NB DW

It's up with a brokerage, not that you'd be able to tell from the (barely existent) ad.

I'd be hugely grateful if anyone could help put me in touch with the owner or at least know of the boat... Thank you

Cheers. They're picking up the phone but the brokerage is closed during lockdown, so can't reach the person I'd like to.

Thanks for the reply. Oh dear. Not good reading, I've just skimmed through the thread in your link. They've a boat on brokerage I'm interested in. The brokerage is closed at the moment and the manager and presumably the rest of the staff are furloughed, so there's nobody to talk to. I had faint hopes of maybe reaching him/her on here - but perhaps not given the feelings towards them!

Hello..

I rang two insurers - Ford Direct and Admiral - last week with a view to understanding whether they'd offer me cover as a liveaboard based in a marina. The only reason I picked those two out is due to them coming out cheapest on a comparison site. I was absolutely honest about the potential situation, that I'd be living in a marina, on a boat, and that the address on my policy would not be a place of permanent residence (be it BoatMail or a family member, I offered both), and the car would be kept at an address different to that to which the policy is registered, a marina in my case. Neither had a problem with this setup after being placed on hold a few times whilst they checked with the underwriters whether it was acceptable. I think it may have been Ford which said that I'd have to put down the marina as the policy address - I explained I wasn't keen to do this as they don't handle mail on my behalf and it's also not residential - but they helped by suggesting that if I opt for email correspondence then no mail need go to the marina. Again, they understood that I did not live in a house. I cannot remember which of each or whether it was both that said I'd have to put the specific pontoon/berth reference as part of the address. Esure, my current insurer, were clear with me in saying that I have to reside at the address to which the policy is registered, so BoatMail or a family member is not acceptable, even if you're clear in saying the car would be parked at an alternative address. They advised if I were to do this they could no longer cover me and I'd need to cancel the policy. Note, this is important; don't get yourself into a situation where insurance has been refused/cancelled as it's something you need to declare in the future and as I understand it, counts against you. Cancel it yourself once you've got an alternative sorted. I'm sure others are sympathetic and understanding to the situation of being based at a marina though not sure how constant cruisers might fair. Hope that helps.

When you've got the cash it's still worth contacting brokers to let them know what you're looking for and what position you're in. Talk nicely to them and it might pay off. In my case in recent weeks I've had personal emails/phone calls from some brokers having taken this approach of boats which are on their way into brokerage or have arrived and haven't been advertised. It beats being on the automated mailshot everyone receives and by which point it's possibly too late. Explain to brokers it's for a residential purchase to stand you some chance of a viewing. There's compatively nothing on the market at the moment - even Whilton/Venetian who usually have easily 60+ boats for sale between them have next to nothing. Those who bought them on the basis of not being able to do a foreign holiday etc will I suspect have them back up for sale in a year or so.

Thanks a lot for the input everyone. I don't want to use up any more of anyone's time and will leave the thread here on the basis that I won't be progressing with this one.

Ta. I think you're right. I'm in danger of falling into a trap that I'm aware of, and that is talking myself into something that I know isn't quite right, largely because there's nothing about at the moment. I'll keep waiting.

The problem is that it's not obvious anywhere to me. There's no evidence anywhere of water staining that I can see on the interior other than at the stern and that's very localised to a cupboard directly under the hatch. It's not something I can be arsed to get fixed either as it'll involve big money, potentially ripping apart the fitout and none of that is reflected in the price.

I'm not sure but I can check. So if the bilge was found to be dry what would this mean for the floor?

Thanks all. I'm not certain it's solidwood and I reckon I'd need a new cupboard built. Plus the hatch sorting assuming I'm right in saying that's where it's coming in from.

Thanks all. Without inspection holes throughout the cabin I'm not sure how a surveyor would be able to tell if hte bilge is dry / sub floor is knackered?

I'm not 100% sure what it's made of. Potentially it's solid wood. The reason I say this is because a few years after the fitout was done, the same people fitted fixed seating and this was done in the same matching wood. I noticed the joints were dovetailed so guess that's solidwood too.

I wouldn't entertain buying it without a survey so hopefully they'd pick up on that. The good news is that it's been up and down Hurleston plenty of times prior to last year's closure and widening, so narrow locks shouldn't be an issue.

This one must be banana shaped then as that's where it's moored There wasn't one that I could see but then again I'm pretty new to this.

