MrsM

Most welcome. Ask away - there is so much help here on everything to do with boats. (Just need to turn a blind eye to some of the bickering from time to time, but it is mostly without any malice.) Very excited for you. I still miss our boat soooo much and can't wait till we get our next one. Another thing you might consider doing is sharing links to boats you are shortlisting. You will receive some useful feedback which might alert you to any potential issues. There is so much to consider when buying a boat. Will it be your first one?

Hi. I can only speak from my personal experience of buying and selling privately. We didn't pay a deposit when buying as it all happened very quickly from first seeing the boat - ie we were able to get it surveyed in about a week which is unusual. I think we went from initial viewing to handing over our money (by several bank transfers) in under 2 weeks. Similarly, when we sold we didn't ask for a deposit. Our buyer did ask to pay us a deposit though (£5k I recall) as they didn't want to risk losing the boat or getting gazumped. We could tell our buyer was very serious and we had several other offers on the boat so the risk of not selling it was very low. A lot of it is taken on trust but I think you can get a good feeling for how honest and trustworthy someone is. In both cases (buying and selling) I produced a Bill of Sale which both parties signed. I used the ABNB bill of sale as a template as they had sold the boat to the person we bought it from only 2 years previously (the owner sadly passed away so the sale was handled by his son who had inherited the boat). The boat was at a marina and the marina manager knew the family well so we were confident it was a legitimate sale. Best of luck to you and your friend. A shame you don't want to buy his/her boat!! 😄

Oh dear, how very sad. My thoughts are with his friends and family.

It is just as you thought. Yes, it is down to the buyer to commission the survey (and choose a surveyor they are happy with). However, distance is a key issue. For example, when we sold our boat we offered to take it to the nearest yard with lift-out facilities, should the buyer want a survey. It is up to the buyer then to find a surveyor that will travel to that yard. We would not have been prepared to take the boat halfway across the country to fit in with a specific surveyor. So, the timeline could be:- 1) buyer makes offer subject to survey*, 2) seller identifies nearest boatyard with lift-out facilities AND availability, 3) seller communicates this information to the prospective buyer, 4) buyer phones around surveyors who are in the appropriate region, 5) buyer books surveyor and crane/tractor at lift-out yard, 6) seller moves boat to yard in time for the booked slot, 7) survey happens - often overseen by the buyer, 8) seller takes boat back to home mooring, 9) buyer discusses survey results with surveyor and decides whether or not to go ahead, 10) the deal is done & money changes hands. *If the boat is being sold through a broker it is common for the broker to take a deposit at this stage. NB this is often non-refundable unless the survey thows up significant issues that will cost more than an agreed percentage to put right. Hope this helps.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25133863.oxford-canal-towpath-closed-search-boater-launched/ "Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help in a missing person investigation in Kirtlington, near Kidlington. Peter, who is 62, is a travelling narrowboat owner and was last seen at about 11pm on Monday in Pigeon Lock, Kirtlington. Peter, whose surname has not been disclosed, is about 5ft 6ins tall with balding grey hair, police say. He often wears a cream and leaf-coloured baseball cap and is known to frequent the Oxford Canal between Banbury and Oxford. Inspector Chris Ruff said: “We’re extremely concerned for Peter’s welfare and while search activity is ongoing, the Oxford Canal is closed to all boats between bridges 213 and 217, Pigeon Lock, Tackley, and Baker’s Lock, Enslow. “We have also closed the towpath between these areas while our search is ongoing. “I am urging anybody who has any information that can help us to locate Peter to please call us on 999 immediately, quoting the reference 43250213431. “You can also report sightings via our dedicated missing persons’ portal. “Peter’s family are being supported while our searches are ongoing.”

Yes, until the boat is paid for it remains the property and responsibility of the seller. As long as the survey is being carried out within a reasonable distance the seller should have no problem getting their boat there. When we bought our boat through a private sale the seller paid an experienced boat handler to move the boat to the lift-out yard. The journey was a day's cruise away and we were permitted to accompany it.

Made me smile someone sharing a recipe that they didn't enjoy 😆. As a rum fan I'd like to know your rum and raisin recipe. Or us it the same as above but substituting rum for vodka and raisins for raspberries?

If I was to make kitchen units for a boat from scratch I would consider using something like this:- https://www.plastock.co.uk/products/100-recycled-plastic-sheet-marbellous?variant=43730564940000&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADbn_LRF7lECk8ZMHT84BpU9zsSvo&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlMfABhCWARIsADGXdy-jQv2T9AhKrA5D2-oe5s8P7VonIwoU9O5FIKpfFEYYH0hTHgL8x6UaAsuTEALw_wcB Comes in different thicknesses and colours and will be impervious to moisture. Strong and 100% recycled so a sustainable solution. Think it would look pretty awesome too.

This is my thought also.

Does it still have its market? Was cracking when we last moored there. A great little town.

I painted our ash pole in foot wide stipes in the boat's colours. This was useful for quickly checking water depth. Primer & topcoats. It still looked like new when we sold the boat.

Point of order - thought baths were for storing coal!

These are lovely photos! How great that you kept this record.

Good luck. Hope everything goes well. Exciting times for you!

My mistake (now corrected)

Has this one been discussed? 120 yr old iron hull apparently. Looks tidy but no pictures of engine. Bathroom needs finishing (no pictures). Lister. On for £45k. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/356722374980?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=rp3xfeaqtd2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=_pUp27oIR9u&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Saw this on eBay. 60' Tyler hull. Approx 2003-4. Sub £20k. A potential interesting project for someone? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326504798698?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=z8fHOknoT7a&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=_pUp27oIR9u&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I was taught to paint woodgrain and marble using a swan's feather and a soft badger brush many moons ago. Still have a bundle of them somewhere.

With respect I would consider that pretty poor research, but each to their own.

Sorry but I just don't agree. I clicked on the advert and easily found all the necessary info, including date of manufacture. However, there were photos in strange places! When you are seriously looking for a boat you pour over every detail available of any boat that ticks most of your boxes. A somewhat unconventional, amateur advert would encourage me to spend even longer checking it out as I would be hoping it might be a private seller who hasn't fully recognised what a decent boat he has and so a gem could be found for a good price (I think this is what happened when we bought ours).

Just in case it is relevant, we bought our boat privately from the deceased vendor's son. He paid for a experienced, but unofficial, boat handler to move the boat from the home marina to the lift-out marina. We had permission to accompany the boat. We ended up cruising the boat ourselves (under close supervision of course) which was invaluable. We also had ample time to test its handling and all the services (loo, water etc) and figure out what worked and what needed attention. After the survey (which we were present for) we were happy to buy the boat. We cruised it back to its home mooring and paid by bank transfer. Deed done and happy parties all round.

Do not expect there to be a formal written 'service history' like you get with a car (often in a special booklet). Many boat owners are able to service engines themselves. In this case, at most there might be a handwritten note showing dates of service and perhaps receipts for filters, oil etc. If the servicing has been done by a third party there will hopefully be receipts or invoices available, but there might not. Have a good look in the engine bay - does it look clean and tidy? Does the engine itself look reasonably clean, as if it has been tended over the years? Also, it is not uncommon for the LED engine hour readouts to fail. Ours often only appeared after we had been running a while and the instrumentation had warmed up. The mechanical counter should still be working though and it isn't too tricky to replace the LED display (I understand). I think the state of the engine bay is a good reflection on the overall state of a boat. Very best of luck with your search and welcome to the forum. I well remember the nerves and excitement.