The RCD talks about when the boat is first put into service, not the build date. I have seen one recently listed that looks lovely OK. The other factor was, any smaller and wed struggle to have two office spaces. Ive witnessed many new boat owners offering dubious advice to fellow narrowboat buyers. The survey can also locate any corrosion, cracks, or metal fatigue. ago. I was more concerned about Cynthias deteriorating health than saving a few quid. But what exactly is it, why is it important and how many times does it need to be done in the lifetime of a narrowboat. Propane gas bottles cost around 25 per 13kg bottle. Would you buy a house without a survey? And we were remotely looking for 57ft reverse layout narrowboats for sale constantly, which dont come up for sale very often. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. A companion set Youll want a small shovel or tongues for briquette handling, a poker for prodding your burning fire or scraping out ash, and a brush of some kind for cleaning up the mess you make. During wet periods the stuff laying on the ground will be damp and a pain to light. Sign up for a new account in our community. The thing is that heis trying to sell (40000) a narrowboat around London (built by Liverpool boat builder)built in 1999, saying that it was built in 2006. Youll be pushing and pulling unknown knobs, switches and levers for weeks. Are you going to use your boat occasionally for a holiday once a year, every weekend, or every day? He wasnt keen on the metal and plastic expanding and contracting at different rates. The more complex a property's . To give an exact example, Braunston Marina (at the time of writing) quote you 225.00 for a dry dock survey and 300 for one day in the dry dock. Many companies offer RYA accredited inland waterways training. Owner, Richard Powell, has been in the trade for four decades. These regular hull surveys become more and more important the older a boat gets. the subject of narrowboat art which is now for sale in my Etsy shop. The rectification work cost me 1,200. When we first drove our narrowboat to our new mooring, it was the most embarrassing experience ever! I Sold And Gave Away Everything I Owned To Live And Continually Cruise Th. It took many nights searching internet forums and hanging around marinas picking the brains of other boaters. The above Cruising The Cut video describes the fire lighting process correctly, but a little more information will make your first attempt bombproof. This is something you really need to look into before purchasing as it can be the difference between you buying a boat and not. The boat brokerage had a perfect example of a woman spending her divorce money on an old Chaplain narrowboat for 20k. There are eight years of painstakingly written and researched information on hundreds of posts and pages on the two sites. Ep 244 Boat Survey and Blacking | Buying A Boat Without A Survey - YouTube Buying a narrowboat without a hull survey - Canal World Be careful folk, he is trying to sell it around London, I wouldn't buy any boat without the HIN plate number, would you buy a car without the Identifier on the car chassis? Ill give you a few more tips next week to help make buying a narrowboat a less stressful experience. Why not follow us on social media? We would have taken more time to understand our boats inner workings before we moved everything into it. Which Are The Best Narrowboat Stern Types For Living Afloat? Then you will need to pay for the actual surveyor to undertake the survey. You need to check oil and water before you start the engine and thats about it. Another option is a one-to-one service withRiver Canal Rescue (RCR). I am always amazed at how many people skimp out on getting their boat regularly surveyed. Having said that, I think it would have been useful to know how to cruise before we bought our boat. I didnt want to find myself needing to do DIY on it immediately. The boat had also been treated with a 2 pack epoxy on the hull, including the bottom, as opposed to Bitumen. But, what's also surprised me is how invaluable its been to have experienced narrowboat neighbours, with boat life tips. While you can personally check the boats interior while viewing it pre-purchase, the survey will tell you the condition and thickness of the metalwork, which ultimately determines the condition of the boat. Ive bought four boats, sold three and refurbished one of them. They should be labelled but often arent. Some appliances will run on bottled gas, such as hobs and ovens. Even pretty simple tasks such as blacking, painting, and rust removal cost a fraction of the price if youre happy to do them yourself. Narrowboat surveyors - ABNB Boat Brokerage Cabling to its two batteries in a front deck locker allowed escaping gas to fill the cabin bilge rather than drain into the canal.
(function() { This style is usually more ideal for a holiday boat as it has a large external space at the back of the deck (between 4 and 8 feet). In this guide we will cover: What will you use your narrowboat for? This is another that can vary wildly. This is exactly why you shouldn't rush into things! So, we started to look more local instead. You probably have a stern gland greaser on your boat which helps prevent canal water from entering your engine bay via the propeller shaft. We also filmed it so we could send it to our family, but also keep referring to it to mentally plan. Owner, Richard Powell, has been in the trade for four decades. If its more than a couple of years old, or if you dont feel you can trust the seller, have another done. If you bring the bag into your boat, youre probably going to have to mop up a trail of liquid coal dust. Written by Matt Jones - Monday, February 22, 2021. If it has spent time in a Marina check if a GI is fitted. Consequently, always check your onboard equipment to make sure that its working correctly. However, the bow thruster looked as though it was part of the original construction. A lot can happen in 5 years. Everyone we used has come from personal recommendation and weve never been disappointed. Apart from emptying your bank account and the physical challenge of cramming So, we've attached keying corks to our car keys and floating lanyards for our waterproof phone. