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Found 16 results

  1. Hi There I need to do some fibreglass repairs to my grp boat and I'm wondering if its possible to use a grip roofing system on it?, and if I can go over the existing paint if I key it up?
  2. http://bwml.co.uk Sawley marina is idealy situated in the centre of the country with great links to the M1, A50 and M42. As part of BWML we donate to the Canal & River Trust for the development of the UK's inland waterways. Sawley marina offers a boat brokerage service for both steel narrowboats and GRP cruisers on a fixed fee basis. We also have leisure and grade one live aboard moorings. Please see our website for further details. Relationship with Canal & River Trust We are a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canal & River Trust, CRT (formally British Waterways), a national charity formed in 2012, whose primary role is the custodian and navigation authority for around 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales. BWML, along with all other commercial interests of CRT, has a responsibility to generate commercial income to support the running of the waterways within CRT’s care.
  3. Hi all I've looked at several boats over the last few weeks now, and I've narrowed it down to two I like. I'd like your knowledgeable advice please! On both boats, if I were to make an offer, it would be a fair bit lower than the asking price. Both boats have a GRP (fibreglass) top, which due to loads of searching on the forum, I know several of you say avoid, and some others love! Personally from the searches I've done, no one has said anything that would make me run in the opposite direction! This one, perfect layout for me (has an area to do my art without having to keep packing everything away after). I love that it's very original (I don't do modern, I was born in the wrong era), and it appears to have been looked after. I also, after chatting with a long time boater, like the trad stern, for reasons of it giving more space inside, and keeping you warm while on the move in winter. The negatives as far as I'm concerned are it has no water heater and no shower, both of which I would have to have fitted, so more cost. Also I'm a little scared that with that trad stern with nothing around the edges so to speak, I might step back and knock my ickle dog into the canal lol! http://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/used-narrowboats/details/2965.aspx This one on the other hand, has had loads of work done, subject to a satisfactory survey of my own, it is ready to go with no work to be done, or to cost me more money! On the minus, there isn't anywhere to leave my art out so I would constantly be packing it all away every time, which as I'm a lazy bugger I know I just won't bother to do it. Also as it's a cruiser stern alongside the lack of interior space, it means being cold when travelling in the winter, but at least I can sit outside in the summer lol! http://www.venetianmarina.co.uk/used-narrowboats/details/2950.aspx Any advice greatly received. I have viewed both in person and pulled things around! Before making an offer on either I would view again when it's raining to see if there are any leaks in the GRP! Thank you kindly
  4. I'm doing a bit of conversion work, and putting hollow PVC cladding on the bare GRP hull, but what's the easiest way to attach the PVC to the hull? Bearing in mind that the hull is a but bump and uneven, and curves slightly as it heads toward the bow.
  5. I'm contemplating buying a project boat... I think we know where this post is heading. It's Dawncraft 25' and it needs a bit lot of TLC. The good news is that it has most of the parts included - the current owner purchased it, stripped it, bought all the parts and then ran out of time. After all, what kind of idiot would want to work on a boat in Autumn? Oh... The engine isn't seized but it needs a good service as it has sat for months. The steering wheel isn't attached. All the parts included though. The ceiling fell down(!). All the wood is there, it just needs to be fitted more securely. No heating to speak of. I'm leaning towards fitting a secondhand multifuel stove like a boatman. Obviously this will involve flue, chimney, hat, hearth, and plenty of protective shield. Webasto would be nice but new they're worth more than I'm paying for this boat No water heating either. This isn't a big deal though. There isn't a shower so water heating for dishwashing can be done via kettle. There's space with easy access for a Morco so I can add one at a later date if I regret this decision. Gas appliances (hob/oven) included but not fitted. Solar panels not included. So I'll need to buy a couple of panels, MPPT, and a battery monitor. After all, who could live without solar power? No wiring. No lights. No outlets. Fortunately everything is accessible as the ceiling is down So there we have it. The price of the boat is very low £££. The parts included are worth more than that. So I need someone sensible to talk me out of buying it. Over to you!
  6. Hi there, I'm on the hunt for a narrowboat which I plan to continually cruise and live on. Over the past few months I've been a quietly digesting a tonne of information from these forums and other resources online. I finally have a question to post, so hopefully you might be able to help. I've seen a boat online which looks pretty tidy, but it states that the top is wood and the roof fibreglass. I've seen quite a lot of negative press around GRP. Should this ring alarm bells? If I go and view her is there anything I should look out for? She's also just been repainted externally - should that also ring alarm bells? This is the boat in question. Would really appreciate your advice! Thanks in advance.
