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Surveyor and boat lifting for purchase on Lancaster canal


Spudwynk

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We think we have found our first narrowboat (hurrah). It has had a Hull survey recently but the marina's (near Garstang) hard standing prevented the surveyor having a good look at the baseplate. We want to get our own survey but really keen to get the full Hull looked at as it's been pit welded on the sides and blacked ready for sale.

 

Can anyone recommend somewhere suitable to have it pulled out and a good surveyor to look at it please?

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Chippendales Marina AKA Garstang Marina (not Bridgehouse) have a whacking lift up 70’ inc widebeam

01995 605040

they are very helpful. Surveys done there all the time. Also easy access to load onto lorry 

For Survey Johnathan Jackson has been at it for a long time

  • Greenie 1
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Jonathan's team did a Hull survey for current owners a couple of weeks ago and says its sound and advise we  don't need to do our own Hull survey (spoke to him this morning). Current owners also got new BSC last week and have blacked it ready to go.

 

However with a full survey covering more than just the Hull we are in 2 minds what to do .... any advice?

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12 minutes ago, Spudwynk said:

Jonathan's team did a Hull survey for current owners a couple of weeks ago and says its sound and advise we  don't need to do our own Hull survey (spoke to him this morning). Current owners also got new BSC last week and have blacked it ready to go.

 

However with a full survey covering more than just the Hull we are in 2 minds what to do .... any advice?

 

1) I would not rely on anyone's survey - its only valid if you paid for it.

2) So he 'said' it OK**, have you got that in writing in case it starts to leak on the way home ?

3) A hull survey is all you need - everything else is fixable at modest cost compared to overplating.

4) I had a "Hull and Machinery" (ie engine and gearbox) survey done on a boat and subsequently found the survey had been done from the Brokers office and in fact both turbo's were 'blown'.

 

If you need to claim against the surveyor then their 'small print' basically exonerates them from all liability, so its your decision as to having one or not - but think on, if you don't have a hull survey, will that little guy sat on your shoulder saying "are we settling a bit lower in the water" ever shut up ?

 

** Offer him £100 to re-issue the survey in your name - he doesn't have to leave home and it'll cost him a few pennies in paper and ink.

Edited by Alan de Enfield
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10 minutes ago, Spudwynk said:

Jonathan's team did a Hull survey for current owners a couple of weeks ago and says its sound and advise we  don't need to do our own Hull survey (spoke to him this morning). Current owners also got new BSC last week and have blacked it ready to go.

 

However with a full survey covering more than just the Hull we are in 2 minds what to do .... any advice?

Most boat owners/buyers firstly want to know that their boat won't sink. Anything else can be dealt with. Hence, most just need a hull survey when looking to buy, unless insurance or your own caution wants full one. 

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19 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

1) I would not rely on anyone's survey - its only valid if you paid for it.

2) So he 'said' it OK**, have you got that in writing in case it starts to leak on the way home ?

3) A hull survey is all you need - everything else is fixable at modest cost compared to overplating.

4) I had a "Hull and Machinery" (ie engine and gearbox) survey done on a boat and subsequently found the survey had been done from the Brokers office and in fact both turbo's were 'blown'.

 

If you need to claim against the surveyor then their 'small print' basically exonerates them from all liability, so its your decision as to having one or not - but think on, if you don't have a hull survey, will that little guy sat on your shoulder saying "are we settling a bit lower in the water" ever shut up ?

 

** Offer him £100 to re-issue the survey in your name - he doesn't have to leave home and it'll cost him a few pennies in paper and ink.

Sounds like good advice. I met JJ 30 years ago when he was surveying a friends steel yacht. He was bashing the hull every 12” with a large rubber hammer then inspected the bilge for rust particles that would fall off. 

He has been around for years and has a good reputation. Alan’s point about the survey being in your name is probably a very valid one. I too was only interested in the hull survey.

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Thanks for everyone's advice. We are going to accept the hull survey after talking to Jonathan Jackson directly but may try and get it put in our name. The only other thing we really want peace of mind with is the engine. Someone mentioned we could get an engine survey. I don't have the first clue where to start to find someone to do this as it sounds different to an engine service.  Can anyone advise please especially for a specialist around the Lancaster Canal. Thanks

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1 hour ago, Spudwynk said:

Thanks for everyone's advice. We are going to accept the hull survey after talking to Jonathan Jackson directly but may try and get it put in our name. The only other thing we really want peace of mind with is the engine. Someone mentioned we could get an engine survey. I don't have the first clue where to start to find someone to do this as it sounds different to an engine service.  Can anyone advise please especially for a specialist around the Lancaster Canal. Thanks

 

I don't know who to suggest but you need a surveyou qualified to do "Engine and Machinery" surveys and endure it includes an oil anaylsis in both the engine and the gearbox, otherwise it can end up as just looking at the outside of the engine and 'saying' "it looks fine and no oil leaks" which you ccould do yourself.

 

It is unusual to have an engine survey on a canal boat, but by no means unique, although it is very common on coastal boats where a single engine can cost  multiple 10s of thousands - a narrowboat engine can be rebuilt for low £1000's  and having led an easy life running along at not much more than tickover not a lot goes wrong with them.

 

These people are well respected  (within the area we have our boat) and cover up to the Lake district.

 

Not a personal recommendation but they do what you need :

 

NW Surveying Services Yacht Survey North Wales

 

 

It is always recommended with powerful petrol or diesel engines, that an independent engineer is engaged to carry out an inspection and report.

Smaller diesels and petrol units are visually inspected when fairly new, but if the engine is older or looks to have been poorly maintained, an engine survey is always recommended.

An engineer can also organise Compression Testing and Oil Analyis. Compression Testing is a very valuable tool, particularly for older engines. Oil Analysis is not quite as useful the age of the oil needs to be known, which is generally difficult to find out unless independent records are kept. The main benefits of oil analysis are that it can determine if there is salt water or antifreeze in the oil. Oil analysis can also be used to determine if extreme internal engine wear has occurred.

Edited by Alan de Enfield
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8 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

1) I would not rely on anyone's survey - its only valid if you paid for it.

 

 

Given everything you say about surveys and surveyors, to anyone who will listen, I would have thought you would actually suggest that you might as well save your money and rely on someone else's recent survey.

 

What's the point of giving someone a hundred quid for something which has the small print that you speak of? What's the point of giving someone a hundred quid, when they might not even have turned up to do the survey?

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