Narrow boat opinions

Author
Discussion

bazjude2998

Original Poster:

666 posts

131 months

Sunday 26th March 2023
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I sold my boat just before lock down and want to get back on the cut.
I,ve viewed a 42’ ex hire boat which has had a nice interior refit with what appears to be a good repaint.built 2006 Priced @ £37.5k.Out of water for blacking last year but no hull survey.12000 hrs so a hard life and I,m guessing the steel work could had suffered.I wont buy without a survey.Hull survey with crainage £800.Seller wont move on price.
Thing I don’t like is 8-6-4 steel.
Opinions please,risk survey fee or walk.

Simpo Two

87,036 posts

272 months

Sunday 26th March 2023
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If in doubt walk away; plenty more NBs for sale. I wouldn't want an ex-hire boat - cheap for a reason.

Pity you didn't sell during lockdown; boat values gained significantly!

Denbighshire - what about a cruiser on the Caledonian?

bazjude2998

Original Poster:

666 posts

131 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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Simpo Two said:
If in doubt walk away; plenty more NBs for sale. I wouldn't want an ex-hire boat - cheap for a reason.

Pity you didn't sell during lockdown; boat values gained significantly!

Denbighshire - what about a cruiser on the Caledonian?
We did the Caledonian some years ago,absolute brilliant trip, however a 400 mile trip from Denbighshire 🥴

Simpo Two

87,036 posts

272 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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Oh god this is embarrassing; assumed Denbighshire was in Scotland! Sorry about that boxedin

Advice is the same though - keep looking, the season is only just starting.

Panamax

5,057 posts

41 months

Wednesday 29th March 2023
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All I would say is you can rent a hell of a lot of canal boats for £40,000

But if you want to live on it....

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
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Panamax said:
All I would say is you can rent a hell of a lot of canal boats for £40,000

But if you want to live on it....
Part of the joy of boat ownership is the last minute 'let's go to the boat for the weekend as the weather looks decent' thing. Difficult to hire at short notice in July/August. But yes, you can buy a lot of weekly hire for the cost of buying/operating a hole in the water into which the owner throws lots of money!

I moved home upon retirement to be three hours nearer to my Norfolk Broads based boat, and now spend less time on the water!

frown

Simpo Two

87,036 posts

272 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
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JB99 said:
Part of the joy of boat ownership is the last minute 'let's go to the boat for the weekend as the weather looks decent' thing. Difficult to hire at short notice in July/August. But yes, you can buy a lot of weekly hire for the cost of buying/operating a hole in the water into which the owner throws lots of money!
Renting and hiring are different animals. As you say, when you have your own boat you can nip off spontaneously for a day or weekend, and it can be a social platform too. The advantage of a hire boat is that you can explore other waterways, even in other countries. So you need both smile

Krikkit

26,990 posts

188 months

Thursday 30th March 2023
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And you have the inherent value of the boat, they hardly depreciate if cared-for.

I agree with Simpo that this one doesn't sound good. I wouldn't exclude an ex-hire boat if it's been sorted out mind.

Lester H

3,050 posts

112 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
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We had a wide beam narrow boat for a few years,one previous owner, not ex hire though those are arguably well maintained for their stricter than for private use four yearly BSS) it was a 2004 Liverpool 57x10 with Isuzu 2.7 diesel as in a Trooper, but with cast iron cylinder head - it defined “bulletproof” Only 55 BHP, utterly understressed.. I sold towards the end of lockdown and got most of my money back ( nothing like a 50k car in that respect). The boat was in sound condition but in car terms, a bit tired and by no means perfect. It sold very easily. However for those of you considering one, the upkeep was a money pit ( 4 leisure batteries at 110a pop, anyone? New Websto diesel heater at £2200 which was too complicated to use, plus the extortionate marina fees and the need to use their ‘tame’ mechanics,( with in addition, buying logs, firelights and coal for the stove, which itself had to be serviced. ) unless you wanted to pay a daily £100 fine if you used your own mechanic. (If detected). Also, unless cruising, having to buy fuel at the marina which was marked up (even if written down as red) as was their electricity cost and Calor gas etc. Also many boats have been messed about with in terms of plumbing and electrics , unlike cars, where one is broadly similar to another. One positive that came out of this ownership is that boats can look a bit scruffy but be deemed OK.Yes, speaking as a PH. the boat was fun at times, but fairly horrid in the winter, and my abiding memory is of the mooring fees and driving across to use it and thinking ‘will it start?’

Edited by Lester H on Monday 3rd April 22:36


Edited by Lester H on Monday 3rd April 22:55


Edited by Lester H on Monday 3rd April 22:58

SimonTheSailor

12,700 posts

235 months

Tuesday 4th April 2023
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If you like the boat and seems like it's been maintained then you've got to risk the survey.

Not sure why you don't like the 8-6-4, it's not a 60 footer so made with slightly thinner plate.

You might find some boats that were originally 10-8-6 are now worse than 8-6-4.