Hi Richard,
A completed boat would be nice, but I think it will be difficult to buy what I want. My canal boat experience is limited to the 12 weeks or so that I have hired over the years
Perhaps it might help if I give a few more details....
My wife and I have rebuilt and lived on a 45ft sailing yacht for 3 years. We have built full size garages out of wood, renovated a few houses and fitted countless bathrooms, kitchens, central heating systems etc over the years. We have always had a boat of some kind in the household, from dinghy and canoe to cruiser and yacht.
Currently we are in the process of selling our house and moving South again but we are unsure of where exactly we wish to re-locate. We have always (always!) loved canals, canal boats and the life that goes with them. We do intend to buy/build a canalboat as soon as possible and the idea of living on one for a couple of years has great appeal whilst we continue looking for houses. The chances are that we will build our next house, it is just that we are yet to find a suitable place to build it!
I am fortunate that my wife is committed to this plan and very capable with DIY etc. We have taken early retirement so we have all the time needed to build/renovate a canal boat.
I have lost many friends and family over recent years, My wife and I are trying to make sure we have as many adventures as we can before we leave it too late.
So, to come back to the subject, we do not want to waste too much time making good other peoples mistakes or repairing, patching up old boats that are past their best. Our requirements and tastes are not for everyone and we are quite set in what we want......... ergo, we will probably have to build a boat to suit us.
I have found over the years that I can avoid (too many) mistakes by asking as many questions as possible, seeing as much as possible, doing as much as possible. But in the end there is no substitute for getting stuck in and doing it for myself.
Grahame