Québec

Absolutely....yes we've set our hearts on owning a boat, but this, in fact, is all about head. The problem is half a head says 'Walk away' and the other half a head says - especially after reading the replies - 'yes the ownership is odd but established and legal; the odd ownership and lack of history doesn't necessarily affect the boat as it stands there today; it's had a full survey by a well known and highly experienced surveyor; importantly hull and engine are OK; we know what needs be done; it can be done - but at a price; negotiate the price to a reasonable and mutually acceptable level; sort out the logistics of what, when and who; get the work done; get on the water; light the fire and pour the wine (actually that last is probably a heart bit). We're going to negotiate, with eyes wide open and much better informed.....and, if it doesn't work in our favour, we'll walk away (hopefully with our deposit). Your work here is done......thank you everyone ...and great to join and be part of such a wonderful community. quebec [quote name='bottle' date='Nov 21 2009, 08:44 PM' post='448639' It has been said before, all though very difficult to do, Head before Heart.

It's 22 years old. Sorry, I have should stated that right at the beginning.

Hi, We've got a mooring lined up (+ an alternative if the first falls through for nay reason) for if and when. Hi Julia, It gets weirder the more one gets into it. I was trying to keep it relatively simple on the forum! The 'owner' has legally transferred ownership to his daughter, who is there - it would seem - simply to collect the money from the sale. She knows nothing about the boat. He cannot be contacted it seems.

I like to agree but several Catch 22's.... 99.9% certain it hasn't got a BSC....but will follow up the BW line of enquiry Can't put boat in the water without a BSC Can't go in the water anyway until LX are fixed. Won't pass a safety inspection without the remedial work being undertaken. Cant' get 'our own' electicians etc. in as marina will only allow it's own or electricians/engineers it knows and recognises to work on boats whilst boat is in the marina. Haven't got a mooring...yet...as we haven't got a boat! My brain hurts!

Hi Alan, Replying directly not wanting to clog up the thread. Thanks for the warning about the leaks spreading via the insulation. it is Rockwool, and we can see some of the actual wooden window frames have been water damaged, but they are easily replaceable. I'm sure it's been leaking for a while, but - so far - there's only one very small area on the T&G panelling, that goes through the whole boat, where the wood's been blackened. All the rest looks to be in excellent condition - one of the few things that is! I would have thought, given it's been uncared for over a year, that if the leaking was really serious more damage would have shown by now. For some reason the single narrow panel that runs the entire length of the boat under the T&G just beneath the windows has been removed to enable some DIY wiring to be fitted, so the insulation can be seen...and felt. Seems to be dry. Also means that some air is getting to it. A key factor for me is that the laminate floor has't lifted...yet. Having got it at home I know how easily water can warp it quite quickly. The windows are pop riveted and the leaks seem to be combination of leaky frames and fading rubber seals. What I don't want is someone to go round with a silicone sealant gun. What I forgot to mention is that we discovered that all the windows - which are hoppers - have been sealed shut with silicone sealant, presumably because they were already leaking. We're still hanging in there! quebec If only.......3 days (21 hours?) at £35 an hour = £735.....and this is from a guy who has been recommended to us by several narrowboating friends.

Hi again, and thanks to all replies so far - much appreciated and very helpful. To answer Chris: we, too, wondered about why were were being asked to pay a deposit BEFORE the survey, but the broker - part of a large, well-established marina/workshop complex - insisted this was standard procedure, and being new to boating we queried it but felt no choice but to accept that condition. Re: the estimated cost being high we've been quoted c.£800 by an electrician regularly used by the marina who's seen what needs to be done; c. £700 labour costs (3 full days) for the windows excluding the cost of the windows (c. £850 - £1000); c: £300 to fix the plumbing and make the battery storage area safe and secure (which I could do but wouldn't be allowed to as long as the boat is on a hard standing at the marina and not in a DIY shed.) To answer Laurie: there's no safety certificate, and no one can seem to find out when the last one was. The owner has, to all purposes, disappeared and left virtually no documentation on the history of the boat. The brokers clearly want rid of it, but they also don't want to lose too much in commission. To answer bag'o bones: the brokers only this week sold a similar sized boat (which we saw and really didn't like in terms of layout and interior) in 'turn key' usable condition' that 'flew' through a full survey, for only c. £1500 more than our current offer - which was made subject to survey - and therefore based on what we could see (and also based on a lot of homework, seeing/comparing other boats, etc.) To hamsterfan: I did say that the survey found that 'the hull and engine were OK, and the gas cooker worked fine! To all... We DO like the boat...which is why we haven't just walked away as soon as it got complicated.

Hi, Just joined as we're in the middle of purchasing our first narrowboat (we hope!) and would appreciate advice from more experienced boating people. The narrowboat we're interested in has been on a hard standing at the brokers for over a year, and was advertised as needing some straighforward and relatively inexpensive DIY on the interior to make it into a decent craft. That bit is probably accurate, and we were attracted because of the relatively uncluttered, light interior (5 big windows +two portholes!), good quality T&G throughout, and a laminate floor. The Kitchen and bathroom were basic but looked OK. The price had been substantially reduced from the original, totally unrealistic price, and we put in an offer - subject to survey - below the current price, which was accepted, and we paid a 10% deposit. We've now had a full survey which showed that the hull and engine were OK and the gas cooker worked fine. But the survey also revealed that: - most of the windows leak (we knew a couple did) and some of the water gets into the electrics. - the main switchboard has fallen apart (surveyor could only test LX by attaching clips direct from battery to various wires and trying to work out what went where) - the ignitition key works but the dashboard isn't working (no lights or controls) - the cable for the 240v ring mains is the wrong type and is unlikely to pass a safety inspection. - the battery store is unsafe - the water pump works, but all the pipes leak badly at all of the joints (frost cracking probably) and so water pours everywhere as soon you run the pump. (The lack of pressure means you can't test the water heater, though it's a standard new'ish model and looks OK) - the pump for the waste water doesn't work. Don't know if it's the pump (unlikely) - or the wiring (probably) - the weed hatch looks as if its slightly damaged (a bit bent). We reckon that the boat needs c. £2500-3000 of remedial work including labour costs just to be able to get it into the water and obtain a BSC. A bit different from just needing a basically straighforward interior/DIY job! So.....THE QUESTION...do we just walk away and ask for our deposit back (hoping- having read some other posts on here - that they will), or do we - because we do like the boat - demand the vendor makes good the essential systems or reduce our offer to cover the remedial work that needs doing? Apologies for the length and would really appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance. quebec