Buying a boat that's been lengthen

[BrenMyster]

Hi guys

 

Im looking at a boat that i want to buy, but its been lengthen by 4m. It was done professionally, Im not too bothered about it as the boat is exactly what I'm looking for but I wanted to get some other people thoughts on this. I've heard that this is not that uncommon.

 

Cheers

 

B

[Rob-M]

If it's been done well then I wouldn't worry about having some newer steel in the boat. I would ask a surveyor to take a look at it when getting hull surveyed.

[Laurie Booth]

Please get a surveyor, he will be able to advise you.

[Alan de Enfield]

It is not 'common' but it is not unusual.

If it has been done 'properly' then it will be fine, I would suggest that 'if you can see the join' then its not been done professionally and you need to exercise extreme care (maybe just walk away).

If you cannot see 'the join' then I'd suggest that it has been done well.

 

If its the boat you like, at a price you are happy to pay - go for it.

[BrenMyster]

great, thanks guys.

 

You can only see the join on the roof of the boat, and its very hard to see under then paint work. The owners had a survey done a few months ago and the lengthening was all cleared.

 

Cheers

B

[BEngo]

You still really should have your own survey. If a previous survey has missed somethong you have no recourse to the surveyor, because you did not pay for the survey.

 

N

Edited January 6, 2017 by BEngo

[Traveller]

This has been said before but it is not a great idea to rely on other peoples surveys as they are not transferable. If you are going that way I would at least have a word with the surveyor to see if he will stand by the survey if you "adopt" it.

[alan_fincher]

A "stretch" of 13 feet is quite a big one, so how long was the boat originally, (or how long is it now!)?

 

Apart from th quality of the stretch, you need to consider if it still has its original engine, and if that is still sufficiently powerful for the boat it has become.

 

Note: I am usually the last person to make a case for very powerful engines, but am aware of people who have had "strtches" and then found they needed an engine swap they had not necessarily plan for.

 

So what engine is it, and in what length boat?

 

Do you know who id the "stretch"? Some yards specialise in a lot of this ork.

[haza]

hi .every thing above i would agree with ...i had my 20ft put on my boat before this one ...worse thing i ever did .so please be careful .i would hate for anyone to go though what i did ...

[haza]

alan is right in every thing hes saying ...you my even need to upgrade the skin tanks ...

[BrenMyster]

Its got a 1.5 4 cylinder BNC engine. Not sure if its the original. The boat now is 49ft

 

I've spoken with the surveyor and are meeting him next week. The lengthening was done by a reputable boat maker.

 

Thanks for all the message, really helpful.

[Keeping Up]

My first boat Thistle had been lengthened from 45ft to 58ft 6in before we bought her. The quality of the work was typified by the fact that it was supposed to have been lengthened to 60ft but it wasn't until they'd fiunished that they realised they'd measured to the wrong side of a cupnoard inside, so it was 18" shorter than it should have been. It was a steel hull with GRP top, and the shape of the new bit of moulded roof didn't match the shape of the original so the "join" was rather obvious!

 

It's most endearing feature was that it hadn't been joined together straight. Seen from the stern the boat went straight ahead for about 33ft and then turned left by several degrees; after 13ft 6in in the new direction it then bent upwards quite sharply for the remaining 12ft. This put the (already high) Harborough bow into an interesting position which would intimidate most oncoming boats to get well out of our way and to hold back for us at bridge-holes.

 

It had the handling characteristics of a ripe banana, always turning to the left when given the chance, and always spinning around in a totally predictable way when reversing - so that sometimes when it did a sort of "handbrake turn" into a tight mooring spot all by itself, people were heard to remark on how quiet my bow-thruster was (of course, I didn't have one).

 

Despite all this, the lengthening never gave any cause for concern and was definitely a highly worthwhile improvement to the boat.

[Mendip-Locks]

I was interested in this boat also, now I know why Tewksbury Marina didn't reply to my email!

its here http://www.tewkesbury-boat-sales.co.uk/?cars=49-cruiser-stern-narrowboatbut a few more pictures here http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/canal-narrow-boats/other-49-039-narrowboat/118106 RW Davis of Saul Junction did the lengthening so a well reputed boat builder and it does need plating work I'd be tempted to ask them for a quote as they would be familiar with the boat.

[Alan de Enfield]

Hmmmmm - at getting on for 40 years old its certainly not a cheap boat.

 

By the time you have spent 'thousands' on bottom/hull work it will be an expensive boat.

There are others available in the 'low £20s'

[David Mack]

As well as 'seeing the join' from the outside you also need to consider what has gone on inside. All of the services - electric, gas, water - which crossed the cut line will also have been cut, with new lengths spliced in. Ideally you (and your surveyor) should be able to see where this has been done so that you know the work has all been done to a satisfactory standard. Similarly, has the insulation in the new section been properly joined to that either side? If not you may get some condensation problems.

