Beautifull Lady & Grumpy Guitarman seek advice ... :)

[Gypsey_Kings]

Hello.

 

We've been lurking around the forum and reading all interesting & useful posts and it's been fascinating (and very helpful). Now it looks like we're going to be regular visitors as we prepare for life on a narrowboat. We've retired early and are going to buy a narrowboat for continuous cruising, exploring all the canals that we can. Will moor up for the winter freeze. Looking forward to getting rid of years of accummulated "junk" down to the bare necessities. Since we're currently in Durban, South Africa, and we can't very well ship stuff across without breaking the bank. So, out it goes!

 

We do have a reasonable idea of the costs involved, and the change in lifestyle required. Total boating experience so far, is a one-day hire last year! But we are going to expand on that by renting a boat for a week or so later in May before visiting the Crick Boat Show. I'm originally from Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire),my daughter and son-in-law (and granddaughter) live near Basingstoke (so a permanent address is not a problem), my husband is from Durban, but with grandparents from Aberdeen.

 

Currently looking at this boat as a possible ..http://www.abnb.co.uk/boat_pages/2354web/2354abnb.php?BoatID=2354, anyone got comments or advice on whether this would be a good buy? Don't know engines, so does anyone think this is a good one? Also thinking about installing a pump-out toilet. Is this possible on a boat that's already fitted out? Would appreciate any and all help and advice.

 

cheers

 

Gwenyth & Clive

[Skye]

Hello.

 

We've been lurking around the forum and reading all interesting & useful posts and it's been fascinating (and very helpful). Now it looks like we're going to be regular visitors as we prepare for life on a narrowboat. We've retired early and are going to buy a narrowboat for continuous cruising, exploring all the canals that we can. Will moor up for the winter freeze. Looking forward to getting rid of years of accummulated "junk" down to the bare necessities. Since we're currently in Durban, South Africa, and we can't very well ship stuff across without breaking the bank. So, out it goes!

 

We do have a reasonable idea of the costs involved, and the change in lifestyle required. Total boating experience so far, is a one-day hire last year! But we are going to expand on that by renting a boat for a week or so later in May before visiting the Crick Boat Show. I'm originally from Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire),my daughter and son-in-law (and granddaughter) live near Basingstoke (so a permanent address is not a problem), my husband is from Durban, but with grandparents from Aberdeen.

 

Currently looking at this boat as a possible ..http://www.abnb.co.uk/boat_pages/2354web/2354abnb.php?BoatID=2354, anyone got comments or advice on whether this would be a good buy? Don't know engines, so does anyone think this is a good one? Also thinking about installing a pump-out toilet. Is this possible on a boat that's already fitted out? Would appreciate any and all help and advice.

 

cheers

 

Gwenyth & Clive

 

Welcome to the forum Gwenyth & Clive

 

Good luck with your future plans, the boat looks lovely but there again so do lots within that price range. You really are going to start "the toilet debate" pump out verses cassette, but it will be informative!

 

Look at / visit lots of boats and I'm sure you will find "that's the one"

 

people on here will advise on brokerage, mooring, toilets, showers, beds, engines, pets, pumps, you name it they will be here for you. Just ask.

 

All the best

 

David

[MtB]

Hello.

 

We've been lurking around the forum and reading all interesting & useful posts and it's been fascinating (and very helpful). Now it looks like we're going to be regular visitors as we prepare for life on a narrowboat. We've retired early and are going to buy a narrowboat for continuous cruising, exploring all the canals that we can. Will moor up for the winter freeze. Looking forward to getting rid of years of accummulated "junk" down to the bare necessities. Since we're currently in Durban, South Africa, and we can't very well ship stuff across without breaking the bank. So, out it goes!

 

We do have a reasonable idea of the costs involved, and the change in lifestyle required. Total boating experience so far, is a one-day hire last year! But we are going to expand on that by renting a boat for a week or so later in May before visiting the Crick Boat Show. I'm originally from Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire),my daughter and son-in-law (and granddaughter) live near Basingstoke (so a permanent address is not a problem), my husband is from Durban, but with grandparents from Aberdeen.

