A Mad Belgian

Hi! I'm buying a narrowboat, and I want to improve the security on it somewhat, i.e. replace the padlock system with a "proper" key system, as I will be living aboard and don't want to make it too clear to people when I'm not around (the main problem with padlocks). Can any locksmith do the job or do I need a specialist narrowboat person? Are Yale locks a good option, or do you have any better recommendation? Finally, do you have any names to recommend? I'll be travelling from Manchester to London so anywhere along that route would be fine ? Thanks !!

good point ?

Hi everyone, This is the most helpful website ever, so I thought I'd pick your brains once more: I have just put a deposit on a boat and I am now desperately trying to find how/where to get it surveyed. I have found one surveyor (John Crompton form Smallboatsurveys.com) who is free on June 7th, but I now need to find a place to get the boat out of the water. All the places I've contacted seem to be full until July or even later. Any advice/recommendations?

Hi again. So I went, I saw, and I put an option on the boat! Terrifying and exciting at once... Any good surveyor to recommend in the Manchester area? I'm told everyone's overbooked these days but still need to arrange a survey!

Thank you very much this is helpful and encouraging. I'm going to see it tomorrow! Terrifying! ? Ok thanks I'll bear that in mind

haha yes I have heard that BOAT thing before ? I guess by boat standards I'd consider "expensive" things that cost several thousand. "About a thousand" seems indeed the average boat job ?

Thank you for this feedback, very helpful indeed. I am looking for a liveaboard so might have to do some work indeed — would that be incredibly expensive? In any case, thank you for your feedback, I'll try to go on Thursday (but they've got viewings tomorrow already so might well miss the chance anyway... we'll see). reckon this is a safety hazard, then? Thank you for your help -- I am new and scared of making the wrong choice for my first boat (don't need it to be perfect but would like to avoid a nightmare boat at the very least!)

hi. There is a boat wrapped around the engine :-D: https://www.apolloduck.com/boat/narrow-boats-traditional-for-sale/663939 Boat is 1993 though, engine is 1973 so don't know the story there.. So if there's a boat around it does it sound ok? Cheers!

Thank you everyone for helpful answers, I have decided to stay away from the wooden top after all... one more technical question though: any opinion about a "Vintage (1973) single cylinder Sabb GG Engine" for a 37ft NB? Is that a no no or good enough on principle? It is so hard making one's mind up when buying a first boat, and still being a complete newbie!!

Oh thanks, that's interesting information! Were his boats good, do you reckon? Thanks everyone for all your replies, it's helpful indeed

Hi. Thank you for those answers. No it's sold by a private seller — and of course I'm planning to go have a look (would never buy a boat over photos only!), although now everyone's telling me to stay away from wooden tops I might just give up on this one... This is the link: https://www.apolloduck.com/boat/ironworks-48-traditional-for-sale/663268

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum so please forgive me if I somehow posted this in the wrong place. I'm looking to buy my first boat and came across an ad that looks like my perfect, ideal one: lovely interior, desired layout, in my price range etc. BUT it hasn't been blacked since 2016 AND it's a wooden cabin, which I don't know much about. How worrying are those things? I've read extreme opinions both ways about wooden cabins... This one looks in great condition on the photos but I'm not an expert so I need advice: what to look for? Do you have any recommendations for a surveyor who knows enough about wooden cabins to spot hidden flaws (the boat is in Oxford ATM)? I have read as much as I can about this but all the posts I found about this on this forum were at least 8 years old hence this new thread. Also, it's got a Lister Petter SW2 engine, which — again— I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing. I hope it's ok to ask these questions here — I'm new to all this and I want to find a boat I can call home for the next few years! Don't mind having to work on it/learn DIY skills/spend some money on it but I'm not rich so can't afford to buy the wrong boat! All the threads I've read so far were very helpful and friendly so I hope you'll be able to help. Many thanks