Well, I did heed all advice and I bought a small Dawncraft cruiser. I got her cheap and I am going to try living on her for the summer and see how it goes. The boat is currently in Sheffield. I am getting quotes to get it lifted and trucked to Birmingham. I want to paint it before it goes back in the water...where can one do that over a weekend? Would you recommend me transporting it to Alvechurch, painting it and then having it put back in the water? Any other sites where I can do that? Apologies in advance if I am not using boaty technical terms!