So how on Earth do I buy a narrowboat, anyway?

[Lily]

Hello!

 

I am somewhat new to this boating business, but after watching all of this and reading this book cover to cover, myself and my boyfriend have decided that 2013 is the year that we are going to live on a boat.

 

We have whittled down exactly what we want (ideally a cruiser, between 40-50ft, between £25,000-£35,000), and have done our sums with regards to insurance, licences etc, and also living costs. We have been to look at three boats in the Bristol and Bath area, so we are aware of the type of boats out there and what we can afford for the money.

 

What we have realised through this process is that if we want to live in either Bristol harbour or Bristol Marina, is that we would have to find a boat which is already moored there and negotiate extending the mooring, as opposed to bringing a boat in from elsewhere, as space is rarely available.

 

This is where I have hit a wall.

The trouble is, having exhausted ApolloDuck, eBay, Gumtree, Bristol Boatshed and classified ads, I have run out of options as to where to go to actually LOOK for boats.

A friend of mine already lives in the Harbour and has said that on occasion boats come up for sale and are bought by other members of the boating community, without the need to post an ad or go through a broker.

 

I'm just wondering how people on this forum went about buying their own boats, whether it's best to go private or through a broker, and what to do in my situation... there doesn't seem to be any more boats left!

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Lily

[Kae]

I was very lucky, the boat I'm looking at buying (secured the finance, just waiting for the survey now) was mentioned to me by the Marina Manager when I went for a visit, so now I'm potentially buying the boat and its residential mooring. This was a lucky break after 18 months of foot work, travelling, looking at boats, visiting Marina's etc.

 

Sounds like you need something similar, the only way though is to keep your ear to the ground, on the bright side, it sounds like you've got an insider already .

[Ray T]

Loads of ads for 2nd hand boats in Waterways World and Canal Boat Magazines.

 

Most have web sites to browse.

 

Dominic, a CWDF member is a broker, and a good one to boot, will help.

 

http://rugbyboats.co.uk/

Edited January 24, 2013 by Ray T

[ChimneyChain]

Me and my wife and now 2 kids have lived on our boats for over 15 years now. Just like living in a house you do attract clutter so the one thing I would say is buy a boat as big as possible. You will fill it and there's no point in screaming for more space because there won't be any. IMO I wouldn't go for cruiser stern as you waste 6ft straight away and what with the front deck and well there's another 6 or 7 ft so on a 50ft boat you've only got 38ft which is not much to live and play in. Good luck anyway though.

 

 

Darren

[Lily]

Loads of ads for 2nd hand boats in Waterways World and Canal Boat Magazines.

 

I didn't think of magazines! Thanks

 

Also that is a fair point Darren, I didn't realise that was the average size of cruiser sterns, I'm only thinking of the potential bike storage/socialising spot.

Trad sterns look a little scary, as if you are going to fall off the end!

[DeanS]

I didn't think of magazines! Thanks

 

Also that is a fair point Darren, I didn't realise that was the average size of cruiser sterns, I'm only thinking of the potential bike storage/socialising spot.

Trad sterns look a little scary, as if you are going to fall off the end!

 

 

Plenty of room to socialise on the roof, or the towpath.

Get as much inside space as possible.

Congrats on your decision.

[tillergirl]

We were lucky. Bought privately and managed to get the mooring with the boat as the previous owners had lived aboard at the marina. Although I hasten to add we are not going to be here permanently. As an aside how about putting awanted ad in the marina office window? Never know might work.

 

Good Luck.

[lewisericeric]

Well we we up one morning and I decided it would be quite good to live on a boat. Went on Apollo duck and convinced the OH to have a look at a boat with me, we did and put a deposit it on it the next and completed by the end of the month....all worked out fine but naive or what!?

[jodansgang]

Hi Lily, we were in exactly the same boat (pardon the pun) around the 20th of Dec 12. At this time we had absolutely no idea, completely green as grass. As of today we own a 52 foot cruiser having been to the bank, secured the money, transferred the funds, carried out all the necessary checks, paid Zurich for comprehensive insurance, transfered boat owner details (liecence) with the CRT, secured our second option home moorings, joined the RBOA and this forum, secured a tenant for our property, cancelled Sky, BT etc, having card meters fit at home next Thursday, selling and giving everything we own that WON'T fit and, as I write, the squirrel stove in the boat is on and it has tempory lodgers in the form of my parents. If you want it that bad GO FOR IT !!

Oh and we have 2 children, a jack Russell, angry hamster and 2 adults. A cruiser was our first option because I didn't fancy having an engine next door to my bedroom, plus I like the idea of a bit of a patio/garden area out front and back.

All the very best of luck, don't despair, keep on keeping on.

[ditchcrawler]

Have you ever been out on one or even on one.

