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[Iain_S]

20 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Was that a 'fat' narrrowboat, or a wide beam 'boat'  (Dutch barge, GRP cruiser etc etc)

 

The problem with just saying 'widebeam' is that it covers pretty much every type of boat except a 'narrow boat'.

 

Under that definition, my 23 foot wide Catamaran would be a 'widebeam'.

 

 

Sorry,  fat narrowboat.

[Peonymoon]

21 hours ago, Alan de Enfield said:

I think that maybe you are looking at the wrong boats (or the wrong places), our cruiser has two bathrooms (en suite to the two cabins) one is a wet room containing a basin, shower and toilet, the other is a separate toilet / basin and shower room.

 

Our master-cabin has a full size 'queen size' bed. wardrobes and dressing table (his & hers) each side of the bed.

The galley has a 'double oven', grill, 4-ring hob, microwave, fridge and freezer.

Blown hot air central heating in each cabin area (6 outlet vents)

 

You could pick up something similar for ~ £40k

 

Saloon / lounge

Dining room (makes extra double bed if needed)

Galley

Master bedroom (separate shower room and separate toilet / basin)

Forward bedroom (3 bunks)

Part of shower room (with domestic Mira shower)

WOW! that is really good one, and decent space as well, I can see it.  I have looked so many websites, perhaps wrong type of boats then, I really hope I will find boats similar to yours. 

This boat was really interesting one, what do you think about this one????
https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cruiser/kempers-kempala-1100-sport/323097

At the moment I have looked these websites...
https://www.boats.co.uk/
https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/
https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/private.phtml

Etc... etc....
 

[Alan de Enfield]

36 minutes ago, Peonymoon said:

This boat was really interesting one, what do you think about this one????
https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cruiser/kempers-kempala-1100-sport/323097

Nice boat and looks well maintained BUT

 

The fit out looks a bit like MFI (cheap furniture / woodwork)

There appears to be no form of heating.

Carpet / carpet tiles on the floor would improve its looks and make it warmer (but need to be removable for access to the engine)

Windows are huge and will lose a lot of heat. Curtains necessary

Does it have any insulation in the walls / ceiling.

 

Warmth is an important feature for a liveaboard, or even a leisure boat with Autumn to Spring usage. More so North of the border.

[Peonymoon]

Just now, Alan de Enfield said:

Nice boat and looks well maintained BUT

 

The fit out looks a bit like MFI (cheap furniture / woodwork)

There appears to be no form of heating.

Carpet / carpet tiles on the floor would improve its looks and make it warmer (but need to be removable for access to the engine)

Windows are huge and will lose a lot of heat. Curtains necessary

Does it have any insulation in the walls / ceiling.

 

Warmth is an important feature for a liveaboard, or even a leisure boat with Autumn to Spring usage. More so North of the border.

Oh! yes definitely cheap furniture  I don't know much about the woodwork, I like the ceiling. Carpet tiles and curtains yes and yes I agree!

This boat is already sold, ☹️ just noticed it was really good as well. 
https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cabin-cruiser-for-sale/princess-33-mk1/325864
 

[Alan de Enfield]

2 minutes ago, Peonymoon said:

Oh! yes definitely cheap furniture  I don't know much about the woodwork, I like the ceiling. Carpet tiles and curtains yes and yes I agree!

This boat is already sold, ☹️ just noticed it was really good as well. 
https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cabin-cruiser-for-sale/princess-33-mk1/325864
 

There are a lot of Princess 32's and 33's about they were very popular boats in the 80's

 

It does say "Sold"

 

You will get a much younger boat for not much more money - don't rush to buy, but when you do find the 'right one' get your deposit down quickly as good boats are selling within a couple of days of advertising - some even sell before being listed. Get yourself registered with all the brokers so they call you 'first' before it even gets on their website.

[Alan de Enfield]

On 26/09/2020 at 22:27, Peonymoon said:

Oh! yes definitely cheap furniture  I don't know much about the woodwork, I like the ceiling. Carpet tiles and curtains yes and yes I agree!

This boat is already sold, ☹️ just noticed it was really good as well. 
https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Cabin-cruiser-for-sale/princess-33-mk1/325864
 

Have you considered this one ?

 

@Peonymoon

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats-kayaks-jet-skis/house-boat-wibe-beam-liveaboard-canal-barge-moored-just-outside-glasgow/1374119674

[Feeby100]

Hello everyone we are full time moterhome living and we thinking of getting a narrow boat as well 

we are Suffolk based 

just to say hi ? 

[WotEver]

2 hours ago, Feeby100 said:

Hello everyone we are full time moterhome living and we thinking of getting a narrow boat as well 

we are Suffolk based 

just to say hi ? 

Hi

[cuthound]

4 hours ago, Feeby100 said:

Hello everyone we are full time moterhome living and we thinking of getting a narrow boat as well 

we are Suffolk based 

just to say hi ? 

 

Hi back?

[Peonymoon]

On 29/09/2020 at 17:10, Alan de Enfield said:

Have you considered this one ?

