sniffy the great

There has been some joshing but there’s always room for more. sniffy I don’t think they have. sniffy

No - today is getting ready for imminent house-move. Tomorrow is scheduled for trip #3. And i I must say, there’s been some very useful posts on this topic - I started it as a bit of whimsy, really and expected plenty of joshing but didn’t expect practical advice. So thanks for both types of input. Appreciated? sniffy

You’ve sussed me....? sniffy

Attempting to change which side of the canal to moor at, my reversing skills proved eccentric and the boat sensibly decided to turn round and take me home.. sniffy

Another little trip today and more important knowledge gained. I was able to confirm my suspicion that my boat can indeed turn 180° without needing to find a winding hole. Admittedly, I hadn’t intended to turn 180° at the time but useful knowledge, nonetheless. sniffy

Took our new purchase out today for first voyage - just a little meander down the cut for a picnic and back to the marina with a pretty full boat as it happened. The weather was fab and it was a great day - even taking into account the techincal hitch. Did I mention the technical hitch? No? Ahhh, well, what happened was, the boat refused to recognise neutral or reverse. She was fine yesterday when we got some diesel but not today. I should have guessed when we gently coasted into the boat moored in front when we stopped to eat. It was just the merest kiss and the boat was unoccupied but I thought I’d done everything right. It wasn’t until we started back that I realised that, regardless of where the throttle was positioned, including neutral, the engine was engaged and going forward. We travelled all the way back in "neutral". I was a bit concerned about how we’d moor in the marina but I just pointed her in the right direction and cut the engine. We glided in beautifully. Just got to work out what’s up with the throttle now. ? Having said all that - what a fab day. Now relaxing with a suitable libation and going over it all again. Loved it. sniffy

I only discuss my stern gland with medical professionals. sniffy

Yes; yes and yes again Nut; sound advice. And yes, cuthound - I worked out how to stop the engine. I foolishly thought that the sign on the ignition (where the key goes) that said "Stop" would do it but after getting over that naive impulse, I found the correct button to press. I don’t think there was any link to me doing that and someone in the next boat simultaneously being ejected 50’ in the air but you never know. sniffy

I see this topic has descended into silliness - which is exactly how it’s meant to be. However, I have BIG NEWS....! I worked out how to start the engine...! And it started....!! Next stop - the electrics. I'm so chuffed. sniffy

Well thanks for that offer, David - much appreciated. I’m going round there tomorrow to find someone I can annoy to show me some basics - the man in the office seems a good bet. All being well, once the locks at Semington are reopened, I’ll be heading in your direction so maybe a meet-up would be possible? sniffy

It was a good year although I don’t remember much about it, myself??? "Confession"? What confession? I'm confident of getting assistance, the original owner lives on the marina but works away during the week - I’ll track him down over the weekend and I know someone else moored there so things aren’t too bleak. My original post was more to see if this was a not uncommon way to start a boating career. There seem to be a lot more negative comments in general on lots of topics from posters here than I find when talking to boaters face-to-face. Those I’ve seen when walking the canal all seem very positive and filled with a "go for it" attitude. I'm also more than happy to get stuck in to learn some stuff and when I say budget is "minimal" I’m exaggerating the minimalnuss(?) for dramatic effect? sniffy

Location is currently Caen Hill marina. sniffy

Well, I’m 72 but thanks anyway? "There will be one [as in number 1] starter battery which is just like a car starter battery. There will be some sort of OFF / ON [usually red plastic] switch for the starter battery. You need to start up with the starter battery and never turn the switch to OFF when the engine is running or it will blow up blow the alternator. There will be an ignition key, usually a plain steel thing attached ot a bit of cork, so that when you drop it in the water, it will float. And a throttle/gear stick of some description." Actually, that helps a lot. I've signed up for the Rescue service - I thought the Platinum cover would be a good idea, at least for the first year. Budget is minimal. Technical knowledge - even less. Toolkit - Basic. Sanity - doubtful. Enthusiasm- high. sniffy

Took ownership of a narrow boat this week. Popped down with some stuff to take on board yesterday and, although pushed for time, I thought I just had to start the engine at least. And then I realised. I haven’t got a clue how to do that...! Furthermore, I haven’t got a clue how the electrics work, how the heating works - in fact I haven’t got a clue about how anything works really. The boat is 25 years old, there are no manuals. I had an hour with the previous owner a couple of months back and he ran through everything with me. I thought I understood it all at the time but really, I was just nodding and saying "yes, aha, mmm, yes" and not taking anything in. I'm going to be making a nuisance of myself with other owners for quite some time until I can get the hang of things - it’ll be interesting! It does make me wonder how many other newbies are suddenly brought face-to-face with their total ignorance? sniffy

