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Anybody with a 40-foot Aintree beetle who can advise me.


SILVER BLAZE

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I am looking to be a first time buyer of a narrowboat having only hired over the years. I am seriously considering buying a brand new 40'-0" Aintree beetle and have recently visited their workshops, can anybody who owns one or knows of any pitfalls on this boat as in for example is it under powered or the electrics are poor, whatever, i just need some advice being a novice and dont want to put down a small fortune on something which is a pup. I wont be a liveaboard more just a weekend cruiser and a few times where i may leave the marina for 2 or 3 weeks a few times a year. Ripon marina where i am thinking of berthing it you have to transit the river ouse to get to the main canal network and thats why i am concerned about power. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, oh and has anybody had any problems or heard of any with Aintree boats in their dealings with them.

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I will check out those threads, alas the reason for me thinking a new boat is i am totally useless when it comes to D.I.Y and at 62 i am impatient to get out there cos suddenly i look around and i have livelong friends popping off. I suppose really the best scenario for me would be an 18 month old boat or something like that which had been de-snagged and no V.A.T to pay but they seem to sell almost immediately when they come up. Right now to read those threads you mentioned.

 

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2 minutes ago, SILVER BLAZE said:

I suppose really the best scenario for me would be an 18 month old boat or something like that which had been de-snagged

 

There are plenty of those about from people who decided to buy a new-boat not realising what they actually needed (or wanted) so are selling up to buy a boat that meets what (they now know) they need.

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Just come back from Aintree a few minutes ago. Our third visit and they have now started our second boat.

 

Jamie and his staff are very welcoming and each time we've come away pleased with what we've seen and heard. We've spoken to many Aintree owners this past year of so and not heard a bad word.

 

They also build shells for New Concept, Swan and Bickerstaffe.

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Its not straightforward this buying your first boat is it i am finding, i think a lot more research and communication with experienced boat owners is called for, hence why i joined this forum and already i am taking note and thinking i need to change my strategy, i was hoping the boat i buy would be the only one i ever own and that i would leave it to my family, well that was the plan.

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There is an Aintree Beetle owners group on Facebook with a few owners of 40ft versions who seem pleased with them.   The Beetle engines get larger with longer versions so should have adequate power with a 30hp Beta.   Not the largest water or calorifier capacity but enough for your planned use.

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3 minutes ago, pearley said:

amie and his staff are very welcoming and each time we've come away pleased with what we've seen and heard. We've spoken to many Aintree owners this past year of so and not heard a bad word.

Good to hear, thanks for that.

A face book page i didnt know that, wow thanks, i will check that out.

 

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I would also advise a used boat too. I don't know anything about the Aintree Beetle but I have been around boats for a while. You really need to see lots of boats, nobody ever takes any notice if that piece of advice but it is important. You need to see lots of awful boats, a few who's beauty is skin deep, a few that are without vices (or character) and a few that are actually good boats. You need to then own a boat that you quite like but after a while wish it had better heating/ loo/insulation or something. You will only find out what you really like after putting up with something that you don't like. Then you sell the boat with little depreciation and more knowledge. If ypu buy a new boat first time around you will still wish it had a different loo / heating / insulation but you will be selling it as a second hand boat.        (edit)     62! Good God man! You've got years to get it right and then there's the French canals!

Edited by Bee
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OP has done some cruising, and it's not a liveaboard, so layout not so important, imho.

 I believe Aintree offer a standard layout in order to reduce build costs, I've not seen any adverse criticism of them.

 You can appoint your own surveyor, to inspect the build and pay in stages, make sure you own the boat, in case of financial problems!

Is there an owners assocition?

There are specialist firms who advise on props, but you likely won't be going out when Ouse is in flood, so it's a matter of building your experience and confidence.

A second hand boat may have it's own problems, DAMHIK.

I think a new boat could have a diesel stove with it's own tank., for heating and maybe cooking/hot water, Refleks and Kuboto are well known, also Bubble

 

Edited by LadyG
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Like the original poster I'm interested in not having to do too much unscheduled maintenance, and will probably decide I bought the wrong boat after a year or two and not want to lose too much money selling it.

 

Is there a sweet spot in a boat's lifecycle between the time it stops depreciating rapidly and the time it starts needing non-routine maintenance and replacement of stuff that's a lot less consumable than batteries? Presumably that would be older than 18 months anyway?

