talltales

I researched the history of Ken Bonikowski once I learned who the builder was. I must say I was fascinated to learn what I found out. Its a lovely boat that I fell in love very quickly. And yes mate, it has that trademark sloping stern design. Once I get settled in I think I would like to do a little more research on Ken. Maybe even make a little film on the subject (something I did professionally once upon a time) now its sort of a hobby. I'd like to keep in touch with you in I may? Thank you for your reply Thank you for your reply I had no idea there was such a calculator, appreciate that handy resource. Thank you!

Thank you Jen for your reply. I must say that the good thing about my Anker 757 power station it can charge not only from the solar (on a good day) but from a 12v or mains and it does so in approx 60 mins and that is from 0 to 100%, I think the technology available and being used now in "portable" power stations is outstanding. That sounds like a good set up, cheers Brian!

I am happy to say that since my last post here in the Canal World forum I found a lovely 47ft Ken Bonikowski Narrowboat with headroom able to accommodate my 6ft 7 height, with a lovely layout and at the right price after purchasing it subject to a hull survey. Its currently having its hull grit blasted, stripe coated, and 2 pack epoxied. My question to anyone who would be kind to offer me advice as the previous owner had the boat moored in a marina for four years and on a shoreline hook up, it doesn't have is an inverter or solar, so what do you think would be a good spec for a solar kit i.e. panel, inverter, MPT specifically for the Engine / Starter, 12v fridge, lighting? I was thinking 200w kit? The boat has a 12v system running 4x 120Ah Leisure batteries 1x new AGM starter battery. Hob, oven is gas and hot water / heating comes from a calorifer / Alde. Its worth noting that I already own a reliable 1000w portable power station chargeable with 12v / a 100w solar panel that I bought last year for a small fortune and for camping. I think this kit will be right at home powering what little electrical devices I own since adopting digital minimalism as a practise I do have a little while to sort a few things out as I am moored at a marina until March. Your help and advice is very much appreciated. Please note I am unable to go into to much detail as I am not on the boat just yet, and approx 200 miles away from it lol. Thank you

Wow, looks practically "model village" like in this photo. What a fascinating and unique boat

Imagine attempting to book passage through the Harecastle Tunnel on Elizabeth Beautiful boat though.

Cor blimey, that's a lot of headroom and boat for the price! Thanks for alerting me to it! Ideally its a 50ft max for me though. I've actually put an offer in on a boat today, that I saw in Brauntson Marina on Thursday, it said it had 6ft 6 but it was actually 6ft 7 https://braunstonmarina.co.uk/boat-details/nb-two-jays/ if its not accepted, then I will possibly take a trip to Wilton. Cheers

Lol, so "some foreign measurement equivalent" 6ft 7 is just a hair over 200cm, luckily I'm bold up top so will happily call it 200cm Cheers for the advice.

If not for being 6ft 7 in height, I'd have bought three times over as when I attend a viewing of boat with extra headroom I am intrigued to also look at boats for sale, regardless of headroom, that are around my budget, and even though I am forced to look down when walking inside, I am still able to see they are indeed lovely. As it happens, out of the eight boats I have looked at, four had the headroom I needed but two of them I would have had to widen the door to get inside I'm not just tall, but built like a second row rugby player.

I am beginning to sense a certain amount of desperation in the air when it comes to some of the prices being asked for a second hand narrowboats, especially those for sale privately in various Facebook groups over the last couple of months. As we now into autumn and as those memories of inflated Summer prices fade as quick as the light is fading from our days, there is perhaps a growing realization that we are heading towards the prospect of a chilly winter indeed (in more ways than one) Made all the more colder after that disastrous mini budget last Friday, of which its repercussions are likely to put pay to any recreational boating for even the most affluent middle class home owner in the months and years to come. I say this because I have just come back from the midlands where I have spent a couple of days going from broker to broker and have begun to see the word "reduced" more times in two days than I have seen since starting my search almost a year ago. So are these coming months the right time for someone, someone like me, who has been looking to transition permanently onto a liveaboard, the right time to be looking to buy? It was common sense that made me wait, well that and finding a boat with the perfect layout and headroom for a giant, this also should be factored into the equation but I am just feeling a little more confident that prices on good boats are beginning to resemble "prices" again and look less like phone numbers on bits of summer driftwood. What do you think?

