Overthebridge

We are looking at narrowboat options for our first boat and have come across one at Whilton/Venetian. We are really interested in making an offer but it's a £1000 deposit. I was querying the terms of this as I would want an independent survey as the boat hasn't had a survey as they are aware, or certainly if they are aware of one they aren't admitting it and don't know re overplating (it's a late 80s boat built by a boatbuilder that seems to get favourable comments on here). The response I got was that 'any requirements that came up on the survey would be sorted at our cost, as we own this particular boat. We would only be able to refund the deposit if the hull needed serious work, such as over-plating, and we were unable to get this done in a suitable time frame. We would not issue a refund on behalf of the hull already being over-plated'. So with our survey, lift out fees of £300 and the £1000 deposit I'm guessing if they then confirm it has had overplating and we want to pull out we would lose this money, even though they are not able to confirm either way currently if it has had overplating (though I am guessing with it being an older boat it is more likely to be overplated). Also is there any particular difference of them owning the boat v it being on brokerage? I'm guessing the price is less negotiable if they own it?

I've not heard of them. They are definitely a consideration, really like them.

We have just got EOG mooring and are looking for our boat. We have a small budget and the boat will just be used for leisure and some continuous crusing whilst we have an extension put on our house next year, which may involve 3 months + away moored up shoreline. To keep our mooring/licence fees down and to go with our small budget we are looking to spend around £8-£10k and no bigger than 38ft and must fit on the narrow canals. We did look at narrowboats but for our budget there wasn't much with a fixed bed and those that didn't need significant work which we aren't yet comfortable doing and as we may end up moored up shoreline for a while the whole galvanic corrosion worries me. So we have been looking into GRPs which seem to fit into our budget and have far more favourable and practical layouts, particularly if we are living on it for a longer period of time. I've narrowed the list down, musts are: -Diesel - Fixed bed/seperate bed area - Shower Our general preference is for those around 32ft and the centre cockpit ones seem to be very practical due to space and we have considered: - Dawncraft - Highbridge Crusader (tend to be petrol) - Norman - Nauticus - Creighton Creighton seem to be well reviewed and I'm just wondering if anyone has any other insights. Thanks