JRT

Thanks guys. All wise and sage advice. Maybe I'll just do one YouTube clip to explain why I won't be doing any more!

By the middle of next week I should be the proud owner of a narrowboat. I was just wondering about the rules of narrowboat ownership though and wanted to ask if it is compulsory to do a YouTube vlog of the trials and tribulations of narrowboat ownership and a video diary of my travels? I ask because it seems, judging by their prevalence on that platform, that it most definitely is compulsory. Some on YouTube are very good, some less so and some banal in extreme and I'm worried that, if I do have to do one, mine will fall into the latter category. So, is it compulsory? ?

Estates agents?. Yes, lots, but they are bound but some rules and regulations!

So, I want to by a second-hand car. I see one I like at the local dealers only to be told that the description they provided may not be correct, they won't guarantee anything about the car, it may not be safe and it won't have a warranty but, if I liked to get it checked out myself by a mechanic, they may negotiate the price if the fault rectification is going to cost more than 5% of the car's value. S*d that you think so off you go to another car dealer. Once there you find their conditions are exactly the same, as is the case at every other car dealer in the land. Well, that's boat brokerages for you! In no other sales environment I can think of would the public, not to say the powers that be, put it with it but er, boats are different! Scandalous when you think about it. (Yes, I know they sell boats on behalf of the owner so it is 'different').

Thanks for the advice people. Much appreciated. Perhaps I should have been more specific. Basically, she'd like the 1/2 sized bath with shower over to be replaced by a quadrant shower. All the drainage, water etc are there but maybe not quite in the right place for the shower. I'd made a guess it would cost about £2K and it seems the advice is that's roughly what it would cost. but with many variables.

A quick question to all you knowledgeable people out there. I've put down a deposit on a narrowboat and, subject to a full out of water survey, it'll be mine in a few weeks. However, my other half is not that keen on the walk-through bathroom facilities. She'd like a quadrant shower and maybe move the basin. Being a kind soul she's offered to pay to have one installed - how much should she expect to pay to have one put in by a professional? Thanks in advance!

I'm a radiation expert and a Fellow of my professional chartered institution and I can categorically say that there are absolutely no health risks associated with mifi, wifi or another other non-ionising radiation emitters like these. No peer reviewed scientific study has ever found any evidence health risks and the Three guy was talking scaremongering rubbish!

Thanks for your comments and advice everyone - I've 'walked away '. I've lost my survey fees but then I haven't wasted nearly £50K! I won't be buying the boat mainly because the survey revealed significant faults, principal amongst these being the state of the hull. In places the thickness of the hull is within 0.4mm of being uninsurable and although grit-blasting and 2pack epoxy coating may prevent it getting worse, I just didn't want to take the risk. Besides, even if I was to go down the grit-blasting 2 pack route it might reveal the hull to be in an even worse state and/or in a few years’ time I may be left with the need to over-plate the hull thus reducing it’s value and attraction to buyers should I wish to sell it. All that and the reduction in the asking price didn't come close to covering the cost of the grit-blasting etc and other boat safety issues. One last thing. The brokerage revealed that the boat had been moored in their marina for many years. Hmmm I thought, maybe the severe pitting on the boat is partially their fault! I hadn't the courage to say that out loud though.

Once again everyone, thank you for all your advice. The boats needs about £1500 of boat safety things doing to it and the surveyor is adamant that the only way to stop the pitting getting worse is shot/grit blasting followed by 2pack blacking. The latter costs somewhere between £3-4K. The vendor/brokerage have offered me a reduction in the sale price but not enough to cover these costs. The brokerage has also said I should buy the boat at the reduced rate then they'll do the BSS stuff for me and I pay. That sounds a little dodgy to me because I then own an unsafe boat boat and are at their mercy for the work, not to mention mooring fees. Besides isn't it illegal for a brokerage to sell an un-safe boat? So, unless the cost is reduced some more I think I'll walk away which is a shame as I really liked the boat. I'll have lost the survey fees but I don't want to sit on the boat for the next few years worrying about the hull! Do you think I'm being wise or ridiculously cautious? Thanks.

