Harborough Marine narrowboat

[ditchcrawler]

Its still being advertised fall sale

[Mark R]

I got a friend to contact him regarding it, posing as a potential buyer. He asked if anyone was coming to look at it today, the seller said there wasn't. He did ask him to pay a returnable deposit of £1000 if he wanted to see it. God knows why cancelled me coming to look at it.

[ditchcrawler]

9 minutes ago, Mark R said:

I got a friend to contact him regarding it, posing as a potential buyer. He asked if anyone was coming to look at it today, the seller said there wasn't. He did ask him to pay a returnable deposit of £1000 if he wanted to see it. God knows why cancelled me coming to look at it.

Perhaps he reads this forum

[noddyboater]

I've just been looking at "Hedgepig" for sale on Apollo duck,  at Norbury Wharf. 

It's an '86 Mike Heywood tug with a JP2m, £34,950.

Why aren't you going to view that instead of this old knacker? 

[MtB]

7 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

I've just been looking at "Hedgepig" for sale on Apollo duck,  at Norbury Wharf. 

It's an '86 Mike Heywood tug with a JP2m, £34,950.

Why aren't you going to view that instead of this old knacker? 

 

What a cracking boat by a good builder for exactly the same money! 

 

Not only a nicer boat in every way, but it's a finished boat and ready to use. 

 

https://www.norburywharfltd.co.uk/_webedit/uploaded-files/All Files/Brokerage/Hedgepig 10526.pdf

 

[LadyG]

33 minutes ago, Mark R said:

I got a friend to contact him regarding it, posing as a potential buyer. He asked if anyone was coming to look at it today, the seller said there wasn't. He did ask him to pay a returnable deposit of £1000 if he wanted to see it. God knows why cancelled me coming to look at it.

Maybe cos he reads this forum and does not want to meet you, since you don't want to buy the boat.

[Mark R]

33 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Perhaps he reads this forum

 

It had crossed my mind!

[noddyboater]

Come on then, don't keep us in suspense. 

Why doesn't "Hedgepig" tick all the boxes for the same money? 

Is it because you really want a project,  or a cruiser stern with a leaky grp cabin? 

[Mark R]

2 minutes ago, noddyboater said:

Come on then, don't keep us in suspense. 

Why doesn't "Hedgepig" tick all the boxes for the same money? 

Is it because you really want a project,  or a cruiser stern with a leaky grp cabin? 

 

 

You were half right there. I want a cruiser stern and a project. Unfortunately Hedgepig offers neither.

[noddyboater]

1 minute ago, Mark R said:

 

 

You were half right there. I want a cruiser stern and a project. Unfortunately Hedgepig offers neither.

Fair enough,  but my advice would be to go and view it with an open mind. You might be able to chip a bit off the price, do a bit of work inside and decide if you still want a cruiser stern or not. The engine in Hedgepig is worth more than the other boat you were interested in, it would be an easy boat to sell on if you decided it wasn't for you after all.

[Mad Harold]

5 minutes ago, Mark R said:

 

 

You were half right there. I want a cruiser stern and a project. Unfortunately Hedgepig offers neither.

With the greatest respect Mark, I think you have been mislaid.

The boat (Hedgepig ) is ready to jump in and go.To take on a project you need to be a particular kind of masochist! and have deep pockets.

I have had boats that were not full on projects, but took loadsa money and months of unpleasant work, and at the end cost more money Than I could ever hope to sell them for.

If you want to cruise, buy a boat ready for action.If you want to do mechanical work, buy a Meccano set. (Are they still available?)

 

[Mark R]

Just now, noddyboater said:

Fair enough,  but my advice would be to go and view it with an open mind. You might be able to chip a bit off the price, do a bit of work inside and decide if you still want a cruiser stern or not. The engine in Hedgepig is worth more than the other boat you were interested in, it would be an easy boat to sell on if you decided it wasn't for you after all.

 

I can tell from the pictures it's not what I want, there's not much I can even do with the inside. Taking the time to even look at it doesn't make sense to me. It might be worth a lot more than the other and represent exceptional value for money but that's all it has (for me), it's the wrong stern type and hardly a project. Buying it and then selling it on if I didn't warm to it sounds like a ludicrous idea and not something I'd ever contemplate.

 

[noddyboater]

7 hours ago, Mad Harold said:

If £35K is your budget Mark, there are several boats on e bay, Apollo Duck,Facebook Marketplace at this price and less.

I am looking for my next boat but not making much progress as I am on a one man crusade to lower the price of used boats.(Ha Ha)

There are a few that have caught my eye, a 20ft tug (Grunt), a 32ft Norman that looks beautifully presented, a Highbridge Crusader and priced (except the tug) at less than £20K.There are also several steel narrowboats under £35K.

I have in mind to take a week off to travel the country to view some of these boats and stay overnight in B+B, and treat it as a holiday.

Still on the subject of viewing boats..

I'd save your time by missing Grunt off your list,  it's a 20' push tug that will be an absolute bastard to steer unless it's strapped to a hopper. You could have it cut and 15' dropped in but at 29k it's not worth it.

