An Overplated Situation

[Alan de Enfield]

3 minutes ago, doratheexplorer said:

But of course, canal boats owned by the navy have always been steel...

Is that because they just buy up standard build boats ?

(The RAF certainly do - although their bigger boats for rivers and coastal use are normally GRP and again, 'production' boats (typically Fairlines etc)

[JamesFrance]

5 hours ago, Mad Harold said:

 

For people of modest means a grp cruiser is the cheapest way of getting afloat.

But only old ones. A new Viking 23 with an outboard costs £5000 more than a new 25ft Aintree Beetle with Beta diesel and full electrics, the Beetle is also £20000 cheaper than a new 20ft Campervan so seems to be excellent value.

[doratheexplorer]

39 minutes ago, JamesFrance said:

But only old ones. A new Viking 23 with an outboard costs £5000 more than a new 25ft Aintree Beetle with Beta diesel and full electrics, the Beetle is also £20000 cheaper than a new 20ft Campervan so seems to be excellent value.

I was surprised by this but you're right!  £5k difference, wow. 

[Alan de Enfield]

46 minutes ago, JamesFrance said:

But only old ones. A new Viking 23 with an outboard costs £5000 more than a new 25ft Aintree Beetle with Beta diesel and full electrics, the Beetle is also £20000 cheaper than a new 20ft Campervan so seems to be excellent value.

 

Quality costs !

[JamesFrance]

55 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Quality costs !

Not true here, have you seen one?   My second one has just been delivered. Usually hand made is far more expensive than mass production.   The big difference is probably dealer markup and a lower profit for the builder.

[cuthound]

7 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

But of course, canal boats owned by the navy have always been steel...

 

Indeed, and they were built by John Pinder. ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2020 by cuthound

[Tracy D'arth]

There were of course concrete narrowboats.  No rust, no osmosis, impact resistance pretty good. Alterations very difficult.

[Bee]

2 minutes ago, Tracy D'arth said:

There were of course concrete narrowboats.  No rust, no osmosis, impact resistance pretty good. Alterations very difficult.

Which brings us to ferrocement.........

[billh]

2 hours ago, cuthound said:

 

Indeed, and they were built by John Pinder. ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've got one of those, 48 years old now and still floating (well it was yesterday)?