 

Currently looking at this boat as a possible ..http://www.abnb.co.u...php?BoatID=2354, anyone got comments or advice on whether this would be a good buy? Don't know engines, so does anyone think this is a good one? Also thinking about installing a pump-out toilet. Is this possible on a boat that's already fitted out? Would appreciate any and all help and advice.

 

cheers

 

Gwenyth & Clive

 

Welcome!!

 

Well that's an odd looking bote. I can imagine it working well though. Nice wheelhouse instead of a pram hood!

 

Fitting a pump-out as an afterthought is possible, but one helluva task. Where would you put the tank? Under the bed I guess....

 

 

MtB

[matty40s]

it's not often I will knock a boat but that is unimaginitive, boring, no curves and square at the back end. If it's not a slipper stern, it will reverse like a herd of elephants. If you have to move it on your own at some point, that rear steel fence (blue thing) will make it real difficult to get on and off at the same time as controlling boat.

Engine will suffice for rivers , probably over specced for canals.

 

 

Interior looks well kitted out and airy though.

[nicknorman]

Welcome!

 

Yes, in that price range you will have a lot of choice. It is a matter of personal taste of course, but whilst wide beam Dutch Barge type boats can be quite nice, I can't say the same for narrow beam ones nor that one. Sorry but it looks quite ugly to me! Nice inside though!

 

Narrowbeam Dutch barges are not that common, and if you intend to do much cruising on the system I think the wheelhouse might be a nuisance - having a flat top to go through an arched bridge means a that it probably wouldn't fit and you would have to fold it down for bridges - ie on many canals it would have to be down all the time. And even on wider canals, easy to hit on a bridge if you lose concentration and stray away from the middle.

 

At least, please consider the air draft.

 

It's got diesel heating - nothing wrong in principle but more expensive to run (although easier to live with) than a solid fuel stove. Our boat has a stove, plus diesel central heating for occasional use. Having some redundancy of heating is a good idea!

 

Space is at a premium on narrowboats. If you want to fit a pump out tank, it has to go somewhere and you will lose whatever is there at the moment. In your budget there are lots of nice boats with pump out already installed and I think it would be better to find one, rather than ripping an otherwise nice fit out to bits!

[Ange]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I love your thread title - made me chuckle before I read anything.

 

My only thoughts are that there are a lot of low bridges on the network - pramhoods can be put down but not so sure about wheelhouses?

[DeanS]

Hello Gwenyth & Clive

 

I'm from Durban too!

We eventually bought a widebeam for £36000 and spent about £5000 fitting it out ourselves. At your budget you could by a nice new boat from lmbs.co.uk (speak to Chris...you pay £1000 up front, and the rest when you collect the boat...decent quality I think...and a pain free process. ). You could place an order, and Chris would have it waiting for you to pick up at a date that suits you...they do a boat a month..boats built to the same spec, in Liverpool...and I havent seen any bad reports thus far. When we ordered ours, we went to their yard, and they had 2 other boats being fitted out which we could have a look at...and the finishes looked good. With the remaining money, you could invest in solar panels, lots of batteries, and cruise in style.

[nicknorman]

I love your thread title

 

The latter will certainly be at home on this forum, not so sure about the former...

 

<Ducking, BIG-TIME!>

Edited February 13, 2013 by nicknorman

[Ange]

And just so you know, just in case you don't, if you go for a wide boat it'll only fit either north or south, you can't move between the two without the help of a lorry.

 

Apologies if this is stuff you know, but I know we take things for granted sometimes that newbies have no idea about

 

The latter will certainly be at home on this forum, not so sure about the former...

 

<Ducking, BIG-TIME!>

oh I have a feeling grumpy guitarman will chuckle.

 

Just an instinct that this is a well established couple with their jokes at each others expense

 

no need to duck methinks

[twbm]

For a potential liveaboard, not over-blessed with storage space.

 

What Matty said about the back end.

[Midnight Rider]

Hello & welcome ---- I had my boat built to my own spec & it was nothing like that, but it looks good.

 

I had a pump out, but would say leave it as it is,--- it's no great problem. Maybe a little overpriced --- make an offer.

