Mick in Bangkok

Yes I can see the logic in this, will plan along these lines.

This is currently looking to be the best option available, 3 owners with 3 months of usable time each or even two owners split 50/50 would suite my needs very well and help a lot with costs I would like 6 months per year but would compromise on budget and be happy with 2-4 months with split up front costs and maintenance etc.

If this could be done that would be great, sorry for causing confusion, I was thinking perhaps leaving the one in boats for sale s a long term advert to see who may reply

This web site certainly was worth looking at and all comments noted and appreciated. I guess I am looking at a private syndicate of around 6 members with a fixed week system. I have time now to look around so will keep looking and researching for what is available and hopefully come up with something for either the end of this year or next year. Cheers Mick

Good morning Lady G, You’re up early. Thank you for your reply, I’ve been a form member for a while just not posting so often. Just to clarify I am not considering a commercial option but to jointly own or share a boat with a partner or two or even to invite a guest once properly introduced to swap apartment and boat while owner is absent. We are quite house proud and I can imagine most boat owners are very boat proud so only open to select and genuine swaps as opposed to finding a loop hole in legislations etc. I have looked into the ongoing costs of the 1/12 share options and overall costs are far more favourable then owning a boat outright and then paying mooring/storage costs for so many months of the year while I am away. The only drawback is the boats in these syndicates appear only to be available for 3 to 4 slots per year and not in one extended period hence my approach for a likeminded partner with similar requirements. Cheers Mick

Hi again, Simular to my earlier thread on boat sharing I am considering boat share options having seen boat management companies operating 1/12 boat shares. As I am living overseas and planning to return to UK for several months per year these options are limited in use to me as they are aimed at each owner taking several short breaks per year whereas I would need a boat in one block of time to suite my travel plans. Is it appropriate and within the form rules to seek potential boat share partners on this site ? Just throwing out an idea as myself and my wife live in a comfortable apartment here in Bangkok would it be worth exploring a time swap with existing boat owners who may consider a couple of months a year in Thailand as a reasonable trade for using their boat during the same period. Cheers Mick

Hi to everyone, I am planning a retirement including an option to buy a boat and explore the canals, as I live in Thailand and will winter over here I will not be looking to live full time on board so will have expenses of storing a boat during winter months as well as keeping our home in service in Thailand during the summer months making it a stretch on finances. As a compromise I am now considering a boat share option and would like to ask if any other members have any experience in this field and can offer advice on their experience. Some questions I have is that boats operated by management companies appear to be selling for around £1500 per 1/12 share so times 12 = boat value of £18,000, this would appear quite cheap given what I have seen boats sell for, is this something to be weary of. Also might there be other simular options available I am not aware of, such as individuals getting together to split a boat between themselves on a 50/50 or 30/30/30 share basis. Any pointers would be gratefully appreciated. Cheers Mick

There is a maximum speed that any displacement hull can travel through water due to the resistance of water. After this it may plain if properly designed but it would take a far greater force to achieve. I would imagine that 10mph may be the maximum speed of a displacement hull as a narrow boat is not designed to plain and a horse would likely as not produce sufficient force at sufficient speed.

Have you considered joint ownership of a boat, I see part shares for sale on Apollo Duck all the time and all the owners split their summer and spring months between them. There are a very large number of empty boats on winter moorings awaiting the warmer weather when they will be used again. Your unique situation of only wanting a boat over the winter would give you a lot of scope to look for a partner to joint own a boat with. Such cooperation would mean 50% investment in the boat and no over winter (or summer) mooring fees. Cheers Mick

Thanks for the reassurance, this is a learning curve for me

Hi Ken, I am a UK citizen living in Asia and have the same retirement plan as yourself, 6 to 9 months in UK on a Narrowboat and 6 to 3 months (winters) in Asia. Although I have no experience on the canals to speak of I have been asking the same question on the form and also during a hands on boat holiday last year. Most boaters recommended a winter mooring where the boat could be left afloat in a marina but this concerns me should there be flooding, leakage or heavy rain while I was away. One boater in Banbury told me of a Marina that offered out of water storage including lift out and lift in by crane, the Marina name is “Aqua Marina” I googled this name and found there web page with prices and other information. There is also several threads here relating to what needs to be done/prepared on a boat before laying up for a prolonged period but nothing I could see that would be overly difficult. Cheers Mick

We were on a hire boat last September and my stepfather was sure he saw a black mink in the canal, are there many around in this location.

I’m also a looking to be boater considering what boat type and interiors are available, I use “yahoo images” or “Google images” and type in “narrow boat interiors” or Narrow boat engine room” to see what is out there and come up with quite a few pictures ideal for inspiration and decoration ideas. Cheers Mick

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will look into a couple of marinas with boats that look interesting and also at a later date do a more in depth look by car. Cheers Mick

Hi everyone, I am just in the planning stages of my hire boat trip on the Warwickshire Ring and am interested in learning of boats and brokers on or around the ring that can be accessed while cruising. The holiday is to get a feel for boats prior to a canal retirement plan so also interested in viewing some boats for sale at the same time. Cheers Michael