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Saturday 25th January - The day has arrived for my return.


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5 hours ago, dmr said:

There are always nice boats for sale at ABNB, thats what they sell ?

Hi dmr, ABNB is on my list of marinas and boat yards to visit.

I think I would change the name of the company if it was me as every Google search said was I looking for AirBnB.

Anyway I found them already a few months ago and it looks quite promising.

 

Have a great day

Neil

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4 minutes ago, Gayzingalone said:

Hi dmr, ABNB is on my list of marinas and boat yards to visit.

I think I would change the name of the company if it was me as every Google search said was I looking for AirBnB.

Anyway I found them already a few months ago and it looks quite promising.

 

Have a great day

Neil

ABNB does predate AirBnB by many years. They specialise in the more upmarket boats but have a very good reputation, the opposite end of the market to Whilton

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12 hours ago, Dr Bob said:

I echo what Mike says about Whilton. It is a good place to go to see the range of boats available. When we bought our boat 3 years ago, we had been looking at boats for around a couple of months. We were based in Cardiff and came up to Warwickshire for a couple of days. We saw what looked like a great boat in Wigrams turn marina....but was surprised we had to make a booking to see it- non of the 'just turn up!'....... we hummed and ha'ed. We then went off to Whilton and within 5 mins of looking at all their boats with a handful of keys, we were on the phone to Wigrams to buy the first one.  Never looked back. My opinion is the only thing going for Whilton is convenience which in some cases IS the overriding thing. 

It is a good place to start but then look at Crick, Braunston, Wigrams and Dunchurch amongst others. 

Hi Dr Bob,

Thanks for your very comprehensive and informative post.

I can see your point and fully understand the "looking around".

One of my problems is that I arrive in the UK on the Friday and need to go viewing on Saturday/Sunday and I have no transport!

I don't have a car, and although I have a Thai driving license that is valid for one year on UK roads, very few (or none) hire companies will rent me a car, that with the fact that I also don't have a credit card!

I will keep you informed of my progress but it might be limited to three marinas around Whilton/Braunston.

 

Thanks again and have a lovely day,

Neil

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8 hours ago, Gayzingalone said:

Hi Doratheexplorer,
Weddings in Thailand (and funerals) everyone wears shorts and tee-shirt!
Job interviews I don't do (I stopped working 14 years ago!).
My long jeans were for visits to immigration. 

 

Temperature here today is about 39 degrees!


Have a great day
Neil

39 Degrees is way too hot!  I actually quite like the temperatures and seasons we have in the UK.  What I don't like is the grey/drizzly/sunless days and the short days in winter.  A cool bright winter's day is a lovely thing, but it always ends too soon.

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8 hours ago, Gayzingalone said:

One of my problems is that I arrive in the UK on the Friday and need to go viewing on Saturday/Sunday and I have no transport!

I don't have a car, and although I have a Thai driving license that is valid for one year on UK roads, very few (or none) hire companies will rent me a car, that with the fact that I also don't have a credit card!

 

I can see you think things through but I'm not sure you fully appreciate the impact on your mobility of these two factors combined. The only ways for you to get about will be public transport (shockingly sketchy and sparse outside of city centres) or walk.

 

May I suggest your No 2 priority when you get here (No 1 being booking a B&B) is buy and insure a car? Or if you have the spare capital, a campervan/motorhome? Once you have transport and accommodation, the pressure to buy a boat in a hurry is off. You can buy a motorhome easily, there is a motorhome centre with a selection of second hand ones to drive away in Weedon, the epicentre of where you need to be.  The downside is they are expensive but one will release you from the need to keep returning to the B&B every night. Or an old car with 6 months MoT for £300 from Gumtree might be a better bet.

 

 

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8 hours ago, Gayzingalone said:

Hi Dr Bob,

Thanks for your very comprehensive and informative post.

I can see your point and fully understand the "looking around".

One of my problems is that I arrive in the UK on the Friday and need to go viewing on Saturday/Sunday and I have no transport!

I don't have a car, and although I have a Thai driving license that is valid for one year on UK roads, very few (or none) hire companies will rent me a car, that with the fact that I also don't have a credit card!

I will keep you informed of my progress but it might be limited to three marinas around Whilton/Braunston.

 

Thanks again and have a lovely day,

Neil

I do wonder if there might be a forum member who lives around Northamptonshire who might be able to chaffeur you around the marinas and help you look over boats, for a reasonable fee?

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9 hours ago, dmr said:

ABNB does predate AirBnB by many years. They specialise in the more upmarket boats but have a very good reputation, the opposite end of the market to Whilton

Depends on the boat doesn't it?  (he says hopefully!)…..  we didn't find what we were looking for at ABNB at the time - they didn't have much stock and what they did have was very expensive, but Whilton just happened to have one...

 

I know Whilton have a bad name in the trade but I've not witnessed this when I purchased so don't rule anyone out - if the boats right and at the right price????

