Newbie buying advice please.

[Tony Brooks]

1 minute ago, MrsM said:

You can do things concurrently. For example, my father was - at the same time - a RAF pilot, flying instructor, gliding instructor, owner of a yacht, 3 classic motorbikes, a classic car and a WW2 era plane. In his 80s he still owns, restores and regularly goes out on his 3 motorbikes and in his classic car.

 

I was about to post something similar, plus the fact that I have never seen Alan claim to be a "master mariner", he just claims considerable sailing experience.

 

Seems to me that Mr Ho is exhibiting a certain lack of intellect at the least.

 

[Gybe Ho]

4 minutes ago, MrsM said:

You can do things concurrently. For example, my father was - at the same time - a RAF pilot, flying instructor, gliding instructor, owner of a yacht, 3 classic motorbikes, a classic car and a WW2 era plane. In his 80s he still owns, restores and regularly goes out on his 3 motorbikes and in his classic car.

 

I woke up this morning with no intension of committing an act of slander or maligning anyone, yet here we are again. Follow the thread development this morning and tell me who the nasty minded git is here? 

[MtB]

Just now, Gybe Ho said:

 

I woke up this morning with no intension of committing an act of slander or maligning anyone, yet here we are again. Follow the thread development this morning and tell me who the nasty minded git is here? 

 

Well you, obviously. 

 

 

[Tony Brooks]

4 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Well you, obviously. 

 

 

 

Yes, who posted something that appeared designed to "Unwarranted antagonism and provocation", to use Mr Ho's own words from yesterday, when he claimed to have run to mother.

 

Perhaps a number of us should follow his example.

38 minutes ago, RarneyBubble said:

Thank you to everyone for your responses much appreciated. 

I plan to visit a couple of brokers next week.

I will try to put into practice the good advice that has been offered to me so far whilst viewing and no doubt return with further questions.

 

 

 

Thank you for behaving in a civilised manner.

 

Hopefully this thread has taught you that there are a number of very experienced members who try to offer good advice, but there are also a few, very few, who seem to think that are vicariously experienced from third parties, who's motives may be more to do with promoting themselves and making money than offering genuine useful help. The trick is learning who is trying to help and who needs treating with caution.

 

I hope that your visits to the brokers work out well.

[MtB]

16 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

I hope that your visits to the brokers work out well.

 

They probably will. There is nothing like standing in a few boats (including those that are not suitable), to help crystalise one's views on what one wants in a boat. 

 

Also, make contemporaneous notes after every viewing. It is VERY easy in my experience to remember seeing a feature one likes and later really wants, and being unable to remember which of many boats it was in, even when one later wants to go back and actually buy it!!

 

 

 

 

[David Mack]

42 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

I agree, great-looking boat.

Funny how opinions vary. My take is that it has been recently refitted and repainted inside (London white) and out, but is just another bland clone craft with no particular appeal. Maybe absolutely fine. Or may be lipstick on a pig.

[Alan de Enfield]

43 minutes ago, Gybe Ho said:

 

I am curious about the size of the medical team required to get you onboard.

 

Over the past year I have been quietly cataloging your life achievement claims. The total so far is (1) 30 years as a lumpy water master mariner (2) 40 years on the inland waterways (3) A full career in the military doing aviation instruction (4) In recent decades you claim to have been a serial entrepreneur and property investor the length & breadth of the Kingdom.

 

I reckon you must be 140 years old, I suppose this is an explanation for your serial acerbic posting style. Or maybe you are the forum's other Walter Mitty?

 

Did it not occur to you that these could actually happen concurrently ?

 

I have had sea going boats for over 30 years and had canal boats (at the same time), in fact, for about 10 years prior to getting the proper sea going boats. We had trailer boats (Beneteau, Bayliners, Dell-Quay etc etc for many years before getting getting the 'big boats'.

 

With reference to my flying career I was a civilian instructor with the RAF teaching cadets Theory of flight, Rifle shooting etc) at RAF Newton and actual flying instruction at RAF Newton (Chipmunks) and at RAF Syesrston (Motor Falkes)

 

I retired in 2005 and looked at several marinas to purchase for the 'lads' to run, Whixhall marina where we kept the NB, but BWML out bid me, Hermitage Marina (Cambridge) but it was sold before I could visit - it was a bargain and sold the day after it was advertised, and of course the one you made so many comments about - the hire company on the Mon & Brec which I did not pursue following the surveyors report on the canal.

 

I am now at such an age that I really don't give a toss what you think, and I'm just happy to sit and laugh at your stupid comments that just show your lack of experience.

 

The mid/late 70's

 

 

And into the 80's onwards

 

 

 

Into the 90's and then the 'big boats' start

 

 

And of course there are the Narrowboats, but I guess you've had enough ...........................

 

 

[roland elsdon]

Pensax ‘fitted out several years ago’

I should cocoa.

Magnificent boat though.

I think its as it was in 1988 when Don left it with us for a week.

[David Mack]

52 minutes ago, Tonka said:

I prefer this https://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/narrow-boats-traditional-for-sale/800710

but it is deep drafted and you need to like Bantock's

When I first came across Pensax in about 1980 it was a characterful 45ish footer with a wooden cabin and a Bolinder. It later got stretched, a new cabin and the 3LW, and in the process lost much of its appeal.

[Wafi]

52 minutes ago, MtB said:

Also, make contemporaneous notes after every viewing. It is VERY easy in my experience to remember seeing a feature one likes and later really wants, and being unable to remember which of many boats it was in, even when one later wants to go back and actually buy it!!