 

@Peonymoon

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats-kayaks-jet-skis/house-boat-wibe-beam-liveaboard-canal-barge-moored-just-outside-glasgow/1374119674

Oh, that looks very good. Thanks for sharing the link with me.

I'm very honest with you, the price might be little high, even considering all other extra costs that comes on top of that, I would think that £30-60 would seem good price range. I´m not sure if we even need that much of space, so like smaller barge would have been just fine... 

 

The meaning is just live full year on the boat, and we need boat that can take winter in Scotland.

I´m feeling little hopeless ....  seems like most of prices on barges are somewhere between £150-200..... that's insane! think about all other expenses on top of that??? There is no way I´m going over 100... 

 

[Peonymoon]

18 hours ago, Peonymoon said:

Oh, that looks very good. Thanks for sharing the link with me.

I'm very honest with you, the price might be little high, even considering all other extra costs that comes on top of that, I would think that £30-60 would seem good price range. I´m not sure if we even need that much of space, so like smaller barge would have been just fine... 

 

The meaning is just live full year on the boat, and we need boat that can take winter in Scot
I´m feeling little hopeless ....  seems like most of prices on barges are somewhere between £150-200..... that's insane! think about all other expenses on top of that??? There is no way I´m going over 100... 

 

@Alan de Enfield

Found it.... I found one... Its beauty!!!!! its perfect!

https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/House-boats-for-sale/dutch-motor-barge-50ft-kotter-islemeer-eel-cutter/305929#al-ad-map

Edited October 1, 2020 by Peonymoon

[Alan de Enfield]

33 minutes ago, Peonymoon said:

@Alan de Enfield

Found it.... I found one... Its beauty!!!!! its perfect!

https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/House-boats-for-sale/dutch-motor-barge-50ft-kotter-islemeer-eel-cutter/305929#al-ad-map

Yup- looks good but BE AWARE

You will (probably) need a specialist surveyor of 120 year old Dutch Barges.

 

They were built with (what we would consider today) 'thin' metal and many have been over-plated several times during their life.

 

It may be worth joining the Dutch barge association and asking for comments from experienced DB owners.

 

It may need work to be able to get the BSSC (Toilet for example - no mention but a fair bet it is a sea toilet with overboard discharge - not acceptable on BW waters)

Edited October 1, 2020 by Alan de Enfield

[WotEver]

Lovely looking boat

[mb1962]

Hi after a couple of hire boat holidays I am looking to buy . I am recently retired ( early) and my partner retires in around 2 years . The plan is to buy as cheaply as we dare without “ buying trouble “ , ideally a six berth with a view to spending around 90 days  a year on board , if we think it’s for us would look to upgrade when she retires and live on board .A few basic questions for starters , in terms of cost I was hoping to get going for £35k( less if possible )is that realistic and are there are any brokers that you can recommend? 
What is the level of depreciation like on a narrow boat in this price range?

Does anyone know of any courses covering boat maintenance ( live near London) 

 

I am sure I will have more questions further down the line , ideally would like to be up and running by spring .

 

Thanks for listening 

 

[LadyG]

6 hours ago, mb1962 said:

Hi after a couple of hire boat holidays I am looking to buy . I am recently retired ( early) and my partner retires in around 2 years . The plan is to buy as cheaply as we dare without “ buying trouble “ , ideally a six berth with a view to spending around 90 days  a year on board , if we think it’s for us would look to upgrade when she retires and live on board .A few basic questions for starters , in terms of cost I was hoping to get going for £35k( less if possible )is that realistic and are there are any brokers that you can recommend? 
What is the level of depreciation like on a narrow boat in this price range?

Does anyone know of any courses covering boat maintenance ( live near London) 

 

I am sure I will have more questions further down the line , ideally would like to be up and running by spring .

If you want a diesl engine course, wait till you can do it on your own boat. 

The rest of boat maintenance is painting, which is mostly about preparation and required finish, Back to bare metal in a heated shed with a pro job could be £10-15K, There is interior re furbishment, and upgrade of appliances, could be £5K or could be zero.

My advice is to wait two years, hire in different places.. Then buy a boat that has been lived on and has been cared for by a dedicated owner.

ABNB sell nice boats, £35K is not much for a good steel boat, but will get you a choice of cruisers, GRP.

 

 

Thanks for listening 

 

Hi,

If you want a boat to join the thousands in and around London, do you need a mooring (1000's per annum).

Otherwise you need to move it frequently and regularly, and queue for water with the other thousands, not to mention waste disposal, human waste and all the rest.

If there are two of you, spending every weekend, do you expect four guests every time you go for a cruise, bearing in mind that they will want to shower , pee and poo every day without expecting to visit sanitary services. I think you would be better renting a boat for two weeks, just the two of you, spring and autumn and see if it still appeals, then start saving another £20K, you might expect to spend £5K, in your first two years, on minor upgrades, and keep £5K for contingency.

Sorry for mixing up my responce, I'm not used to a tablet.

