Tugs

[Ricco1]

I'd love to buy a tug! I like the look of them, I can sit and fish off the front deck and store my motorbike there. But not everyone fishes and/ or owns a motorbike.

 

But when I look at advertised tugs, they seem expensive, compared to 'normal' narrowboats of similar age/ length/ condition. A tug seems to be a narrowboat with less metal, less fitting out.

 

So, why are tugs more expensive? Is it because they are relatively rare and perhaps there are lots of irrational people like me around?

 

Any thoughts anyone?

[MtB]

 

So, why are tugs more expensive? Is it because they are relatively rare and perhaps there are lots of irrational people like me around?

 

Any thoughts anyone?

 

I don't think they are.

 

What you don't get though is production-line, cheap-as-chips, all expenses spared tugs like you get cruisers and ordinary trads. This means virtually all tugs are bespoke and made up to a standard rather than down to a price point. If you compare crusiers and trads built to an eqivalent standard I don't think you'll find much difference.

 

MtB

[onionbargee]

they're not tugs, they're tug style cruising boats.

[Mike Tee]

There are not that many of them around, so basing it on supply and demand, there is less supply for the demand out there.

[DHutch]

they're not tugs, they're tug style cruising boats.

This I think is a very valid point...!

But yes, I think if you where to compare the price of a 'tug style' narrowboat to a more 'conventionally cabined' but similarly aged narrowboat of the same or similar builder the prices would be similar. But that most 'tug style' boat are bespoke and built to a high level, as well as often less common, less avilable and less old, which while drive the cost up higher than a mid-spec batch produced clone craft or ex-hire boat.

 

 

Daniel

[Neil2]

A guy I know had a hell of a job selling his, almost no interest mainly because they don't appeal to (most) women.

 

A friend of ours had a similar problem trying to sell a lovely classic motor sailer. she said when couples came to look at it the body language of the wife spoke volumes...

 

So I think most "tugs" are overpriced. I agree though, there's something about a boat with a long foredeck that makes it look just right.

[MtB]

they're not tugs, they're tug style cruising boats.

This is a good point, but there is another dimension to this too. Ordinary modern cruisers and trads generally have boring and reliable modern car-derived engines. Proper 'tug style' boats tend to have proper engine rooms containing interesting vintage engines foe which the right buyer will pay a shedload of money. Not many 50 year old marinised Mitsubishis would fetch £10k on it's own like a good Gardner, Kelvin or Russel Newbery (as found in many tug-styles) would.

 

MtB

[madcat]

I like tugs but would prefer a hold to a tug deck, I'm quite happy to admire other people's though and sit in comfort on the tug deck drinking tea.

[steven wilkinson]

I'd like a tug-style boat one day too! I will be using some of my summer holidays to draw it! Someone mentioned that women don't like them, and I can confirm that a porthole-only arrangement is a major issue for Mrs W! My drawings will include light from the roof too!

 

(No thumping vintage engine for me though)

[MtB]

I'd like a tug-style boat one day too! I will be using some of my summer holidays to draw it! Someone mentioned that women don't like them, and I can confirm that a porthole-only arrangement is a major issue for Mrs W! My drawings will include light from the roof too!

 

(No thumping vintage engine for me though)

 

Roof lights work brilliantly for adding light to the interior, and maintaining privacy. Or get a new, tug-friendly Mrs W... D

[steven wilkinson]

Or get a new, tug-friendly Mrs W... D

Not an option. She's paying!

[Mike Tee]

Roof lights work brilliantly for adding light to the interior, and maintaining privacy.

Providing you don't forget to put the cover on it - or wake up at 4:00'ish in the morning!

[MtB]

Not an option. She's paying!

Painted yerself into a corner there, I reckon!

 

 

MtB

[alan_fincher]

So I think most "tugs" are overpriced.

 

Aren't most things really worth what you can sell them for?

 

If there are a relatively smaller number of "tugs" on the market, but it is your perception that they reach higher prices to similarly specced "non tug" boats, then I would suggest it is because although they are a specialist taste, there is a small core of people enthusiastic for them that keeps the prices buoyant.

[RLWP]

{snip} modern car-derived engines. {snip}

 

MtB

 

In the interests of fun and devilment, name three

 

Richard

[MtB]

In the interests of fun and devilment, name three

 

Richard

Mister Bishi, Mrs Bishi and BMC.

 

But I bet there's more!

 

 

MtB

[RLWP]

The first two are from industrial equipment, and the last from a van.

 

Try again

 

Richard

[MtB]

The first two are from industrial equipment, and the last from a van.

 

Try again

 

Richard

I give up. You nominate three!

 

More G&T....

 

MtB

P.S. does the governor on Reg need to be maintained in any way? He stops when ticking over sometimes now before fully hot, and speed can vary up and down over about a two minute cycle without changing the throttle setting too.

[tree]

A guy I know had a hell of a job selling his, almost no interest mainly because they don't appeal to (most) women.

 

A friend of ours had a similar problem trying to sell a lovely classic motor sailer. she said when couples came to look at it the body language of the wife spoke volumes...

 

So I think most "tugs" are overpriced. I agree though, there's something about a boat with a long foredeck that makes it look just right.

I have always loved 'tugs' but always ended up with 'trads' and now i have a 'cruiser-stern', but once i retire ( or win the lottery lol) then i will trade in what ever boat i have , for a 'tug' so that i can keep my dream bike on it .. a bsa goldstar 500 hopefully by then the prices will be affordable

[Ally]

Ahem....female here who specifically wanted, & got, an all ports tug style with a 'proper' engine!

[MtB]

Ahem....female here who specifically wanted, & got, an all ports tug style with a 'proper' engine!

A rare and precious thing...

 

 

MtB

[Neil2]

Aren't most things really worth what you can sell them for?

 

If there are a relatively smaller number of "tugs" on the market, but it is your perception that they reach higher prices to similarly specced "non tug" boats, then I would suggest it is because although they are a specialist taste, there is a small core of people enthusiastic for them that keeps the prices buoyant.

It's my perception that tug owners and brokers are unrealistic about the market for these boats when they decide on the asking price.

 

But then I'm from Yorkshire so to me everything is overpriced.

[RLWP]

I give up. You nominate three!

 

P.S. does the governor on Reg need to be maintained in any way? He stops when ticking over sometimes now before fully hot, and speed can vary up and down over about a two minute cycle without changing the throttle setting too.

 

I can barely think of one!

 

It would be worth pop testing the injectors and checking the pump calibration first. Otherwise on the governor, it's maintain the oil level - that's it. IIRC, the level will increase over time because the oil seal on the cam box is shot

 

Richard

[Ray T]

Just having a mosey round AD and there are some lovely Tugs and Tug style boats there at the moment, prices ranging from £21k for a lovely 40 footer to what ever you want to pay.

 

http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/advert.phtml?id=315710

 

http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/listings.phtml?cid=75

 

Examples with modern engines and vintage ones.

[LEO]

It's my perception that tug owners and brokers are unrealistic about the market for these boats when they decide on the asking price.

 

But then I'm from Yorkshire so to me everything is overpriced.

 

Hi,

 

I bought a Tug Style Nb from a vendor who lives in Yorkshire, great bloke, great boat, great engine, I was happy to pay for a well made product and ship it down south.

 

I sold a boat to a bloke from Yorkshire, great bloke, great boat BMC 1.5 - he took it up to Yorkshire.

 

Not sure who got the best deal, but I got what I had been wanting to purchase for about 5 years - money ain't everything, life's too short.

 

Tug Style boats - brilliant, great access, lots of storage and good security.

 

Leo.