Mick in Bangkok

My Mate Tony has made a YouTube video based upon his cycling experiences along the towpaths, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXcxHJGUb3c

we will be exploring this canal while in the area for sure,

I watched a couple of videos on this canal and the interesting bridges up there so will keep this in mind for the return trip to use remaining days

Just planning a hire boat trip on the 4 counties Ring starting out at Stone with a detour up to Llangollen Wharf starting 29th March next year. Canal Planner calculates 17 full days for this with 6 hrs. cruising per day so have 3 days in hand for lazy days and unplanned stops etc. However, seeking advice on best/easiest direction of travel to have the best leg last. Also, any recommendations for overnight moorings etc. would be appreciated. Cheers Mick

Thanks for all the replies, I will look into the hire boat companies as suggested. I have hired before for a 2 week period at a cost of around GBP3,000 so can imagine that hiring for say 6 weeks would cost around GBP7,500. With Regards to typical boat share syndicates I did research this and found as Howard pointed out that they are not suitable for me. However, my calculation of maintaining a privately owned boat is around GBP6,000 per year so my preference would be to split ownership of a boat between 2 or 3 persons and have annual use of say 2/3 months per year and split the maintenance and purchase cost. I have seen no syndicates set up like this, might any exist?

I’m seeking to return to UK to explore the canals early next year particularly around the Llangollen Canal, and would like to take between 4 to 8 weeks to do this preferring a larger boat for comfort 60+ft. Are there any reasonably priced long term hire companies or who cater to such packages or even share syndicates who cater to fewer shareholders / longer term time slots that anyone can recommend. Appreciate any leads anyone may have. Cheers Michael

Many good comments posted, I will keep them all in mind on my return to UK in the new year. I have been retired now since begining of this year so will now start my boat search at a lesurally pace, hope to see you on the canels in the not to distant future

I believe I understand but perhaps not explained myself so well, I estimate costs of owning the boat to be around 5 to 6K per year on top of an up-front investment of say 80K but I have seen the prices rising approximately 20K for such a boat in the past 3 years. If the market returns to its prior state in two years when I might sell the boat, I would have spent around 12K in maintenance etc. but also lose another 20K on the reversal of the market trend on top of normal deprecation. it is this additional 20K loss that I would prefer to avoid even if it means waiting another year or so before buying a boat.

This is my concern, although I do expect some depreciation in value I would prefer to avoid additional lose due to a decreasing market .

Hi Alan, Thanks for the feedback, I was afraid that might be the case, I am as concerned about re-sale price in the years to follow as the current prices of today. I see the lovely classic boat “Greenlaw” recently up for sale at a very similar price as advertised in 2017, that did surprise me a bit.

I was a couple of years ago looking at a live aboard boat but with covid restrictions and rising prices put the idea on hold. As I plan a trip to UK early next year I was wondering if the situation on the canals was back to normal (or as normal as prior covid) and if the prices of boats are steadying out at all or still rising. I will start again looking at prices but as I am not familiar with the market some guidance would be appreciated as I would not like to buy now and find the market dropping off once I had purchased as I will likely sell again in a couple of years. Cheers Mick

Small boats only using this canal It is within the grounds of a reastaurant, may have guest houses aswell, but all clossed up today due to Covid, I will go back agan when it is all open. There is a coffee shop there aswell

Spotted this converted boat situated by a canal in Bangkok today and thought some pictures would be appreciated by the form members. Cheers Mick

I also received this Bitcoin message

With full retirement ever getting closer, 12-18 months away, and planning to return to UK and CC on the canals I am wondering if there is any anticipated long term effect that C-19 may have either to the rules of constant cruising, the number of people either moving on to or off of the canals or the numbers and sales price of boats that may become available. Would there be any difference to the socializing at locks etc. or any other likely changes? Cheers Mick

We are a married retired couple and have followed the form for some time while hiring boats from commercial hire companies and looking to either buy a boat outright or in a partnership as we are overseas for most of the year. I have seen companies offering long term hire alternatives by actually adding a client to the ownership of a private boat to make this work legally, is this a loophole or a valid approach? I would like to explore the option of either joint ownership or long term hire of a private boat for say 6-10 weeks per year by either paying an equal share of the value and upkeep or alternatively, a monthly fee to an existing owner who does not use their boat all year around. Traditional share consortiums do not work for us as we would fly into UK once a year only for longer periods, not 2-week slots. We own property in UK and Thailand and would expect to add additional insurance etc. so would consider ourselves a safe partner in such a venture, also we could offer a Condo in Bangkok by return option. Has anyone here ever heard of such options and is this something that might work? And comments would be appreciated. Cheers Mick & Winnie

This is great news, I expect to be cruising approximately 5 to 6 hours per day with a day or two stopping in interesting places.

Also are there any boat shows on or around this time, late April, early May?

Good morning, We are planning a narrow boat holiday for two weeks starting mid-April 2021 and are looking to hire from Napton Narrowboats. Our plan was to pick up a boat at Napton Junction and navigate the Warwickshire Ring, however the boat we prefer is based at Autherley Junction so now considering the Four Counties ring instead. As we have only been on the South Oxford Canal before can anyone tell us how the Four Counties ring compares to Warwickshire Ring and/or South Oxford Canal. Would stoppages, low or high water etc. Need to be factored in? Would two weeks be sufficient to make this trip. Cheers Mick

Is this ARS hydraulic drive a standard item for this engine with Beta servicing etc

I posted a topic inquiring about head room in engine room/back cabin last week and received replies including reference to ARS hydraulic drive systems. This boat has this system and 6’5” headroom so certainly meets this requirement. https://narrowboats.apolloduck.com/boat/stowe-hill-marine-70-traditional/630297 Although the ARS system has great head room advantage are there maintenance issues to be considered? the bow thruster is also linked to this system. Also how does the Beta compare to a vintage engine, I’m sure it provides better horsepower and less maintenance, oil leaks etc. but with regards to the traditional sound and ambiance how would such an engine compare. I would appreciate any other feedback from the experienced live aboard members on this boat as a constant cruiser as my own experience is limited to hire boats for holidays only. Cheers Mick

Glad to know this can be done, I will keep this in mind when I am looking at boats.

No but it could have been, just a Beta BD3, the height through the engine room and back cabin is the same as the galley and lounge, a level flour right through. Would it be rude to ask what such a conversion might cost

This is encouraging, I viewed a couple of boats last time I was in UK and this is my only concern with the boatman’s cabin otherwise this is my preference

Was this done on a vintage engine, can I ask the final head room you gained