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Post by robmcd on Jan 3, 2018 0:11:24 GMT
I have been looking for a Narrowboat as a live aboard for some time now and have come across this one for sale on Ebay. Could you have a look please and give me your thoughts on it, also whats it worth, if the hull needs welding on the pitting what will I pay (roughly) Lastly does anyone fancy coming to look at it with me? I live in Birmingham and can pick you up if your near by or on the way as it's in Liverpool. I am new to this and need someone who knows what there looking at. Ebay advert link. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/55-ft-Narrowboat/122892353090?hash=item1c9cf47e42:g:M2sAAOSw-xVaR5t3Thanks Rob
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Post by kris on Jan 3, 2018 0:22:16 GMT
I was looking at this earlier thinking it was a good deal. But it does obviously depend on its actual condition. What I would say is act quickly because it will go if it's any good.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 0:30:40 GMT
We hired that boat on our first ever narrowboat holiday many years ago. She was a snaygill boats hire boat then and obviously since repainted. Last time we saw her she was looking a bit neglected moored outside snaygill boats yard so she has been spruced up since then. No idea if it's a good buy but happy memories evoked here. Rosemary in October 2003 (Not that it helps much)
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Post by kris on Jan 3, 2018 0:33:32 GMT
Very difficult to say how much it would cost to deal with the pitting as the survey doesn't make it clear how exstensive it is. So it would be a matter of getting it out of the water stripping the blacking dealing with any pitting and then re-blacking. So at least the cost of the docking and blacking plus the cost of a welder for how many days it takes.
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Post by Delta9 on Jan 3, 2018 0:43:51 GMT
That survey is next to useless. It is also dated in the future and I would say that there is a good chance that the person who wrote it is not a qualified surveyor. I don't see the name of the surveyor mentioned? They don't appear to have measured the thickness of the steel or the depth of the pits that they found.
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Post by kris on Jan 3, 2018 0:58:54 GMT
I agree with delta, they didn't even start the engine.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 1:10:52 GMT
Boat surveys are worthless anyway.
The list of exclusions they wont accept responsibility for is often quite extensive.
At the most pay for somebody to check the hull, beyond that don't waste your money.
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Post by robmcd on Jan 3, 2018 4:01:19 GMT
I have messaged them about the hull and some other questions & will wait for a reply to see what they say, thanks for the reply's so far folks
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 8:27:26 GMT
While the value of the surveys may have some doubt, one thing that sticks out is the mention of pitting and previous overplating repairs along with the comment about thick layer of blacking preventing proper investigation (my guess is it had been lashed on to hide the grot and whoever inspected it told not to scrape it off!) It sets my Spidey senses going....
Having overplated an ex hire H&L narrowboat due to severe pitting along the waterline I'd be wary, like rusty old cars remedial work on rusty hard worked boats will be needed in the future - commonly around the counter and weed hatch area.
Something else to look for is rotten rear deck steelwork, something cruiser sterns often suffer from.
To me it sounds like a teabag, and with plenty of choice I'd not leap in without a decent look at it.
The best survey is out of the water with a chipping hammer...
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Post by JohnV on Jan 3, 2018 9:41:22 GMT
As per Gazza above ................... if there is extensive pitting visible even through a thick layer of blacking, you can bet your bottom dollar that there is a heck of a lot more there waiting to be found.
One of the problems with deep pits (and the 4mm quoted is a deep pit) is that if you are going to spot weld them you need to get the paint and crap out of the hole. If there is only a few then mechanical means can be used, but if it is extensive them grit blasting would probably be required, otherwise the labour costs will soar.
It is often both more secure and cheaper to overplate providing the area is restricted (i.e. a strip along the waterline)
Unfortunately the survey is rather unclear where pitting has been found whether on the footings or the base plate (4mm in a 10mm plate is not good but 4mm in a 6mm plate is really dodgy)
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Post by peterboat on Jan 3, 2018 9:59:49 GMT
My first boat was an ex share boat it had only ever been blacked down to the waterline!!! so when it was pulled out it was a bit rusty luckily it had never had shore power and spent most of its rime in the river Avon so no deep pitting. I have to say though it was a good introduction to boating and I enjoyed the time I had him
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jan 3, 2018 10:16:27 GMT
If it's cheap enough, just buy it, ignore the pitting, put a couple of automatic bilge pumps in the cabin bilge wired to an alarm and crack on. It'll probably still be afloat long after you are pushing up the daisies.
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Post by Telemachus on Jan 3, 2018 10:31:35 GMT
Personally I wouldn’t contemplate living aboard a narrowboat that didn’t have a solid fuel stove or diesel stove. The trouble with eberspachers is that they aren’t that reliable, they can be noisy and they do use quite a bit of electrical power when running. Fine for occasional heat, not good for permanent heat in winter.
Of course a stove can be retrofitted, but you need the internal space. And that brings me to the next point which is that the layout is likely optimised for sleeping 6 people, rather than 1 or 2 living in comfort. Of course layouts can be changed, but it’s all work.
On the plus side, at least the seller is up front about the pitting so hopefully he is reasonably honest.
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Post by Mr Stabby on Jan 3, 2018 10:40:33 GMT
Personally I wouldn’t contemplate living aboard a narrowboat that didn’t have a solid fuel stove or diesel stove. The trouble with eberspachers is that they aren’t that reliable, they can be noisy and they do use quite a bit of electrical power when running. Fine for occasional heat, not good for permanent heat in winter. Insulation probably won't be very good either.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2018 11:01:09 GMT
If it's cheap enough, just buy it, ignore the pitting, put a couple of automatic bilge pumps in the cabin bilge wired to an alarm and crack on. It'll probably still be afloat long after you are pushing up the daisies. The only trouble with that is, as John points out, if the 4mm deep pitting is in the 6mm hull side plating at the waterline (which is highly likely tbh) there is not an awful lot of steel between you and a very damp pair of boots. I personally don't think this particular boat has a great deal going for it. The interior looks tired, it's a naff layout (OK for hiring to a family but not ideal as a liveaboard. Big questions over the state of the steel work above and below water - the superstructure is rusty around a window which usually means a leaky window and a pain in the arse to put right been there done that on the H&L too ) You've got to really fall in love with this one!
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