Mad Harold

I think it might be better waiting untill this virus lock down is over. As Mark99 has posted,boat prices could go either way. I notice your location is in the north,so your choice of boats will be wider if you stick to northern canals. Narrowboats,widebeams,and wider sea boats.But be careful with draught and airdraught with a seaboat.

But give some credit to Yorkshire folk,for it was them that taught the Scots to be thrifty. The evidence is on Princes Street in Edinburgh where there is a branch of every Yorkshire building society.

Gutting knives,shotguns,starving slobbering hounds I can cope with; but red boats!!!

Give us a description of your boat luv,and a phone number.?

cruising during the day is fine.You are busy with locks and enjoying boating,and stopping for lunch or coffee there are generally people around,both boaters and towpath walkers to have a natter with. Nights can be lonely,so I bought a 12v telly and radio and a selection of paperbacks.If you moor near a pub,then you can find company there. Several livaboard boaters I know have a dog.They are usually good listeners,but don't contribute much to the conversation. I tied up for lunch one day,I think on the Macc or Peak Forest and was poking out the drain holes in the window frames when a lady walking her dogs asked me what I was doing.I explained but her face seemed very familiar so during conversation I asked if she was a musician (as a musician myself I played al over the country) She wasn't and eventually and because I was sure I had seen her in the past I cheekily asked her name. Edwina Curry! You can meet some interesting people boating.

Yes,and they breed like rats!

Reading your post I started to think the same.On Christmas day I started to get flu symptoms,high temperature,dizziness and cough.I've had flu a few times so thought it would pass in a week or so as it has always done before.I didn't get better within a week and started to worry as I now had an aching chest,was wheezing and something I have never had before,night sweats.I mean really sweating,I would wake up in the small hours and the sheets were soaked. Went to the docs,end of January and was diagnosed a chest infection and prescribed antibiotics and sent for a chest x ray. The symtoms cleared about the end of February and I am now fine. In November a party of Chinese auditors spent a week at my wife's factory from the Shanghi area and she and my daughter were ill with flu shortly after.Not as bad as me but both most unwell for a week or so. I didn't think of Covid 19 at the time,but now I think that there is a good chance that my family had it,although it hadn't really kicked of in China in December. I am still wondering.

My grp boat doesn't have anodes on the hull,but there is one fitted to the outboard leg, One manufacturer of anti fouling paint (the copper inpregnated sort) quotes a ten year life. About fibreglass boats having to come out of the water to "dry out" opinions vary,but it is generally thought to be "an old wives tale"

The maintainance costs for any boat are a guess.A steel narrowboat can cost several K in repair and maintainance one year,and very little for the next five years,it all depends.(Don't ask me how I know) A grp boat will/should be cheaper in maintainance,in that it will only need to come out of the water every five years or so for inspection and antifouling. A new outboard will cost about £2000 compared to £10+ for a new narrowboat engine. The advice so far is good.Buy a sound boat that is fitted out to your requirements and you should be ok. A camping stove on a boat is a no no.The majority of boats will generally have gas fitted. This is probably a good time to study the internet and broker's websites to further your knowledge of boats and stuff.Because of the lockdown you can't physically go to inspect a boat,so read up as much as possible.

I do largely agree with Alan's post. I don't know if you are diy skilled or not,but from my experience of buying boats (and cars and motorbikes) I have found that buying one that needs work to bring it to a satisfactory (for you) standard,costs more and causes more grief than buying one "ready to go".Yes you will pay more,but it is better in the long run.

That one looks to me to be worth a visit. It looks to be a MK 1,so will be quite old. This is ok because fibreglass doesn't corrode. It appears to have a modern Tohatsu outboard and these engines are good for canal use,in that they pivot up via some sort of ratchet mechanism when the outboard leg scrapes the bottom or hits a shopping trolley minimising prop damage.It says it is 9hp and this is quite adequate for canals. Quite tempted to go and have a look myself . Being a comfort lover,I would fit a blown air heater to it,and unless you are handy yourself,it could be expensive.

Your budget is quite ok for a fibreglass cruiser.I have a Norman 20 and the costs are roughly, Mooring £60 pm Insurance £93 pa BSS £130 every four years Canal licence Forgotten how much. The Norman 20 is a sound design,however the accomodation is very cramped. You can pick up a Norman 20 very cheaply,but for a really good,fully equipped one (good engine,decent gas cooker,good fit out,good paintwork some form of heating,gas or diesel.) expect to pay £3500 to £4500. Suggest you visit one or two Norman 20s to see if you are supple enough to move around inside. There is also Norman 22,23,and 24.These are much roomier boats and they handle pretty much the same,and are fine for single handers (once you have fitted mounting blocks in the cockpit.Because if you are a bit short legged getting in and out can be a bit of a stretch) The bigger Normans will cost more of course,but again you will see some advertised cheaply. Suggest you join The Norman Owners Forum (as well as CWF of course) and there like here you will find everything you want to know about Norman boats,as well as (like here) many knowledgeable people willing to share their experience. Let us know how you are getting on.

Crikey Alan,surely there's food bank somewhere near!?

I have posted this question on here before and there was only one comment. My cat I know visits neighbour's houses and if he is petted by someone with the virus,will the virus be on his fur?

I'll offer £51K providing you include carpets and curtains.

Can a cat carry Corona Virus on their fur? I have a wandering tom,and I know he goes into neighbour's houses as I have been told how lovely he is by more than one.As he loves being petted and stroked,I am a little worried.