The Grumpy Triker

Excellent! Thanks for that :-) thought there should be an easy rule of thumb, think I am not too far out then.....more by luck than judgement :-) Time to pop to the pub for a beer with books and notepad and pen etc. :-)

Cheers again....I wondered why you wouldn't do the baseplate but would all else, although I guess thickness should be better and less of a battering.

Hi David, IF & only IF all is ok it will be from (& I whisper for some on here :-) ) Great Hayward but will be taking it down the Severn either before, after or during....Am not sure that doing it at the same place as the survey (despite the crane out costs) is wise, or maybe I should just get the first one done at the same time and then do it myself after a year or two'S experience. on that note I was allowing for 30 miles a day to get it from one place to another but I count locks as being 45 minutes per lock.....so 11 miles plus 5 locks in a day ...but before the summer holiday season is in full flow....is this a bit optimistic?

Sounds like my earlier searches were about right then, seen so many differing opinions on the baseplate, some saying don't do it!...wondered why but thought I'd ask surveyor in. Couple of weeks. Going to fit anodes as don't think it has any, 6 for a 60' ....is that about right? .....also wondered whether reed choppers or shredders were commonplace around the prop, or of this was a fancy extra?

Cheers Dave & co. Would be concerned about dumping paint in the water so maybe don't worry about a bit of light dust them :-) The worry I have about blacking is that I hear about the prep, leave a day, thin coat, leave a day, thick coat, leave a day, thick coat again leave 48 hours. Is that over the top and do the yards really do that?....Several posters suggest they wash, blacken and refloat in 24-48 hours. Any recommendations on expectations?

Thanks for that, as a live-a-board I want to do more stuff to the but but no knowledge of cans & can'ts + will and won't's etc. Really fancy having a go so glad to hear some will loan a washer out and more importantly let me stay on board. cheers rusty

Hi all, Still waiting for the survey but lots of time for reading on here and getting the DIY bug for my future live-a-board.....all of this is subject to survey but.... I quite fancy doing the blacking myself, never tried before but read up loads on here so could be fun...the yard at which the out of water survey will be done will not allow me to do it there as they don't have a lot of room and insurance won't cover me ....hmmmm, probably true but equally convenient....or will nowhere allow me to do it? Should I even consider doing it for it's first blacking after sitting for a year or two prior to my purchase? the paintwork needs work as well but I figured start at the top, and the top side edges along the length need some attention as do other smaller stretches of paint. Am I allow to do sanding and paint removal on the canal......provided that it stays on board, or is a small amount of light dust from sanding specific areas? So much I want to do but know I have to take advice, breathe, count to ten, and sometimes open the wallet a little wider. Many thanks all, TGT

Cheers for this and others, yep understand the concern for sure but have to say, they have been pretty good to date (first visit in Feb, then I had family issues that took my eye off the ball so to speak), all chat and info been very open with the situation & negotiated fairly...in my gut feel, and have been clear about options going forwards. If I get cold feet or moan they find a scratch then tough, I lose the deposit...if stuff comes up not so major then we renegotiate within reason....bigger stuff then I get it back and walk away. Bloody Hell...this bit of buying a new home is tough, and not even buying new :-( cheers to all again, all comments are a great help!...make me think and approach from different angles.

Yep did ask but boat only went up on the site in last days, so no-one had viewed as yet. 3 bookings for the weekend - following a call I have been assured that I will not be gazumped. They only book for 4 days a week, quite a small separate business, and had mentioned that they have their own private servicing and repairs business so had no date until 5th June - family business and 1 week written off due to a family funeral. Then my chosen surveyor, via recommendations on here, is fully booked until the following week so all a bit painful....tried another and no answer & will try another surveyor now. Finance side are insisting on a full out of water survey so that other door is shut.

Yep good point, although it is non-returnable unless major flaws are found that majorly affect the value, and no re-negotiation is possible or sensible. it is a broker so would hope that they would not renege on a deal....equally maybe they would. The other issue is that it is part Financed so am checking to see if a hull survey is 'required' under their terms, I am personally guaranteeing the loan so not sure why they would worry. You've got me thinking now....need to check elsewhere on the network as would want to get it out for cleaning and re-blacking.....also keep to fit some anodes at some point soon....reading up on them it seems sensible to fit 4 or 6 along the 60 feet.