Thank you everyone for your advice. Most useful. I now have the written report and it states: Base Plate The base plate was originally fabricated using 10.0mm plate (nominal). Ultrasonic measurements showed the base plate to be between 10.1mm to 9.6mm. Pitting was present at up to 1.6mm. The sacrificial wear edge was found to be free from excessive wear. Hull Sides The hull sides were originally fabricated using 6.0mm plate (nominal). Ultrasonic measurements showed the sides to be between 6.0mm to 5.7mm. Pitting was widespread at up to 1.3mm. Is that better or worse than expected? The majority opinion seems to be walk away. Is that still the case? Thanks JRT

Some may remember that a while back I asked if I should get a survey done on a narrowboat I was thinking of buying even though it had been blacked this year. Everyone said yes so that's what I've just done - had a full out of water survey done on a boat I had made an offer on subject to survey. I'm glad I did! The survey on this 2005 57ft boat has now been done. It has revealed a few minor faults but also a major issue - the hull is suffering from widespread pitting. Not enough that insurance would be refused but enough to be of serious concern. The surveyor has recommended that the hull is shot blasted and then, at the very least, blacked with two-pack. I trust his judgement and advice (and he has a good reputation on this forum) so I guess I'll reduce my offer to cover the cost or get the vendors to pay for the remedial work. What do people think? Will the remedy work? (The boat is fitted with a galvanic isolator). Could the pitting get worse.? Am I right to reduce the offer? What should I do if the vendor won't accept the reduced offer? Should I walk away now? All advice gratefully received! JRT

Thanks everyone. It was a close run thing but the BMC engined boat just lost out to one with a Beta 38. So, I guess that's all metric? Both seemed good boats and I didn't select one above the other because of the engine. Just awaiting the survey now. Oh and it's an out of the water full survey given that everyone pretty much said I'd be mad not to have one done.

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. Can I trouble you for some more advice? 3 boats, 3 engines. A Beta 38 powering 57ft with 6420 hours on it. A Beta 43, 52ft and 1700 hours and finally, a BMC1.8, 60ft, 6988 hours. All seem adequate and with not much to choose between the three of them.....if they've all been maintained to the same degree. Do you agree?

Thanks. That's useful. I have both ?

I'm looking to buy a second-hand narrowboat and, for the time being, I've narrowed my search to three which I'll be viewing at the end of the week. One of these has a BMC1.8 engine and, as I plan to do most of the maintenance myself and it's an oldish design, I was wondering if I'll need imperial or metric spanners and sockets? Also, one of the three has been blacked at the beginning of this year. Should I still get an out of water survey done if I'm thinking of buying it? In other words, can I rely on the fact that it's been blacked, perhaps professionally by a boat yard, that the hull is sound? Would they black a dodgy hull? I'd appreciate any advice offered.

Hmmm. Some very good points and food for thought so, thanks everyone. I should have said though that I've made it very clear I want a leisure mooring.

Thanks guys. Yes, definitely a seller's market but even sellers can afford a smile surely? Agree about ABNB. Been there and they were tops.

Forgive me butting in here - I'm new to the forum - but I'd be interested in your views. I have about £50k to spend on a used narrowboat. Not an inconsiderable amount of money I think most would agree. However, some of the brokerages I've been in touch with or seen on the internet seem to have an attitude towards customer service on a par with a poke in eye the sharp stick. Also, many of the boats I've seen don't even appear to be readied for sale with even just a quick tidy up and removal of 4 inches of water out of the engine bilge! Same with marinas I've contacted who seem to say 'yeah we've space, cost you a lot though and we're not really bothered if you take it or not. Oh and by the way that's just the basic cost. We also charge for extras like the air that you breathe and the jetty you walk on'! Am I missing something here? Are narrowboats some sort of massive inconvenience to marinas and brokerages? Is there really that much of seller's market they can afford to be offhand, incompetent or rude? Actually, when I do buy my boat (and I have my eye on a few) I do know where I'm going to moor it. A new marina, architect designed, in the south midlands, close to two junctions not far from a prison. They called me, emailed me and were extremely pleasant. That's where I'm going even if it does cost a little more than others. I'm not even bothered if there's a prison break - they'll probably be nicer and less crooked that some of the boat businesses I've come across! JRT