[What boat builder to pick....!]

1 minute ago, dmr said:

I might have seen some of these Eurocruiser things, big squareback jobbies with white leather type bench seats and a steering wheel right at one side?, usually driven by men with gold chains/medallions round their necks trying to look rich and superior (but struggling to steer them). Kids throw stones at them, other boaters have a little snigger.

 

70 by 12' 6" is a big boat, where do you hope to use it? Have you handled such a big boat on the British Waterways?

 

.................Dave

Haha. I think there is room for all kinds of sizes and builds as long as you are cool and nice with your fellow boaters, mate. Pity I do not have gold chains but sounds like a hilarious gang out there. Anyways, going to use it in and around London. Any advice on boat builders? 

[What boat builder to pick....!]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

That's interesting, I only know of three types of "stern"

 

Trad

Semi-Trad

Cruiser

 

Always willing to learn so I'd be very grateful if you could post links or pictures of "Euro-cruiser Sterns"

 

Every day is a School day

https://www.thefitoutpontoon.co.uk/narrowboat-widebeam-plans/

 

Scroll down and you will see some variations on sterns.

 

https://www.thefitoutpontoon.co.uk/narrowboat-widebeam-plans/

[What boat builder to pick....!]

5 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

I was under the impression that the 'Eurocruiser' was a design, a finished boat & a brand name so it looks as if you have already chosen your manufacturer.

 

You may find the thread (a week or so ago) on square stern 'fat-boats' of interest

 

Its a bit like going to Saab and asking them to build you a Mercedes 300SE

 

https://newandusedboat.co.uk/eurocruiser-widebeam-canal-boat/

 

The Eurocruiser

from 65ft x 12ft 6″

Launched just over 3 years ago the Eurocruiser has gone on to become our best selling widebeam. In 2019 the Eurocruiser was remodelled to feature a number of modifications and enhancements.

The distinctive square stern contains two attractive features – a wheel for steering, and built-in upholstered seating for socialising.

At home on the canal and equally adept on the river, the Eurocruiser is a spacious,
beautifully appointed craft that’s perfect for residential or leisure use, whether
in the UK or on the waterways of Europe.

Eurocruiser is a type of stern. And it happens to be the name of a widebeam model as well. 

[What boat builder to pick....!]

6 hours ago, bigray said:

Paul Barber builds some excellent boats and his skills are well known. If you are on Facebook he can be found here https://www.facebook.com/PjBarberBoatbuilderLtd/

 

 

Thanks, Bigray!! 

3 hours ago, Glynn said:

Blue Water Boats, fantastic fabrication quality. 

Thanks, Glynn!  

7 hours ago, matty40s said:

Elton Moss, Tyler Wilson...

 

The 2nd hand widebeam market has come to a shuddering go slow, almost 200 on AppallingDuck last time I looked, 2 years ago about 80.

 

Thanks, Matty!     And experience with New&Used? 

[What boat builder to pick....!]

34 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

You may not be aware that there is a "narrow section" of canals running roughly across the middle of the country which means that you cannot cruise any boat above 7 feet from North to South (or vice versa)

Many of the 'wider' canals are not suitable in places for widebeam boats and again restricts where you can physically go.

 

You suggest you will be CCing, what part of the country do you plan to use the boat in ? (it may determine what size you can have)

 

"Red" canals are widebeam canals.

 

 

 

Thanks, Alan. I am all aware of this. I am going for a 70x12.06ft eurocruiser     Any advice on well reputed builders are highly welcome!  

[What boat builder to pick....!]

38 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Hi Dan

Do yourself a favour and buy second hand. There are many many people who fork out for a new boat and find they dont like the lifestyle and their boats come up for sale on a very regular basis at a huge cost saving against new. Unless you have lived aboard for any length of time you also have no idea of what you realy want so buy secondhand, save money and no risk with builder being crap or running away with you money or going bust. Its a no brainer.

Thanks, but I am 100% confident about boat life and continuous cruising, and I do want to build a boat from scratch. For me there is no alternative. I want to know exactly what I am buying and I want all the warranties and guarantees following a new build. Me being a "novice" was meant that I do not have a first hand experience with any boat builder in UK :) 

[What boat builder to pick....!]

Hi everyone, 

 

Hope you are enjoying your day!

 

I have decided to get myself a custom fully fitted widebeam liveaboard.

 

I am a novice from Norway, and I am not gonna try to hide it ?

 

But I could really need some name drops of a few well reputed boat builders. 

 

I am scared to death after reading some Collingwood reviews online, and figured I 

really need to do my homework when it comes to who gets to build my boat. 

 

That said, I am sure there are plenty of people who are more than happy with their Collingwood 

boat, but I just can not take any risks.  

 

Any experiences good as well as bad is highly welcome. 

 

Best regards, 

 

Daniel