I was interested in this boat also, now I know why Tewksbury Marina didn't reply to my email!

its here http://www.tewkesbury-boat-sales.co.uk/?cars=49-cruiser-stern-narrowboatbut a few more pictures here http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/canal-narrow-boats/other-49-039-narrowboat/118106 RW Davis of Saul Junction did the lengthening so a well reputed boat builder and it does need plating work I'd be tempted to ask them for a quote as they would be familiar with the boat.

 

Looks like a Springer that's had its moustache removed. Nothing wrong with Springers, and there's lots still about, but they were budget boats in the first place, and are now somewhat past their prime.

[BrenMyster]

That's the one.

 

Im just getting some quote for the hull repair. I've asked a few people about age and price and the general consensus is that its a good deal so long as I don't get ripped off with the repair. Im guessing most people don't want the hassle of repairing a boat they just brought.

[Joe the plumber]

Bought.

 

Is the water tank rather on the small side at only 50 gallons, or is that a mistake in the listing as it's the same as the fuel tank?

[Bee]

50 galls of water is a bit small but its ok, Hopefully its a separate tank and not just an 'integral' tank.

[Naughty Cal]

Bought.

 

Is the water tank rather on the small side at only 50 gallons, or is that a mistake in the listing as it's the same as the fuel tank?

I would love a 50 gallon water tank. Unfortunately our boat isn't big enough to fit one so we have to make do with 16 gallons

 

We can make this last three days if we need too with us both showering and washing pots etc, although we tend to fill up every couple of days just to be on the safe side. Fortunately it doesn't take very long to fill.

Hmmmmm - at getting on for 40 years old its certainly not a cheap boat.

 

By the time you have spent 'thousands' on bottom/hull work it will be an expensive boat.

There are others available in the 'low £20s'

I would tend to agree. At £21k needing hull work it doesn't strike me as a bargain boat and the interior is well, nothing special and wants refitting.

 

If it could be bought for closer to £12-13k and the hull works isn't too extensive it might be a better prospect.

[alan_fincher]

Despite the "builders unknown" this looks to me to be originally a Springer. (It has, I assume had the "whiskers" removed).

 

So this is something like a 1979 36 foot long Springer with 13 feet added to it about 4 yeras ago.

 

"Some replating is required", yet they are still looking for offers based on £21.5K.

 

Seriously ???

My advice - walk now - find another boat!

Springers in top condition struggle to make £20K. Older Springers that need replating are not worth anything vaguely like the suggested price here.

[cuthound]

One problem with a small boat that has been stretched is the length of the swims (the curvy bits at the front and back of the hull).

 

Short boats tend to have short swims to maximise internal space. Long boats tend to have longer swims and handle better because of that.

 

A lengthened boat can have short swims long hull with short swims, which will affect the handling.

[alan_fincher]

One problem with a small boat that has been stretched is the length of the swims (the curvy bits at the front and back of the hull).

 

Short boats tend to have short swims to maximise internal space. Long boats tend to have longer swims and handle better because of that.

 

A lengthened boat can have short swims long hull with short swims, which will affect the handling.

 

As a principle yes, but his looks like a bog standard Springer, (not a "bug), probably about 36 feet originally. My belief is that even if it were originally 70 feet the swim length will be the same.

[Athy]

 

As a principle yes, but his looks like a bog standard Springer, (not a "bug), probably about 36 feet originally. My belief is that even if it were originally 70 feet the swim length will be the same.

I wondered about that from the hull shape (there is no clear picture of the stern which would be a clincher - Springers of that vintage had a distinctive slightly peaked transom). 36 feet was a standard Springer length. The moustaches appear to have been cut off and the roof isn't original, but it may well be a Springer hull "with additions".

[David Schweizer]

I wondered about that from the hull shape (there is no clear picture of the stern which would be a clincher - Springers of that vintage had a distinctive slightly peaked transom). 36 feet was a standard Springer length. The moustaches appear to have been cut off and the roof isn't original, but it may well be a Springer hull "with additions".

 

Not all Springers had the moustaches, my friends Springer was built without them, and did not look like a Springer.

[Athy]

 

Not all Springers had the moustaches, my friends Springer was built without them, and did not look like a Springer.

The Springer "Tug", as exemplified by Laurie Booth's charming craft, didn't. Most of the others did. But Sam Springer (and his successor P.J. Smith) would build just about anything which the customer wanted, so I can quite believe you.

Perhaps your friend's boat was a "Tug"?