The seller does seem very friendly and forthcoming to me, I don't think he'd have an issue contacting the surveyor he used back in Nov 2021, but as its been nearly 10 months would the surveyor still have any relevant info at hand to pass on, I mean anything might have happened in the ten months since? The other option that has been mentioned and considered by myself is taking out another survey paying particular attention to the waterline... and frustrating that this surveyor the seller used came with good credentials but just seems so vague!

Hi Richard, reading through the survey several times it does not mention what investigation found the electrolysis issue, besides what I have already quoted, I have included a screen grab of the survey's conclusion. I think the way forward is for me to call out an electrical engineer, check that the isolator is working correctly. A cop out indeed, thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

I have a recent survey from a boat I am interested in buying. The survey states that the "Initial impressions where (that this 2007 narrowboat) was in above average condition. However, further investigation did find an electrolysis issue which will require remedial action." The recommendations: Re-black the lower hull (which has now been done) Replace the anodes (which has been done) Have the vessel checked by a qualified marine electrician (still awaiting) as the boat will not be for sale until three weeks time. The seller has been very helpful responding to my concern about this issue saying he rang the surveyor after receiving the survey late last year, he told him that he had to write it down but went on to say it was normal for steel to exhibit some degree of electrolysis if it has spent time in a marina. Asked if there was any concern and the seller was reassured there was not. This was November 2021. Now when the seller put the boat in for blacking in April this year, he got a marine engineer to inspect the boat who said the hull was in very good condition for its age and the electrolysis was nothing to worry about and needed no further action. This is the bit that I am unclear about, the seller told me that before he had bought it, it had been moored in a marina and for several years. But the boat has a galvanic isolator installed so either something must be wrong or perhaps the galvanic isolator was a late thought and possibly installed AFTER any damage had been done? Thoughts? My concern is that while the survey showed little to no pitting, corrosion it might still have weakened the hull structure? Its all a bit unclear to me. Any help of advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you Lady G. Great advice, while I seriously doubt I'll have accumulated another £30K in the time it might take in wanting to "stretch my legs" a bit and go with something bigger, I think quite rightly the problem will lie in having to sell my small abode and trade it in for a bigger one. I think with hyper inflation looming on the horizon and the cost of bread and butter increasing everyday, I'd be happy to have saved another £3K in a year to top up my savings to £10K

Bare with me on this question, it will become relevant to the topic a bit later... As someone who has spent six months a time at sea, for nearly ten years sharing a double bunk bed and small cabin with other crew mates, I am used to, shall we say less than spacious living. Cut to present day where I have been seeking a narrowboat originally no longer than a 45ft for a liveaboard that my budget (had it been 2020) of £37000 would have most likely garnered more worthwhile results. Here's the rub, I'm 6ft 6. I have found very few boats with that headroom bar Liverpool Boat builders. Today one came up with 6ft 6 headroom, but its 33ft. My question to you and more relevant to this thread... Should I purchase this for considerably less than my £37000 budget (its £30,000) Leave £7,000 in my savings account. Get myself all importantly established to a life on the canal to then sell in a year or so after finding a bigger boat? With the rising cost of boats, what are peoples thoughts on re-selling a 1993 33ft trad stern narrowboat in year or so? All being there are no major costs for me in that year, do you think I'd lose money or perhaps make a small profit? Answers on a postcard

I really needed that belly laugh

I've spent most of this year looking at those "wrecks", I hate coming away thinking £35,000 buys you little more than driftwood in years to come. But hey, that's my budget. I'll keep looking I guess.