Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 Hi I'm buying a 2012 Narrowboat 320 hrs should I have sea trial is it recommended and is it needed or just run engine on Poonton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 Few sellers or brokers are likely to be willing to let you take a narrow boat out to sea, I think! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 Sorry I mean taking up the canal for a run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howardang Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 17 minutes ago, Russ9294 said: Hi I'm buying a 2012 Narrowboat 320 hrs should I have sea trial is it recommended and is it needed or just run engine on Poonton Ask yourself if you would buy a car on the strength of starting the engine without taking it on a test run. I would be surprised if you would! Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 Thank you I never thought of it like that it's nice to have an honest answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hurley Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 36 minutes ago, Russ9294 said: Hi I'm buying a 2012 Narrowboat 320 hrs should I have sea trial is it recommended and is it needed or just run engine on Poonton Running the engine is not going to show up any gearbox faults or handling quirks that it may have, excessive vibration, over heating problems, prop/rudder problems, only a good test will show these faults up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 18 minutes ago, Russ9294 said: Thank you I never thought of it like that it's nice to have an honest answer Whilst I agree with the previous post, its not a car. It will depend on your boat knowledge. I didn't take this boat for a spin or the previous five if I recall. This is a bog standard ford Mondeo shell ( colecraft ) with a standard Isuzu engine prm 150 and 18 by 12 prop. I have driven loads of boats previously with this standard configuration so new exactly how it would be and indeed is. I did test drive my very first narrowboat however and loved it and bough it and subsequently after a few years of experience realised it drove like a crock of poo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haggis Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 1 minute ago, mrsmelly said: Whilst I agree with the previous post, its not a car. It will depend on your boat knowledge. I didn't take this boat for a spin or the previous five if I recall. This is a bog standard ford Mondeo shell ( colecraft ) with a standard Isuzu engine prm 150 and 18 by 12 prop. I have driven loads of boats previously with this standard configuration so new exactly how it would be and indeed is. I did test drive my very first narrowboat however and loved it and bough it and subsequently after a few years of experience realised it drove like a crock of poo Pump out loo then? :-) haggis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmelly Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 2 minutes ago, haggis said: Pump out loo then? :-) haggis Yes it bloomin well is I am fed up with taking the stupid things out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 5 minutes ago, mrsmelly said: Whilst I agree with the previous post, its not a car. It will depend on your boat knowledge. I didn't take this boat for a spin or the previous five if I recall. This is a bog standard ford Mondeo shell ( colecraft ) with a standard Isuzu engine prm 150 and 18 by 12 prop. I have driven loads of boats previously with this standard configuration so new exactly how it would be and indeed is. I did test drive my very first narrowboat however and loved it and bough it and subsequently after a few years of experience realised it drove like a crock of poo I do not disagree but I regularly get questions about tiller stiffness, vibration and even pulling hard to one side. Less frequently but still several times a year I get asked about "worrying" noises. Much depends upon the OP knowing how it should handle and sound but in my view a test run is essential. This should include a period running as fats as is sensible to test the cooling system. Far too many are undersized so overheat at higher speeds/powers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 Thank you very much I will have a good think about it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howardang Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 1 hour ago, mrsmelly said: Whilst I agree with the previous post, its not a car. It will depend on your boat knowledge. I didn't take this boat for a spin or the previous five if I recall. This is a bog standard ford Mondeo shell ( colecraft ) with a standard Isuzu engine prm 150 and 18 by 12 prop. I have driven loads of boats previously with this standard configuration so new exactly how it would be and indeed is. I did test drive my very first narrowboat however and loved it and bough it and subsequently after a few years of experience realised it drove like a crock of poo Of course a car and a boat are different, but the principle surely is the same. As you mention, you have a lot of experience of boats, and therefore you are happy to judge any new boat according to that background knowledge. However, I would say that most people have much more experience of judging a used car than a boat and the more "try before you buy" will be helpful to avoid any dissapointments later. Howard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 I fell out with a well known Midlands brokerage when looking over a boat for a friend....I asked to hear the engine run (It was a RN)...that resulted in a lot of huffing and puffing and mention of "we only usually do that when a deposit is taken"....I was somewhat forthright in my reply and begrudgingly the engine was run up.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 I've had the engine running & next week taking the canal boat for a small run just to check the temperature and everything else is okay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momac Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 320 hours is fairly low. The engine presumably looks like new . If not be suspicious. Hour meters can be replaced and start again from zero. In any case inspect the engine before and after the trial in case this shows up any oil or fuel leaks. There should be no leaks from such a relatively new engine. Are you not employing a suitably qualified and experienced surveyor to no only give the boat a thorough inspection but also to take it for a trial? The boat should have a current boat safety certificate . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 Thank you I will talk with the surveyor about what you said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil2 Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 (edited) If it's a private sale you may just have to convince the seller that you are a serious buyer, but the situation with brokers is more complex. I have known brokers who are quite happy to let you take a boat out before any money changes hands, the majority I suspect will want a deposit first. If it's one of those where the deposit is a nominal amount I don't think you can expect to get it back if you just don't like how the boat performs/handles. OTOH where the broker wants say 10% you have to be sure the deposit is unconditionally refundable and you'll find a lot of them are not. I suspect a lot of the high volume brokers expect to make a sale without the buyer sea trialling the boat first. Edited August 11, 2017 by Neil2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 Iv google the broker very good report I've had sea boats before so just founding out if it's the same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Vagabond Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 9 hours ago, Tony Brooks said: I do not disagree but I regularly get questions about tiller stiffness, vibration and even pulling hard to one side. Less frequently but still several times a year I get asked about "worrying" noises. Much depends upon the OP knowing how it should handle and sound but in my view a test run is essential. This should include a period running as fats as is sensible to test the cooling system. Far too many are undersized so overheat at higher speeds/powers. Have to say I'd agree with you that a test run is essential if you want to minimize avoidable risks. I have seen boats that, on start up, smoke quite a bit but once put under load the smoking stops and the exhaust is as clear as one would hope for. On the other hand I've also seen boats start up with a bit of smoke but when you put the engine under load the smoking becomes ten times worse. I'd tend to avoid the latter unless I fancied a full engine rebuild in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ9294 Posted August 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 2 hours ago, Wanderer Vagabond said: Have to say I'd agree with you that a test run is essential if you want to minimize avoidable risks. I have seen boats that, on start up, smoke quite a bit but once put under load the smoking stops and the exhaust is as clear as one would hope for. On the other hand I've also seen boats start up with a bit of smoke but when you put the engine under load the smoking becomes ten times worse. I'd tend to avoid the latter unless I fancied a full engine rebuild in the near future. Or a new prop, surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magpie patrick Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 I'm not saying throw caution to the wind, but I've had to reflect on not having a survey and subsequent horrors in the engine department: these have included an alarming tendency to overheat, diesel leaking into the oil, a gear box failure and inadequate battery charging. It has to be said that none of this except the gearbox became apparent until the boat had been from Lapworth to Manchester and back through Harecastle Tunnel, a trip that involved at least one fourteen hour day and about two weeks cruising. Even the gearbox didn't show notice until nearly at Bugsworth on the outbound leg. I doubt a survey would have picked up much, and a two week long test cruise ain't gonna happen. If, however, I'd known the history of the engine I would have been a lot more cautious. I think it had been bought on eBay as part of the refit on the basis that "it works". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naughty Cal Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 2 hours ago, Neil2 said: If it's a private sale you may just have to convince the seller that you are a serious buyer, but the situation with brokers is more complex. I have known brokers who are quite happy to let you take a boat out before any money changes hands, the majority I suspect will want a deposit first. If it's one of those where the deposit is a nominal amount I don't think you can expect to get it back if you just don't like how the boat performs/handles. OTOH where the broker wants say 10% you have to be sure the deposit is unconditionally refundable and you'll find a lot of them are not. I suspect a lot of the high volume brokers expect to make a sale without the buyer sea trialling the boat first. We bought NC from a big broker and took her out for a river trial before any money changed hands and would not expect any less when we buy again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Vagabond Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 24 minutes ago, WotEver said: Or a new prop, surely? How does a new prop stop an engine smoking? (unless you fit a really small one so it never gets under load). A consistently smoking engine suggests to me possible worn cylinders/piston rings or worn/faulty injectors, what does it suggest to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotEver Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 22 minutes ago, Wanderer Vagabond said: How does a new prop stop an engine smoking? (unless you fit a really small one so it never gets under load). A consistently smoking engine suggests to me possible worn cylinders/piston rings or worn/faulty injectors, what does it suggest to you? That it's over-propped. If it doesn't smoke when revving out of gear I'd have thought too coarse a prop to be the most likely. But heck, I'm no engine expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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