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Post by lotusanne on Oct 27, 2015 12:47:08 GMT
I know this is a long shot, but is there any chance that someone could go and have a look at a narrow boat that I am really interested in? Not looking for a technical report or anything, just general feel of the boat, and also the owner. It looks great, but photos can be very deceptive plus there's always the worry of Ebay scams and its a long way for a viewing and a lot of money to get it wrong! The boat is here: Boat is located near Cowroast Marina on the Grand Union canal near Tring North of London HP23 5RE And this is the add in case anyone wants a peek: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/56ft-Cruiser-stern-Starline-narrow-boat-/272026654590?hash=item3f560d577e:g:AkMAAOSw14xWLNmDThanks Anne
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Post by Firefox on Oct 27, 2015 14:04:43 GMT
Looks great from the pics. I've no idea about boats though edina could probably tell you a lot more from the pics and description.
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Post by molly2 on Oct 27, 2015 14:50:34 GMT
Looks good on pics ,steel is high maintenance ,advise a good examination out of the water , or maybe a survey .I have also seen buyers put off good boats because of of survey's .
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Post by robmac on Oct 27, 2015 15:35:37 GMT
Whatever you decide Anne, if you go ahead - get a survey done.
They are usually built to a 10/6/4 spec. (You probably know this). So the base plate should be 10mm, the sides 6mm and the roof 4mm. But on a 1988 hull, this could be seriously diminshed. I note it was surveyed 18 months ago, but that is not recent enough.
They list the builder as John South, but according to his website he started building narrow boats in 1990 unless it's a different JS.
I don't think it's a scam as there is a landline listed, so may turn out to be a bargain at the right price. Unfortunately, a bit too far for me to pop down for a look, but glad to help in future.
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Post by Firefox on Oct 27, 2015 15:44:28 GMT
Would the survey check the steel thickness robmac ? If they could provide the survey, it should tell us what the current thickness is and how bad any corrosion has been ?
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Post by robmac on Oct 27, 2015 17:20:03 GMT
Would the survey check the steel thickness robmac ? If they could provide the survey, it should tell us what the current thickness is and how bad any corrosion has been ? Yes an out of water survey would check the thickness and recommend any re-plating necessary. The problem is that such surveys can be expensive, so if you reject one boat, you will have to pay for another survey on the next one.
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Post by lotusanne on Oct 27, 2015 20:12:24 GMT
Thanks all for replies,we did get a summary of survey...
Bottom - between 5.7mm and 5.9mm Sides - 5mm Minor pitting on base plate and sides ( depth 0.75mm) only recomendation is for over plating in the future. The solar panels do come with the boat I believe. (we are still waiting for that to be confirmed).
So a lot less than you said Rob which is putting me off a bit as replating is pretty expensive. I thought it was a private sale but turns out its a broker,and also listed on Apollo Duck so looks genuine.. have to mull it over,its such a lovely boat and ticks all the boxes layout wise...but have to be careful not to let heart rule head!!
Thanks again all xx
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Post by robmac on Oct 27, 2015 20:22:39 GMT
Some boats were built with 6mm baseplates Anne, which many regard as adequate. But if the survey even mentions future replating, I would steer clear or get expert advice.
Good luck, you are buying at the right time.
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Post by Firefox on Oct 27, 2015 20:32:08 GMT
I had assumed it was a trade seller from the name ... crchandlery = Cow Roast Chandlery www.yell.com/biz/cowroast-chandlery-and-leisure-tring-7395579/I don't know much about narrow boats, but I do know metal plate rusts away in water, so it is a depreciating asset. There was someone on another wild camping forum who said boats were bottomless pits to spend money on.
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Post by lotusanne on Oct 27, 2015 21:04:15 GMT
Yeah think will leave it then , I had the impression it was in really good nick with no advisories so to suddenly hear plating needed soon is a bit different! Back to the search then , appreciate the advice xx
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Post by robmac on Oct 27, 2015 21:36:05 GMT
I had assumed it was a trade seller from the name ... crchandlery = Cow Roast Chandlery www.yell.com/biz/cowroast-chandlery-and-leisure-tring-7395579/I don't know much about narrow boats, but I do know metal plate rusts away in water, so it is a depreciating asset. There was someone on another wild camping forum who said boats were bottomless pits to spend money on. You also get cathodic erosion, so there is a need for sacrificial anodes wired to the different metalic components under the water. So any boats you look at Anne, check the state of the anodes.
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Post by kangooroo on Oct 27, 2015 21:41:59 GMT
Yeah think will leave it then , I had the impression it was in really good nick with no advisories so to suddenly hear plating needed soon is a bit different! Back to the search then , appreciate the advice xx Didn't it state plating needed in the future rather than soon? Remember, a surveyor has to include every observation regardless of how important, urgent or otherwise just as a car report would report on all wear and tear, tyre treads etc. You could always contact the surveyor and talk it over with him.
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 27, 2015 22:08:29 GMT
Looks a nice boat that Ann. Shame it might need plating later. Perhaps I could bring you to the attention of an old duff back axle for sale. Its not fit for purpose but could be cut up for plating. Needs picking up so no transport charges. Will settle for a couple of hundred quid . Hope you sort yourself a boat out soon Ann. I have holidayed on a narrow boat and I must say it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had. I preferred the canals much more than the Broads which I have also done. When you get one I will have to keep my eye on the shipping forecasts. .... Tom ....
