Hello,
I have only just joined the forum today so hello all!
I was curious to read the correspondence above. It seems as though it is pretty clear by now, but as a narrowboat broker myself I can confirm that it is very definitely a sellers market at present! Boats are selling so quickly once they come onto the market that the challenge is getting the boats to sell, not selling them. We are desperately short of stock.
I think there are lots of reasons. The pension release rules, as someone mentioned above, for sure is having an effect. We are also selling many boats to relative youngsters who simply cannot afford to get on the housing ladder and see boats as a more economical option. The TV exposure that narrowboats are getting is having, I am sure, an impact and I also think that more people are looking at the UK as holiday options rather than foreign travel due to currency related cost increases and terrorism threats.
My advice as and when you find your boat is certainly not panic buy. We have seen customers here buying boats without even having looked in the engine bay, and foregoing surveys, just to avoid missing out on the boat. So keep a steady head, but also do not dither. Accept that compromise will usually need to be made but proceed quickly once you think you have found your boat. Otherwise you will lose it.