MtB

Getting back to the boat, it looks to me to be quite a reasonable buy for the money. No red flags jump out at me other than those roof boxes will stop it being nice to actually go cruising in, as unless you are tall it will be tricky to see over them from the helm. Beware of advice from that nice Mr Gybe Ho. A while back he said never even been on a canal boat and learned everything from youtube and posts on here.

And of course the current recommendations (thats all the are) can only be reasonably met in a fat boat.

I think your best chance is River Canal Rescue. RCR. I think they'll send someone on a paid-for basis provided you join up too. Which seems a good idea if you are not handy with engines yourself!

Absolutely it is! I was only chatting about this last night with an old mate boat builder and we have both noticed the boats with no corrosion tend to be those with no 240Vac on board, and also never moored long term in a marina surrounded by mains-wired-up boats. I've no explanation to offer, only that it happens. I also suspect that a surveyor reporting hull in good nick tends to generate little or no comment on the net, but surveyor reporting 4mm pits and/or needs overplating, often does!

I've an idea cobwebs are more specific than that. I think they are spun by a particular make and model of spider. Dunno what though!

Its a steep curve to climb. But ask away, it's fine, as much as you like. Its what this forum is for. People who have something to say will respond. And a few who haven't, lol!

Looks as though Sterling have this market sector properly covered now. An FAQ from their site: That weasel word "should" needs clearing up though if buying from them.

And These two seem incompatible. Or do Sterling only require a correspondence address? Are they happy with the vehicle not being kept overnight at the address they require?

That's a good thought. Van-lifers weren't really a thing back when that thread developed so the whole market for no-fixed-abode insurance was very much smaller. This is possibly important. ISTR the sticking point was always the question "Where is the car kept overnight?". "Could be anywhere" resulted in insurance refused.

And even if they don't collide the engine will, I'd imagine, run like an utter dog. If it runs at all.

A couple of points aside from the boat itself. If you are planning on going out cruising in this be prepared for a bit of negativity. Widebeams are not well liked amongst narrowboaters on the thin southern canals. Secondly, the mooring in Willowtree is going to be busy! I've only been there once but my impression was there are a LOT of liveaboards in there and liveaboards create traffic and an air of busy-ness not the peace and quiet you might be expecting. Also there will be no security of tenure. You could (but probably won't) be chucked off at any time with no notice. That's not just Willowtree, its marinas in general. Just so you know.

just the link is fine! Here it is again but complete: https://apolloduck.net/772299

This sums it up. The risk is small but it is there. Getting rid of that last bit of risk is impossible although lots of people try to, by spending large sums on pre-purchase surveys then quibbling about the results with the seller. The thing is, boats deteriorate and faults crop up during anyone's period of ownership. Few of these faults truly matter a great deal and even fewer boat owners have their boats properly surveyed routinely during their ownership. Surveys mostly happen only at sale time and had the boat not been up for sale, no survey would have been done and amazingly, the boat continued to give good service. Did any of that make sense?!!

That's good news. Another thing ticked off that a CCer can be fully legit on. It's the car insurance that used to be an impossible nut to crack. There is a long thread on here from 7 or 8 years back where someone wanted car insurance with no fixed abode and simply could not obtain it without answering a question or two ambiguously, despite loads of suggestions from the board. Hopefully things have changed by now and you'll have no trouble.