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Post by lotusanne on Oct 28, 2015 8:09:36 GMT
Haha Tom! Thanks for axle offer !! hope you get van sorted in end sounds like a right nightmare. Karen I know what you are saying but as replating Costa thousands I would hope to get a sound boat and look after it - keep it blacked , good sacrificial anodes etc and avoid the massive cost - but maybe having a word with surveyors would be good idea though wonder if they would've allowed to discuss with non owner? I will ask that today . Apart from that concern boat lay out is great and nice big stern will be able to lie in bed and let Mia out what a luxury!! She is an ideal boat dog as she is very calm she would love it!
Rob you know a lot about canal boats , have you ever had one? Have not met anyone else who knew that delightful term "sacrificial anodes"!! Have had to llrearn quite a few new words actually ! If there are any updates will post on here but think o mostly put off by plating. Xx
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Post by robmac on Oct 28, 2015 8:39:02 GMT
I've never had a steel one Anne, but since I was a kid, I've always been boat mad and spent all of my money on boating magazines. I learned about cathodic erosion in steel, rot in wood and osmosis in fibreglass. When I bit the bullet and bought my first boat, I decided that osmosis would be the easiest and cheapest to deal with, and so I have bought fibreglass boats ever since.
If I was going for a liveaboard though, I would definitely go for a steel boat.
Have you thought about a brand new lined sailaway? If you got one from a decent builder, you needn't worry about the hull and engine, just fit it out as you go.
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Post by robmac on Oct 28, 2015 8:51:48 GMT
Could I ask where you are planning to keep it Anne. Some waterways allow wider beams than the standard 6ft 10ins. A wider beam, say 10ft would allow you a shorter boat with the same living space, and therefore cheaper moorings and license.
If you plan on touring the system however, a narrow beam would be best, but you will need a gold license.No doubt you have researched all of this, but just posting in case you've missed anything.
By the way, a 10ft beam boat gives you the same feel as a small cottage, we hired one once in Ireland, the difference between that and the narrow beam is amazing.
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Post by Is it spring yet, dormouse? on Oct 28, 2015 10:08:16 GMT
May I suggest something for your sacrificial anodes?
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 10:13:54 GMT
I don't think you can cruise everywhere with the fatter one Rob. If I remember right the one we had was the narrow boat and was 69' long. Some locks there was hardly and inch to spare each side. If its going to be just mored up for living that would be the best bet though. Ann Mia will love that life. At the time of our cruise we had Jack our old boarder collie. He loved both the broads and the canals. The broads he could get on and off OK, but the canal boat I had to carry him up the rear stairs because his back legs were starting to give up. He used to love sitting on the front and the stern barking at other dogs that passed in other boats and along the tow paths. Have a look at a couple of pic's from our holiday. .... Tom .... Llangollen viaduct, I don't think you could get a 10' wide one over this either. image post
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 10:16:23 GMT
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 10:20:29 GMT
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 10:22:57 GMT
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 10:26:10 GMT
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 10:29:26 GMT
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 10:31:22 GMT
Going through double locks in the center of Manchester while doing the Cheshire ring. image hosting 15mb
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Post by robmac on Oct 28, 2015 10:36:16 GMT
A lot of the Midland canals and some others had their locks built at 7 feet Tom, which is why boats were built at 6ft 10. But there are canals with wider locks. Also rivers, my local river has a maximum beam which I think is set at 11ft,
The Llangollen is beautiful Tom, another place I want to go with the canoe. That aquaduct at Pontcysyllte is a bit leary though, think I'll stay on the towpath side!
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Post by Firefox on Oct 28, 2015 14:54:57 GMT
It's amazing how many members are into boats!
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Post by billieblue on Oct 28, 2015 18:58:45 GMT
Suppose it's another way of getting away from the rat race and being closer to the natural world, which is what many of us love!
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Post by lotusanne on Oct 28, 2015 20:27:56 GMT
Great pics Tom thanks for posting! Rob - (my new boat expert pal!!!) thanks for all the useful info and suggestions. yes thought about getting a sail away but think it would be over budget ,we cant really stretch to much more than £25 so think need to get older one that has been looked after and already/still got most of its bits !Plus will need to move onto it straight away , let part of house and still work full time so needs to be liveable really. Would love a wide beam but not seen any going cheap, yes agree they have a completely different feel to them than the looooong boats, but also as you and Tom said, you are restricted to where you can get, also want one under 60 feet for same reason. We plan to tour the waterways extensively on retirement, so don't want to be restricted by size. Round here it is particularly bad, the calder navigation is max length 60 ft and that's going in diagonally! Vern & Carol - yes pretty much everyone says the same thing - they love the peace and quiet of being away from the roads and traffic noise, next best thing to camping out permanently. Will still keep camper van of course, not that I can drive mine at the moment!! Have to be chauffeured everywhere by Martin - which is nice but guilt inducing! Marie - if ever I get itchy anodes i'll be bear your advice in mind!!
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Post by stonedaddy on Oct 28, 2015 21:48:24 GMT
Ann you can still sail the Calder in a boat over 60 foot long if you go in sideways, its only six foot ten wide so loads of room . .... Tom ....
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Post by lotusanne on Oct 28, 2015 22:11:45 GMT
Ann you can still sail the Calder in a boat over 60 foot long if you go in sideways, its only six foot ten wide so loads of room . .... Tom .... hi Tom do you mean in the locks?
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