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As regards power, I went up the Ouse etc to Ripon last year on 11 HP!    I don't think you will find it a problem, especially if you choose your times.    Ripon Marina is a bit out of the way to keep a boat if you are just going to be using it at weekends and the occasional holiday.   I thought I was a bit out of the way on the Rochdale!

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1 hour ago, Mac of Cygnet said:

As regards power, I went up the Ouse etc to Ripon last year on 11 HP!    I don't think you will find it a problem, especially if you choose your times.    Ripon Marina is a bit out of the way to keep a boat if you are just going to be using it at weekends and the occasional holiday.   I thought I was a bit out of the way on the Rochdale!

Was just about to say much the same.

 

Its a lovely stretch but you are effectively in a cul de sac and for weekends you will just be shuffling down the Ouse and possibly time allowing onto the Selby and back.

 

Its why we chose not to moor there.

 

Forgot to add. We knew somebody with a Sea Otter moored at Ripon with an engine of around 20hp, Nanni I think.

 

They regularly ventured onto the Ouse with no problem, they were just careful about picking the right conditions.

Edited by The Happy Nomad
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PLEASE listen and don't get sucked in BUY USED - we have bought new in the past and really regretted it - you will have at least a year of sorting out problems and the worst period of depreciation - this is based on experience with one of the best builders out there albeit in their early days.

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I would add do not discount buying ex hire out of a reputable fleet. It will have been well maintained and are normally easy to service with easy access to the parts you need to get at. I bought a 10 year old boat out of its second hire fleet and kept it for 20 years with very little trouble.

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Just over 3 years ago my wife and myself were looking for a boat, we live not far from Aintree Boats and made an unannounced visit as we were just passing, I have to say I was impressed with their workshop, it was tidy and well organised and the boats looked as they say "fab", okay maybe a bit caravanny, they are perhaps not as flexible in redesigning interiors as some but that's reflected in their prices I think. As it turned out they had a 18 month waiting list (it was just after the Crick Show) and we wanted a boat soonish. As others have said depreciation of a new boat is something to consider unless your flush with cash. As with cars a nearly new boat can save you thousands if not tens of thousands. Many folks buys new only to realise it's not for them and sell after a year or two. Having said that I've spoken to a few Aintree Boat owners on the cut and they all seem pleased with them.

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1 hour ago, The Happy Nomad said:

Was just about to say much the same.

 

Its a lovely stretch but you are effectively in a cul de sac and for weekends you will just be shuffling down the Ouse and possibly time allowing onto the Selby and back.

 

Its why we chose not to moor there.

 

Forgot to add. We knew somebody with a Sea Otter moored at Ripon with an engine of around 20hp, Nanni I think.

 

They regularly ventured onto the Ouse with no problem, they were just careful about picking the right conditions.

We met two women a couple of years ago at Cromwell, both of whom had Sea Otters. Lovely people and very competent.

Edited by pearley
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  • 10 months later...

I have an Aintree 40 to sell. New condition. TRANALLER. Used only four Summers. At 85 we are finding the locks almost impossible without physical help. Moving to a campervan. 

Any interested buyer, please phone 075 800 23 900. Or reply here.

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1 hour ago, David Moseley said:

I have an Aintree 40 to sell. New condition. TRANALLER. Used only four Summers. At 85 we are finding the locks almost impossible without physical help. Moving to a campervan. 

Any interested buyer, please phone 075 800 23 900. Or reply here.

David, are you able to post some photographs of your boat? Could you give an idea of the price you require? These would help its sales potential.

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Hi Athy.

Today I removed the Airhead Compoting Toilet, because my selling agent at Frouds Marina told me that his buyers did not like it.

Full details of TRANALLER can be found at the Frouds Marina website.

Or you could email me 

trimad75@g.ail.com

Or phone 07580023900.

Hope to hear from you.

David

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3 minutes ago, David Moseley said:

Hi Athy.

Today I removed the Airhead Compoting Toilet, because my selling agent at Frouds Marina told me that his buyers did not like it.

Full details of TRANALLER can be found at the Frouds Marina website.

 

Or phone 07580023900.

Hope to hear from you.

David

Not from me - I'm just a moderator offering advice, not a potential customer!

I have taken the precaution of removing the e-mail address from your post, as some people say that publishing it makes you liable to receive lots of "spam". I'm not convinced this is true, but better safe than sorry.

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