 

Not sure about the wheel steering --- perhaps others will advise.

 

Good luck.

[Gypsey_Kings]

Hi

 

Wow, such fast replies ... don't you peeps ever sleep !!

 

Skye - No need for "the toilet debate", we've read plenty on it... Just need to know if retro fitting is possible...We will probably make our minds up on this question in May..

 

Mike the Boilerman - Well We like odd, being odd ourselves !!! It's only a thought at the moment, but as we like showers changing the bath to have a shower & loo next to it, with holding tank under the washing machine which would be higher off the floor. Just looking at possiblities

 

Matty40s - We are not too worried about odd looking, interior space to us is important. I agree it would have to have a swim under the stern, but reversing could be controlled with the bow-thruster.

 

Nicknorman - Yes we have checked the air draft and it does fit into the Standedge Tunnel spec. Top down in summer ...no problem, but when raining !! Hmmm putting a pram cover up & down often would be easier - good point, some food for thought for us.. I'm fairly certain fitting a solid fuel stove is not a huge task, hopefully I'm not being naive...

 

Ange - Yes..The wheelhouse does fold down, but I'm thinking a pramhood is easier in the rain going up, down, up, down all the time...

 

DeanS - I've a feeling this boat will be sold before we are ready, but it has most of the features we are keen on...We still may go the new boat route, although apprehensive with all the boat builders going under..

 

Nicknorman - The former, being an ex-biker chick is just as crazy...

 

Ange - Yes we both chuckled and yes, we want to go everywhere, so 7ft max width is required ... maybe later when we've forgotten where we're going, we may change to a widebeam..

 

 

Twbm - To us the large galley seemed to have plenty storage ??

 

Midnight Rider - We agree with the overpriced/make offer, need to have that extra 10% on top of selling price - boat looks like it needs a blacking !! I don't think there will a problem with wheel steering - have done that in larger boats in harbour and out at sea..

[DeanS]

 

DeanS - I've a feeling this boat will be sold before we are ready, but it has most of the features we are keen on...We still may go the new boat route, although apprehensive with all the boat builders going under..

 

 

 

£1000 up front.

The rest when you pick up the keys.

You cant go wrong

 

(and save yourself a few thousand pounds)

[Boaty Jo]

A couple of points.

Might not be the easiest boat to rope up in locks.

Access to the small front deck looks tricky from inside and you'll have to figure out a technique to tie up the stern.

 

If you're considering taking the boat to the continent this one is really not geared up for it in big, violent locks.

 

A friend owns a boat by this builder, they are not known for their aesthetic appeal, but theirs is slow in the water. Your engine is big enough but it's not the only consideration to efficiency.

 

Bon chance

[Higgs]

Hiya, welcome.

 

Can't really give the boat a thumbs up. The one thing that especially left me unimpressed was the saloon. The space is not used very well, the furniture slapped in and ill fitting the space. The shell seems to be cobbled together without thought and doesn't seem to sit well, as a whole, in any setting. Doesn't know what it wants to be.

 

Even if you like the dutch style shells, there are some much better examples around. I also think you will be spending much time in the saloon, so I'd not buy a live aboard with a cramped saloon. I've a 60' and the saloon is about 16'.

 

The places a pump-out tank is fitted would be under the bed and below a dinette, and smaller ones can be part of the pedestal the toilet sits on. Dinettes can be useful places; good obviously for meals, but a place to sit with a view on rainy days. Can be incorporated within a saloon area.

 

A solid stove is usually found to be well worth having to augment central heating systems. They also make a nice feature and can be a focal point in the saloon.

 

Lots of equiptment and mod cons require lots of power. If you are thinking of spending most of the time on the cut you'll need to generate the power to charge batteries and an inverter to convert the DC to AC. If you're going to Crick you'll find the different permutations and options. Engine, generator, batteries and inverter, solar panels, wind generators.

 

For socialising - cruiser decks are very good, but you'll lose internal living space. A half-way house is a semitrad.

 

Anyway, just some food for thought. Goodluck.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Higgs

[GSer]

Hello and welcome

 

It must be a very exciting time for you and your family.

