Choose whichever suits you best, but get some professional training before you untie your mooring lines for the first time. Sign up to our monthly newsletter for offers, exclusive deals and news. 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. Complete Checklist Before Buying / Renting A Narrowboat The surveyor also found some very slight pitting on the bottom, which is probably why it had been painted with the epoxy after. All you need to know about Narrowboat Surveys - Venetian Marina I am always amazed at how many people skimp out on getting their boat regularly surveyed. Some appliances will run on bottled gas, such as hobs and ovens. Even so, the water level in the engine room bilge rose six inches in a few minutes. What It's Like Living On A Narrowboat: Interview With Narrowboat Girl The 5 Best Canal Routes In The UK The Top Things To Consider When Buying A Narrowboat. The surveyor did the survey with the boat out the water just before it was blacked. The atoms in the metal that make up your hull are also electrically charged. If you do not plan to cruise around continuously, then you will need a residential mooring. 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. 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. If youre looking for boat surveyors, Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) examiners and boat painters, the best advice we can give is to speak to other local narrowboaters. Ill give you a few more tips next week to help make buying a narrowboat a less stressful experience. Before your first lighting, make sure that you have all the following equipment and supplies. Theres an essential post-cruise habit you need to adopt. Apart from emptying your bank account and the physical challenge of cramming Apart from emptying your bank account and the physical challenge of cramming your life into a tiny home, you have to master a boat filled with unfamiliar systems and equipment. You do need to see the boat out of the water definitely! Why you shouldn't consider buying a narrowboat without a survey Committed to buying a boat Found a narrow boat moorings to suit us Consider a Hire Narrowboat Experience First Firstly, me and my husband wanted to be part of the narrowboat world for quite a few years. And hes a nice guy too. It took many nights searching internet forums and hanging around marinas picking the brains of other boaters. Get a BSS examination done as part of the purchase deal if you can, and have the seller rectify any problems. The other factor was, any smaller and wed struggle to have two office spaces. Who did the survey in 2013? Its easy to begin your boating career with the wrong information. By A survey (shouldn't) be only for the hull outside. Tips for Buying a Second Hand NarrowBoat! - Canal Boat UK The industry standard for narrowboats is is to measure in engine hours rather than in litres per gallon or miles. So, we started to look more local instead. scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); Assuming youve successfully transformed buying a narrowboat from a whistful dream into exciting reality, you need to overcome the day-to-day logistics of life afloat. The survey cost more money than we expected when we came to buy the boat, but it was 100% worthwhile. Indeed, the day afterI saw an ad in gumtree for a Liverpool boat built in 2006 far away in better condition (indoor)and nicer, the exterior needed some paint though. yeah, I didn't bat an eyelid when I found out my boat was a year older, not least because I'd found out other things the vendor hadn't told me which were all good, I'd be a bit more wary if the difference in advertised age was a third of the boat's age and instead of talking proudlyabout he'd spent seven years fitting it out the seller discouraged me from getting a survey and didn't want me to see his paperwork. Bombard your surveyor, boat safety examiner and broker with questions. Just to clarify, you can apply bitumen blacking over existing 2k with no issues; but if you apply fresh 2k over existing bitumen it won't stick (hence the extra prep needed). Thecosts of running a boat is a very common question and hard to answer. We had no frame of reference for narrowboat buying, so each step was new for us. A couple of points, you need to know what 'Works were carried out', also personally I would like to see it out of the water if I was buying it, you don't have to have a surveyor to see overplating or heavily pitted steel. In an ideal world you would survey during blacking - which again in an ideal world should be done as early as every two years. But, we decided to stay safe and look from our sofa. Theyre usually happy to help. That said I have no idea if my boat evenhas a HIN number (they were introduced in 1998, the year it was built) and don't particularly care. He also ran over areas of the hull with the edge of a hammer and would tap away to see if he could hear for any loose framing, filled areas. if you know enough about steel you could satisfy yourself of the hull condition. Buy briquettes rather than solid coal-like anthracite. You should have checked everything when you had your survey done. The above Cruising The Cut video describes the fire lighting process correctly, but a little more information will make your first attempt bombproof. Its a pig to light, but once its going, it will provide more heat than the centre of the sun and melt you and your boat. Buying a narrowboat felt more like buying a car than a house, which makes sense since we were buying a vehicle. Your email address will not be published. The next step is to take the old girl out for a cruise. How Often Should I have a Narrowboat Hull Survey Done? I keep the glass spotlessly clean by rubbing it daily with a damp kitchen towel dipped in cold stove ash. Keel cooled engines circulate water through a skin tank, a tank attached to the boats hull. Maintaining your boat is done yearly and is ongoing. And we were remotely looking for 57ft reverse layout narrowboats for sale constantly, which dont