Chris101

Well.... Due to unforeseen circumstances, unfortunately I now won't be able to use Tony which is a shame as after chatting with him I was very keen to meet him in person. Hugely knowledgeable and a I found him a joy to talk to. A gentleman. In one of those quirks of fate he grew up on the same stretch of the Lea where I've lived for the last ten odd years. I'll continue to make some phonecalls, the difficulty being availability at precisely the right time for all involved! I'm certain I'm not the first. Onwards and upwards eh? In the meantime we're compiling a handy list for reference I suppose. Thanks all for continued involvement.

Thanks. I've found a mobile number online and sent an enquiry but if he's still working he's doing his best to hide the fact online at least. Much appreciated again. Thank you. Looks promising! Messaging now. I've also worked out the quote function!

Thanks for the recommendations. I've been in touch with Mike but unfortunately he's unable to do my survey so any other other recommendations would be very welcome. Thanks again. Chris

Thanks Tam and Di, I hadn't seen that forum. I'll join it now and do some searching. That's great. MtB. Thanks again for your help. Always reliable. I'll chase that up.

I'm currently searching for a suitably qualified and experienced surveyor able to work on a turn of the (19th) century Dutch barge with riveted iron work in the Oxford area on the Thames. The boat has had extensive repairs previously and I have copies of the sellers survey and repair works. Obviously I want to conduct my own survey to evaluate the condition of the hull repairs and general state of the boats workings. I've looked around the website but curiously can't find any threads directly related to this so apologies if I've missed previous posts. If anyone could recommend a few trusted names capable of working on boats of this era, I'd be very grateful. Many thanks in advance.

Just as a heads up, I know it won't be suitable for many but a young lad I know has a low slung electric bike with a vaguely similar frame to a compton. It has really thick but small tyres and he has a rack on the back. I sometimes pay him to deliver materials to domestic houses in central London if I'm working on the roof there or similar as I do rope access work. He's keen and sometimes it's often simpler to pay him than take a van in with all the charges. He can put bags of sand and cement, slate tiles, all sorts on that bike. It's a wonder to behold. The bike is very heavy but it's not bigger than a normal bike. One for the widebeam owners only maybe. It would cope with towpaths and so on easily. Agreed it's neither a cart or a barrow, just a suggestion.

To really cut the mustard you need a 'proper' weatherstone.

Thanks Ken!

Displaying my ignorance but what's lockwheeling? I'd rather ask a stupid question than remain stupid in perpetuity.

Ok, thanks for all the replies. I'll try to reply in one post. To those that say just do it, that's great but I need to finance the boat by selling my house. It's really that simple. Not sure where you get your money! For those asking if I'm commited, yes I am. I've lived far harder lives in the past. I get the fact it's not GnTonics and summer camping. I'm not being hostile in any way here, just stating that I realise it's pretty much full time work, living on a boat. Cost wise I get the implications, I've done the sums down to firewood. Not getting hostile. Again. I realise I'll have good and worse years depending on maybe battery life or a pump breaking. I learn all my skills and I like to listen to those more experienced because thats where you get the ripe fruit. I have two youngish kids who I'm going to have to share (hence the 'murder'quote, definitely not true! ) So yeh, for a while I'm looking at funding marina life. Not my ideal but hey. I have kids with schedules. In a few years time I hope to have the freedom to move about a bit more. I'd like a trad stern narrowboat with a boatmans cabin and a lister engine. Chances are I'll get away with a 10-11 ft widebeam at best because I put my kids first. Always. What I was actually trying to guage was the movement of boat prices. Reason being was not that 'i'm not comitted' etc but financially if I asked the wiser sage heads on here and the predicted a drop in a couple of months.... Might just be worth my while buying a cheap boat to begin with than trade up in a few months time. Better to lose 10 percent of 30 grand than 10 percent of 130 grand boat. Just trying to gauge the market. I really was just asking for advice. No offence intended,

Just to point out. I really was after genuine advice. Not being a gonk.

Fair enough. Maybe I could have phrased it better by asking if ppl thought prices might fall between now and spring. I'm biding time because of a house sale but by spring I'll be on the water. Tbh. There's a lot to juggle in the transition. I'm just trying to be in the best place for me and my kids mate not be some know it all that pretends to know. I'm here for advice. Simple as that. Fair point.

I'm very aboutish to buy a boat. House sale going through in typical British solicitor slovenliness timewise. I've been looking very very seriously for a while. Think I'm on top of most of the beginner errors while ready to surf a few problems in transit. Been learning hard. It's that or be mortgaged to the eyeballs for another 20 years in a town I don't want to live in other than I have children I love more than life itself. Since I can't legally commit murder I'm in a bit of a bind. So a boat it is and that suits me down to the ground if I'm honest. Always been a bit off grid. Life is opening up again. I'm happy with the situation. My rose tinted spectacles are firmly watching the sunset and as a cynic and realist that's fine. So, my over verbose question to the experienced boaters and wise heads on here is to graciously ask how they think the current economic situation in the coming months will translate to boat values. Boat prices being at a record high generally. How do you think boat prices are going to fare especially in the next few months to Spring but also just in general terms over the next few years? Thanks in advance. Chris

Was reading this thread yesterday and saw the linked animation of submarine networks today so thought I'd share. It's a link to Imgur and perfectly safe. It's too large to be hosted on here at least with my limited technical knowledge. https://imgur.com/gallery/o2CAvTVhttps://i.imgur.com/TSTGuwe.mp4https://i.imgur.com/TSTGuwe.mp4

I'm currently looking at narowboats to buy as a live aboard. After looking at helmsman courses I wondered if anyone fancied showing me the ropes as a more informal affair. I understand I can get some reduction in insurance with the helmsman qualification but in real terms I'd be happy to just get some firsthand knowledge of locks, mooring, solo cruising and so on. Nothing major, just passing on hardwon experience to a noob. Maybe a day out one weekend, casual affair. For info I'm a working bloke, mid 40s, I am fairly laid back, a fast learner and will listen. Pub lunch and a pint if we can sort it on me and I'd be happy to pay a reasonable amount for the day. I'm an easy going fella looking to learn as much as possible and have a nice day out and maybe learn some good knowledge. I live near Carthagena Lock on the Lea. Please feel free to message me if you think you could help. Best regards Chris

Apologies to the OP for the thread invasion. Any proven recommendations for the 2 day helmsman course in or as near as possible to the Lea Valley?

You could always look at floor sander discs I suppose for a 9" grinder. They are usually marketed as bits to get into corners when using an upright floor sander. They are fairly flexible but have enough body to hold form on the curves of a boat.

I have never painted a boat but I've been lurking on here a good while for good reason. Won't be long before I'm asking lots of daft questions. I have however restored a fair few old machines like Meddings pillar drills and so on. All good finishing is mainly down to preparation and application. Craftmaster and Paragon are excellent purveyors of quality paint. Personally I'd go flap wheel in a 4" grinder for bad situations then 60 to 180 to 240 /280 Random Orbital Sander for a great finish followed by building primer levels and undercoat and prepping methodically between each. Getting the right colour undercoat is also important. Roller on and a decent oil brush like purdy to take off and fast technique will give a good result. There's no real shortcuts. There are some great tips here: https://www.craftmasterpaints.co.uk/hints-tips/ Kurust is an excellent rust prep solution for small areas before painting if prepping is done well beforehand to bring back to bare. I'll go back to my lurker corner now! Good luck. Chris