John J

Thanks very much everyone, greatly appreciated! I will give Marcus a call. John

Can you recommend anyone on the East end of the K&A who may be able to do some paid work on my boat for me? the work includes fitting a few 12v sockets, a car radio, a smart gauge, a bilge pump.. and probably a few other bits an pieces... Do you know anyone? Thanks in advance

Is single handing the Kennet possible for a newbie? I've been boating for about a week now, I've been fine going up the Thames on my own as I've managed to find places to stop that are out of the stream an the lock landings weren't too difficult to get into.. I now need to travel up the kennet. From reading the navigation notes in my Nicholson guide im a bit concerned i wont be able to manage it on my own. The navigation notes say: 'Fobney lock - care should be taken when using the landing stage below the lock as a strong weir stream flows at right angles' and also says 'To operate county lock 106 it is advisable to first moor under the inner distribution road bridge, on the east side, to drop off crew to set the lock. once prepared, power into the lock to avoid being swept to the side away from the lock entrance' So my questions are... does anyone know if its possible to just power strait into the lock landings to moor out of the stream? or is the only place to moor before the locks in the flow of the river? is single handing the kenett much more difficult than the thames? Thanks a million in advance! John

Thanks very much for your suggestions, I will give these a try. John

Hi, can anyone recommend a surveyor to do a full survey on a boat near Guildford, ideally someone who won't mind me being there when they do the survey, also if anyone has any suggestions of places to get it out of the water? Many thanks in advance, John

Thanks for your help, I'm going to walk away, and continue the search..

It was built by Calcutt boats in 1984 a survey from late 2012 shows that the base plate was between 6mm and 5.3mm with pitting up to 1mm the sides were from 5mm to 3.7mm with 2mm pitting on the port side, (the port side was overplated) the survey also highlighted a few other areas that needed some work, these were completed and signed off by the surveyor.. the boat was also blacked and a galvanic isolator fitted.. I would of course get my own survey done , but I have a few questions/concerns if any of you more experienced members would be kind enough to help.. 1-Is it going to sink?! 2-Since it was blacked and a galvanic isolator fitted, would I be right in thinking the steel is unlikely to have got much thinner since late 2012? 3-Would you buy a boat/invest in a survey for a boat with these hull thickness readings? 4-at what point is steel too thin? - I've read somewhere that some insurers will not insure anything bellow 4mm, so with a base plate around 5.3 with 1mm pitting am I going to be inheriting a large overplating job in the future? Thank you for your help!! Ps. If anyone was able to take a closer look at the survey and details of the boat I would be really grateful for your thoughts.. Thanks!

Thank you for your recommendations I will give them a call later this week, Cheers, John

Can anyone recommend a surveyor that covers the Milton Keynes area? Im looking for someone that wont mind me being there when they do the survey, and ideally is available fairly soon.. Im also looking for a dry dock.. so far I have found Baxter boat services, at Kingfisher Marina in Yardley Gobian, Willow bridge marina have got a crane.. or there's Cowroast marina where there is a slipway... anyone had any experience with any of these? or got any other surgestions? Thanks for your help!

Thanks for all the replys everyone, and thanks for taking the time to post hoondub. Thats answered alot of questions! Ill let you all know how I get on..

Thanks for all the replys everyone! yes the stove does look dangerous, the bit of iron/concrete? at the back of the stove on the inside is also cracked and broken so the whole thing needs some attention.. there are not many sockets, if i remember correctly there are a couple more near the bow doors, hard to see in the pics.. could defiantly do with a few more.. .. do you not think theres enough ways to get hot water then? I've been assuming that the webasto would heat the water aswell as the engine and immersion.. or would the webasto only heat the radiators? Thanks great advice! if I do sign anything will make sure its subject to a satisfactory survey, and will make sure its clear what that is..! Thanks Celestine, thats interesting Like many of the boats at Whilton seem to be! Anyone else fancy having a stab at valuing the boat?

Hi, I've been to look at this boat: https://www.whiltonmarina.co.uk/used-narrowboats/details/3608.aspx I have looked at lots of boats, but have never bought one before. I like the layout and fit out of this boat and I think it ticks most of the boxes for what I am looking for in a liveaboard boat, ccing most of the time.. Im considering making an offer subject to survey for the boat, would anyone be able to check out the link to the advert, and share any general opinions or advice they have please? also does anyone have any advice for dealing with Whilton? should I be asking for any specific information, or asking to see any particular paperwork before I make an offer? also what would you value the boat at? (I know its difficult without seeing the boat in the flesh,) im just looking for some second opinions to make sure i'm not way off the mark.. and lastly, I know its been at Whilton since at least April, and from a quick google search I think it may have been for sale privately on ebay and apollo duck. before then as well. is there any way of checking if its been surveyed before and rejected? or do you just have to trust the people at Whilton? Thank you in advance for any info you can share!

Thanks for your replys. I decided to walk away in the end, as it was alot better in the pictures than in real life, and would have needed quite a bit of work.. the search continues..!

Thanks everyone for the helpful replys! I am going to have another look at it with the seller there.. Im still thinking whether to make an offer.. Cheers Alan, I will make toilet roll replenishment a condition of any offer I make.. I agree about the enforceability of a 6 month warranty.. Thanks Rob, I will defiantly see everything running, I agree it is odd that the solar only charges the starter.. I imagine its not too bigger job to wire it to charge the domestics as well? I would possibly add another panel anyway.. will defiantly get survey! Thanks David, I think its a typo error as he got it right in the apollo duck advert for the boat.. Hi Richard, yes he is a dealer, mostly sells yachts i think. Ive looked at quite alot of boats, not quite so many in this price range, I agree it is overpriced. Thank you for the advice Junior Thanks Ray, Alan, and Ditch Crawler, I'll take a closer look at this when I see the boat again.. its got a bss untill 2018 and the man selling it is a bss examiner and tells me everything is compliant.. but he would say that..!

Hi, first off thank you all for the wealth of information on the forum. I have been reading as much as I can over the past few months, and the knowledge I have gained has been invaluable! Thanks! I have been to look at this boat http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Canal-Narrow-Boats-for-sale/lees-narrowboats-50-cruiser-stern/98300?redirm=1#MxW7gcrVuyeIZo64.97 and I am considering going to see it a second time and possibly making an offer subject to survey. To my untrained eye it is generally in ok condition, there are a few cosmetic things I would need to do as I am planning to live aboard. I viewed it on my own when everything was disconnected so I have not seen everything working, but I have been told everything works,and I would obviously ask to see everything working on a second viewing.. I would be very grateful if anyone would be able to have a look at the advert and share any thoughts or opinions they have about the boat, and its suitability for living aboard, probably continually cruising for much of the time. I know there is only so much you can tell without actually seeing it, but if there is anything you think I should be looking out for, or questions I should be asking the seller? any and all advice gratefully received! Thanks in advance, John