Not got a boat, yet

[MtB]

On 21/05/2017 at 13:15, LadyG said:

I don't disagree with your last point, but no point inviewing six unsuitable boats, four days in the Midlands would cost about £300 to £400, its just a waste of money if they are not suitable,, and stressfull.

I pretty much know what a liveaboard is now, and what is a nice interior, what is maintained and what is not, but each boat needs research, which can be done from home.

 

You are rather missing my point. You won't actually get to know what is a suitable boat and what is unsuitable until you have lived on one for a year at least. Your first boat WILL be a mistake no matter how much 'research' you do in advance. But getting out there and looking at a dozen or so boats will develop your thinking and perception of what you want no end.

I can pretty much guarantee your specification for the perfect liveaboard will change/develop a little with every boat you view. Viewing ANY boat is never a  waste of time. The boat I now own and love is miles away from the specification I'd previously prepared and I only viewed it out of idle curiosity because I was in the area looking at the perfect boat, which simply wasn't. 

Get off your PC and go and LOOK at lots of boats. Whilton is a good place to start. 100 boats for sale and to look at, all in the same place. It's a wonderful boat-buying university. 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

5 minutes ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

Whilton is a good place to start. 100 boats for sale and to look at, all in the same place. It's a wonderful boat-buying  viewing university. 

I have corrected that for you.

You DON'T buy a boat from Whilton, you just 'window shop' at Whilton, when you know what you want you go elsewhere to buy one.

[Tony Brooks]

I might miss a bargain but that ad would make em run a mile. Comments about a"cutting switch" and "safe place for gas bottles" suggest to me the vendor is looking for a very inexperienced sucker. Regrettably the way LadyG seems to be going she could very well end up one. Computers are no substitute for an awful lot of live visits.

[Richard10002]

7 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

I have corrected that for you.

You DON'T buy a boat from Whilton, you just 'window shop' at Whilton, when you know what you want you go elsewhere to buy one.

No reason not to buy from them if they have a boat you want.... but you need to make sure it's on your terms and not theirs.

[LadyG]

3 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

I think you would be best off booking a flight down to brum, hiring a car and booking yourself into a B&B in Rugby for three or four days. This is the centre of the boat sales universe and you'll be able to view dozens of boats for sale all within about a 40 mile radius. Once you've done this you'll have a far better perspective on what you want.

 

Edit to add: And boats are never the same in the flesh as they look in photos. You really DO have to visit. 

I don't disagree with your last point, but no point in viewing six unsuitable boats, four days in the Midlands would cost about £300 to £400, its just a waste of money if they are not suitable,, and stressfull.

I pretty much know what a liveaboard is now, and what is a nice interior, what is maintained and what is not, but each boat needs research, which can be done from home. No point in doing the basic research after viewing.

I'm not missing your point, I just don't agree

Moving on ............

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192168545519?euid=ad92915308b34bd086d1b5c80514bfa3&bu=43105217050&cp=1&sojTags=bu=bu

When I find one boat I want to view, I will try to fit others in, that should keep MrBoilerman happy.............

There are a few boats which I would look at with a view to it being a trial, or first in line, but really, time is running out, it will most likely be once and for all time.

Edited May 21, 2017 by LadyG

[LadyG]

3 hours ago, Mike the Boilerman said:

 

I think you would be best off booking a flight down to brum, hiring a car and booking yourself into a B&B in Rugby for three or four days. This is the centre of the boat sales universe and you'll be able to view dozens of boats for sale all within about a 40 mile radius. Once you've done this you'll have a far better perspective on what you want.

 

Edit to add: And boats are never the same in the flesh as they look in photos. You really DO have to visit. 

I don't disagree with your last point, but no point inviewing six unsuitable boats, four days in the Midlands would cost about £300 to £400, its just a waste of money if they are not suitable,, and stressfull.

I pretty much know what a liveaboard is now, and what is a nice interior, what is maintained and what is not, but each boat needs research, which can be done from home.

[Tony Brooks]

Air cooled engine so will be noisy and no engine derived hot water. No mention or signs of an instant gas water heater (like a Morco) so must use the Eberspacher for hot water - no wonder its new, none of that type of heater will take kindly to just heating the hot water unless turned off as soon as it starts to cycle.

Depends upon which air cooled Lister it is but 30 hp under a cruiser deck?

