h2O_colors

Hey guys, the website is back. Clicked around on some cheap boats listed on iNautia late at night (my boat search is running into brick walls so I am straying from the usual sites) - ended up here: https://victory-narrowboats.co.uk/ . Some of the boats are also listed on the Sales Pontoon.

Do you typically pay the deposit before or after the survey is conducted? Where it is it still would have to be transported for a survey.

Hello all, After a couple months of drooling over narrowboat ads (and 6 years of wanting to live aboard - the right opportunity just never presented itself), I finally went and looked at a decent handful within my student budget. (I am a German-American new PhD student in the UK). I found one that I liked and have been in touch with the owner, needs about the amount of work on the interior I was hoping to do - but, the credit union is asking for a valuation and I would like a full survey as well with possibility to get a boat safety certificate as part of the arrangement (it's expiring). Any recommendations on facilities between Oxford and Birmingham (boat is located near Oxford, I will be taking her to Birmingham - preferably with help transporting if I can find a good quote as I am not confident with canals yet - hoping to learn!) that can conduct a full survey and preferably also do any needed repairs based on the findings? Budget options are great, but I would lean towards having a thorough examiner first. (Boat is 39ft, Springer v-hull from the 70s to get more specific advice. I would send more details but don't want someone else snagging her first!) I want to contact a couple surveyors for quotes and am looking for suggestions, I have a list from the Tillergraph but am looking for general advice as I know nothing of the listed names! Also looking at doing some minor updates before living aboard such as replacing the windows (and possibly installing 2 portholes, the boat has room for a few more windows and like many I really enjoy the look of them), so would be excellent if the same facility could assist with that. Any other suggestions for me for the boat buying process especially in these stages to help me on my way? I have a ton of questions of course and would particularly like some advice from folks in the Midlands, experiences with narrowboat ownership, etc. My only former experience has been summer sailing, but luckily I tend to really enjoy confined spaces. My research deals with microplastics in rivers so of course boats are tied in as an added interest. I have been lurking around reading posts here for a while now. Thanks for your input!