Narrowboat purchase survey.

[Bald Old Git.]

I'm buying my first boat, and the pre-purchase survey has raised a few issues that need to be sorted out.

I.e.... the diesel heating system doesn't work... and the multifuel stove door dosen't close properly, so cannot be used.

The broker has invited me to share with him the survey report, so we can discuss the situation, but I'm reluctant to share information that has cost me hundreds of pounds, free of charge, to someone I've never met!!!

Am I right to be cautious??

Bald Old Git.

 

[Tony Brooks]

If it is a genuine broker and not some Ebay/social media potential scammer then I don't see what you have to worry about. Once he has seen it he might offer to get the vendor to have it fixed at their expense or suggest a price cut to reflect the problems. I would not let the survey out of my sight though. The worst that ca happen is if you have made a reduced offer the broker may use the survey to beat the price up a bit.

[mrsmelly]

If you like the boat such faults are trivia. Bid less, tell him why and take it from there. Both these faults are about as easy as it gets to rectify, money and a bit of time. 

[LadyG]

Yes, I've had my Webasto boiler serviced, it took a few hours, the radiators needed to come off , and it will be £300 for a new water pump, so I hope it won't be more than £600. It's 25 years old.

We don't know about the solid fuel stove, but again, it might be fixable, or if its a known brand spares available. Its a guess.

Why have you not met the broker?

Have you seen the boat, is it obviously neglected, poor quality etc etc. 

You own the survey but why be shy about letting someone see it, I don't understand,  it's negotiating a discount if nothing wrong. More important is the hull, the engine, the style, the paintwork,  the BSS, etc etc

Edited March 4 by LadyG

[David Mack]

3 hours ago, Bald Old Git. said:

The broker has invited me to share with him the survey report, so we can discuss the situation, but I'm reluctant to share information that has cost me hundreds of pounds, free of charge, to someone I've never met!!!

Of course you can keep the report to yourself. But if you want to use the identified defects to either haggle the price down or get the vendor to fix them, then you will have to show the broker.

[Bald Old Git.]

Thanks David,

I appreciate this point, and (on reflection), I'd be more than happy to show him a print-out of the report....but not send him a copy!

YAAY...problem solved!

P.S......

Nice boat you've got!

Bald Old Git.

11 minutes ago, Bald Old Git. said:

Thanks David,

I appreciate this point, and (on reflection), I'd be more than happy to show him a print-out of the report....but not send him a copy!

YAAY...problem solved!

P.S......

Nice boat you've got!

Bald Old Git.

Don't count the days.....make the days count!

[cuthound]

When I had my boat to be surveyed, the surveyor identified that the combi inverter wasn't working on a mains supply.

 

I showed the survey to the broker and reduced my offer by £2000, which was accepted.

 

When I got the boat to its home mooring I found that the combi inverter was working on mains, so the problem must have been the mains supply at the dry dock.

 

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, cuthound said:

When I had my boat to be surveyed, the surveyor identified that the combi inverter wasn't working on a mains supply.

 

I showed the survey to the broker and reduced my offer by £2000, which was accepted.

 

When I got the boat to its home mooring I found that the combi inverter was working on mains, so the problem must have been the mains supply at the dry dock.

 

 

 

Did you refund the seller his £2000 ?

[cuthound]

No, he chose the dry dock!

[Bald Old Git.]

Panic over........

1...The Eberspacher heating system didn't work because of an air bubble in the system!  Now fixed.

2....The multi-fuel stove door wouldn't close....because a new fireproof rope door seal had been fitted, so it needs a bit more "umph" to shut it!!

      Not a problem, more of a positive bonus!

 

So now the panic really is starting to kick in, as I face the mission of sorting out, and disposing of accumulated "stuff" from a 3 x bedroom house, either to charity shops, storage, or the council tip! Spare bedding and towels have already been dispatched to the local homeless shelter.

I'm already discovering "stuff" that is still wrapped in bubble-wrap from our move here 5 years ago.

It goes to show how we collect extra baggage that we don't need over time.

 

Wish me luck, and beware on the North Oxford, Coventry, and finally the Trent and Mersey, as this Gongoozler attempts to morph into a boater over the last two weeks of this month.  🙄😬😬

 

 

[Tonka]

1 hour ago, Bald Old Git. said:

Panic over........

1...The Eberspacher heating system didn't work because of an air bubble in the system!  Now fixed.

2....The multi-fuel stove door wouldn't close....because a new fireproof rope door seal had been fitted, so it needs a bit more "umph" to shut it!!

      Not a problem, more of a positive bonus!

 

So now the panic really is starting to kick in, as I face the mission of sorting out, and disposing of accumulated "stuff" from a 3 x bedroom house, either to charity shops, storage, or the council tip! Spare bedding and towels have already been dispatched to the local homeless shelter.

I'm already discovering "stuff" that is still wrapped in bubble-wrap from our move here 5 years ago.

It goes to show how we collect extra baggage that we don't need over time.

 

Wish me luck, and beware on the North Oxford, Coventry, and finally the Trent and Mersey, as this Gongoozler attempts to morph into a boater over the last two weeks of this month.  🙄😬😬

 

 

Not if the person fitted too bigger rope seal to the fire

[Bald Old Git.]

Valid point Tonka....but for now, being an hour and a half away from the boat, I can't physically check myself, so I have to trust the heating engineer who checked it out for me.

I'm optimistic about the situation!

Bald Old Git.

[alan_fincher]

It's very normal if a new door seal of completely the correct type has been fitted for it to still take a while to compress down.  In fact if the old seal had become "over compressed" it is possible that someone adjusted the door catch to make the fit tighter.  In that case there could be benefit for making at least some adjustment back in the other direction.  The catch should be tight, but not "mega tight".

[Bald Old Git.]

I guess I'm just going to have to "suck it and see", when I take over the boat.