Again no hull spec so could have a 6mm bottom plate, doubt its 10mm. No mention of a recent survey I could see so very much "let the buyer beware". I suspect it 10 grand over priced for what it is.

What adds do not say is as important as what they do.

Edited May 21, 2017 by Tony Brooks

[LadyG]

OK guys, chill, I have been posting on this thread for ten days, and have picked up lots of information, which is the whole idea. I am not going to rush out and buy something decrepit. The majority of modern boats are big cruisers, max beds, max profit. These are never going to be suitable, are they?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192168545519?euid=ad92915308b34bd086d1b5c80514bfa3&bu=43105217050&cp=1&sojTags=bu=bu

I've asked for details, and yes, I see it as overpriced, it seems they removed the SF due to dirt, but the fittings are availalbe. Unlikely I would  buy this one, due the the engine, indicates age of the boat, and they did not offer a survey, it should have been done before re fitting.

 

Edited May 21, 2017 by LadyG

[Alan de Enfield]

3 minutes ago, LadyG said:

I don't disagree with your last point, but no point inviewing six unsuitable boats, four days in the Midlands would cost about £300 to £400, its just a waste of money if they are not suitable,, and stressfull.

I pretty much know what a liveaboard is now, and what is a nice interior, what is maintained and what is not, but each boat needs research, which can be done from home.

From what other forumites are reporting - by the time you decide to go and see one (if it is any good) it has 'gone'.

Snooze and you lose.

 

Get a carrier bag full of cash (whatever your budget is), take a week off and cruise the Midlands - you WILL find a boat that is near enough what you think you want / need, and will last you the 1st year until you actually know what you NEED., rather than what you think you need from reading books, watching videos and talking with forumites here.

[LadyG]

26 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

From what other forumites are reporting - by the time you decide to go and see one (if it is any good) it has 'gone'.

Snooze and you lose.

 

Get a carrier bag full of cash (whatever your budget is), take a week off and cruise the Midlands - you WILL find a boat that is near enough what you think you want / need, and will last you the 1st year until you actually know what you NEED., rather than what you think you need from reading books, watching videos and talking with forumites here.

The market is probably overheating, it will calm down. I really am not going to put myself in a position where I am stuck with one boat I don't like, and desperate to sell, then I have to desperately find another one.

I don tlive in London, or Leeds, I don''t want to.

Edited May 21, 2017 by LadyG

[rusty69]

Just now, LadyG said:

The market is probably overheating, it will calm down.

Bit like the housing market?

[LadyG]

10 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Bit like the housing market?

I have no idea, you have to realise that I live in a zone which is in recession, not that Nicola will admit that, its called N/S divide.

Its obvious that spring is the time folks look to buy in to the leisure market, then after summer holidays they will be looking at the winter holiday brochuures instead.

I am doing my basic research at this moment, there is no need to panic, over the long term we are talking about assets which depreciate, not like bricks and mortar. 

In ten days, I have built up lots of information, and am able to discard rubbish, and to some greater or lesser extent I can see an overpriced boat. As I said before, I have to find a sutable boat, and then decide if it is too expensive.

Look here, I am in business, and things are the worse they have been since 2008, that is not just my experience, it is all over Scotland.

 

Edited May 21, 2017 by LadyG

[Alan de Enfield]

Just now, LadyG said:

The market is probably overheating, it will calm down.

Not in the near future.

Folks have never had it so good :

loans - low interest rates (almost nothing)

pensions available to spend how you like

savings earning nothing in the bank - spend them.

Brexit fears - buy now !!

Folks moving from Bricks & Mortar to boats due to housing costs in cities.

 

A whole host of reasons :- I forecast this increase about 3 years ago, and I forecast at least another 4-5 years of buyers outstripping sellers with steadily increasing prices.

 

We change / get another / additional boat roughly every 18 months, and, apart from one, we have made a profit on every boat bought / sold in the last 30 years.

Cash is king - and - don't mither the seller about having a survey & (historically) you could do some wonderful deals.

[rusty69]

8 minutes ago, LadyG said:

over the long term we are talking about assets which depreciate, not like bricks and mortar. 

In the past I've always considered boats to be depreciateing assets, but whilst more and more people are using them as homes, i think the prices, particularly those in good  condition are remaining stable, or even increasing. 

