if you have a fire............ Why would you even think to do it without a professional involved - you don't mess with gas on a boat.

Flexi fittings will be your friend - if already there you are probably going to be OK if not use them this time - I assume GAS so use a qualified fitter otherwise you will invalidate your insurance (and BSSC) Fully fitted or freestanding will make a difference to the ease of this Stay safe this is not an area to save money

I truly hope you are right BUT from our direct experience over the last 2-5 years in particular its not on the internet its reality............and getting worse

AND...........where would the dog go for a pee???

That pretty much sums up where we are at as well after 50 years for me and 30 for SWMBO - rivers for us from now on - possibly with a bit of estuary - we like a bit more space(width) and a bit more light with windows which simply wouldn't be safe on the canals any more. As to the future I suspect less maintainance, more antisocial behaviour, fewer enthusiasts, fewer proper boats and loads more linear housing and "entitled" boaters............and we don't want to stick around to see it

Craft Insure every time

I spotted it yesterday - I've never seen one before and I agree NOT for canal use with that drive set up and likely to be quite hard to sell on again - if it still interests you keep an eye on it as I suspect it will be around for a while and might be a steal in October!

Thanks for all that and esp the VAT bit - that's worth more thought ........................... re "driveable" I should have said as an example we don't want a boat on the Med in Greece as we would have to fly there - we're not doing planes for the foreseeable future as we are both in different at risk groups.

Hey that entrance isn't wide enough??? ?

We've used Hyundai and Kippor and a Honda sub-brand ems or something like it (in a blue case - others will know) All good - if pressed I would say the Kippor was the better item.

I agree but ..........................try doing Tardebigge with a lazy boat in front

My "underlying" point was perhaps the reference to "virgins" would be deemed politically incorrect but I suppose I didn't assign any gender - after all us grumpy old men who apparently dominate this site do have to be careful ?

Thanks, My initial thoughts were that steel would be very hot - I do like being outside my boats and find the temperatures that even the UK can get the steel shell up to very frustrating if I want to wash/polish something - even my recent Hardy 25 is sooooooooooo much better to enjoy good hot weather in and move about. Sorry - budget is pretty much what it takes but around £100k so long as I can be reasonably sure to get it back (excl running/maintenance costs) as it is my pension pot!!