 

There are lots of boats about in all different shapes and sizes. Just make sure you have a good look around lots of boats before making a decision.

 

Personally i've found narrow beam DB replicas, great space to be in when moored up, lots of room but they feel quite boxey, more caravan than boat.

But i remember they are a bit of a pain to move around ( i may be wrong as i have minimal experience of them having helped move one only twice) the lack of tumblehome makes moving along the gunnels less 'natural', Basingstoke also has little or no bow access making mooring a little more dificult than it needs to be.

 

I'm sure you will be very happy with whatever you choose, just give all types and styles a chance, there are reasons why most canal boats are similar shapes.

[tafelberg]

Wow that looks nice. I'm not a fan of DB replicas, but its so lovely inside!

[Tuscan]

Hiring is a good idea to get a quick taster of the canal but you may see it through rose tinted specs of a holiday. Definately spend time wandering round marinas and at Crick show. I would be open minded re shape. I personally don't like the Dutch barge shell looks like it would be difficult to get and off the bow when mooring up, leaving locks etc.

[FadeToScarlet]

It doesn't look like there's a huge amount of space for clothes storage, just the small wardrobe. If you're living on board throughout the year, you'll have wet boats and clothes to dry and a lot of thick jumpers etc. to store- where will they all go? You've got a washing machine, so can be independent of laundrettes, but where do you dry the clothes after?

 

It looks like this is a boat that's been built for summer cruising, not for year round living, hence the lack of solid fuel stove. Having said that, it would be harder to get more useable inside space.

 

Other thoughts- how would you get onto that little front deck to use ropes for mooring, etc.? How would you reach a rope from the back? The square stern will make manoeuvring a pain, I think, as boats steer around the middle point it's just giving you a corner to bash.

 

Apparently wheel steering takes some getting used to, especially when taking the 6'10" wide boat through into a 7' lock without too many scrapes.

 

If you can, I'd recommend going to Whilton marina. Not to buy, but because you can look at many, many different types of boats in one day- they happily hand over keys and let you wander unescorted- so you can really narrow down what you do, and perhaps most importantly DON'T, want.

[Athy]

That boat would not be my choice for several reasons. BUT you have landed on a very good brokerage: ABNB are thoroughly reputable. Have a look at their other boats in your price range. Their HQ is at Crick near the marina so you could go and view their boats during your visit there. Another broker who is well thought of is Rugby Boats though I have not looked at what they have in stock at the moment.

I would think that walking into any broker's with £60,000 in your pocket you will be made very welcome!

[pquinn]

for full time liveaboard i would recommend a solid fuel stove and a honda suitcase generator.

[Guest]

To the Op - funnily enough I was looking at this boat on ABNB's web site recently and I actually quite like it too. It's very similar to a lot of boats that you see on the Northern part of the system where people seem to worry less about whether their boat looks like a replica of an old working boat and more about functionality.

 

That said - the square stern could be an issue in and around narrow locks as it may restrict your 'departure angle' in some circumstances, usually NB's have a round curved stern to avoid this problem, you may however find you adapt and get used to this.

 

The builder is well know and well respected particularly up here where they have built a fair few of the boats on the system (they are based in West Yorkshire)

 

I like the sit in bath (giving best of both worlds) and of course I will say this it has the right sort of loo.

 

You might however (as others have said) find the restricted access to the bow a bit of a pain. Some similar boats have been built with side hatches on at least one side just before the bed so you can get out and get along the gunwale to the bow, this one only offers two options that I can see, scurry the full length of the boat each time you need to get to the bow or climb over the bed and out those rather small hatches - that would be a deal breaker for me.

Edited February 13, 2013 by The Dog House

[bargemast]

A couple of points.

Might not be the easiest boat to rope up in locks.

Access to the small front deck looks tricky from inside and you'll have to figure out a technique to tie up the stern.

 

If you're considering taking the boat to the continent this one is really not geared up for it in big, violent locks.

 

A friend owns a boat by this builder, they are not known for their aesthetic appeal, but theirs is slow in the water. Your engine is big enough but it's not the only consideration to efficiency.