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The next step is to take the old girl out for a cruise. I usePrimrose Engineering. I have had a survey done and all readings were looking great. If you want to learn how to handle a narrowboat in a relaxed and indescribably lovely classroomandlearn all about liveaboard narrowboat equipment, systems and design,you can spend a day with me. Buying a Narrowboat Lighting Your First Fire, Narrowboats are often offered for sale because the owner has lost interest in boating or is no longer able to cope with the physical demands. So, If youre looking to buy one, it isnt easy knowing where to begin, what to look out for, or even what costs you can expect to encounter. How recent does a survey need to be when buying a narrowboat? In any case you should consider renting/buying the boat outside of areas with high costs of housing. Full Survey A narrow boat that requires a full survey will need to be out of the water so that ultrasonic measurement of the hull can take place. Its easy to begin your boating career with the wrong information. As mentioned earlier, insurance is very important. Narrowboat insurance is unlike other common insurance such as car or home insurance as it can be tailored to your own personal requirements as it is not postcode specific and you may move around more than others. It's was last surveyed in 2013 with all the works carried out, two pack epoxy blacking need renewing 2020. I thought I just answered this thread but my answer is nowhere to be seen. If you can afford for this boat to be a horrible mistake (which it probably won't be, but possibly will) then buy without they survey. Reinforce your doors and windows with additional locks or even bars, Get a locking fuel cap to stop people from stealing your expensive fuel, Secure your anchors ropes and gas bottles with locks etc. Registered in England No. This is another cost that can vary depending on how much security you would like for your boat. It was always our plan to get Teal out of the water to be blacked and surveyed as soon as possible and this was the week! Oh, and tested to see if they still float in our bath first! However, adding on damage protection, breakdown cover, personal accident protection, and no claims protection, you would generally pay around 250 350 pa. You could easily pay up to 500 pa for adding on specific cover such as laptop, bicycle and mobile cover. If you dont want to drown your engine and take your battery bank for a swim, tighten your stern gland greaser at the end of every cruise. What to consider when buying a narrowboat - Venetian Marina If you have just bought a brand new narrowboat, the situation is a little different. For example a hull survey for a 55 foot long narrowboat would typically cost 550 and a full survey would be 680. What we got back though was an intense booklet that was 18 pages. If you dont know your way around old engines, get someone to show you the ropes. Narrowboats can vary wildly in price. I guide guests on a twelve-mile six lock cruise through rural Warwickshire. "https://secure" : "http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; We've loved seeing them float along the canal during our holiday walks and watching continuous cruising narrowboat vloggers, like: So, when when we got married, we thought wed hire one out for our honeymoon and see how we got on with it. If you are considering buying a narrowboat, don't part with your hard earned cash before you read this postThere's a steep learning curve to life on the cut, steepest when you are buying a narrowboat and over your first few days on board. In an ideal world, we wouldve loved to have driven to loads of different brokerages too and physically looking inside. However, in times of high demand, you may have to pay extra for a surveyor to drive from a different area of the country to undertake your survey. AND, we preferred the idea of a Cruiser or semi cruiser stern as opposed to a smaller traditional stern. He explained every process slowly and clearly and instilled enough confidence in me to tackle routine services. Kerry realised that he was dealing with a middle-aged man with the mechanical ability of a four-year-old girl. Who did the remedial works. However, these were things we knew to expect. Although you can buy a boat without paying for it to be surveyed first, it is vital to have one done, even if it seems like an unnecessary cost. You can get cover that utilises specialised marine engineers from 50 pa 200 pa depending on your narrowboat and the type of breakdown cover you require. A friend of mine, Russ Fincham, a first-class BSS examiner who has forgotten more than I could ever hope to know about narrowboats, agreed to come with me on my second viewing. We went to check it out and have a good look around. buying a narrow boat without survey did we do the right thing - YouTube Not all marinas offer this service, so if your boat has a tank you will need to factor for the cost of emptying it and the cost of getting the boat to a sanitary station. But in short, he came back with a leaking bathroom tap which Ive since fixed now. Anything on the inside can be painted or redecorated, but it's different when it's the outside. Put simply, corrosion of a narrowboat hull is a real thing and should