Edited by robtheplod
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41 minutes ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

I can see you think things through but I'm not sure you fully appreciate the impact on your mobility of these two factors combined. The only ways for you to get about will be public transport (shockingly sketchy and sparse outside of city centres) or walk.

 

May I suggest your No 2 priority when you get here (No 1 being booking a B&B) is buy and insure a car? Or if you have the spare capital, a campervan/motorhome? Once you have transport and accommodation, the pressure to buy a boat in a hurry is off. You can buy a motorhome easily, there is a motorhome centre with a selection of second hand ones to drive away in Weedon, the epicentre of where you need to be.  The downside is they are expensive but one will release you from the need to keep returning to the B&B every night. Or an old car with 6 months MoT for £300 from Gumtree might be a better bet.

 

 

Hi Mike .....
Ohhh ... No, no, no .... 
I have no interest in buying a car (I'm trying to get away from the roads to the tranquility of the canals).
Also I have everything planned and shall be quite mobile with Taxi's. No need for hotels as I will have a day return on the train from London.

Anyway, thanks for your concern ...

Have a lovely day,

Neil

16 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said:

I do wonder if there might be a forum member who lives around Northamptonshire who might be able to chaffeur you around the marinas and help you look over boats, for a reasonable fee?

WoW! ...  That would be a wonderful option ..... but I'm sure I shall survive with Taxi's.
Thanks again for your suggestion ...

Neil

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16 minutes ago, Gayzingalone said:

Hi Mike .....
Ohhh ... No, no, no .... 
I have no interest in buying a car (I'm trying to get away from the roads to the tranquility of the canals).
Also I have everything planned and shall be quite mobile with Taxi's. No need for hotels as I will have a day return on the train from London.

Anyway, thanks for your concern ...

Have a lovely day,

Neil

Be aware that Sundays are "rail engineering" days, so expect disruptions [at weekends I find it best to get on any fast train going to my destination even if holding a restricted ticket]. Northern Rail/Arriva/LNER have a few such issues at the moment. 

Edited by LadyG
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3 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Be aware that Sundays are "engineering" days, so expect disruptions [at weekends I find it best to get on any fast train going to my destination even if holding a restricted ticket]. Northern Rail/Arriva/LNER have a few such issues at the moment. 

Hi LadyG,
Yes, I have heard of the "engineering" days on the trains. I will keep everything open with "options", but I'm sure I will arrive at my destination.
Thai trains are a 100% disaster, so anything will be better.

 

Neil

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If you're gonna be staying with the bf in Ldn (sorry, haven't been e-stalking so may have missed the life updates) then have a look at Boat Shed London and also BWML. Also Apollo Duck (awful site but lots boats from loads of vendors, inc. private sales), Facebook Groups and even Gumtree. I wasted plenty of time/money travelling to the Midlands but found both my boats elsewhere. Neither through the sites I've mentioned (one was an estate agent, the other Apollo Duck/brokerage elsewhere) but I don't feel I wasted so much time/money with them.

Edited to add: I wasted the money on a survey of a boat at ABNB - they made anything seem possible but when it actually came to it it would have taken their ppl months and months to do up boat (which was leaking from a number of places) so it just wouldn't have been feasible for me. Nice (dog/child/vegan-friendly )pubs to eat in in the area/friendly (albeit overly pushy on occasion) staff but leaky boat and despite bullying me into the survey they didn't get the sale for the owner... the boat I had surveyed mid autumn is still for sale now.

Edited by TheMenagerieAfloat
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Edited (again) to add: what does 'last out of the water' mean on an advert? The boat I had surveyed in half term Autumn 2019 says 'last out of water 2017'... does it mean 'last out of the water at owner's expense'? Happy to share survey details with anyone thinking of buying it who messages on here. Wouldn't, obviously, be anything you could rely on but I was happy with my surveyor (used him for both boats I bought and also this one).

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13 hours ago, robtheplod said:

Depends on the boat doesn't it?  (he says hopefully!)…..  we didn't find what we were looking for at ABNB at the time - they didn't have much stock and what they did have was very expensive, but Whilton just happened to have one...

 

I know Whilton have a bad name in the trade but I've not witnessed this when I purchased so don't rule anyone out - if the boats right and at the right price????

I have said it before and will say it again. Do not discount any broker. Whilton do get some good boats, my bro in law bought his first there a few years ago after I looked it over. It was a cracking boat which served him well and when he sold it for a longer boat ( I told him it was too short ) it sold quickly at a very good price for him. Yes they will stock and sell anything and are not particular about the boat but they are not all bad.

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1 hour ago, TheMenagerieAfloat said:

If you're gonna be staying with the bf in Ldn (sorry, haven't been e-stalking so may have missed the life updates) then have a look at Boat Shed London and also BWML. Also Apollo Duck (awful site but lots boats from loads of vendors, inc. private sales), Facebook Groups and even Gumtree. I wasted plenty of time/money travelling to the Midlands but found both my boats elsewhere. Neither through the sites I've mentioned (one was an estate agent, the other Apollo Duck/brokerage elsewhere) but I don't feel I wasted so much time/money with them.