  7. This post cannot be displayed because it is in a forum which requires at least 10 posts to view.
  8. Well, I have made a good start on the refurbishment. Having stripped out the old floor, kitchen etc, I found two pin hole leaks in the hull under the water line which is why the hull had always got two inches of water in! Holes sealed and the hull cleaned - amazed that a previous owner had simply put attic flooring panels on top of a wet, rotten floor. The original flooring that rotted and was then covered Next, strip out the kitchen "units" and the seating together with the associated platform. The same with the odd little shelf in the bows. So far I have managed to take seven full loads of rotten timber to the tip - my car is a mark 1 Honda CRV and has a lot of space in the back. After a break of a few months due to an extended period in Egypt back to the boat for a ten day period. Thanks to my daughter and her family for putting up with me for that long! Starting in the bow, I have panelled in the wasted space Then I panelled the area under the side pockets and have given it all a first coat of undercoat Moving towards the stern, I have built in new kitchen units (yet to be finished), opposite them I put in a raised platform with two seats (cupboards under), new 12mm water resistant ply flooring on 2" square struts and a full height wardrobe (originally it was a narrow half height with a tiny shelf on top). Flooring going in with the seating platform. Wardrobe to the right, toilet room to the left The kitchen with sink, oven, rings and grill and fridge in place but not connected. At this point I came to the end of my 10 day jaunt. With an impending house move in the next month, it looks like everything goes on hold once again until the end of June at the earliest. In the meantime I have had the engine serviced (last time was in 2013) replaced the "morse" control unit as there was no key for the old one (since discovered that replacement keys are readily available (doh!)) When I do come back I need to completely re-wire the boat, it had an interesting mix of bell wire, speaker wire and mains wire, none of which was routed through the fuse panel, I need to add a second battery together with the charging system. I still have to try and figure out some way of getting a shower on board - that will need a shower tray with associated pump etc at a level enabling us to stand upright, as well as with some method of heating water. There was originally a gas water heater in the kitchen and the roof vent is still in place. Anyone have a water heater in reasonable nick going cheap? I have the roof lining (vinyl) ready to be attached in an effort to reduce condensation and carpeting needs to be sourced. New cushions and covers are a necessity. I have managed to seal most of the window leaks, with the exception of the front hatch which has a very annoying drip. I will have to make a cover for the hatch which seems a common idea, in the meantime a bucket helps! In the process I have met (and contacted) some lovely people, not least Wayne and his lovely long suffering wife. The other moorers on the Marina have all been fascinated by my progress (or lack thereof) and have offered help, advice and all manner of items from electrical connectors to their pram hood that they're replacing next year. I must admit I'm looking forward to my next visit, as, with a working engine, I can actually take the boat out on the canal. If anyone is thinking of refurbishing an older boat my advice would be GO FOR IT! It's fun (sometimes frustrating) and rewarding as you can see the improvement happening. There's a sense of pride knowing I've made it happen and at the end of the day the boat should be worth more than I originally paid for it. I will update as more things happen.
  9. We bought a Norman Cruiser and have found that someone along the line has done repairs on the back corners and now the (bodged) repairs have fallen to bits and we have been left with 2 cracks that go way under the waterline and at the bottom the cracks are actually holes !!! The wood reinforcement is now rotten right across the Transom and needs to be renewed. The boat yard that has lifted the cruiser out of the water, said that the wood needs to be removed via the tiny space under the floor. This is so tiny, how do you work in there with angle grinders etc. ??? I suggested removing the rear section of floor panel to make it easier to access but they said I cannot do that as it will effect the rigidity of the boat. Is this correct ?? Has anyone ever done this type of repair ?? Would be grateful for any input from anyone with any ideas. Many thanks.
