DandGNWales

The Dilema we now have is we have bought a project boat that the BSC has expired, as our new home Mooring is on the Llangollen Canal at Chirk Marina we need to get her to pass the test then we can insure and license her for the mega cruise how for some much needed tlc, so can anyone suggest an Inspector who could test the boat at the following address: Meadow Farm Marina, Houston Close Barrow upon Soar Leics LE12 8NB Also how much does the test cost ?

Hi All, We have finally bought our first Narrowboat, she is called Willoughby but will be re-named Little E in honour of our recently deceased mother when she is in the dry dock getting welded and re-blacked. We know she was built circa 1980's and runs a BMC Engine with PRM gearbox, but I have never seen another barge with this style and size of window, so can anyone shed any light on who built her ? Cheers Dee & Geoff P.S. Not sure how to add a pic but have given it a go below, fingers crossed it will work Sorry the pic is not bigger but at least I got it to attach

Thanks for the Link DOR, I will have a read, I think our best option is to get her tested and licensed then enjoy the cruise home to Chirk Marina were we could get the hull sorted and tidy the old girl up, as in the words of the A Team " I love it when a plan comes together " Thanks all for your input, what a great and friendly forum Cheers Denise & Geoff

Sorry for the lack of info on my part, it's a cruiser stern 57 footer with BMC engine, it's on a very well known auction site but the price is flying up it did have a buy it now of £8,500.00 but think the seller is playing games as the buy it now has vanished, so I was comfortable at £8,500.00 with all the work that needs doing and the boat is in Loughborough, now not sure if we will be the new owners or back to saving up and get something that may not need as much work

Hi Alan, I do not understand as a newbie what gets inspected in a Boat safety Scheme test, I thought it had failed because of the stern welding, but after looking at the boat it looks they have run it on very little money, it looks like it has not been blacked for ages, so thin k they have run it into the ground, it would make things a lot easier if we could get a BSC pass, then pay the license insurance etc, please don't think for a moment we are trying to cruise for nothing, we want to be 100% legal and pay all our dues. Update while I was typing this response, I have an email now that says it has no BSC Cert as there is no inspector at that merina, so if we could get it tested at another marina and get a pass that would make our lives so much easier. So No 1 question now is what gets inspected in a BSC test ?

The boat requires welding to pass the safety test, so I emailed the Licensing people and they told me I could only move it under trade plates that can be loaned from a boat yard, I suspect they would only loan you the plates if you was having the work done at their yard, I never knew they done this system the same as my understanding of the road garage plates. The boat is insured, but I assume only for 3rd party until the BSC is sorted so if the licensing people have got it wrong, it means either a very expensive road trip or try and get it repaired locally but my welder drinks in our pub and used to build narrow boats so he will do me mates rates

Wow Alan, What a great reply, I will take a look at that site for future use and thanks for taking the time and trouble for sorting the route for us, just better get some trade plates now ready for our longest ever trip, the first and only experience we have had is renting a hire boat and going back and to on the Llangollen to avoid any locks as we never had the bottle to try them, so after doing 105 I think your post said in that journey think I will lose my fear especially single handing of locks full stop lol

Hi All, If we can scrounge rent or borrow some trade plates would it be possible to cruise a 57 foot Narrow boat from Loughborough (I think it's The Grand Union Canal) to the Llangollen canal and a rough idea of the time it would take

Hi All, If our offer wins this project Narrowboat, it requires some Plating work, so have found a local welder so once she is all solid again what is the best product for blacking, the bitumen or 2 Pac and what are the cost versus how long it lasts ? Also the topside needs painting so was going to use the roller and smooth it with the brush style as she is an old girl and not worth the cost of spraying. Also does anyone know how much road transport would be as she has no BSC until the welding is done, so cannot cruise her up the canal network unless we can hire/loan some trade plates. Thanks in advance for any replies

Thanks both for the information, it's the kind of figure we was expecting, now just got to get the owner to repond to my questions and will see what price we could work out, wish us luck as we think we will need it

Hi All, We are considering buying a 57 foot cruiser stern narrowboat project. It requires some overplating in the stern and will also need the hull re-painting and also a full paint job above the waterline, so we have some questions, so here goes: 1. What is an average price of having overplating done, we understand without seeing the size of the job it will be difficult to guess, but a rough idea would be great. 2. What is the average crane out costs? 3. We are located near Wrexham in North Wales, so could anyone suggest a local marina that could do this work for us? 4. Also the boat safety cert is out of date so could be cruise her from down south home or would this have to be a load loader job ? Cheers Denise & Geoff

We are in negotiations to buy our first boat, our question is Is it considered bad luck to re-name your boat? I know in ocean going vessels there is even a ceremony if you want to change the name of your ship/boat Thanks in advance for all replies

No Fishing guys, just telling the truth, if I make a promise to anyone I will always try 110% to fulfill it.

I agree, but thats an out of the water survey, this one can be done with the boat in the water, but as we have said, we are new to the canals and narrow boats, so I'm not sure how often you get them out of the water to black them, does every 2 or 3 years sound right?

I have just spoken with the guy again as he has a boat for sale that we are interested in, and I have got it wrong it's £2 a foot and he tells me you would get a report with all the readings etc, I also asked him what a dip cell survey was, and if i get this bit right, it's the same idea how they test the corrosion prevention measures on the Oil Rig legs, the cell is what they put in the water to measure the output of the anodes, and you test it or dipit at deferent levels hence dip cell survey, I think I got that bit correct. So sorry for the confusion but if we end up buying his boat ( a 56 foot cruiser stern) or another, I think we will take the plunge just for my piece of mind, as I should imagine over plating is very expensive? Thanks for the response I will pass them on to him ( if he sells me his boat for the right price )

We recently rented a Canal Barge on the Llangollen canal and got chatting to a friendly guy in one of the many canal side pubs. turns out he was a Corrosion Engineer for a large Oil Company, and he was asking us if we thought canal boaters would pay a nominal amout (from memory I think it was £4 a foot) for an annual dip cell survey to tell if the anodes are working well enough and providing good protection of the hull. As I am a man of my word and promissed this guy I would ask the question to more experienced hands so I have carried out my promise, so over to you guys for your opinion, he really sold the idea to us and for the nominal costs it sounded like good value and would help us sleep at night knowing our expensive pride and joy was not falling apart as we slept