I'm looking for a liveaboard boat as a primary residence and visited the boat pictured earlier today. I kept well away from the owner, with him letting me walk about the boat alone, and wore a mask and disposable gloves. Shopping in a supermarket would have been a thousand times more risky given how close people get. Just thought it worth adding in case anyone were to think I was sticking 2 fingers up at the rules etc. Detail: Built in 2010. Fitted out by Orchard Marine and shell by Liverpool Boats 1 owner from new, manual present 60ft Cruiser with Isuzu 42 engine having done only 400 hours Reverse layout Sterling 1600w inverter, Webasto Top C feeding the radiators, Morso Squirrel 12v/240 Shoreline fridge No shortage of storage! Drawers and cupboards all over the place Evidently barely used with the interior being as new. The oven's never been switched on! Seems a nice quality fit out. Granite work surfaces, no evidence of water marks or ingress anywhere (see below) Blacked every 3 years at Wrenbury boat yard with bitumen I like the layout Bad points: Needs blacking It's been sat a while so felt a little damp inside. The floor is ever so slightly flexible in some areas of the boat Looks like the hatch has been letting water into the cupboard at the stern housing the califorier causing the woodwork to bubble Wooden window/porthole frames all need refinishing The roof was painted last year by the owner but not sure the prep was what it should have been - there's evidence of it bubbling again No immersion heater and owner unsure whether the Webasto could be used to heat the water No plumbing for a washing machine Only 1 small side hatch (but that's hardly the owner's fault!) The owner will take £55k I've got to factor in the cost of somebody re-working a cupboard space and plumbing for a washing machince and fitting of an immersion heater/new califorier. Plus potential new cupboard required due to damage from water ingress from hatch. 2 pack paint and blasting will likely set me back £2500, maybe £1000-1500(?) for a washing machine and plumbing plus a califorier with an immersion element? What do you reckon? Apologies, only very limited photos..

Maybe it's just me being over critical of it but the flex was only pretty slight. I certainly wasn't bouncing up and down on it. Orchard Marina (sister company to Liverpool Boats?) did the fit out so I can only assume they knew what they were doing and used marine ply.

Unfortunately not, no. I'm sure I could pay somebody to - there's lots of marinas and boatyards close by - but without any inspection hatches would this even be possible? The owner is 2 hours drive away from where it's moored and I'm 20 minutes away, which is frustrating.

Yep Definitely a hobby boat bought from a boat show 10 years ago and not used a lot since. The oven has never been switched on! I did feel a little for the owner, an older chap, who'd bought it to use with the kids who I'm guessing didn't take too much of an interest and are now all grown up. Not that it's a reason to buy it or the owner was soft soaping me. Just my take on things. Floors are laminate, I think, rather than solid wood. I'll put some photos up on another thread.

Sounds like one to avoid then. It's a 60ft cruise on a Liverpool shell fitted out by Orchard Marina, Northwich. It's 2010 and barely used - the engine has only done 400 hours. It definitely wasn't winterised as far as I can tell. Curtains were still up, slightly mold on the blinds, and very, very faint orange marks (some sort of mildew I think) on the buttons on the seating. Roof needs a repaint - it's bubbling - but other than that it's clear the boat's never been used and the owner I met today is the first and only owner. They'll take £55k. ETA the engine bay is pretty filthly though appeared dry but definitely in need of a repaint.

Hi, Apologies for the noddy questions here... I've been to look around a boat that's been sat unattended to since October last year and therefore had no source of heat. The foor in places feels as though it flexes a little, maybe very slightly spongey, but not to any great effect. Certainly not the extent it feels rotten or like I'd be about to put my foot through it. The boat didn't wreak of damp though there were some signs of mold. on blinds etc and around window frames, as you might expect on a boat that's been left for so long. There are no inspection holes in the cabin so I wasn't able to check the bilge was dry. In terms of the floor, is this pretty normal and as a result of moisture and once that boat's properly ventilated and heated the ply under would likely loose any moisture and any slightly flex would disappear? Thanks

Hi, I've just been to view a boat that's up for sale privately. Other than a roof repaint, all looks well. The only issue I can see is with it being a reverse layout cruiser, the hatch appears to have been leaking which has then run into a cupboard at the stern which houses the calorifier. The surface of the door and cabiet - I'm assuming veneer on top of MDF - has bubbled and rippled across an area that's roughly 15cm by 15cm. I think I once read this could be made to look better if heat is applied. Is this correct? Or is it a case of a replacement panels? Thanks