[IdealStandard]

You're doing everything right, there just isn't that much space in the docks and everyone who has it is desperate to keep it. You're not technically allowed to pass on a (Harbour run) mooring to a new owner either, but everyone does it really. In the last 8 months I have only seen two boats for sale in the floating harbour and both have had pretty inflated asking prices due to their location.

 

This is the only boat that I know of currently for sale:

 

http://www.apolloduck.com/advert.phtml?id=264575

 

A bit out of your budget!

 

Your best bet is just to keep your ear to the ground and keep your eyes peeled around the docks. The other option is to get a boat elsewhere, bring it down to the K&A and on the 1st of january, apply for an over winter mooring which runs from Nov/May. In the remaining six months you can either cruise up the K&A or find a mooring elsewhere. If you apply on Jan 1st you will be assured 6 months in the docks at least.

 

Tim

Edited January 24, 2013 by IdealStandard

[Tuscan]

Have you ever been out on one or even on one.

 

My thoughts do they want a boat or floating static home. Did lots of research but didn't think to look in canal magazines pleasssse.

 

Oh sod it too much wine must be more understanding.........

Edited January 24, 2013 by Tuscan

[cheshire~rose]

 

This is the only boat that I know of currently for sale:

 

http://www.apolloduck.com/advert.phtml?id=264575

 

 

 

I like! - sadly I don't think I would get this up the Staffs & Worcs

[Lily]

Thanks Tim, I spied that one on apolloduck, it's absolutely beautiful!

 

ditchcrawler and Tuscan, yes it would be more of a 'floating static home' - because of our work we can't really travel around. We were drawn to the idea having been on boating holidays with family.

 

Thanks for all your help everyone

[deletedaccount]

If you can scrape together a few more £££ and bring it round mine you can have it within a week

[IdealStandard]

Many people on here maintain the sentiment "what's the point of a boat if it doesn't move"

 

If you don't mind being static, at least you have the option of buying one of the 'houseboats' which occasionally come up.

 

You are setting yourselves a pretty hard task here, if it was that easy to get a nice, liveable boat in the docks for £25k then everyone would be doing it, and they are are, queueing up around the block!

 

You have three options:

 

- Diligent patience and fast reactions

 

- Bigger budget (opens up the market to include the 'houseboats')

 

- Ability to move or live elsewhere until a mooring comes your way

[ditchcrawler]

Thanks Tim, I spied that one on apolloduck, it's absolutely beautiful!

 

ditchcrawler and Tuscan, yes it would be more of a 'floating static home' - because of our work we can't really travel around. We were drawn to the idea having been on boating holidays with family.

 

Thanks for all your help everyone

In that case you have made a much better start than some people do. I wish you luck but your options look quite limited so keep that ear very close to the ground, something will turn up.

[Lily]

Thanks, by the sounds of things I think I will have to be a little more patient! It's very easy to jump the gun and go for it, and I will probably have to do that at some point but for now I think I will just keep on looking.

 

I really didn't expect such a quick and vast response, and thanks again for all your comments, you've all given me a lot to think about

 

This forum is brilliant!

[Grace and Favour]

LILY! - have a look here: Boat for sale (in Bristol?)

[deletedaccount]

Is it just bristol or would you consider keynsham or bath?

[Black Ibis]

Wrote this guide on my blog about boat buying. http://nbluckyduck.blogspot.co.uk/2008/05/james-account.html

 

Incidentally, should you decide to go for a boat that's further away and bring it to Bristol, ours is for sale!

[cariad]

BATH marina is not too far away from BRISTOL which is a nice little marina with good security and parking facilities. Give them a ring to see if there is room, and if they have a space

 

it will give you a lot more scope on finding a boat of your requirements. We stayed at this marina a few years ago for a short while and found it very pleasant.

 

Good luck with your search and hope you find what you want.

[deletedaccount]

Bath marina have no room. I rang them earlier today!

[Lily]

I wouldn't mind Keynsham or Bath (I actually work in Bath and commute from Bristol) but the difficulty is with my boyfriend, he is currently working in Thornbury. We live in Bristol as it's a middle ground (and lovely )

 

We had a look at a boat just outside Bath a couple of weeks ago. It's on the 'maybe' list.

 

Bath marina have no room. I rang them earlier today!

 

[donotleaveunattended]

Have you tried http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/? That's how me & my partner found our boat (for 3,000!). Moorings aside, it's well worth widening your scope to all of the country and bringing the boat over from wherever it is (if you work a lot, you don't need to take weeks off or anything - you can get the boat taken out of the water and brought over for a fee). If you have time and money, some people even advise getting one brought over from Holland (haven't tried, can't comment).

 

Anyway, good luck with your boat searching. When you first lay eyes on your boat you will fall in love!