NealSmith100

King's Bromley for now. We have some waiting lists but we'll get settled and it is convenient for my work.

Although some will have figured out what was happening through other threads, I felt it drew a nice bow under it to update this thread. The boat is ready, the pram and cratch are ready. The name (Little Miss Sunshine) is painted on. Some of our stuff is on it and packed. Storage unit is full. Marina reserved. We know which lorry company we are using, we have an idea of wharf to launch (depending on dates). We are merely waiting to exchange, which might be next week

Hi Sarah - Will do, thanks. Thanks for all the sugdestions all, I'll look into them all.

We called them. They said that they didn't have a crane and never specified or mentioned hiring one. Funnily enough, enough I would have remembered had they mentioned Steve Foster as he is the person that Barton's Turn said would would need to use. I'll call them again in case there just has been a mis-understanding.

Evening everyone, So the house sale is going through and we are hoping to launch our first boat, Little Miss Sunshine, around 17 August (subject to completion). We have managed to find transport for her from Bickerstaffe to a launch spot. We were going to launch from Teddesley Boat Company in Penkridge as they had a crane for £600, but they have called and said that they can't launch now until at least a week after that. However, that is then pushing against a time frame our builders can launch us. Ideally we;d like somewhere a couple of days cruising from Lichfield so we can sail the boat to our home marina. Obviously, it may not even come to this but rather than does anyone know any alternatives and/or crane companies in a similar area we could approach? Barton's Turn will launch for £680 but need 2 weeks notice. Thanks.

Oh the shame. Is it wrong I liked it??

Well, even a novice such as I, with my many failings and expected need to use a bow thruster at times,. I imagine (I've never been on a boat with one yet) can manage a straight line between locks ok. But I guess if that makes you comfortable and guarantees everything goes perfectly. then that is sort of what they are there for! (I now expected to get lambasted! :) )

I like that idea. Should have occurred!

OK - I am convinced! No puns! Thanks all for your time!

We weren't set on it, so it was just a thought. Someone suggested Goatee McFloaty (not me!) so we are starting from a fairly low bar!!

Mason and Smith.

So....with the imminent boat purchase, we need a name and I thought it might be nice if we named it after our respective mother's in some kind of clever witty pun because, well, I thought it might be nice, Mrs Neal would appreciate it and because well, how hard can it be??? Trouble is, I can't think of any puns that combine from Maureen / Moor and Gill/Gilly/Gillian that are not either riffs on Happy Gilmore or the Gilmore Girls. So quite hard it turns out. Anyone got anything better?

Thanks all - it was hypothetical in the sense that while i had a specific builder in mind I had not bought or committed to anything as of yet,

Hi Am I going insane here? We visited Tattenhall Marina at the weekend and spotted what looked a LOT like a floating storage trailer behind a boat called Cariad Bach with all the same paintwork as the boat. If it was it was an amazing idea We were in a rush so couldn't investigate further but looking online and I have found nothing even similar. Anyone ever seen these? Or was i just seeing things????!

Thanks it would be from the fitter / maker not a private individual so was aware we get some protection. I recall having seen that story around on here, Alan! It was a general query so I don't want to name the company I am going to tomorrow - to be fair, I have reason to suspect that their makes are anything but good! Thanks again.

Hi everyone Another in my continuing series of stupid questions (it is your own fault – you keep giving me loads of helpful advice and answers and never tell me I am stupid): If I buy a new boat (i.e. already built but never sailed, not bespoke) from a named company (rather than first time individual). should I get a survey? I am aware that there SHOULD be absolutely nothing wrong with the hull or any of the systems, so the answer is logically no and it will come with all the certificates but is it better safe than sorry? Or can I confidently assume all is ok?

So, having done some visiting, we are not agreed on the marina we would like and they have current vacancies, a short list of 18 boats for starters spread across all 4 corners of the country to view. Pics of the house taken... Pretty excited now!

I will shortly be buying a boat too and have the massive panic attack to come. In entirely unconnected news, does anyone want a 3 bed detached house in Telford, by any chance?!

I was unaware I was being controversial! Or suspenseful! It's 58ft.

In my case, it was 'get told by the people who made the boat'

Valuable advice all and the reason I keep coming back!

Sorry - bad choice of phrase. We like it a lot. It's the smallest tank we have seen and i have seen on this forum people saying allow 45l per person per da and larger capacities as minimum.. I knew it

Hi everyone, Appreciate that this is likely "how long is a piece of string" question but myself and Mrs Neal have found a boat we quite like but it has a tiny water tank of 250l. How difficult / expensive is it to replace with a larger tank (assuming that there is even capacity in the hull for one). For the avoidance of doubt, when I say replace the water tank I mean pay someone to replace the water tank!

Ha! Yes. Good point. Oops. Sat. Def sat. I remember it well.

I went for the first time this year on Friday and was a bit disappointed. it never occurred to me that you had to book appointments to look at boats, and whenever I did try they were gone for all weekend because I was told that they tend to get booked up months in advance anyways. Probably my fault for not doing research but it did mean that it was disappointing and that I only got on 3 boats all day Met some lovely people though.