  10. Hello Folks, My partner, Isobel and I purchased our first narrowboat last July (2015) Its a proper 'project' boat, which we spent a month fixing things like the engine, and fitting in insulation, new T&G cladding on the walls etc before embarking on an epic journey from London to Bath, where we are now moored in a marina and have just survived our first winter aboard. Now thats its spring at last, we want to start repair works again, but could use some advice! The boat is a 48' cruiser stern narrowboat, built in 1975. Steel hull and a GRP fibreglass roof. We have learnt now what a royal pain it is to have a fibreglass roof, and have spent a large part of the winter catching leaks which have been coming through under the gunnels We applied sealant all along the joint outside the gunnel, but have found we probably missed making a full seal and water has been getting in. We will be scraping out and redoing this this spring. Also, the handrails are snapped and broken. They were wooden and not looked after, and now need fully replacing. We were hoping for advice about doing this, and generally in ensuring the GRP roof is totally TOTALLY TOTALLY waterproof (please!) I've seen a few people covering their roof with products like flow coat and a product called rubbaroof. Does anyone have experience of applying this and can recommend whats best and how to do it? Also, we're debating whether to reuse the existing holes drilled in the roof (which are currently sealed over with Sikaflex) and make wooden handrails, or if after sealing over the whole roof anew, we can just drill new holes, perhaps adding metal handrails instead such as these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-1800mm-316-Stainless-Steel-Boat-Grab-Rails-Handles-/290374973664 Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated, we would love to get the boat waterproof, looking great and properly shipshape before next winter! Thanks a lot for any help : ) Laurence and Isobel
  11. Hello everyone, I'm not sure if this is in the right place, I've had a good look around but haven't seen this mentioned elsewhere. Sorry if I missed it! I am planning on buying a grp cruiser as a liveaboard. I have looked at a number of boats and think I'm pretty sold on a seamaster 30. I have seen one in particular that I really like however one thing I have just found out about her worries me. She hasn't been out of the water since 2009. Should this worry me? It seems like a long time for things to start going iffy! I've read lots of horror stories of osmosis. My main worry is that it points to the boat not being treated that kindly in general. Or is this fairly normal? I would greatly appreciate any input or advice! Cheers, Matt.
  12. Hi All, I'm just wondering if anyone else has experience with ordering the grp window and porthole liners from Procast in Nottinghamshire? (specifically the liners, not their general chandlery, and not Wesley Marine Windows, who I know also make them) I ordered a full set for my boat (5 window liners and 4 porthole liners) at a cost of well over £600 which, as you'd expect I had to pay on order. I was told they would be approximately 2 weeks, as they make them to order. After 3 weeks I started chasing and was given an excuse why they were late, I accepted it, but they still didn't show up, this has been an ongoing weekly farce ever since. I keep being told they will get some (or all) of them out that week, then the weekend comes and goes and I chase again. So far I've received the 4 portholes, but one was warped and another damaged in transit, so I still only have 2 out of the 9 which I ordered over 2 months ago. Has anyone else ordered their GRP liners and had the same problem? I did try looking up reviews for the company before I ordered but couldn't find anything specifically related to the fibreglass window liners. Perhaps I should have asked here first :-/ Cheers, Steve
  13. Sorry for being away for awhile, Wife's illness got worse but hopefully after Christmas the new medication regime will be sorted and we can get to a level of stability. During the down time we have had a lot of time to decide what we want to do, what is our goal and how to get there. I also managed to visit while Paola was recuperating 4 Marina's and got to look at 17 different boats. We are keeping our house, we would be crazy not to, it is paid for and gives us a home base in the midlands to explore from and if bad things happen the house is always a place to go. We have a maximum fund of £20k, for the start of the project and have decided to go for a GRP in the 23-29ft size, this allows for Canal and River travel, it will not be a CC or full time live in boat, this is for us to go on adventures over time. Time scale, it will take at least until next summer for wife to be well enough to boat, no rush after all I have been on a boat now even though it was for a short time I know its what we want. I will be looking for a solid hull, Kathleen had a solid hull but was too small a 23-29ft especially with the modifications we are planning. Once we have a solid hull the inboard/outboard + fuel tank petrol/diesel will be removed and an electric Torqeedo 4.0 (8-9hp eq) rated upto a 4t boat (From my math a viking 23ft is about 1.5t) with a quad bank (4* Li batteries 100kg) solar/wind chargers to top up (only top up) we will be mooring at a marina as our base of operation thus recharge should be simple (I will do all the math for the powers before any purchase is made) Travel plan is simple start on the canals no set goals just see where it takes us. I am expecting to pay between 5-10k for the boat I could go higher but will primarily be looking for a hull that fits our needs, plan to have it modified internals to fit our needs so what we start with does not really matter as long as it has a strong hull. (I have seen hundreds of boats in that price range especially if you do not mind them having a broken engine) Will have it fitted to handle most UK weather. **Before anyone mentions it I know that this project will cost more than 20k and I will never get my money back on it, hello! I'm the one who bought a 4k boat and was happy selling it for 