fergyguy Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 looking at one or two different wb builders and like the look of a boat built by Aqualine anyone able to tell me of experiences with this company? good or bad ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysander Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Good. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Superbly built boats, but rather odd looking bow shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 If you want to see a Collingwood boat being built then some photos here http://noproblem.org.uk/blog/an-amazing-visit-to-liverpool-to-meet-no-problem-xl/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 The Aqualines are very well put together boats, superbly neat electrics and you get a lot of kit for your money. The only downside that I have seen and heard about is the paint jobs, quite a few people have had problems just a few years after build, spraying in Polish winter temperatures is probably not a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceinSanity Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 If you want to see a Collingwood boat being built then some photos here http://noproblem.org.uk/blog/an-amazing-visit-to-liverpool-to-meet-no-problem-xl/ But the Aqualines are Polish, not Collingwood, aren't they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 But the Aqualines are Polish, not Collingwood, aren't they? Sorry I didn't mean to confuse things, I was just giving the OP another option to look at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 And an inferior option too, surely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterboat Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 I would stick with a UK builder, you can visit whilst its being built the kit used is from UK sourced companies so if spares are needed you can ask where they came from. As an aside why move production to Poland? to reduce costs are those reductions passed on to you? all questions you have to ask. As a final point if when the boat arrives things are wrong how are they going to be sorted when the builders are in another country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 And an inferior option too, surely! I have no idea Mike, I don't have first hand knowledge of there of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergyguy Posted May 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 good point peterboat I'm guessing we could approach a uk builder and ask if they can produce a boat similar in style and design? or would this be frowned upon as copyright or what ever its called. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 I would stick with a UK builder, you can visit whilst its being built the kit used is from UK sourced companies so if spares are needed you can ask where they came from. As an aside why move production to Poland? to reduce costs are those reductions passed on to you? all questions you have to ask. As a final point if when the boat arrives things are wrong how are they going to be sorted when the builders are in another country Aqualine quality control is (or used to be) superb. When I did PDIs at Thames and Kennet Marina sales, we could bank on the Aqualines never having anything wrong we could spot or find, and the inspections and tests were very thorough. Polar opposite from the Liverpool Boats they also sold. One could spend a day just finding and listing out the faults, never mind fixing them!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergyguy Posted May 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 I'm sure i have read on here issues regarding paint on Aquiline or am i getting them confused with another company? i just like the whole look and style of the wb they do although mrs fergyguy would prefer the galley to have a return side on it to make it less part of the saloon area but again I'm guessing that could be specified as a requirement pre build. i was told that Collingwood boats are a bit hit and miss when it comes to design and finish so would be interested in hearing from owners of their boats what they think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Collingwood are the phoenix company that arose from the ashes of the Liverpool Boats debacle, I think. Or was that another company? Aintree Boats perhaps? I don't want to diss either of them inappropriately but I think one should tread carefully with them. I think there is a connection between all three. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lysander Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Superbly built boats, but rather odd looking bow shape. The Aqualines are very well put together boats, superbly neat electrics and you get a lot of kit for your money. The only downside that I have seen and heard about is the paint jobs, quite a few people have had problems just a few years after build, spraying in Polish winter temperatures is probably not a good idea. I would agree whole-heartedly with both these posts. I haven't looked closely at the widebeam versions but the bow on the narrowboat is frankly fugly in my opinion. The rest of the boat ticked so many other boxes that we chose to ignore it! The electrics are indeed superb; the wiring is a work of art. The woodwork has been much admired by those who know about such things and the surveyor who did our survey was very complimentary about the steelwork. Sadly, I have to agree about the paintwork. It's a red boat unfortunately, the worst choice (not ours - we bought the boat second-hand) and despite our best efforts in polishing and waxing, it's now looking extremely shabby. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this manufacturer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1uk Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 (edited) Collingwood are the phoenix company that arose from the ashes of the Liverpool Boats debacle, I think. Or was that another company? Aintree Boats perhaps? I don't want to diss either of them inappropriately but I think one should tread carefully with them. I think there is a connection between all three. As I've told you at least half a dozen times, Mike, Collingwood is what replaced Liverpool Boats; Aintree is what happened when a cstomer rescued Skater Marine. There is no connection between Collingwood and Aintree. I have a lot of time for the guys at Aintree. But the Aqualines are Polish, not Collingwood, aren't they? They started off Polish, then for a while production was moved to the Midland Canal Centre at Stenson, and then it went back to Poland. I think the consensus is that the Polish ones are a lot better -- and if it's a used one you're looking at, make sure you find out where it was built. Edited May 23, 2016 by adam1uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junior Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 I'm pretty sure Aintee Boats are nothing to do with Liverpool Boats & never have been, it seems to just be assumed because Aintree is in Liverpool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Smith Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 Try and get to crick this weekend and have a look around loads of builders in one place and make your own mind up who you feel comfortable dealing with. Neil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celestine Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 I've seen several Aqualine boats and they are very well built, electrics are the best I've seen. I thought the name 'Aqualine' was a model name used by New and Used Boat Co, so they may have used several builders over the years. I know the early ones were Polish and Midland Canal Centre certainly built one a couple of years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettie Boo Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 I have no personal experience with Aqualine, but have met 2 owners of their WB boats, both were bought new and both have had major issues with getting them to fix problems which occurred shortly after the inital launch. One was to do with the quality of the internal fitout and something to do with the brackets the engine sits on, and problems with the quality of the paint job; the other boat also had issues with the quality of their paint work and I "think" problems with their throttle control or some such. In neither case were the owners upset that there were snagging issues, it was the problems they encountered with the builder to have the problems corrected. I can give you the name of one of the owners if you PM me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah and Ian Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 I would echo what folk have said above and if you can get yourself to Crick and have a look at one. We have had ours for 18 months or so from new. We had a few snags as you'd expect and all have been resolved in a timely fashion. All the snags we're minor issues and not things major. Our observations are: The internal fit out is solid with a lot of solid wood being used. The appliances are all branded and not cheap brands being used. They have some lovely wood working touches. The paintwork seems to be fairing ok but ours was a summer build. We've received nothing but favourable comments from people in the trade we've had to do work on her. Something is right with steelwork as she handles really well 58 X 10 WB. We had builder of bespoke boats service the engine. And we were told that they recommend Aqualine as alternate boat builder. Feel free to PM if you have any questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark99 Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) Possible alternative. http://www.tylerwilsonboats.com/boats-for-sale/ I have no connection I have a R. Fuller. Gawd I hate widebeams. I don't enjoy their external look but by golly they look good inside! <jealous>. Edited May 24, 2016 by mark99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah and Ian Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 On brokerage with New and Used. http://www.newandusedboat.co.uk/used-boat.php?boatID=691 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Star Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 A chap on my mooring has one and he's pleased with it although he recently saw it out of the water for the first time for painting and he had the prop replaced as he said it was of woeful quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergyguy Posted May 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 That's been on a few weeks now but not what we are looking for but feel sure it will tick a lot of boxes for someone soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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