lee_2

This thread has digressed quite a bit from my original query regarding "is the Springer worth the money". But that's good. Lot's of great advice, food for thought. I must admit I'm still often struggling, at the moment (and probably for the foreseeable future ), spotting if a particular boat is good value or not. So many variables. I'll have to keep learning. If I do buy a boat it will almost certainly be the single most expensive purchase of my life so far and unsurprisingly I'd like to try and get it right! Thanks again to EVERY member who has shared their views.

You edited your post with that addition. What are you on about ? You've no idea what I do for a job. Im not rich and I'm not poor. Renting just seems like burning money. And who knows what the future holds ? I don't want to be a caretaker or anything like that. Good luck switching jobs during the pandemic anyway. You seem a bit full on.

Well it did come across slightly as "you've no skills, no ideas, health issues and money problems.". 1. Debatable 2. I have but they could well be poor. 3. Not any more. 4. All relative. But no worries. I'm all about the love. ?

? Good for Jono.

Yeah but you can get that in many walks of life. People starting projects they never finish or barely get started, Boats, cars, steam engines, matchstick models of the deathstar. I'd like to think I'd get it done but who knows. Shit happens. Two years out of the last five barely working due to disabling ill health reminds me to 'expect the unexpected'. 99% better now. Then just as (or not long enough after) I was properly back earning friggin covid and lockdown ? All advice and thoughts gratefully received. That's why I posted. 10 grand a year in rent (cheapish round here). There got to be a better way me tinks.

Agreed. Have messaged the owner but no reply as yet. I'm naturally suspicious. When I rented my current flat I paid the small fee with the land registery to confirm the owners. Then insisted they show me photo ID to prove it was them. They didn't mind but said no one had ever done that before, though they check the tenants. Explained for all I know they could just be tenants moving out and pulling a fast one.

I agree neither are good boats. Both now rejected. Not looking for an investment. Looking for somewhere to live that is mine. Stuck in the rent trap. Based in Newbury. Would continually cruise. Aware that logistically it's not simple but doable. Colour me perplexed as well. There's a lot to research. And to begin with the recent research was to a large part based around fitting out a sailaway. And licenses and rules etc. I started to be turned away from that idea and only in the last few days started looking at 2nd hand boats. Everything seems overpriced if I compare to when I last looked seriously about 3 years ago. 'Project boats that were sub 10,000 now going for near 20,000 etc. But the market is the the market. Turning back towards the sailaway and fitting it out around me. I can do 'slumming it'. I spent my late teens and most of my twenties living in squats. All though to be fair most of them were very nice for squats. We looked after them. Open mind. Anything could happen. I'm getting out of this flat soon. Bleeding me dry in the longrun. Might even end up in a van and save more money. We'll see.

Thanks. I'd be on the K & A, Thames, and Grand Union oxford so that wouldn't matter so much but well spotted. I've decided to pass and regardless after querying the engine issues and mentioning a survey being essential before buying I've not heard from the seller again so I think that speaks volumes.

Cheers. Well I messaged the owner to find out a bit more ?

Originally with the widebeams just battened and spray foamed. Fully lined I worry a bit that I'd have to rip half of it out to do the plumbing and electrics and I'm not convinced it's generally the best finish for the extra spent. And over budget. As always happy to be told where I'm wrong. With a narrowboat sailaway maybe the budget could cover it ?

Does look quite nice inside and out. "Hull survey done August 2020 - some recommendations advised. Some gas work is needed doing (re-routing of some pipes) for the BSS certificate. " I can message about what the recommendations are but regarding the BSS. and showing my complete lack of experience, is it not a catch 22. No BSS no CRT license until fixed so I'd have to remedy it in situ before I could bring it home ?

Thanks for your input. I'm taking my time as it does seem to be a bit of a minefield. And I'm potentially going full circle and wondering if the sailaway option might be the best idea after all ? But with say a 56ft ish narrowboat rather than a widebeam? Originally I was considering a smaller widebeam sailaway. Then I learnt that roughly 60 x 12 up is potentially zero rated for VAT so thought it made sense to aim at one of them. But as I've said earlier in the thread the realisation hit me that trying to pilot a boat that size singlehanded, with a supreme lack of experience was almost certainly very silly ? Maybe the same same could be said about a 56 ft narrow boat ? I don't know. But in my mind much less weight = easier. Happy to be told I'm wrong. Demand drives the price as always I guess. The other thing that put me off about the sailaways was the thought of potential having to hand over money during the build and the then company going pop. Not a risk I can take so prebuilt or abandoned project is the only way to go I think if I go that route. Anyway I have time. Will keep trying to soak up information. I've decided to cancel the visit to the 50 x 10 I was going to tomorrow. Decided who ever fitted it out originally did a poor job, has not maintained the exterior, so has likely not maintained anything else either ? Narrowboats so narrow but a lot of you seem to cope so what's special about me ??

This is true. But I've also read on here recent posts stating that reasonable narrowboats are available around the 25000 pound mark. And don't necessarily want to spend all my money just because it's what I've got. But if I do spend the lot on a narrowboat now that rule out the widebeam dream for a long long time It's probably been said a thousand times but narrowboats are just a tinsy bit too narrow, ruling nothing out. all advice appreciated. That's why I'm here. Springer ruled out already. Totally agree. It would have to change. No matter what superstitions are involved. I'm not superstitious. I don't walk under ladders but that is common-sense.

Already have. As it's appointment only. I think the loophole is that viewing flats to rent and houses to buy is allowed. Why should a liveaboard be different ? But don't want to descend into politics. They are open is all I know.

Fair question. I was originally considering buying a 60ft x 12.6ft sailaway. Either commissioning one to be built or I've seen some ready built for about 53,000. Then after reading on here saw the advice is generally to buy secondhand first. Plus being realistic decided that it was probably a lot foolish to start out with a big new boat when I've no experience of piloting a craft of that size single-handed (and very limited experience of smaller narrowboats), or fitting one out, though I am quite handy. But the intention was to slum it on the boat while I fit it out around me. After thinking it through decided I was maybe overstretching myself and capabilities ? Hit upon another possible plan of buying a cheaper boat, then maybe after a a couple or three years trying to find a marina / yard where I could keep a newly commissioned widebeam sailaway on hard standing and fit it out while living on the smaller one. Once the new boat is liveable and goes in the water sell the smaller boat. Then saw the boat I linked to and decided to go and have a look. I have my reservations already. Pink is horrible. Bedroom will need to go to front and stove moving. Looks a bit uncared for, tatty. Doing nothing tomorrow so will go and have a look. What do you think for the price ? My full on dream is the self fitted 60ft x 12.6ft widebeam with electric motors, lots of solar, large LiFePO4 battery bank and either a LPG or diesel generator for backup power. Don't blame me for being a dreamer but I'm also trying to be realistic! Lockdown has made me realise I'm getting nowhere. Fifty years old. Shelling out rent is like burning money. Can't afford to buy a house and never will round here (West Berkshire). I've still got a very open mind about boats and considering my options. Expect more newbie questions ?