FabSwingers.com mobile

Join us FREE, we're FREE to use

Web's largest swingers site since 2006.

Already registered?
Login here

Back to forum list
Back to The Lounge

Buying Canal Boat any advice?

Jump to newest
 

By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Selling house and business to buy canal boat and hopefully fuck around the uk leisurely

(If the Covid ever stops)

Please may anyone advise of other canal boat owners? Advice? Singles? Etc?

Very excited

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Have good insulation, get a log burner and know a bit about engines

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Check for leaks

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Check when it last got taken out of the water for the hull to be repainted. I believe it is about every 10 years it needs doing. Also research costs for mooring in various places. X

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *inaTitzTV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

I've read in Private Eye about problems concerning continuous cruising regulations and a friend who had one seemed to have constant problems. Nothing massively major, but just a drip drop of little issues.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ob Carpe DiemMan
over a year ago

Torquay

Read narrow dog to Carcassonne, then sail it to Carcassonne moor it up there and enjoy life in the sun and away from here.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Buy a Windlass then buy another one.

Enjoy

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ust RachelTV/TS
over a year ago

Horsham

Get a survey done on the boat, then ask for a short trip in it.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Check when it last got taken out of the water for the hull to be repainted. I believe it is about every 10 years it needs doing. Also research costs for mooring in various places. X"

Every 3 or 4 years.more if epoxy paint.

Hire a boat , in bad weather and see if you still enjoy it.

In fact just hire a (private) boat for 6 months and see if you still like it.

Constant cruising is alot more time consuming than living in a modern house. Good luck

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Check that you have some canal near.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Get a survey done on the boat, then ask for a short trip in it."

Or you can take it for a long trip, and if you still like it, then consider paying £500 for a dry dock and survey...

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ichaelsmyMan
over a year ago

douglas

look up on the video sharing website

foxes afloat

they are a couple of guys with a lot of information to share on what to do and how to do it.

they are funny as well

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ealthy_and_HungMan
over a year ago

Princes Risborough, Luasanne, Alderney

get it out of the water. dry dock is usually cheaper than a crane. if it's a crane make sure the price is for both ways i.e. out and back in again. there usually will be yard fees while it's out. get a full pre-purchase survey including the hull and engine. if it's good to go then do the deal and get it blacked before it's re-launched.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There’s a guy who has a website “living on a Narrowboat” who does discovery days where he goes through the pros and cons of owning a narrow boat ... worth looking at

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Boat survey, specifically engine and habitation systems inspection and report. When was it last blacked? Safety certificate. water trial of at least 30mins, preferably more, so the engine gets warm. Check the bilges before and after to check for water ingress.

Pick your boat to suit the waterways you expect to use, ie suitable beam.

Ready installed solar panels is good unless you will always be on a fully serviced mooring, ie water and power.

Pay serious attention to the heads, condition and cleanliness.

Insurance, river licence and mooring fees, all governed by the length/beam.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you can look up George Clark’s amazing space as they have featured many canal boats on there.

Good luck and good sailing.

T

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ebjonnsonMan
over a year ago

Maldon


"Have good insulation, get a log burner and know a bit about engines "

Great advice. Also, if what I smell in the air as I cycle the Lea / Lee ? River & canal from Ware to Stratford is anything to go by, get a good supply of ‘the Devils lettuce’.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Check out CruisingTheCut on yootoob..

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *olgateMan
over a year ago

on the road to nowhere in particular

Make sure it floats

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ools and the brainCouple
over a year ago

couple, us we him her.

Look out for pirates.

Learn to swim.

And buy hard hat.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ichaelsmyMan
over a year ago

douglas


"Check out CruisingTheCut on yootoob.. "

nah didnt like the pompus bloke on that, not the most informative or interesting person

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *orthern StarsCouple
over a year ago

Durham

Make sure it has no holes in

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By * Sophie xTV/TS
over a year ago

Derby

Ask before you moor up in my garden!

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ookMan
over a year ago

london

Fish fingers and a little captains hat. Parrot optional me hearty.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By * Sophie xTV/TS
over a year ago

Derby


"Fish fingers and a little captains hat. Parrot optional me hearty. "

Some really do wear a captions hat....hilarious when they go by on a plastic pig (pleasure cruiser on the canal)

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It depends if you want to take it out and where you want to go, because the standard lock size of 70ft isn't applicable everywhere and if it's a wide beam there's very few locks you're going through. So like many good posts about mooring locations and hull conditions from others you need to look at a few to get a feel and decide on what you want, it's expensive game when you consider the slipway every 2 years to 'black' it, fuel(heating and propulsio), elec and mooring fees

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By * Sophie xTV/TS
over a year ago

Derby


"Fish fingers and a little captains hat. Parrot optional me hearty.

Some really do wear a captions hat....hilarious when they go by on a plastic pig (pleasure cruiser on the canal) "

Captains hat!!! My fingers are still cold

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *olly_chromaticTV/TS
over a year ago

Stockport

Actually, do look out for pirates. A mate of mine was living on one, went away for the weekend, when he came back - no boat. Boat gone, all his belongings gone. Never found any trace of it.

Suspected that someone had seen him leave, towed it under cover of darkness, quick paint job a few miles away, vanished without trace.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I went to crick canal boat show a couple of years ago. I learned so much there. It’s online this year 24-28 February.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *layfullsamMan
over a year ago

Solihull

Don't forget to leave a teapot on the roof of your boat.

Don't travel off the coast of Somalia

Be young, be foolish, but be happy

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You probably already have done but renting one for a week would seem sensible to make sure you like it. If you are going to be alone I would think going through locks could be difficult. I rented one a few years ago with my two sons.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Your property will go up in value ... your boat wont .. stick to bricks n mortar n think about the financial end when you are to retire ..

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

Sorry was busy working for a few weeks but didn’t realise how may of you gave advice

Thank you

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

My sister is in the process of buying one now. Just waiting on the survey. No advice to give. Just thought I'd share that lol.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 
 

By *luttTV/TS
over a year ago

Duns


"Ask before you moor up in my garden!"

Is that a euphemism?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
Post new Message to Thread
back to top