[Mark R]

6 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

With the greatest respect Mark, I think you have been mislaid.

The boat (Hedgepig ) is ready to jump in and go.To take on a project you need to be a particular kind of masochist! and have deep pockets.

I have had boats that were not full on projects, but took loadsa money and months of unpleasant work, and at the end cost more money Than I could ever hope to sell them for.

If you want to cruise, buy a boat ready for action.If you want to do mechanical work, buy a Meccano set. (Are they still available?)

 

I don't want a sailaway though, that's just my point. With respect to everyone on here I couldn't think of anything worse than just buying a boat and going out in it. I want a hobby, cruising up and down the Leeds & Liverpool isn't that hobby, I want to get my hands dirty. I'm in a fortunate position where money isn't too much of an issue. I might be wrong but it seems that project is almost a dirty word around these parts, am I missing something?

Edited May 14, 2023 by Mark R

[noddyboater]

6 minutes ago, Mark R said:

I don't want a sailaway though, that's just my point. With respect to everyone on here I couldn't think of anything worse than just buying a boat and going out in it. I want a hobby, cruising up and down the Leeds & Liverpool isn't that hobby, I want to get my hands dirty. I'm in a fortunate position where money isn't too much of an issue. I might be wrong but it seems that project is almost a dirty word around these parts, am I missing something?

In that case I'd take a walk down any canal where livaboard moorers are common. 

The type of boat you're searching for is all over, in varying stages of dereliction. 

Most of the owners will be glad to give up their pride and joy for the kind of money you're talking of spending. 

Take a few cans of Stella to break the ice.

[haggis]

9 minutes ago, Mark R said:

I don't want a sailaway though, that's just my point. With respect to everyone on here I couldn't think of anything worse than just buying a boat and going out in it. I want a hobby, cruising up and down the Leeds & Liverpool isn't that hobby, I want to get my hands dirty. I'm in a fortunate position where money isn't too much of an issue. I might be wrong but it seems that project is almost a dirty word around these parts, am I missing something?

Not a dirty word but I think a fair number of folk on here have been involved (or have seen the effects of) a project boat and are trying to save you from yourself :-).  Project boats always seem to end up taking a lot longer to complete (if they ever are) and cost a lot more than is originally estimated. Hence the reason why there always seems to be a few half finished project boats on the market. It is not just the time and cost but complying with all the regulations that seems to cause some folk to just give up. 

Good luck though if a project boat is your thing! 

[LadyG]

32 minutes ago, Mark R said:

I don't want a sailaway though, that's just my point. With respect to everyone on here I couldn't think of anything worse than just buying a boat and going out in it. I want a hobby, cruising up and down the Leeds & Liverpool isn't that hobby, I want to get my hands dirty. I'm in a fortunate position where money isn't too much of an issue. I might be wrong but it seems that project is almost a dirty word around these parts, am I missing something?

Well, put it this way, this irs not like a classic car where there is a standard to aim for, spare parts available, specialist refurbishers and at the end you can take it to classic car shows and chat to folks about all the work you put in to it.

A boat, and a narrowboat in particular in my experience is something that can be fitted out at great expense by a man who has spent twenty years learning his trade. That boat will just need a few tweaks over the years to keep it up to modern standards.

Buying a boat that is a project when you have minimal experience is a minefield, you have to decide whether to undo half the work and materials which you have just paid for, then you have to decide what you want when the project is ended.

It will never be like a boat fitted out by the man who spent twenty years learning his trade, so in one respect it will never be as good as it could be regardless of how much cash you throw at it. 

OK I've over explained and exaggerated a bit, but a project which requires starting from scratch, ie gutted, cleaned, all surfaces treated, is going to take longer than buying a new one, and possibly cost as much if you are realistic about costs. Unfortunately it will still be an older boat, that is a major factor.

I suggest you buy a medium size boat and go boating.

Look out for a tiny fun project , keep it in a yard close to home and try out some of your  ideas, build a few skills, then sell it after a year, and if you still have plenty of enthusiasm left sell them both and start your project proper. 

 

 

Edited May 14, 2023 by LadyG

[MtB]

1 hour ago, Mark R said:

 

I can tell from the pictures it's not what I want, there's not much I can even do with the inside. Taking the time to even look at it doesn't make sense to me. It might be worth a lot more than the other and represent exceptional value for money but that's all it has (for me), it's the wrong stern type and hardly a project. Buying it and then selling it on if I didn't warm to it sounds like a ludicrous idea and not something I'd ever contemplate.

 

 

The seller of the Harborough is an idiot to turn you away.

 

You are his ideal, perfect customer.

 

And probably his only prospective customer, given you seem want to want a project boat needing the purchase price spending again on it over a superb boat for the same money 'ready to cruise'. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 14, 2023 by MtB

[ditchcrawler]

This is more like the price you should be paying for a project 

 

[system 4-50]

I bought my sailaway for the fun of fitting it out, which I thoroughly enjoyed doing for 11 years, fitting things and experimenting with them and taking them out again, it was fantastic, but I never lived on it full time.  Nor did I ever finish it but that was not important.