1233jackb

Wow, i didnt realise how many times i had asked the same kinda question ? Hello, Yea i am indeed still working. And i would need to base my boat somewhere in a marina. I live in the West Midlands and my local marinas are places like Alvechurch, Droitwich and Hanbury. Im probably missing one, but thats the area i live in. Droitwich is my local and easiest to get to, However i know its fairly new, i remember it being built. So going of that basis i would imagine its quite expensive but i understand it offers some quite flashy facilities. I would like to go cruising in the majority of my spare time, so were talking weekends away from my mooring, and just an occasional late night cruise until dusk to my local canal side pub i imagine with some friends. Believe me i have NO INTENTION what so ever to go anywhere near London. Im a country boy, i cant stand city's, their too busy for me

Well im not sure haha! So after reading that i suppose a gravity fed system would be preferable. I understand that static water in the pipes (Should the pump fail, the water can be explosive from the pressure build up) How do you mean by "pot burning?" appliances, is that Diesel stoves or solid fuel?

Wow i had no idea that they used so much diesel! - I presume thats on the basis of a fairly modern stove and not an older model say pre 2000 for example? Im not against a solid fuel stove, at all, i have one here at home. I was just thinking about the mess they can make, So i though about exploring the option of a diesel stove. After reading that however i think my mind may be changed. However im sure its one of those things i need to experience first hand to decide on for sure. I have to agree here ^^ And i also agree here, Our Rayburn does taker alot of maintenance, sometimes from ourselves just opening the service hatch and getting in their with the vacuum cleaner - we live in a fairly dusty old house! And the spares are indeed expensive. Having gas for a instant hot water and heating i think is also an ideal situation with use of the stove to keep the boat warm via a circulated system. my next question is how common is this in narrowboats? Do alot of people have set-ups like this? and can you buy a boat with a set-up like this pre installed? - i know it sounds lazy however installing something like this myself is wayy beyond my skill set as a humble Horticulturalist... i can appreciate their are engineers who can probably fit it for me but at what kind of cost? Thanks again for your input Im rather enjoying this forum

Thanks! - Yeah i totally agree with what your saying. A colleague of mine of whom actually lives afloat on a narrowboat has been helping me along the way so far, And your both saying the same thing essentially. I think a good thing for me to do is to write down a list of WANTS and NEEDS - so i can prioritise what sort of features i need my (Hopefully!) future boat to feature. One thing he has said to me (And hes been living aboard narrow boats for a good proportion of his life on and off) is that he doesn't really like gas. Apparently it can be quite expensive depending on how the boat is fitted out and what sort of equipment it has on it. One change he said he would love to make on his boat if he had the money to do so would be a diesel powered AGA Rangemaster which not only you can cook on but also provides heat. - Do these also heat hot water? We have a Rayburn at home (Very similar to a AGA just a different brand i suppose) , Ours we can cook on, it provides hot water and central heating for our home, its also diesel fired so can be abit noisy when running at full whack. I have looked at sailaways - on another topic, However its something i really just cant see myself doing. Currently (i may be wrong) i feel the cost of fitting a sailaway out would cost just as much is not more than just buying a new boat. Further more i cannot afford a new boat! ... Everyone seems to be saying the same thing that i should go and check out as many different boats as possible to get a feel for them. I have seen a few i quite like and i have went to go and see one, So i now understand what you mean about ' getting a feel for the boat ' and i think one thing im 99% sure on unless for exceptional reasons, i want a partitioned off bathroom with a corridor bypassing it. Its just if i inevitably have friends staying over going to the loo and having a shower is going to be a awkward job if its a a walk through bathroom (bare in mind im 21 at the moment so my friends will be similar age, we like our privacy!). I wouldnt waste sleep over me at this point. Nor do i expect people to take an interest, but for those i do i thank. Its still very early days at this point and all just an idea, If i didn't end up buying a boa i think it will definitely be a life long interest and will certainly involve hiring boats out for holiday for may years to come.