Edited to add: I wasted the money on a survey of a boat at ABNB - they made anything seem possible but when it actually came to it it would have taken their ppl months and months to do up boat (which was leaking from a number of places) so it just wouldn't have been feasible for me. Nice (dog/child/vegan-friendly )pubs to eat in in the area/friendly (albeit overly pushy on occasion) staff but leaky boat and despite bullying me into the survey they didn't get the sale for the owner... the boat I had surveyed mid autumn is still for sale now.

Hi MenagerieAfloat,
Interesting reading and thanks for your input.
I hadn't seen the "Boat Shed London" site but on checking it out I had the impression of London prices!

 

Just a few more days (Next Saturday I hope to be already viewing my first boats!).
Exciting (and nervous) times for me but it helps a lot when people on this site share their knowledge.

Thanks, and I hope that you have a great day,

 

Neil

1 hour ago, TheMenagerieAfloat said:

Edited (again) to add: what does 'last out of the water' mean on an advert? The boat I had surveyed in half term Autumn 2019 says 'last out of water 2017'... does it mean 'last out of the water at owner's expense'? Happy to share survey details with anyone thinking of buying it who messages on here. Wouldn't, obviously, be anything you could rely on but I was happy with my surveyor (used him for both boats I bought and also this one).

I have understood that 'last out of the water' would give the impression that the hull (underwater) could not have bee inspected or had any work done on it since that date.

 

Neil

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2 minutes ago, Gayzingalone said:

Hi MenagerieAfloat,
Interesting reading and thanks for your input.
I hadn't seen the "Boat Shed London" site but on checking it out I had the impression of London prices!

Have in mind that a lot of people pay thousands (1-2 ish) to transport a boat to London and also that a boat sold with a mooring in London could cost you thousands (1ish/month)
 in mooring fees... but that the mooring may be worth more than the boat! For mooring-free boats (and, actually, those with moorings, although I know you don't want one) they have perfectly fine prices ?

2 minutes ago, Gayzingalone said:

I have understood that 'last out of the water' would give the impression that the hull (underwater) could not have bee inspected or had any work done on it since that date.

That would have been my thought too - but I know it was out (and surveyed by a reputable surveyor) in 2019 - I saw / paid for it myself! (And, actually, the hull was pretty decent)

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22 hours ago, blackrose said:

I used to be on 3 but wouldn't go back to them if you paid me. Perhaps they've improved but they used to be the worst mobile provider in the UK. 

 

Just the thought of a new Three contract fills me with dread. Once bitten...

I’m on Three but feel exactly the same as you about Vodafone. 

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22 hours ago, blackrose said:

I used to be on 3 but wouldn't go back to them if you paid me. Perhaps they've improved but they used to be the worst mobile provider in the UK. 

 

Just the thought of a new Three contract fills me with dread. Once bitten...

Ditto. Dreadful coverage. I am on o2 and staying put. Never again will I go to three. Twice over the years I have gone to them and twice I soon realised why they are cheap. Its weird though how we all have differing experiences with mobile providers innitt. 

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50 minutes ago, mrsmelly said:

Ditto. Dreadful coverage. I am on o2 and staying put. Never again will I go to three. Twice over the years I have gone to them and twice I soon realised why they are cheap. Its weird though how we all have differing experiences with mobile providers innitt. 

Not really.  It depends where in the country you spend the most time, and what coverage the different networks have there.

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5 hours ago, TheBiscuits said:

Not really.  It depends where in the country you spend the most time, and what coverage the different networks have there.

I've got a '3' unlimited and an EE 'nearly unlimited' but tend to be on the EE all the time as around the midlands (all of it - east, north, south, west and middle) I find usually strong signal on '3' but a 1/3rd of the time (ish) just dont get any download speed so cant stream. EE usually has stronger signal (only a few locations less) but seems 100% reliable once you get a good signal.

Dunno wot is wrong with '3'.

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8 minutes ago, Dr Bob said:

I've got a '3' unlimited and an EE 'nearly unlimited' but tend to be on the EE all the time as around the midlands (all of it - east, north, south, west and middle) I find usually strong signal on '3' but a 1/3rd of the time (ish) just dont get any download speed so cant stream. EE usually has stronger signal (only a few locations less) but seems 100% reliable once you get a good signal.

Dunno wot is wrong with '3'.

Yep.  You are one of my reference points for "EE then Three" as a recommendation for canal mobile internet.  We had very few problems with Three when we were gallivanting your way last year, and all of them could be solved by moving a bit further so we got a better signal.  

 

They might also have been fixed by stopping earlier, but that's not what we did.

 

For clarity, we are Three only via mobile phone in the window.  I don't get enough spots where I can't get signal to bother with a good router and a good external aerial, and we need to be able to process card payments for sales off the boat ...

 

Maybe your favourite pub moorings don't like the Three network!

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