Thanks for all the replies. The consensus seems to be as I’d anticipated, ie, it’s no good just paying for 3 months marina mooring then assuming that the CRT will be none the wiser if I don’t renew it, find an alternative or become an official continuous cruiser. Not that I ever considered such a thing. Obviously. sniffy

I’ve just bought a narrow boat (Hooray...!). I’ve booked 3 month’s mooring at a marina. I have licenced the boat, naming this marina as the home mooring. The boat is licenced for 12 months. If I don’t renew the marina mooring, is it my responsibility to inform CRT of a change in the boats mooring arrangement or is it up to them to find out? What is the CRT’s procedure for monitoring the home mooring arrangements of every boat? Just wondering. sniffy

Thank you - I’ll follow them up. sniffy

? Which is why I’m asking the question in the hope that the knowledgeable folk on this forum may help finding a path through the mines. sniffy

ABNB are not recommending a surveyor; they have a list of different professional associations which surveyors may belong to and I’m wondering what the difference is between these various associations. Most professions seem to have just one association which is why this multiplicity is confusing. The boat is near Devizes on the K&A. sniffy

I’ve got an offer on a narrowboat subject to survey. The broker (ABNB) has a list of various surveyor organisations/associations on their website: https://www.abnb.co.uk/submenupages/surveyors.html Are any of these considered superior or are they all equally good? All being well, if the survey is ok, I hope to be introducing myself as a new owner soon....? sniffy

I’ve seen a quirky boat for sale which would be an interesting alternative to a GRP cruiser. Wooden construction with fibreglass “sheath” and powered by a Minn-Kota E-Drive electric motor. Anyone had experience or knowledge of such a combination. The boat is 20’ long. sniffy

They certainly seem to do quite well for a minimum of effort so not a bad idea. Doug

Because it’s irrelevant. My issue is not to do with prices or offers - it’s to do with basic service. Read my previous post to get the point of my post rather than changing the question then being surprised when it’s not addressed. Not that I’m blaming you - it’s customary on internet topics to drift away from the actual topic. Thanks for taking an interest anyway. Doug

To return to my point. The lack of enterprise and energy of brokers. Here are three examples of recent dealings: 1. A boat that has been over four months on a broker’s books and not sold so, according to several posters above, probably overpriced. I made a low offer. Refused. Fair enough. The broker says the seller wanted something closer to the asking price. Fair enough. I didn’t feel it was worth it so didn’t increase my offer. Time passes and the boat is still for sale. As someone with some sales experience, I am totally amazed that the broker hasn’t deemed it worth their time to make a follow-up call or email. In their shoes, I’d certainly keep in touch with someone who had shown interest in an item that they still haven’t been able to sell. If I made it clear I was no longer interested then they should obviously not bother me but I haven’t. Basic stuff. 2. I’m interested in a boat in a marina which is a six hour round trip away. I spoke to the broker. “Where are you coming from” he said. I told him. “That quite a trip”, he said “so ring us before you come and we’ll try and make sure someone is here to show you the boat”. Try....! Sorry mate, if you can’t be bothered to make absolutely sure you’ll be there, I’m not driving for 6 hours to look at a boat. 3. Another boat, even further away (600 mile round trip). Very few details on the ad so I emailed to ask one specific question (is there a toilet compartment?) and for more photos and details, particularly service history. After a couple of days, the broker got round to answering. In answer to my specific question the reply was “no toilet on board” - a somewhat ambivalent answer. The response to my request for more details was to send me a pdf of the ad that was on Apollo Duck which is where I contacted them from in the first place. I emailed back to say thanks but I’ve already got that info, can you send some more and some more photos? No reply from them in over a week. The boat is still for sale. Experiences like this are what make me feel uncharitable towards brokers. Respondents to this thread have suggested it’s my fault for looking at the wrong boats, putting in offers that are too low and in general not adopting the meek, respectful tone towards seller’s agents that a prospective buyer should. Maybe that’s how things work on the world of boat sales. Doug

I don’t know how many of the replies above are from brokers - a lot sound as though they are - but they don’t reflect my experience. I’m talking about the suggestion that the market is so buoyant that the boats are “flying” off the moorings (flying boats?). I have a watch list and most haven’t sold in the month I’ve been watching them and most were on sale for some time before I listed them. Doug