750, resale value have never played a part in anything I have purchased in my life from computers, houses to boat. 20k is our starting fund, will have 5k per month after that purely put aside to cover modifications of the boat. The only reason we had a cut off point on Kathleen was she was 20ft and that was too small, if she had been 25ft I would have had her picked up and get some one to do what I am now. The other plus side to going electric is it makes the back end of a boat a lot more liveable. While to a lot of people this may seem crazy the simple truth is this money I have set aside for this is just that set aside for this if the entire lot and 6 months of money went down the tube it would not affect our lifestyle or home. In this last couple of months I have been away my wife has come close to dying a few times and if she did pass then at least I know we spent an amazing couple of days on Kathleen travelling the canals compared to that 4k or 40k means nothing at all, (its not her illness that is causing this its the medication explained below) Some may think we are crazy to be doing this with an ill wife after all what happens if she gets ill on a boat, during the last 20 years of her illness she had a 25-30% survival rate (everyone else in the same trials died) you can do all you can with what time you have or you can not its personal choice. I will be taking all the precautions like a medical emergency GPS system. The illness she has is not a fast acting one, if the end is coming we know about it about 3 months in advance, the problem is the medication, for 18 years a certain drug which kept a certain protein at a certain level thus meaning the cancer didn't come back worked fine, yes it caused side effects but it was doable unfortunately last year it stopped working we do not know why it just did and new medication had to be tried, now the new medication did its job but the side effects included diabetes and 70% damage to her kidneys and her red blood cell count dropped drastically the summary is new drug did bad now we try other drug till we find one that does not kill her because that would be a bad side effect. I just wanted to let those know what was going on and why I was not around, visits and online time will still be infrequent while we sort out the medication. Ohh one cool thing, I have access to (when I need it) A VR camera and will be doing multiple full passes for the boat once the project gets going, this will allow me to put on my Oculus Rift VR headset and walk around the boat in full scale at home and plan things, the most fun about all of this is going to be taking a 1970-90 boat and bringing it into the future.
  14. Hello everyone, Well the day is finally here tomorrow morning (Wednesday 19th July) we will travel down to Sawley Marina and take Kathleen out for her first major trip, repairs to engine are done, if Paola can get on the boat (if not modifications will be made later) then it will be both of us, if not I will go solo. Our goal is to get from Sawley on the River Trent to Aston Marina on the TMC. We should be leaving home at 9:30, plan to leave the Marina at 11-12 but will not rush if something is not ready. As long as I can figure out how to access this site on my tablet you will know how it is going :).
  15. Hi Everyone A similar question may have been posted before, if so just direct me to that thread. So to keep a long story short, I have recently put down a deposit on an Inland GRP Cabin Cruiser with the main intention as using as a 'liveaboard' (Bit crazy, I know). I planned to have a pre purchase survey to double check the boat is all good around the hull, however due to a long series of events i.e. high water levels, surveyors who don't cover GRP cruisers etc. I have since decided to carry out the survey myself, I have already booked and paid the fee to have the boat lifted out the water anyway. I know this might sound a bit daft since I have little to no experience about boats and only have a small understanding of internal combustion engines. My aim here is to assemble a list of things I should look out for such as common faults that are overlooked, areas on where to look and what in general to check. This is one of the few times the boat will be taken out the water I hope, so I want to make the most of it. For context of what I'm planning to do with the boat: I'm planning to have it moored at the marina for the majority of the time and using it as a 'floating apartment' using shore power. Leisure cruising is not a top concern right now. (I know you experienced boat goers are gonna be reading this thinking "he's way in over his head" however any advice, tips and pointers would be more than appreciated) Cheers!
  16. Hello, Looks like the old thread went a little off topic so here we are again. For those that do not know we bought the GRP boat Kathleen, a 1981 Buckingham 20ft, hull is in very good condition, so is electrics, new batteries, cables, apart from the bilge boat is dry as a bone that has been left out in the sun. She has a few quirks and the engine needed some work but we are still in what I feel is a win win situation, Engine has new glow plugs, starts easily needed a new fuel system (fitted a couple of days ago reconditioned), final test of boat will be on Sunday engineer is taking her out for a two hour cruise down the Trent to load test the engine if all goes well and he will sign off on the work and we will bring her home. Quirks that still need sorting but can wait till she is home Gear leaver works in reverse (push forward for reverse) RPM gauge does not work and Horn is none functional. Future upgrades if we decide she is the right boat to keep and spend our River/Canal life on: 240v system including solar. This will comprise of a couple of small panels, controller, 300w Inverter and one additional battery (raising our leisure battery to 2) Replacing the alternator Heating eberspacher Artronic D2 Plan She is currently moored at Sawley Marina and we have a waiting berth at Aston Marina, if the final load test on Sunday goes well then we will move her up the TMC to her new home on Monday.
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