I'd go further than this, and suggest taking lots of photos. Not only do they serve as an aide memoire, but you can also zoom in later and inspect details you didn't think of at the time. Don't just photograph boats you might be interested in, but also features you like on boats you otherwise don't.

 

Also think how you'll use the boat as a couple. Will you both be at the back of the boat while you're cruising? (If so, will one of you want to sit down, and is there space?) Will one of you do most of the driving while the other relaxes down below? If so, will they prefer to do so within talking distance of the helm (reverse layout may work better) or from the front of the boat where they can see what's ahead?

As an aside: my boat, which was designed and owned by a couple, came with an intercom to allow the helm to talk to their partner in the saloon or the well deck. These days you could probably achieve the same with PMR446 walkie talkies. On hire boats I may have used the horn 😉

Will you be doing multi-week cruises that might make a washing machine useful, or just shorter cruises where you can take your laundry home? What sort of cooking are you *actually* likely to do on board, and what equipment does that require? Will you be quite happy without a toaster and/or microwave, or will their absence be a constant irritation? Does one of you need to run a hairdryer? None of these details are show-stoppers, but help to identify any changes you might need to budget for after purchase.

Edit: One other observation I'd make is that the brokers who are happy to let you wander around the boats "unsupervised" on your first visit aren't necessarily the brokers that know a lot about the boats they're selling. They're a great starting point for discovering what's out there, but once you start asking detailed questions you'll often get a promise to contact the owner (which doesn't always happen) or no answer at all. The boat I ended up buying was with a broker who'd made the effort to get to know the boat very well, was able to answer all my questions, and even took me out for a test drive on my first visit. You obviously have to go with the broker that has the boat you want, but I know whom I'd use if I was looking to sell.

Edited June 7 by Wafi

[Mike Hurley]

1 hour ago, MrsM said:

Virginia Currer Marine | Lady Elise – 50ft Traditional Stern 

Good shout - what a tidy looking boat for the money. 

I thought so, also OP said he would go to Iver so i think its worth a look.

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, Wafi said:

As an aside: my boat, which was designed and owned by a couple, came with an intercom to allow the helm to talk to their partner in the saloon or the well deck. These days you could probably achieve the same with PMR446 walkie talkies.

Or mobile phones, since you probably already have them.

[junior]

Sometimes you have to act fast as well when good boats come on the market. Both the Bantock boat and the R&D boat won't be around for long.

[booke23]

On 07/06/2025 at 11:28, Alan de Enfield said:

 

Did it not occur to you that these could actually happen concurrently ?

 

I have had sea going boats for over 30 years and had canal boats (at the same time), in fact, for about 10 years prior to getting the proper sea going boats. We had trailer boats (Beneteau, Bayliners, Dell-Quay etc etc for many years before getting getting the 'big boats'.

 

With reference to my flying career I was a civilian instructor with the RAF teaching cadets Theory of flight, Rifle shooting etc) at RAF Newton and actual flying instruction at RAF Newton (Chipmunks) and at RAF Syesrston (Motor Falkes)

 

I retired in 2005 and looked at several marinas to purchase for the 'lads' to run, Whixhall marina where we kept the NB, but BWML out bid me, Hermitage Marina (Cambridge) but it was sold before I could visit - it was a bargain and sold the day after it was advertised, and of course the one you made so many comments about - the hire company on the Mon & Brec which I did not pursue following the surveyors report on the canal.

 

I am now at such an age that I really don't give a toss what you think, and I'm just happy to sit and laugh at your stupid comments that just show your lack of experience.

 

The mid/late 70's

 

 

And into the 80's onwards

 

 

 

Into the 90's and then the 'big boats' start

 

 

And of course there are the Narrowboats, but I guess you've had enough ...........................

 

 

 

You should also be commended for a damn fine mustache in the 1970's!

[MtB]

1 hour ago, booke23 said:

 

You should also be commended for a damn fine mustache in the 1970's!

 

Condemneded, more like!! 

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, booke23 said:

 

You should also be commended for a damn fine mustache in the 1970's!

 

 

It is still there today, although, it has gone white (as has the rest of my hair)

[ditchcrawler]

6 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

 

It is still there today, although, it has gone white (as has the rest of my hair)

You still have hair,  lucky you.

 

A woman with straight hair want's curly hair, a woman with curly hair wants straight hair, a man just want hair

[Mike Hurley]

15 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

You still have hair,  lucky you.

 

A woman with straight hair want's curly hair, a woman with curly hair wants straight hair, a man just want hair

Men dont lose hair, it just changes direction, instead of growing out your scalp it diverts to your nose and ears.

[IanD]

2 hours ago, Mike Hurley said:

Men dont lose hair, it just changes direction, instead of growing out your scalp it diverts to your nose and ears.

And eyebrows...

[TheBiscuits]

On 07/06/2025 at 12:03, Wafi said:

I'd go further than this, and suggest taking lots of photos

 

 

I recommend going one further - a slow 360° video in every compartment.  If there's a detail you later wished you'd taken a photo of, it's likely to be on the videos.

[MtB]

7 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

 

 

I recommend going one further - a slow 360° video in every compartment.  If there's a detail you later wished you'd taken a photo of, it's likely to be on the videos.

 

This doesn't address the problem I was describing, where you look at 20 boats and remember said detail clearly, but can't remember which boat it was on! 

[Lily Rose]

 

2 hours ago, MtB said:

 

This doesn't address the problem I was describing, where you look at 20 boats and remember said detail clearly, but can't remember which boat it was on! 

 

Take an A4 sheet of paper into each boat, write the boat name on it and then make sure it appears in each video.

 

[Wafi]

Or just preface each set of interior photos/videos with one of the outside, showing the name.