be taken seriously! You should have checked everything when you had your survey done. And it may sound like a big jump in length, but after driving one, we felt like a longer one wouldnt be too much of a difference. The collar is the fitting on your roof holding the pipe in place. Youll probably need someone to show you the ropes if you take on a boat with a vintage engine like Orients green beast. Luckily we found one close to home, although a bit dearer, where we don't have to muck in. Some owners close the water inlet as a sensible precaution when the engine isnt running. Pictured: Matt & Liv with their narrowboat, Toby. These are the ones that most people see on the internet. Discover Buy and Sell Your Narrow Boat, Canal Boat, Canal Barges Online. Another option is a one-to-one service with. Starting your engine can be a challenge. That way, we had space to stand together or have friends and relatives nearby while driving. Most of all, the double glazed windows panicked me as the ash veneer showed signs of water damage, possibly from condensation or leaking. Get a BSS examination done as part of the purchase deal if you can, and have the seller rectify any problems. Finding money was the easy part. I'm glad we're all in the same boat(!). If you purchased or surveyed your boat on a blazing hot day, lighting a fire was probably way down on your list of priorities, but make sure that you check it before you light the stove for the first time. Canal, River & Narrowboat Surveyors - Waterway craft Look at its history and how many owners it's had, which will give you a good indication of its overall condition. Buying a Narrowboat: Pre Purchase Tips and Recommendations But to me, the potential cost of not catching hull corrosion early would be much higher (and worth this bi-annual cost). During a survey, the surveyor will take a series of detailed steel thickness measurements across your boats hull. You should expect to pay around 130 for 20 litres of a standard one-part bituminous coating. If you're thinking of buying a narrowboat, then you need to understand more about what you are looking at. You do need to see the boat out of the water definitely! can you drive for a minute while I nip to the toilet?. Then you will need to pay for the actual surveyor to undertake the survey. Marinas will insist on insurance and it would obviously be very silly to not insure such an important purchase! All right, failing to prepare for a canal cruise isnt going to kill you, but your maiden voyage will be much more pleasant if you know what youre doing. Even though its a slightly stricter exam than the standard certificate requirements, most of the fifteen failures still applied. Although you can buy a boat without paying for it to be surveyed first, it is vital to have one done, even if it seems like an unnecessary cost. Your licence given to you by The Canal & River Trust is conditional on you having a boat insurance policy in place. 1. Buying A Narrowboat - Taking A Massive Gamble! "Aitch - YouTube Or just claim it's a 1997 when you want to sell it Would you spend that much money on a car or an antique or piece of jewellery without paying some professional to look at it and write a report? What Happened to Cruising The Cut [Narrowboat Youtuber]. We post weekly videos on Sunday mornings at 7am. Vikkie. This time, we noticed signs of water damage around the window. The only person qualified to give your narrowboat a hull survey is a certified marine surveyor.. You want to find one that has regularly worked on canal boats, as they will know exactly what to look for on your boat. However, I started to notice more things we didnt see before. With a bit of luck, you've already found a narrowboat for sale with mooring included. I wouldn't. elem.async = true; The raw water cooling system on my first boat failed twice during cruises. Factor in the cost of keeping rust away and for occasional touch-ups. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'm a UK multi-award-winning DIY home improvement blogger, YouTuber, and TV presenter as seen on ITV's Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, BBC One, and many more. Surveys. As the narrowboat trend is growing and the prices are rising, the hull survey is a term that anyone in the community will hear again and again. The guys selling and examining your new home may be able to answer basic questions, but everything else is up to you. That said, find a surveyor and get a report for your own personal use. Millennials and Gen Zers want to buy homesbut they can't - CNBC On the day it was taken out, I thought it was best to go along and get a feel for how it was going. This can impact the style of boat you want to purchase. Size really does matter A purist will tell you that in order to be classed as a narrowboat, the beam must be no more than seven feet. When you get someone to work on your boat for you, expect the price to increase massively. It feels so long ago now, but shortly after our last hire boat experience, the lockdown started. But, these also tended to have a policy where they preferred people to have a trade, and donate a few days a month to do boatyard maintenance. Its a Lister JP2M, an eighty-three-year-old lass with a mesmerising voice and the ability to turn the heads of a disturbing number of middle-aged men. It offers the look of the traditional but has the space of the cruiser. Even so, the water level in the engine room bilge rose six inches in a few minutes. I think its generally best to hire or view as many as you can to find the best layout for you. The traditional style is perfectly suitable for life aboard as it offers more room inside the boat for living. Not sure which category your boat falls under? Try before you buy Types of stern & size What is your budget?