Buying a boat

[Dellboyyy]

Hi there im looking to buy a narrow boat and ive seen one i like but the engine is in the way of the stern entrance.  So only two side doors each side. Will this pass the boat saftey? And will it be okay? Cheers in advance 

[Mike Tee]

Ask the current owner for a look at the last safety certificate

[Dellboyyy]

Just now, Mike Tee said:

Ask the current owner for a look at the last safety certificate

Oh yeah that a good idea cheers

[ditchcrawler]

40 minutes ago, Dellboyyy said:

Hi there im looking to buy a narrow boat and ive seen one i like but the engine is in the way of the stern entrance.  So only two side doors each side. Will this pass the boat saftey? And will it be okay? Cheers in advance 

I wouldn't want to stand there all day with that running by my toes

[Paul C]

On a "modern" trad stern its normal to have some kind of compromise in the rear deck access due to the position of the engine. But the devil is in the detail - how low does the engine sit, how far forward (to give some free space around the step(s), how well sound insulated is it, how big is the hatch etc. That one, unless its an optical illusion of the poor photo, looks pretty terrible.

[dmr]

wow, thats all pretty unusual. What engine is it?

 

Quite a few "historic" boats have an internal bulkead so there is no access to the living quarters from the back except by walking round the outside. The hatches should provide access so meet the BSS requirement.

However this arrangement, and that engine, have many disadvantages which might be ok on an enthusiasts/historic boat but will just be a right pain on this one. Unless it is really right for you I would give it a miss.

[cheesegas]

19 minutes ago, dmr said:

wow, thats all pretty unusual. What engine is it?

Looks like a Coventry Victor Vixen HDA. Rare horizontally opposed air cooled diesel, not many around now!

 

You won't fail a Boat Safety for having no emergency access route, but it is an advisory point. And generally a good idea to make sure you can get out anyway!

Edited October 15 by cheesegas

[dmr]

1 minute ago, cheesegas said:

Looks like a Coventry Victor Vixen HDA. Rare horizontally opposed air cooled diesel, not many around now!

 

You know your engines. I reckoned on aircooled from the front fan, plus those two air intakes on the roof suggest a "flat" engine.

 

So no hot water in addition to the other issues 😀

Cetainly a boat for somebody who likes engines.

 

oooh, I hope they are intakes and not exhausts.

[David Mack]

2 hours ago, cheesegas said:

You won't fail a Boat Safety for having no emergency access route, but it is an advisory point. And generally a good idea to make sure you can get out anyway!

If this is just an engine room, then is it actually an 'accommodation space?

[john.k]

Engine and presumably gearbox would have to be 70 years old ......Id want another for spares at least.

[MtB]

14 hours ago, cheesegas said:

Looks like a Coventry Victor Vixen HDA. Rare horizontally opposed air cooled diesel, not many around now!

 

A WHAT???

 

I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!!

 

 

[ditchcrawler]

3 hours ago, MtB said:

 

A WHAT???

 

I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!!!

 

 

As I said, I wouldn't want to be standing there all day with that running