laura hinks Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 I am looking to buy a second hand boat. Can you please tell me who are the best boat builders please. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moore Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 That depends on the style and budget that you have in mind. Tell us more about what you have in mind so that we can better help you. Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mendip-Locks Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 An idea of budget may be a place to start. Best as in the very best or best as in value for money or the best as in classic examples with heritage. Someone else has posted wonder what they put!!? while I typed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoat Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Boats aren't like cars or caravans - which mostly come in standard configurations. Boat building is a craft industry - and each one is pretty much unique (newer volume builders, perhaps an exception?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laura hinks Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 a budget of 40k. i am looking at taditional sterns. im looking for best quality, strong built steel boat. im looking for a boat built in the last 10 years with best interior quality wood used really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottle Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Welcome to the forum Although some shell builders fit out their own shells there are a lot of boat builders that buy in the shell. My boat fitter would actually fit out any shell of your choice but preferred only two. Most shells built in the last ten years will be be built in 10, 6, 5, 4 or 10, 6, 4 that is base, hull side, cabin side, and top. The cost comes in the style and the quality of the build and the attention to detail. This has been discussed a few times so a search of the forum may help. (not easy ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 a budget of 40k. i am looking at taditional sterns. im looking for best quality, strong built steel boat. im looking for a boat built in the last 10 years with best interior quality wood used really Your budget won't cover a 'best quality, strong built steel boat' of that age Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moore Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Bear in mind that a new boat from a top end builder with a quality fit out is going to cost over £100k new, many much more than that, I think that your budget might struggle to get something 10 years or younger. As has already been said, it depends on how finely tuned your sense of the aesthetics are regarding shell builders. All of the best build strong, chunky shells anyway, the differences are in the details. Look for such builders as Brinklow Boat Services, David Harris, Roger Fuller, Norton Canes Boatbuilders, Canal Transport Services for real trad style top end stuff. Good luck. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Your budget won't cover a 'best quality, strong built steel boat' of that age Richard Do you think not? As long as she does not want a very long boat it should do, surely, between 40 and 50 feet say? Laura, names which spring to mind include Jonathan Wilson, Tim Tyler, Norton Canes, Mel Davis, Steve Hudson, then maybe a little way down in terms of prestige but long-established and reputable, Colecraft. You could also look at ex-hire boats (built to withstand hard knocks in the hands of learners) but the majority of these are cruiser-stern. Have a look at "Apollo Duck Narrowboat" on the internet. You can enter your search criteria, e.g. size and top price, and see what's available within your budget. Oh, and if you want opinions about any boats you find on there, there are people here who will offer them - but do not expect them all to agree with each other! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mendip-Locks Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Do you think not? As long as she does not want a very long boat it should do, surely, between 40 and 50 feet say? Laura, names which spring to mind include Jonathan Wilson, Tim Tyler, Norton Canes, Mel Davis, Steve Hudson, then maybe a little way down in terms of prestige but long-established and reputable, Colecraft. You could also look at ex-hire boats (built to withstand hard knocks in the hands of learners) but the majority of these are cruiser-stern. Have a look at "Apollo Duck Narrowboat" on the internet. You can enter your search criteria, e.g. size and top price, and see what's available within your budget. Oh, and if you want opinions about any boats you find on there, there are people here who will offer them - but do not expect them all to agree with each other! I was just having a nose! This is the result 14ish boats http://www.apolloduck.com/listings.phtml?view=1&layout=1&cid=140&scid=71&fx=GBP&minv=30000&maxv=40000&minl=0&maxl=0&ymin=2004&ymax=&type=&sort=0&limit=20 Various Builders noted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Do you think not? As long as she does not want a very long boat it should do, surely, between 40 and 50 feet say? Laura, names which spring to mind include Jonathan Wilson, Tim Tyler, Norton Canes, Mel Davis, Steve Hudson, then maybe a little way down in terms of prestige but long-established and reputable, Colecraft. You could also look at ex-hire boats (built to withstand hard knocks in the hands of learners) but the majority of these are cruiser-stern. Have a look at "Apollo Duck Narrowboat" on the internet. You can enter your search criteria, e.g. size and top price, and see what's available within your budget. Oh, and if you want opinions about any boats you find on there, there are people here who will offer them - but do not expect them all to agree with each other! The tricksy word is 'best'. What is best quality? Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterG Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 If you were to focus on the long established and reputable end of the market then that would fit your budget better and you would get a boat in a better and more usable condition than one of the list that Dave Moore has come up with. Particularly as I am guessing that for the budget you want that to get a boat in a decent usable condition and not wanting immediate work required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FadeToScarlet Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) The tricksy word is 'best'. What is best quality? Richard Clearly, something built in a shipyard, by blokes with flat caps and possibly rivet guns. Harland and Wolff, Yarwoods, or Charles Hill, say. Edited November 5, 2014 by FadeToScarlet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalky Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 And not only who built it and what with but more importantly how has it been looked after since its been built. A cheaper boat that's been lovingly looked after and maintained may be better quality than a quality boat that's been completely neglected. What ever you choose get a survey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 And not only who built it and what with but more importantly how has it been looked after since its been built. A cheaper boat that's been lovingly looked after and maintained may be better quality than a quality boat that's been completely neglected. What ever you choose get a survey. And there are probably around ten top quality builders, I doubt they produced much more than a couple of thousand boats between them. Less than that in ten years And there are around 30,000 boats The point is, this isn't like buying a Ford, Audi or BMW - the boatbuilding field isn't dominated by a very few builders. Thre are hundreds of them, some who made a handful of boats. On top of that, how do you split top quality shells with poor fitouts from excellent quality fitouts in middle of the range shells? I would contend that trying to but the 'best' by using the names of builders or fitters alone is going to be nearly impossible, especially on a £40K budget Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 You're probably right - but at least now Laura has got some starting points from which she can investigate what's available and what she might like and, more importantly, dislike. Before anyone starts - yes, I realise that she can start only from one point at a time, but yer knew wot I meant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) I agree with Richard. I don't think Laura will easily find..... Boat less than 10 years old. Boat of a good (at least 50 feet plus) length. Boat in very good repair not needing money spent. Boat from one of the very best builders. on a budget that doesn't exceed £40K. I think she is likely to have to compromise on at least some of that, or pay rather more, unless she makes a really lucky find. That said, if the boat had come from one of the very select and very best of the builders, I can't imagine why you would need to put a "no more than 10 years old" restriction on it. A 12 0r 15 yera old boat from some of those may very well be a better prospect than a less than 10 yera old boat from one of the more "volume" builders. To digress slightly, if she were looking for a boat from a quality builder that is 70 or 80 years old, I can state categorically her budget wouldn't come close - or if someone knows of one for sale, can they please tell just me, and very privately! Edited November 5, 2014 by alan_fincher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Fairhurst Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Boat of a good (at least 50 feet plus) length. That's a "long" length, not necessarily a "good" length! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) Step down a level from high end/best to well respected and it opens up a decent selection. EG. http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=369744 Not sure how old it is? Edited November 5, 2014 by mark99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabcat Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) Step down a level from high end/best to well respected and it opens up a decent selection. EG. http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=369744 Not sure how old it is? That's a fine looking boat. If I was in the position of the OP I'd be looking at boats like that. The likes of Norton Canes and Roger Fuller are out of reach at that money but saying that unless you know what makes those boats good boats in my opinion you're wasting your money buying one. The differences between a top quality boat by a top quality builder and a floating biscuit tin put together properly are mostly style (I say mostly because Norton Canes boats for example steer backwards by black magic). I'd start with Colecraft just because I like them, nothing special really but well built boats for what they are and there's plenty about (I have to confess some bias, I've got one) Edited November 5, 2014 by Sabcat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Colecraft - I can't begin to tall you the times I've looked at a fine boat and been told the shell is a Colecraft. I now recognise them by the rear upsweep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEO Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Step down a level from high end/best to well respected and it opens up a decent selection. EG. http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=369744 Not sure how old it is? Nice looking boat with a good engine, reasonable price........... L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabcat Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Colecraft - I can't begin to tall you the times I've looked at a fine boat and been told the shell is a Colecraft. I now recognise them by the rear upsweep. They generally (although strangely not always) have a low cabin on them which I like although my cabin isn't Colecraft. The lines are not Roger Fuller/Norton Canes etc.especially the bows but they are built from a centre line and welded properly. In the £40k range that's what a person is going to be going for - a good solid boat built right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boat&Bikes Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 The OP asked for best boat builders. I would include in this Aintree and Aqualine and Reeves etc. Topic seems to have strayed to what some on here consider superior, yet many, me included just see as old fashioned. Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahavfc Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) The OP asked for best boat builders. I would include in this Aintree and Aqualine and Reeves etc. Topic seems to have strayed to what some on here consider superior, yet many, me included just see as old fashioned. Ian. It must be old fashioned to build a quality boat. Edited November 5, 2014 by sarahavfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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