[Fibre glass cabins]

On 11/09/2021 at 17:39, Neil2 said:

These are affectionately known as "banana boats" and unaffectionately as "window smashers"...

 

I love them, with the low pro roofs and increased tumblehome compared to modern boats, and those louvred windows are surprisingly practical especially if you have a solid fuel stove, you can/get keep the boat really dry inside.

 

You can tell it's wet bilge as the guy in the bow is standing in the deep bow deck which you obviously can't have with a self draining deck.  It's quite nice having a very small step from the cabin to the outside but the wet bilge does need a good look at.

 

In the modern day a lot of wet bilge boat have had a cratch cover fitted to stop the rain water entering at the bow.  Then you only have to worry about the shower drain which is usually right aft.  The old Harborough boats don't really suit a cratch though so you have to assume this boat has had a wet bilge its entire life.  

 

If they only want £5k that's leaves you an awful lot of headroom, but your main worry is that it's entirely possibly there is not much steel left below the water.  Everything is fixable in theory but if the hull is like a colander it could be a very expensive fix.

 

 

Well I went to look at the boat yesterday.,it’s a complete wreck inside and out! The hull has had some overplating done about 15 to 20 years ago and the engine wouldn’t start! There’s been a hole near one of the gunnels which has been leaking and caused considerable rust on the inside. The top is still in good condition although needs painting. It would be a complete restoration project which sadly i don’t have the time for...would be lonely when finished...  

[Fibre glass cabins]

It was built by harborough marine, has a lister s3 which was rebuilt late 90s. I have a couple of photos of the outside taken a few years ago. It’s been left for a couple of years. Yes it is a wet bilge, not sure if shower and sink go into it as well. This is a concern of mine... wouldn’t that cause damp problems? Tbh even if the whole hull needed doing I think it’s probably a reasonable price! Going to have a proper look at it tomorrow. I do like the idea of doing up an old boat. 

[Fibre glass cabins]

Yes it’s a steel hulled narrowboat from 1970. The hull has had some overplating  about 20 odd years ago and needs a bit of repair so I’m anticipating it will probably all need doing again although i can get the boat for £5000 so that’s not too worrying... I’m thinking of it as a bit of a restoration project although the top all looks very tidy and painted not too long ago. Has nice wooden grab rails along the top!! 

[Fibre glass cabins]

Hi there, I’ve been offered an old boat at a good price as a project and it has a fibre glass cabin, all seems to be in good/reasonable condition just wondering if anyone had any experience of these. 

[Buying an old boat]

2 hours ago, Neil2 said:

How do you know it needs overplating?  If it's because a surveyor has "condemned" it the chances are he/she has uncovered a significant number of pits in the steel that are too deep.  But, you can't possibly know what the overall condition of the boat is without getting the thing blasted back to bare metal.   This could go one of three ways - it's not as bad as feared, and it's feasible to fill/weld the pits, or that could be impractical and the baseplate and possible the hull sides need overplating, or worst outcome it is a basket case and beyond economic repair.  

 

So you could have a bargain or you could be throwing your money away and left with a major liability. 

 

One other consideration is that with a shortish boat any overplating will have a disproportionate effect on the draught and you will almost certainly have to remove some of the ballast.  That is rarely easy on most boats, but no big deal if it's a complete refit of course.  

 

I don't have the same aversion to overplating that some members of the forum do as I think under the right circumstances it can be the cheapest way of getting a boat, but I wouldn't recommend it on a boat as short as 40 foot simply because the chances of selling it on are much reduced compared to say a 50 footer.  Having said that, the way the market is at the moment it seems almost anything that floats is viable, but how long that will last is debatable. 

I’m just going by the surveyors report....

[Buying an old boat]

Just now, Graham Davis said:

 

Do you intend keeping it on the B & M or are you taking into account the cost of road transport to the main system?

And to me that seems to be very over priced.

I would keep it there for now. Yes I agree, I think £8000 to £9000 would be fair considering what needs doing and transport/storage costs until it can be done. Technically it’s scrap until the work is done!! 

[Buying an old boat]

16 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Which area is the boat in, or doesnt this matter?

Near Abergavenny but I don’t mind within reason...

6 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said:

£14K and + £10K of properly done overplating, blacking etc. and other TLC, its too dear.

I know of a 1986 40' from a respected builder that does not need anything other than blacking which just sold for £20K

Yea, from research I’ve been doing I think it’s overpriced, was thinking of offering £10,000 tops. The refit is something I’d like to do so I’m not to worried about that side of things. 

[Buying an old boat]

Hi there, I’m thinking of buying a 1988 40ft narrow boat. It’s currently on offer for £14000 but the hull needs overplating. Everything else seems in order, a few minor things inside I can do myself as I will be refitting the interior. I’m after advice as to where to take it for overplating, if it’s worth it etc etc . Other people’s experiences with similar projects and so on. 
many thanks,