Thank-you, all very much indeed for your comments. I know and i appreciate that it is an expensive boat however like i said im only doing some research at the moment. Im not looking to buy I will definatley be going second hand. its the same thing with new cars; is the minute you drive it off the forecourt you've already lost thousands of pounds. im sure its exactly the same with a new boats. I simpally cannot afford a brand new boat - as much as i would like one (as everyone im sure). but another reason i would rather buy second hand is im sure ill bump into bridges and locks, even other boats at some point, so ill only be damaging the shiny new paintwork. Its just not worth me spending the money on it I do agree pump-outs do have their draw backs and yes i am aware how its all done however i am told pump-outs are usually attended and if their not ill try to avoid it for the first few times until i know im confident in doing it myself without a sticky end! And yes searching and purchasing one that has the majority of the features that i want would be a suitable option, that way giving me some projects to do aboard the boat; making it feal more like my own - if you catch what i mean. best regards

Thats a very useful list thanks!

? Thank-you very much I see what you've done! Im a member of a fair few different forums (Some very different topics) and ive found that their tends to be a fair few people who have little of any use to say, so i tend to be abit brutal! - My apologies. Clearly this is a slightly different crowd to what im used to! I can assure everyone im quite pleasant but i tend to be abit blunt at times so i can get a definitive answer

Hello their, My name is Jack. Im 21 years old, Sorry juvenile delinquent alert!!! ?? Im a horticulturalist ?, and im looking into potentially purchasing a narrow boat for myself to live aboard in the next few years after some hardcore saving up! Its quite likely that ill be asking some pretty Dumb questions - sorry! Im still learning stuff Im looking forward into partaking into some interesting discussions about fridges and washing machines, and what engine is most likely not to break down 10 minuets into ownership

A fair point yes. However i was just wandering if i was to be a serious buyer, (im not at this point, im just looking) would this boat be a reasonable choice or not. I know that when you by a boat each person likes to make their own little personal changes to it. - I appreciate that installing that type of toilet would not be no simple task however for everything else the boat has, it seemed rather good. The boat in question is obviously one thats built to a template, which i dont mind. I has a really nice kitchen area, decent saloon area, a separated bathroom. all things im looking for in a future boat. BTW: I love the name of your boat, made me chuckle ? Thanks for commenting

Thank-you all very much. So sounds to me that i need to find a boat that already has a pump-out loo fitted, Thats cool. I did realise that it would be a pretty major job, and would probably need some quite major structural changes to the boat. Its not a boat i was intending to buy as such, i was just one i rather liked. I thought it was a reasonable price for a new boat with all the kit that was included. No thats ace, Thank-you very much people appreciate you all finding the time to respond Not quite sure how you can say i have a head full of steam as you've never met me? Also; a potty mouth? not really, i was trying to deter people like yourself from bothering to comment ?

Hello their! This is my fist post on here, and i would like to apologise in advance if A. thees are stupid questions and are just ridiculous ? B. Theyve already been asked and im just too lazy to croll through all the millions of other posts. Anyways with that out of the way, I have 3 questions -> Abit of background , ive been looking at narrowboats and have decided that its a cheaper alternative to buying a house and i just think its a more quirky way and cooler way of living. So ive been looking at boats for sale, i think ive found one - typically a new boat but it will do for now to base my research on. I think at the moment its the ideal boat for me, however it has 3 things i would like to change on it and i was wandering if theese were possible / reasonable, and how much you reckon it would cost to carry out such changes. theese are; 1. it has a cassete toilet. I know, right now, without any doubt, what-so-ever i want a pump out. (we already have a caravan with a cassette toilet i have to empty, thats plenty enough trauma for me thanks! - i am aware of the pros and cons of both but i just prefer pump-out. so is it possible to convert a cassete toilet into a pump-out? I know their has to be space for a black tank but is it possible for this to be fitted? 2. It also has no cratch cover at all, is it possible to fit one? 3. Finally it has a solid fuel stove ( like solid fuel stoves dont get me wrong) However im interested in theese diesel stoves as its just one less cost having to buy coal and wood etc. can i saqp out the solid fuel stove for a diesel one? If your interested, this is the boat im basing myself on; (http://newandusedboat.co.uk/used-boats-for-sale/949) , i really like it. And it has everything that i would want on it already. Apart from the above. Can you help me out ? Best regards Jack - BTW if your about to post nothing but flames, anger and rage... please don't, I'm looking for constructive answers only - Thanks