 

 

Edited October 8, 2020 by LadyG

[ditchcrawler]

16 hours ago, mb1962 said:

Hi after a couple of hire boat holidays I am looking to buy . I am recently retired ( early) and my partner retires in around 2 years . The plan is to buy as cheaply as we dare without “ buying trouble “ , ideally a six berth with a view to spending around 90 days  a year on board , if we think it’s for us would look to upgrade when she retires and live on board .A few basic questions for starters , in terms of cost I was hoping to get going for £35k( less if possible )is that realistic and are there are any brokers that you can recommend? 
What is the level of depreciation like on a narrow boat in this price range?

Does anyone know of any courses covering boat maintenance ( live near London) 

 

I am sure I will have more questions further down the line , ideally would like to be up and running by spring .

 

Thanks for listening 

 

 

10 hours ago, LadyG said:

Hi,

If you want a boat to join the thousands in and around London, do you need a mooring (1000's per annum).

Otherwise you need to move it frequently and regularly, and queue for water with the other thousands, not to mention waste disposal, human waste and all the rest.

If there are two of you, spending every weekend, do you expect four guests every time you go for a cruise, bearing in mind that they will want to shower , pee and poo every day without expecting to visit sanitary services. I think you would be better renting a boat for two weeks, just the two of you, spring and autumn and see if it still appeals, then start saving another £20K, you might expect to spend £5K, in your first two years, on minor upgrades, and keep £5K for contingency.

Sorry for mixing up my responce, I'm not used to a tablet.

 

 

If you want 6 berths then probably an ex hire boat, trouble is, by the time they have dropped to your price they have been out of the hire fleet for some time and often pulled about. Do you really want 6 berths?

 

Just now, ditchcrawler said:

 

If you want 6 berths then probably an ex hire boat, trouble is, by the time they have dropped to your price they have been out of the hire fleet for some time and often pulled about. Do you really want 6 berths?

 

For maintenance you could do a lot worse than read Tony's web site http://www.tb-training.co.uk/ and moor the boat away from London

[mb1962]

Thank you for responding and the link to the training site . With regard to the berths , we have drawn up a wish list but accept there will be some trade offs . We could certainly live on four permanent  berths ( we have  two grown up children who will join us from time to time ) With perhaps the opportunity of converting part of the lounge when needed which will be less frequent . The plan is to spent maybe six weeks in the spring and another four in the autumn travelling with a number of long weekends in between, we live near the grand union , Rickmansworth is closest town in the water and for the next two years , assuming we get through the pandemic will need some access to London , after that the worlds our oyster. 

[ditchcrawler]

48 minutes ago, mb1962 said:

Thank you for responding and the link to the training site . With regard to the berths , we have drawn up a wish list but accept there will be some trade offs . We could certainly live on four permanent  berths ( we have  two grown up children who will join us from time to time ) With perhaps the opportunity of converting part of the lounge when needed which will be less frequent . The plan is to spent maybe six weeks in the spring and another four in the autumn travelling with a number of long weekends in between, we live near the grand union , Rickmansworth is closest town in the water and for the next two years , assuming we get through the pandemic will need some access to London , after that the worlds our oyster. 

I know a couple, he wanted an engine room, she wanted 6 berths for the grandkids to stay. In 15 years they stayed one night

[Blue Knight]

4 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

 

 

For maintenance you could do a lot worse than read Tony's web site http://www.tb-training.co.uk/ and moor the boat away from London

 

That's a fantastic link to Tony's web site.  That'll keep me busy for a while.

 

Many thanks ?

[Tony Brooks]

18 minutes ago, Blue Knight said:

 

That's a fantastic link to Tony's web site.  That'll keep me busy for a while.

 

Many thanks ?

and if you want anything explained or advice its a free email service (subject to terms ans conditions) or ask here

[Blue Knight]

5 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

and if you want anything explained or advice its a free email service (subject to terms ans conditions) or ask here

That's really good to know Tony, many thanks indeed.  I've trawled the internet high and low recently for info sources on Narrowboats and I'll say now that your site has to be the best out there.

 

I've learnt a whole load of new facts and I've only been at it for an hour.

 

All the best,

 

Andrew

 

 

[shiprat]

Hi all. I'm Jackie. This is my first post but I've been stalking the forum and accumulating knowledge for a while.

After many narrowboat holidays we've finally gone and bought our own. Proud owners of a '97 Ledgard built cruiser stern - you seem to quite like them on here

We are newbies to owning a boat so please forgive all inane questions I post from hereon in.

Not for living on (yet) but planning on lots of weekends and spontaneous weeks cruising. First outing tomorrow. Very excited!

Edited October 10, 2020 by shiprat

[Alan de Enfield]

Just now, shiprat said:

Hi all. I'm Jackie.

Welcome and good luck for tomorrow - you could do a lot worse.

Enjoy.

[cuthound]

Hi Jackie, welcome to the wonderful world of boating.

 

 

[Laurie Booth]

Well done, great times await you.