come up for sale very often. Aside from the additional cost of the survey, including taking the boat out of the water for the survey to be undertaken, there were no unexpected costs for us. His insistence that I had another BSS exam done after the remedial work was complete would have saved me more money and a lot of hassle. I have had a survey done and all readings were looking great. For me it do matter the year in which was built as the older the boat the more problems get and for sure the cheaper should be, hence don't try to sell me an overpriced boat from 1999 saying that was built in 2006. Which is where the survey comes in. 1. It was a windy day, and we weren't quite used to driving a 57ft narrowboat yet, so we probably did a 20 point turn. Star Crafts on the Canal https://www.youtube.com/c/StarCraftsontheCanalWelcome to A Life Full of Meaning. Want to keep up with all things Owatrol? But to start this process, we committed to paying a 10% deposit (refundable if we never went ahead). But to test with his ultrasound device, hed scrape any marine growth in several areas with a chisel. The RCD talks about when the boat is first put into service, not the build date. You can purchase a self-pumping kit for approximately 400 which will enable you to empty the tank directly into sanitary stations or sewers. Be aware that marinas will vary in cost for removing your boat from the water and then putting it back in again. if you don't get that unique identifier anyone can make up the year in which the boat was built. Buying a Narrowboat | Assist Boat Insurance But during the spring and autumn months when you dont want your fire blazing all day, youll need plenty of kindling for daily fire lighting. Owning a narrowboat can seem like the perfect way of living life, however, there are some very important things you need to consider before taking the plunge. Just make sure that you have one by your stove(s) and in your bedroom. The majority of the problems found during a hull survey are usually minor and, if the problem is left unattended, may require more extensive work in the coming years. Kerry realised that he was dealing with a middle-aged man with the mechanical ability of a four-year-old girl. The collar is the fitting on your roof holding the pipe in place. 04507332. It was always our plan to get Teal out of the water to be blacked and surveyed as soon as possible. I was more concerned about Cynthias deteriorating health than saving a few quid. If you decide you would like to go ahead and purchase the narrowboat you'll need to pay a deposit. You can read more about using and refilling your greaser here. And then test to get a reading on how thick the boat was and wrote on the blacking with chalk. learn all about liveaboard narrowboat equipment, systems and design. Someone has tried to scam me out of buying a boat. You can expect to pay around 400 600, everything included. Up to you of course. A Christmas cruise from Market Harborough to Calcutt Boats, Hire Boat And Live Aboard Narrowboat Heating Costs Compared. Again, the cost of the licence depends on the length of your boat but also what you will be using it for. In between, you're looking at a range of vessels called 'wide beam' canal boats. Every narrowboat is unique and very few come with manuals. Youve also got to consider things like, whether youll be ok with land sickness. . The boat should have a mains supply. 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. While on the canal, she needed to be rescued. As the buyer, this made things very easy as all of the administrative costs and fees were taken care of from the sellers side and factored into the price. 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. Any business or tradesmen that people are happy to recommend are far better options than using Google. But to me, the potential cost of not catching hull corrosion early would be much higher (and worth this bi-annual cost). View. Most marinas I rang had a waiting list, which tended to the cheapest ones. Essential Items Every Narrowboat Owner Should Buy. Did the surveyor sign of the works. Consider Narrowboat Running Costs. For us, the whole UK canal boat buying process took 6 weeks from the time we placed our deposit and becoming its new owners. Inland Waterways - November 22, 2018 Buying a narrowboat is like buying a house and is a life-changing decision, so we have created a guide to help assist you with buying your narrowboat! elem.type = "text/javascript"; Follow us as we try to create a more meaningful life. . Look at its history and how many owners it's had, which will give you a good indication of its overall condition. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Ideal for these Narrow Boat vary in length from 3ft to 127ft and can carry 6 to 8 passengers. Firelighters The Zip firelighter used int he video work very well. A Complete Breakdown Of The Costs Of Buying A Narrowboat The seller had agreed to update anything we identified as needing to be done before the sale, too. If you enjoy reading these posts, if you find the masses of information on this site and my new motorhome site, rvblog.co.uk both useful and entertaining, please help keep it available for those who both want and need it. Yeah definitely, but look at it the other way round - you buy a boat without a survey that you would've walked away from if you'd known. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. A working smoke alarm probably saved my life earlier this year. You negotiate on price, get the boat surveyed, and if everything goes smoothly, pay and cruise away. 10 Things You Need To Know Before Buying a Narrowboat - Whilton Marina If you do decide to take the plunge and buy a narrowboat, specialist narrowboat insurance is vital. Blacking materials will vary depending on the size of your hull. If this were the case, while losing the cost of the survey would have hurt, it would have been far better than spending even more money fixing the boat down the line. Kindling During the winter months, your stove will probably be alight 24/7. Buying A Narrowboat - Taking A . It took 10 days after the holiday to wear off, which it made me feel a bit sick. As an absolute minimum, you should get the hull of the narrowboat surveyed. You wouldn't buy a house without an independent survey and a narrowboat is a significant investment, so a pre-purchase survey by a qualified marine surveyor will give you peace of mind. Your email address will not be published. Many companies offer RYA accredited inland waterways training. If you want to be on the safe side, make a full "out of the water" survey to check the boat also from underneath. I usePrimrose Engineering. Youll be pushing and pulling unknown knobs, switches and levers for weeks. Starting your engine can be a challenge. Narrowboat surveyors - ABNB Boat Brokerage A pre purchase survey is a series of exploratory tests on your boat that provide you with all the important information you'll need such as steel thickness, what electric, water and gas facilities you have, as well as condition of all aspects of the boat and engine. If your boat has a modern engine, thats one thing you dont have to worry about too much. To use pump-out services at Marinas they usually charge around 15 and how often you need to pump out depends on your holding tank size and of course, your habits. If a 10k bill for replating and re-bottoming would ruin you, then prolly best to get a survey before handing over yourmoney. However, I started to notice more things we didnt see before. Anything on the inside can be painted or redecorated, but it's different when it's the outside. Depending on how often you plan to use your narrowboat can affect the purchase. Get help and practical hands-on tuition from professionals. Narrowboats Traditional (3) Semi Traditional (2) Cruiser (13) . My 10th living afloat anniversary is two months away. 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. Propane gas bottles cost around 25 per 13kg bottle. Me and my girlfriend are about to buy a narrowboat. Buying a narrowboat - boats.com Ive bought four boats, sold three and refurbished one of them. Narrowboat Hull Survey: What is it and How often Should I Have one? If not get a survey. If not, really, you should be looking into this even before you put a deposit down. You can read more about using and refilling your greaser here, Buying a Narrowboat: Engine Maintenance and Pre Cruise Checks, If you dont know your way around old engines, get someone to show you the ropes. 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. Hello everyone. Luckily we found one close to home, although a bit dearer, where we don't have to muck in. On the day it was taken out, I thought it was best to go along and get a feel for how it was going. Specialist narrowboat insurance from Insure4Boats, What It's Like Living On A Narrowboat: Interview With Narrowboat Girl, The Top Things To Consider When Buying A Narrowboat, Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor Insurance. A restricted airflow, at best, means a poor burn and little heat. Narrowboat Pitting In Process of Buying - Build Blogs - Canal World Narrowboats can vary wildly in price. I have seen one recently listed that looks lovely Yes please, I'd like to receive partner news and offers from Ripe, No thanks, I don't want to receive partner news and offers from Ripe. Miss one at your peril. 9 Gender:Male Location:london Posted December 28, 2016 Hi all, this is my first post so please be gentle. Well, this week, I think its time to talk about our own experience of buying a second hand narrowboat. Buying a second hand boat | Canal & River Trust A hull survey will help find any areas where water may be able to penetrate the hull (AKA holes!). The lower dead branches of woodland trees work very well. He identified faults which would cost thousands of pounds to rectify. Charlie: Also, it's essential to get a survey done before you buy. A basic engine service costs somewhere between 150 250 depending on the engine type. The first step is to get some training and to make sure that the tuition is from someone who knows what hes doing. This way you will get more of a feel for living on a boat and make sure you are making the right decision. You could expect to pay somewhere around 2,000 pa for a mooring in the Midlands, whereas in a private residential mooring in central London could set you back 12,000 pa. It's also been the subject of narrowboat art which is now for sale in my Etsy shop. We noticed the kitchen worktop and sink needed replacing or restoring. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. A boat should be better than that but you do need to know how much better. Thankfully, we've bought a 12ft ash pole to help!! Its just that, when we committed to the boat, I wanted to relax on it. You should have checked everything when you had your survey done. I also asked about one of the anodes having a crack and corrosion on the propellers anode, but apparently, it wasnt too much of a worry due to several factors. Matt and Liv spent two years travelling around the UK and Europe in their self-built campervan, but in January 2019 they decided to settle down on their narrowboat, which they have affectionately named Toby. We asked around in bars and pubs on the marina we bought our boat from, as well as in the dry docks. Be aware that, like anything in life, finding a surveyor quickly can be very much based on supply and demand. I decant my coal into the deck coal box and fill my scuttle from there. Another thing I've found essential is a telescopic fishing net. Shore-based utility costs will also vary. t takes a long time to do a good job. After all, owning a narrowboat is as much about doing these jobs as it is about cruising the cut. And you assume everyone in your marina are seasoned boaters, know how to drive, which we later found out some havent left the marina yet. You can realistically wait for five years before you have your first survey. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better.