 

Bon chance

 

The technique to tie up doesn't look difficult to me, as you can see on the photos, there are little bollards on the decks, just in front of the wheelhouse-doors, a bit small but in the right position.

 

Peter.

 

To the Op - funnily enough I was looking at this boat on ABNB's web site recently and I actually quite like it too. It's very similar to a lot of boats that you see on the Northern part of the system where people seem to worry less about whether their boat looks like a replica of an old working boat and more about functionality.

 

That said - the square stern could be an issue in and around narrow locks as it may restrict your 'departure angle' in some circumstances, usually NB's have a round curved stern to avoid this problem, you may however find you adapt and get used to this.

 

The builder is well know and well respected particularly up here where they have built a fair few of the boats on the system (they are based in West Yorkshire)

 

I like the sit in bath (giving best of both worlds) and of course I will say this it has the right sort of loo.

 

You might however (as others have said) find the restricted access to the bow a bit of a pain. Some similar boats have been built with side hatches on at least one side just before the bed so you can get out and get along the gunwale to the bow, this one only offers two options that I can see, scurry the full length of the boat each time you need to get to the bow or climb over the bed and out those rather small hatches - that would be a deal breaker for me.

 

 

Hello Martin,

 

AFAIK, they've closed their business a couple of years ago already, unless they've started again, but I don't think that's the case.

 

Peter.

[Guest]

Hello Martin,

 

AFAIK, they've closed their business a couple of years ago already, unless they've started again, but I don't think that's the case.

 

Peter.

 

Quite possibly that will be a 'were' then.

[alan_fincher]

From my experience observing those I do see, these things are significantly harder to boat with than a more conventional narrow boat.

 

Frankly, if you actually wish to be able to boat with it in a sensible way this one looks about as bad as they get. Sorry to sound so negative, but I really think so.

 

1) The totally square stern shape will do you no favours at all.

2) The "walled in" back is going to severely limit options for getting on and off at difficult locations.

3) Few canals are safely navigable with such large wheelhouses, necessitating it being taken down for most serious attempts to go anyway.

4) However all the stuff in the back, settees, and tables that make into a bed would seem to preclude having the wheelhouse down in even vaguely inclement weather, unless you want mattresses, woodwork, etc soaked.

5) Very few people seem able to handle a wheel steered narrowboat with anything approaching the precision of tiller steered. A few can, (our forum owner, or his grandfather for example), but many can't and never learn not to zig-zag and overcompensate.

 

It is also (in my opinion, of course), just about as formless and ugly a box as it is possible to build. To in any way put the tag "Dutch barge" on a slab sided box, when proper barges are things of beauty with gentle curves throughout, has always struck me as very odd.

 

I don't think boats like this are built with the idea that people will spend much time trying to navigate them on narrow canals with lots of locks, and low bridges. Their design is totally unsuited to it, in my view.

 

It is also (in my opinion, of course), just about as formless and ugly a box as it is possible to build. To in any way put the tag "Dutch barge" on a slab sided box, when proper barges are things of beauty with gentle curves throughout, has always struck me as very odd.

 

There's good reasons why most boats that are regularly used for "proper" boating follow fairly tried and tested formulas for hull and cabin shape, and how steered. It is because its what works best. However if you just want a box to live in, and don't want to go anywhere, then you need not worry so much about whether it can actually go boating.

 

Hello Martin,

 

AFAIK, they've closed their business a couple of years ago already, unless they've started again, but I don't think that's the case.

 

Peter.

It is, I believe close on 4 yeras since Ledgard Bridge ceased trading.

 

They had not I think built any "proper" narrowboats after Maffi's "Milly M", the build of which was "blogged" on here. All subsequent output I think was "barge style", and a large percentage of their build was massive wide beam brages, with the sae amount of "lines" as this example, and often with more spent on just the electrical equipment than most of us will ever spend on an entire boat.

 

They actually built a decent narrow boat, (Maffi's boat having attractive lines), but I never saw a barge of theirs that was much other than slab sized, with no curves.

Edited February 13, 2013 by alan_fincher