I think, as others have said, you will need a pile of cash waiting. 

I may be wrong.

[LadyG]

5 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

A whole host of reasons :- I forecast this increase about 3 years ago, and I forecast at least another 4-5 years of buyers outstripping sellers with steadily increasing prices.

 

We change / get another / additional boat roughly every 18 months, and, apart from one, we have made a profit on every boat bought / sold in the last 30 years.

Cash is king - and - don't mither the seller about having a survey & (historically) you could do some wonderful deals.

You could buy half a dozen boats, mothball them for a year, and cash in.

I suspect you have driven a hard bargain when buying your boats,and there are several reasons why you could have done this, having a big wad of cash, somewhere to live,  and loads of capital/assets. Perhaps you did it to upgrade each boat, but remember each boat costs 2K to 5K per annum, so its not all profit.

I am doing this to get out of Scotland, and to get in to a simpler lifestyle,  I have no intention of wheeling and dealing, its just not in my nature.

[rusty69]

2 minutes ago, LadyG said:

You could buy half a dozen boats, mothball them for a year, and cash in.

You could if you had somewhere to store them for little cost where they they wouldn't deteriorate 

Edited May 21, 2017 by rusty69

[rusty69]

4 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Perhaps you did it to upgrade each boat, but remember each boat costs 2K to 5K per annum, so its not all profit

It can do, but certainly doesn't have to. 

[LadyG]

4 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

It can do, but certainly doesn't have to. 

OK, well how do I get it below 2K?

My budget says that it will cost about the same as a small flat. ie about £4500 pa.

That is not more than three months in a marina

Edited May 21, 2017 by LadyG

[Alan de Enfield]

9 minutes ago, LadyG said:

but remember each boat costs 2K to 5K per annum

Why does it ?
There are 'waters' where you don't need a licence, where you don't need a BSSC, where you can pay a 'farmer' a bit of pocket money for a mooring - you could even try going to sea - you don't even need insurance.

You have said that you will CC - so how do you arrive at your costs ?

 

Boating can cost you however much you want it to cost you, don't get any preconceived ideas - options are available.

Edited May 21, 2017 by Alan de Enfield

[rusty69]

3 minutes ago, LadyG said:

OK, well how do I get it below 2K?

Buy a short boat, moor it in a cheap marina, use it somewhere that doesn't require a licence to name a few. 

Edited May 21, 2017 by rusty69

[WotEver]

1 hour ago, Athy said:

one has to sympathise with his "war droop", presumably the result of an abdominal wound received on the battlefield.

Indeed. I'd truly like to see images of the Mahgoney too. 

[LadyG]

11 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

Buy a short boat, moor it in a cheap marina, moor it somewhere that doesn't require a licence to name a few. 

Licence 880

Insurance 120

maintenance 1000

upgrades  300

coal 300

gas 100

wood 50

diesel 250

mooring 1000

internet 300

phone 200

TOTAL £4,500

and I might decide I can't cope with cc any more, and have to pay for C/Tax and marina fees ............. maybe an extra £2000

I have no intention of hiding in the cut from the  CRT, or the EA, the idea is to get out and about, enjoy my retirement.

Yes I may find a mooring at the end of a farmers field, but I don't intend to live in the middle of nowhere with no opportunity to socialise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 21, 2017 by LadyG

[rusty69]

4 minutes ago, LadyG said:

Licence 880

Insurance 120

maintenance 1000

upgrades  300

coal 300

gas 100

wood 50

diesel 250

mooring 1000

internet 300

phone 200

TOTAL £4,5007

and I might decide I can't cope with cc any more, and have to pay for C/Tax and marina fees ............. maybe an extra £2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of these are not boat costs but living costs. 300 quid for internet? Maintenance seems high, diesel seems low

Edited May 21, 2017 by rusty69

[LadyG]

22 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

You could if you had somewhere to store them for little cost where they they wouldn't deteriorate 

just find a farmer with a great big empty shed preferably next to a canal, or buy house with a big garden, and fill it with boats

[Edders]

25 minutes ago, rusty69 said:

In the past I've always considered boats to be depreciateing assets, but whilst more and more people are using them as homes, i think the prices, particularly those in good  condition are remaining stable, or even increasing.

This one appears to be appreciating.

http://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/feature.phtml?id=514161