toekneep

It's a JD Narrow boats.

This is Golden Girl, our soon to be new home.

I'm not completely new to the forum as I've already had some great advice. A lot more than my meagre postings might suggest and I'm very grateful. I thought I would re-introduce myself and my wife though as boaters! We finally got our boat yesterday and we are thrilled to bits with her. We'll be bringing her home to Fettler's Wharf marina in a couple of weeks and we are just a little bit excited as you can see from the photo. Tony and Gill of Golden Girl. (Feels nice to be able to write that) No doubt we will now have a million and one questions but I promise to do plenty of searches first before asking the same old stuff.

Very true and it was a dilemma we discussed. When we found boats that we liked, usually on Apolloduck, we would take into account how far away they were but also which broker they were with. As for recommendation, we simply told people what we experienced. We were always up front with brokers about our financial position (we had a property up for sale but with no firm offers) and the responses we got were very varied. One broker couldn't be more positive and helpful, one was indifferent and one made us feel really uncomfortable just for asking to view a boat. I'm pleased to say that we found 'our' boat for sale privately in the end and hope to pick up the keys next week. I would say that the process of finding the right boat involves many different emotions, some good, some not so good.

Just as in house hunting it's common to be told that you will 'just know' when you walk on to your boat. With this in mind we always gave boats we viewed a 'wow factor' when considering them. Sellers seem to forget that there is also a 'yuk factor' and it stopped us in our tracks on more than one boat. I know some people have the gift of seeing past that first impression but most don't. Half an hour tidying up might result in a second look rather than dismissal. As for brokers, I do understand that they must get loads of time wasters but we were made to feel like second class citizens by some of them whilst others treated us like customers when our circumstances were exactly the same. You can guess which ones we have recommended to others.

Thanks Neil2. You are spot on. I'm a keen cyclist (ducks for cover) and friends have often asked me for advice on buying their first bike. I always tell them to buy anything that isn't too expensive because in six months it will either be at the back of the garage never to see the light of day again or they will be hooked and want something better.

Thanks for all the responses. Despite what jddevel said I think I am leaning towards a younger boat with less to do. Being a complete novice I would prefer to learn bit by bit rather than diving into a major project. The comments on central heating have been invaluable though, it is so easy to set criteria of what features are required and end up tied down by them. Another lesson learned. On a different note I am also learning that the closer you get to your dream the harder it is to live in the present whilst waiting. :-)

Thanks mrsmelly and Neil2, these are just the kind of balancing thoughts that I was hoping for so that we can make an informed decision. Particularly interesting about the central heating which would be a big part of any refurb cost. I don't want to go into too much detail about the boat just now as we are about five weeks away from having the cash in the bank and we are hoping it won't sell in the mean time. Lots to think about, especially estimating costs of course.

She25, we have found ideal boats but up until now haven't been in a position to buy. (didn't have the money available). Today just opened up a new approach which the topic is hopefully going to help me to explore. In fact it already is, thank you. We have been looking for something that we can just move onto and enjoy and maybe make alterations to over time if we feel we need to. Today's boat doesn't fit that description as we couldn't live with it as it is but it also frees up enough money (we hope) to do major work on it. I'm already sensing that it isn't going to be a popular idea but would welcome more opinions.

Thanks for the suggestion Alan but unfortunately we can't stretch to £60k. Our interest in the property that is for sale is only a part share. Our target price was always 45k but the boat we have viewed is a great deal cheaper and would give us the funds to do the work but as you have hinted at, I'm wondering if we are just making a rod for our own back.

We have been looking at boats now for about a year but with the sale of a property now looking much more definite we are getting a bit more serious. We have been looking at ten to fifteen year old boats in the 40 - 50k range. Ideally 50 to 58 foot. Today we viewed a 50 foot cruiser stern boat built in 1993 and we were perfectly happy with the amount of living space. The builder was Jim Prescott who I can't find any reference to on here and the fit out was by the owner. It has never changed hands from new. Our concern is the amount of work that we might be getting into. There is no central heating and hot water is from a morco gas boiler. There is a solid fuel stove at the front end of the boat. The quality of the fitout seems OK and obviously we would have a survey before proceeding to check out the hull in particular. The boat was repainted and blacked with 2 pack epoxy five years ago. It also has a feeble 350w inverter. The boat is modestly priced so we would be able to afford to spend money on it but I'm just wondering about the practicalities and cost of retro fitting central heating (we will be living on board all year round), upgrading the electrics and inverter and updating the interior with new flooring and maybe ripping out the old fashioned dinette. I should add that whilst my basic DIY skills are OK I'm not a plumber or electrician so we would need a fair bit of professional help. We wouldn't need to live on board while the work was being done. Piece of string question I know but any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the responses. We have been considering St. Mary's for a while now and have heard that Fettler's can be 'difficult'. Just wondering if anybody can give us an opinion on what it's like to actually live at St. Mary's.

Does anybody on here have any experience of this marina? It's at Rufford on the Rufford arm of the Leeds and Liverpool. It seems like a really lovely place but it would be nice to hear from anybody that has stayed there, or is there now. Thanks.

Done that one as well. Very traumatic.

Thank you everyone for the further input. We have now decided we aren't going to hire first. We spent a day on a friends boat doing the locks and getting a load of plastic sheet wrapped around the prop. Although I wasn't the one that had to free it I got a real close up experience of what is involved. We have also turned up at pubs when cycle touring only to find that they have stopped doing food, or at campsites that don't take tents etc. In other words we have experience of dealing with adversity so we aren't daunted at all. A much more pressing problem is selling the property that will release the money to by the boat. Now if anybody can help with that. ;-)

The second one looks very much like a spiders egg cocoon. Looks like you might be expecting MissMax.

Yes sorry, leisure moorings. Thanks Jerra

"Looking on the CRT mooring webiste thinking about buying a mooring spot for next year on the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The more i think about Birmingham the more i like the L&L plus i have no reason to go to Birmingham (except for Evans Cycle shop). What's it mean when the website says 'Leisure Mooring' and 'Residential Mooring'" As I understand it lots of marinas only offer residential moorings but turn a blind eye to those living on board permanently. One key difference is that they won't accept mail for you because they can't offer you an official address. You have to use a friend or family member's address or pay for an address service. Edited to add: Of course that may not apply if you are looking at CRT moorings.

Careful Cuthound; don't count your kidneys before they are snatched. As the saying nearly goes.

...after all, she has bought that £12 hat.

I am genuinely excited for you Eldog and looking forward to the pictures. We are at the 'looking for a boat but have to sell a house first' stage which is so frustrating. Your tale is exactly how I imagine and hope our experience will pan out one day and it gives me a real positive feeling. Good luck with it all, I hope it goes well.

I love this place. I have all the answers without asking a single question!

No it's narrow. I'm not sure I should say any more in case somebody goes and buys it! :-)

Sorry I don't have a photo and as far as we know it isn't listed on line. If we go to look at it again I'll get a photo.