Bishop Brennan

I've not been looking at boats for about 3 or 4 years, as other commitments took over. The last time I was looking at the market narrowboat prices seemed way over inflated to me. But having a look around ebay today - as I say, the first time in several years - I'm stunned at how cheap they seem in comparison to 2021/22. They almost appear to have collapsed in my perception. Is this true, or am I imagining things? What's the latest with boat prices?

I did blast my horn in the tunnel afterwards, if you know what I mean.

I've had things thrown at me on four occasions. They include: A pair of women's knickers. Two pairs of frilly knickers (thrown from a bridge). A pair of very lacy knickers + bra. A pair of big knickers typically worn by pensioner aged women (thrown from a moored boat). Oddly enough, all perpetrators were female.

There's at least 3 boats that haven't moved since the first lockdown. They're 48 hour moorings 🤣

I live in Northampton. I walk along the section you're talking about roughly once per week. This week around half the boats showed remnants of raw eggs and shattered egg shells all over them. I personally wouldn't like to moor there, although plenty do, as it's always full.

Me too. I'd never considered outstanding finance on boats. Surely the debt is attached to the person who borrowed rather than the boat?

Thank you all for your replies so far. There are too many to quote individually, but most have given me good insight and tips.

After reading the "identifying a stolen boat" thread, it seems as if there are more scammers selling boats which don't belong to them, boats which don't exist, or going bust mid transaction than honest sellers with honest boats. It's got me wondering: how do you guarantee not to lose your money, and to receive a legitimate boat? What is, and who are reputable brokers?

Blimey! Who'd buy brand new then? Thanks all for your replies. I've learnt a lot in just 2 pages from all the considerations put forward. The common wisdom regarding steel narrow boats appears to herald the merits of being the second owner of a 4 or 5 year old boat from a quality builder. This makes a lot of sense, and feels more intuitively comfortable.

I wouldn't struggle to pay the ongoing costs of a steel narrowboat, and would without doubt pull it out of the water every 2-3 years for blacking. My biggest concern, and the reason I'm mulling over a new, but lower cost boat, is that I cannot guarantee there aren't any horrors with second hand. Dodgy surveyors, get out clauses in surveys, the strongly held opinion by many that surveys aren't worth the paper they're written on, careless or neglectful previous owners, and so on and so on. All of those considerations don't exist with brand new. But, I also don't have nor want to spend £150k, nor do I want a larger than 40ft boat. I've lived my whole life in small spaces, and favour minimal possessions. @Steve_C thanks for that link, it was interesting, and worth knowing about Cunliffe boats offering brand new 35ft boats.

To propel the boat, lol. Was that a trick question?

That is what I meant.

@Tony1 Thank you. No apology needed, I always appreciate people spending time typing replies with their thoughts, knowledge, and opinions. Noted about the Viking 23cc, thank you for mentioning. I've never investigated whether outboard diesels are a thing, and how much one could be purchased for. I'm assuming, perhaps a little optimistically, a petrol could simply be swapped for a diesel, if it's a matter of hanging it on the stern.