Hi
I suggest you consider following the plan used by two friends of mine who wanted to test the life aboard a narrow boat before purchasing one. They hired a boat for a two month period in the closed season, from a firm who were happy to be persuaded to agree a very good rate because the boat was not under control of the holiday company during the winter months. I think you are better visiting the boatyard so that the owner can get a look at the people hes hiring to rather than trying to negotiate over the phone. You won't be going very far because of stoppages, so two hundred a week is better than having it stand idle
Purchasing and reselling a small cheap boat is not a good method since only a fool or a total optomist buys without a survey.And surveys cost! Fitting out your own new shell is always a good move if you have the skills, You are most unlikely to lose any money if you subsequently sell it, but you will need to talk to a surveyor about the EU directive (pauses to spit and growl)if you want to sell within five years. The classic mistake is to spend time and money "doing up" an old boat. When youve ripped out the inside all you tend to have is an old shell with a worn engine! you can get a new shell and engine for very little more cash. Fitting costs of a shorter boat are not really much cheaper in real terms since you still spend the same amount on engine, cooking equipment, heating boiler, water and gas systems etc as you would for the longer boat, the blow comes with mooring charges, BW licence, and other length related charges. Keep talking to boaters and reading the books, it wont take long to learn enough to avoid the pitfalls.
Mike