I did wonder if there was another option but I would have to go back to the paperwork to see when any last checks were made. Judging by his thorough filing and copious receipts etc. I would be surprised if the hull was seriously damaged, however, it is also going to be my home for the foreseeable future so need it to be right. Meant to say it is held under a deposit so have to trust they won't sell

Many thanks for that....yep fully understand about the Rose tinted specs, I really wasn't sure what I wanted but the more I looked the more I was sure about needing a project of sorts but also a boat I could live aboard straight away...just hope that nothing hugely major comes up. Seems to have been well loved while the husband was alive, but need it to be a sound base to work from....going on above comments on local surveyors I'm going to book Iain Jones - just got a frustrating wait of 5 weeks now before it can be surveyed due to a busy marina and surveyor's availability. cheers again :-)

In response to Dave P and Athy....good advice, the one I looked at today (see above) had a feel to it....needs some tlc inside and out but happy to do it as hoping to be able to make a difference and bring a 1998 boat in ...ermm. The 1980s!?.. bit of New Wave, HeavyRock, Punk and Well anything really :-) Being honest I need a project and also a liveaboard nowsort of thing, this one with the name just said ...ME!!....have to trust your gut and I have a lot of gut to trust :-D

Wow .....thank you all ...I know it was a big ask but your responses are a great help. i have been hunting for some time now but really searching in earnest this weekend and haveput a deposit down on 'English Rose' - owned by a couple from new build in 1998 (Peter Nicholls) 60' Cruiser stern, with a whole folder of pictures, receipts, build notes, original paperwork etc.....this was someone who knew how to keep a record of the boat. Sadly, after years of happy short cruising, and just as the husband retired ready for their long awaited 'Big' cruise for a couple of months, he passed away from cancer a year or so back. The boat got neglected (understandably) by the wife who couldn't bring herself to visit her and now she needs some tlc. All looks pretty solid except for some soft flooring near the water heating system which looks to have had a leak, it is a boat full of possibilities if sound but need to know the report really. one thing of interest is that you say get a non-linked surveyor, as opposed to their recommended, am going with Great Harewood Boat Sales, ...equally interesting is that their is no way to survey the sewage tank, and possibly not the water. I think the sewage tank got left with some contents and they have repeatedly washed, sterilised and pumped, no smell today but going on hope would be a worry. it isn't being lazy about searching but I always find that searching never really gets to what I'm looking for, hence I said I'm no good at it. I will find more time to read now, but going into the weekend I had no chance. Thanks again all, greatly appreciated.

Hi folks, I go by the name of 'The Grumpy Triker' and due to personal circumstances am now fulfilling my Plan C and joining the canal network as a liveaboard. not bought yet...watch this space as aiming to resolve my homeless status in next few weeks, but looking forward to joining a great community, and hopefully to doing up my boat. love the river and the people so was my only end point...not sitting staring at a 10x10 walled room and a TV :-) will update and looking forward to seeing some of you around the networks.....I will be wearing 'L Plates'

OK folks so apologies first as I don't yet have time to hunt through all the old posts nor am I intelligence net enough to know how to filter.....so based on the fact that I am what I am... .... buying my first boat....to liveaboard (under no dillusions, and looking forward to it like Christmas in one sense) are there any boat makers / engines, avoid full replating jobs, don't buy from them, flooring types/states ...to avoid? ..my biggest fear is buying a boat make or Year that is not good....I trust the older pre-2000 steels as opposed to the modern Chinese steel ....is that sound in narrowboats? I am so green on what the flooring should be, how do you check the water and sewage tanks, not sure about cassettes, is that part of the initial survey? I am having to use finance to buy after a split but have a VERY modest budget pre-arranged and now hunting in earnest.....what makes a boat worth £100,000 compared to £40,000 - or in my books....why is my target half the price of a seemingly same type, make, layout, etc.? sorry but have to ask and can only hope someone has the patience to answer! :-)