wrigglefingers

Hello Bottle, I'll take that as a compliment! (I knew the men were nice round these parts; oh, you are a chap I assume? ). I've contacted Mr Gibson at Honeystreet and he can do the survey sometime in the next month, £65/hour plus his travel costs and the haul out and dry dock. Is this about right? He seems a good bloke and doesn't mind me coming to watch the process. The only other surveyor locally I can find any details on is Dr McGuigan and his telephone number in Swindon isn't ringing. Best wishes, Jill

Thanks Bottle and don't worry, I will get a survey done before I get too over-excited. The last boat I was involved in buying (a Springer and much-loved) proved to need major over-plating on inspection and really, we considered the cost of the survey money saved as we were able to negotiate the price down significantly to cover the cost. Besides which, I know my limitations and a metal expert I'm not, nor an engine one either. I would be disinclined to go with the surveyor recommended by the Marina however, d'you think that's reasonable? Regards, Jill

Hi all, Just to let you know how we got on. After convincing myself that the boat would just be another unlikely candidate, Ellen, my Dad and I eventually went to see it on Saturday. We saw three boats in the marina; one of which was unsuitable, one was beautifully fitted out (Colecraft) but strangely cramped with wasted space and one we all agreed was a possible. The possible is the Delph. The boat has been a liveaboard for the last four or so years and has been extensively cruising. The fit-out is pretty basic and showing it's age but she's been re-engined with a Beta 43 HP and has an unknown gearbox (possibly a PRM150) as the original was underpowered for river use. The exterior of the hull will need re-painting soon but any scrapes have been rubbed back and primered, she'll need re-blacking and new anodes this summer and the windows could do with being refurbished. The BSC is out but she'll be inspected this week and re-licenced at the end of the month; I assume that any remedial work needed will have to be done before the BSC can be re-issued and insurance for next year taken out. Inside, she'll need a little bit of decorative work done and a new bathroom at some point (currently a Portapotti). She doesn't have any central heating but relies on a back boiler with manual electric pump; which could be an advantage as central heating seems to be more of a pain than a blessing at times! I forgot to ask whether the water tank was stainless steel or not and I have no idea what the steelwork spec is. Bizarrely, given this list of potential faults we all liked the boat, it had a lovely feel and a sense that this had been a good home for some years. The even better news is that the price has been reduced to 40,000. I'm intending to go back for another look next week but I feel an offer coming on. It's been the first boat I think I might lose my head over. Still don't know why 'cos looking at the list of potential problems it makes no sense whatsoever ......... Jill

Hi Steve, I had emails back from Mike and a few other people. As his piece stated he was very happy with the hull and did go back to the same welder/builder now working at Orion. The general consensus seems to be that they were good, middle order, honest boats. The one I'm considering has nice lines and looks 'fit' (as my students would say) from the outside but only an internal inspection will tell. Good news on the mooring front though.. It's being sold on brokerage by the marina it's in and they will give me a mooring (on consideration of a large amount of money!). I calculated last night that between Ellen and I have seen well over 70 boats in the last six months and most have been poor and some absolute shockers. I must say that viewing boats with a frank-minded, out-spoken and merciless daughter has salvaged the day on quite few occasions. We aim to view the boat then have a look at the hull and return to the car to discuss. We generally skip that bit and just resort to laughing hysterically. And it's not just the state of the boats that's shocking, it's the attitude of many of the men too. I know that most men are kind and thoughtful but no, we don't mind getting grubby and would really, really like to look at the engine and gearbox; really want to listen the engine, watch the exhaust and talk about how often it's been serviced. Ellen even does electrics and was the youngest qualified helm in the RYA (even if she has to stand on three mats to see over) As two females together we've been courted and patronised in equal amount and it's been a fascinating and absorbing experience in many ways. On the other hand though, I would say that ABNB have easily been the best of the brokers in terms of business-like dealing and I would've bought any one of their boats before I realised that we really needed a permanent mooring; maybe BW will come up trumps some time soon. But, some brokers give me the impression they are selling snake oil in the form of an over-priced water-borne fantasy. There's a lot of gullible people out there though. I did think about commisioning a new boat but that just seems like a game of Russian roulette with some builders and I can't afford to lose the money. Can any of us? Anyway, this turned into a bit of a rant really. Let you all know how it goes on Saturday ........ Regards, Jill

Hello Steve, Thanks for the link; I must have been blind when I sneaked a search during my Year 9 graphics lesson. (yup, another bloody teacher) I've emailed Mike Stevens for his thoughts and I'll post my findings when I go to see the boat (hopefully at the weekend). I seem to have a choice of three with moorings which might be suitable; a 55' Colecraft 1993/4 at with portholes (very dark and 45,000), the Delph and a 55' Liverpool Boat from 2000 at 50,000). My daughter and I want to do some extended cruising for a year when she finishes school in eighteen months before university, so this is a long-term project for us. It will use up a considerable amount of our capital, not to mention the sleepless nights turning over the possibilities. Hence the desire not to make a mistake even before survey......... I've lost track of your search so far - have you found a boat yet? Regards, Jill

I know that Anhar has been searching for a while now looking at different boat builders and I've been doing the same. The problem is I've turned up a boat which is promising but I have no idea who Delph were or what their shells were like. The boat I've found is 58ft, 1994 build (uknown fitter) and in reasonably nice order on the outside. The engine is 43hp Beta I think (not sure about the gearbox). I know they're out of business now and their boats do seem to be rare on the water so I've no benchmark to use to make an offer if I get that far (asking price is £45,000 with potential mooring). Did they make many and what was the quality like? Any advice would be helpful as my only dealings with narrowboats was my trusty old Springer given up more than 15 years ago. Thanks (and apologies if this question's been asked before - I have searched and can't find anything close!) Jill

Tom and Sophie live on a widebeam - wouldn't it make a difference to running costs - especially space-heating? Jill

I'm a bit fed up at the minute ..... I've been offered two residential moorings on the K&A at two different marinas near Bath only to have the offers rescinded at take-up because I have a daughter under 18. I've been told that it's because the marinas don't have the correct permission to allow residential moorings officially but turn a blind eye except where there are under-18s involved. I asked the first marina whether she would be allowed into the marina if we were to have a non-residential berth and was told that no children were permitted quayside. She would need to be picked up from outside of the premises of the marina (a choice between a weirside towpath or a riverbank). This is patently dangerous - has anybody else come across this elsewhere? Yours in total frustration ('cos we can't buy a boat yet) but happy the moorings are being taken up.... W