MtB

Hang on, you haven't even bought a boat yet! (Or have you?) This time of year any half decent solar dump system will be providing ALL your hot water needs, in spades. Or buckets, rather. Never mind using the engine heat!

Nothing at all usually, if its a bilge pump switch!

Yes definitely. This is probably why my own TP insurance policies are so damned expensive at several tens of quid!!

Indeed. And the insurer needs to 'take a view' on how probable this is, and how it might affect their personal finances should that occur. This takes one straight to the root of why we might want or need insurance! P.S. My oen view is a pin hole is not going to sink my boat. The bilge pump will cope with that just fine. Hull fittings falling off won't sink it either, unless I stupidly have them under the waterline!

Indeed. Surely this is implied in the term "third party" insurance. Your losses and expenses are not covered, only losses and expenses your boat causes to others, i.e. third parties. If the OP wants to insure against their own losses, then comprehensive insurance is the product to choose. If the OP is happy to 'self-insure' and only needs an insurance certificate in order to qualify for a licence, then the cheapest TP is all that is needed.

Have a look at this for example. A neat little Springer for £12k. https://narrowboats.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/springer-26-traditional-for-sale/804388

There is still the odd 50 year old Springer around for similar money, in good, broadly original condition that would make a much better buy, IMO.

And "fully-priced" shed too!

There's another aqueduct I see from time to time in north London, over a very main road somewhere around Camden I think. Probably an original structure though rather than a new one part of a renovation.

And my impression is this is one such boat. a fair amount of work has obviously been done but the deckheads are a mess, suggesting someone has already had they heart and wallet broken by this boat and been forced to give up on it. Probably by endless new problems emerging such as water leaks wrecking the new work.

Yes I was just thinking of this one too. Is this the one over the A331 at Ash, just east of Aldershot? Nice link about it here: https://www.hampshirelive.news/whats-on/family-kids/a331-ash-aqueduct-hampshire-hidden-4226823

I'd imagine like DMR says, there is a lot more to it than just this. I'd imagine the above only applies when it increases the difference in height of the CoG and the CoB. If it reduces it, the boat could become more tender. Also inertia effects need taking into account.