Hello I'm a bit of an amateur and I'm looking to buy a boat. I just need to inspect it before the purchase but don't really know what I need to look for, so if anyone has the time to look with me, that would be greatly appreciated. I'll be honest I can't dish out the money for a surveyor.

 

Its in the kings Lynn/ Thetford area, so if anyone wants a half day out and maybe give some tips that would be much appreciated. I can drive too.

 

Thanks!

What sort of boat are you looking at?

How do you intend to use it?

 

Bod

 

If you cant find a volunteer to visit the boat with you, I think it would be a great idea to post a link to the boat sellers website, and let the members here take a look at the photos and the specifications. That way you'll get a wealth of advice about the things that might need looking at.

 

If it's a private sale then post the details of the boat: The year it was built, the builders name, the engine make and model, and whatever photos and information that you do have of the boat at the moment. 

 

Also think about the budget range. If it's costing you ten grand, it will very likely be a project boat and will need really major work and a few thousand quid to fix it up.

Even if it's costing you twenty grand, it will still probably need some work (and money).

So in addition the sale fee, bear in mind that you'll need another 5k as a minimum to get it into full working order, and comfortable to live on. 

 

For anyone buying at less than 15 grand who can't afford a survey or an experienced person to check the boat over, I would always suggest the option of a glass fibre cruiser like the Viking 32cc. With GRP you dont have to worry about the hull being rusted to bits and needing a 10 grand overplating job. 

 

And if you are spending more than 30k and the boat is more that 20 years old, I would suggest getting a hull survey, unless there is a detailed record of the boat being blacked very 2/3 years. In fact, if its an older boat, some insurance companies insist on a hull survey before they will cover it. 

 

The bottom end of the boat market is an absolute minefield, and lots of people have had to pour thousands of pounds in, after buying a leaking rust bucket with worn out equipment.  

 

Edited October 16, 2025Oct 16 by Tony1

I'd have a wander around where it's moored, and chat to some other people moored there. Not only might they have an opinion on the boat, but you might get an offer to accompany you on your inspection.

27 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

I'd have a wander around where it's moored, and chat to some other people moored there. Not only might they have an opinion on the boat, but you might get an offer to accompany you on your inspection.

 

You donarff make some good suggestions once in a while! 

 

 

PM sent. I may be able to have a look with you but can't do it this weekend.

 

Edit: It would be useful if you'd tell us what type of boat it is. Steel narrow boat, GRP cruiser, etc, builder, age, vendor's asking price if possible, just so we know what sort of thing the person accompanying you will be looking at. I know very little about GRP boats for example so probably wouldn't be of much use there.

 

As someone mentioned above, if it's advertised online it might be a good idea to post the link in this thread. You'll get some useful comments on price.

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by blackrose

here it is @blackrose @Bod @Tony1 https://www.facebook.com/share/1aEzu4cza6/, of course it would need some good renovation but I have the time to DIY it. He sent pictures of the inside its completely bare.

 

 

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by Duckman

2 rules for work on boats.

1. it will cost at least 3 times more than you budget for.

2. it will take at least 4 times longer than you think.

 

This boat, does it have a working engine, inboard, or outboard?  (I dont do facebook, so have not seen the advert.)

No engine, they should be paying you greatly to take it away.

Working engine, pay no more than ths scrap value of the engine.

This is a failed project, and will cost a huge amount, probably more than the resale value of the finished boat.

Where do you propose to work on the boat?

Is there mains electricity at this site?

 

Bod

Its listed as being FREE

  

 

 

Details

• Condition

  Used – fair

1985 sealiner 25 ft project needs work engine included collection from pe33 free!!

 

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by ditchcrawler

@ditchcrawler I can just get a cheap outboard right

 

You do not need anyone to go and look at that for you.

 

Turnaround and run quickly away - it is free because to dispose of fibreglass boats (properly and legally) costs in excess of £1000.

 

It looks very similar (apart from condition) to the 'early 80s'  Fairline "Weekender" I had on the Thames.

 

 

It looks like they have taken the batteries out and sold them for scrap, as it was the only value left in the boat.

Free project boats are free for a reason.

Free boats are always the most expensive.

Walk away.

This is beyond project. 

There is no reason to buy a boat which is in such a state.

If you have a workshop and tools, plus £5K to spare, and the means to generate more money,  you might get something which will be worth while spending time on.

If you know nothing about boats spend a bit of time finding out.

 

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by LadyG

I wonder if the engine can be fixed whatsoever, its a volvo penta

On 16/10/2025 at 16:23, Duckman said:

I'll be honest I can't dish out the money for a surveyor.

 

This may hurt, but please take it as it is meant to be received (ie constructive) :

 

 

If you haven't got £500 for a surveyor you haven't got the money to take on this project, and possibly, insufficient money to take on any boat - pretty much any boat you buy is likely to require £1000s spending on it - even if you actually spend nothing on boat maintenance, improvements  and repairs, the Licence, Safety certificate, Insurance,. and moorings alone could easily add up to anywhere between £2000 and £8000 per annum (depending on your mooring costs.)

It is a petrol engine. No one in their right mind really wants an inboard petrol engine.  They are an explosion looking for somewhere to happen and cost a mint to run. 

Taking on an  engine rebuild, on top of a total refit of the hull is, IMO, madness, unless you happen to be a skilled mechanic with your own workshop. Especially in this case because you have no idea of the state of the engine. Even if you are a mechanic,  doing the engine will get in the way of boatfitting, and vice versa.

 

Find another project.

 

 

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by BEngo
Speeling

If you check the guys other listings, he also seems to be selling the same engine for £500, same pics anyway.

How is he selling it if it's coming for free with the boat?

 

My Fairline (shown above) had a Volvo Penta Petrol engine and it had a total rebuild (takeout of the boat & stripped down to every last nut and bolt - and it wasn't in the state of the one the OP is looking at) It cost somewhere around £4000 (it was done before I bought it)

 

Petrol (either with an inboard or an outboard) is not ideal on the canals - some folks have petrol outboards and manage but they do give problems over and above those a diesel engined boat has.

 

 

The boat came with 100s of photos of the rebuild.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 17, 2025Oct 17 by Alan de Enfield

Don't look at it.

 

Run away!!

Sorry to disappoint, even if I was close enough to visit with you, I would refuse. As others have said, unless you are a skilled mechanic and very good at DIY electrics, woodwork, painting, and upholstery and trim the vendor should be paying you to take it away. As others have said, it is a money pit, which is why the vendor is trying to find a mug to take it on.

alright thanks for the advise guys. duly noted.

7 hours ago, Duckman said:

I wonder if the engine can be fixed whatsoever, its a volvo penta

Everything can be repaired.. It's just at what price.

As someone who fitted out out a nb from a new bare shell to a fully completed boat  I echo Bods comments about cost and time. 

During the time I was fitting out VS (in a relaxed marina ) I saw several individuals pick up 'snips' with a view to renovating them. I don't think one of them succeeded.. 

 

 

8 hours ago, BEngo said:

It is a petrol engine. No one in their right mind really wants an inboard petrol engine.  They are an explosion looking for somewhere to happen and cost a mint to run. 

 

 

I've never really understood how they pass safety inspections, if you can't store petrol or a suitcase generator in the inboard engine space of a narrowboat then how do these grp cruisers get away with a petrol engine in a similar space?

 

However, lots of boats do have inboard petrol engines and lots of people (in their right minds or otherwise) own them.