The canal / narrowboat thread
Discussion
Going to see a very cheap, very local Seamaster tomorrow. Interior looks like it's seen better days and some water ingress evident on some of the windows. Knowing absolutely diddly squat about boats I'm sure it's a terrible idea. I've heard these 70's GRP cruisers were built pretty solidly, but I have no idea how true that is, or how much comfort that will bring me.
But hey, it's cheap.
But hey, it's cheap.
Jimmy No Hands said:
Going to see a very cheap, very local Seamaster tomorrow. Interior looks like it's seen better days and some water ingress evident on some of the windows. Knowing absolutely diddly squat about boats I'm sure it's a terrible idea. I've heard these 70's GRP cruisers were built pretty solidly, but I have no idea how true that is, or how much comfort that will bring me.
But hey, it's cheap.
There is a cheap (relatively speaking see Gretchen and her bargain) Norman 27 with a centre cockpit locally on Farcebook. It's pretty much my ideal layout and boat for various reasons. It's taking all of my self control not to drop them a message and go and have a nose around it!But hey, it's cheap.
I went. I'm sure it will appeal to someone, but far, far too much work for me. All the internal wood cladding is completely rotten, every window leaked and it stank. Canopy was nothing more than a rag. Engine had a big water leak from where the drive shaft met the propeller (oo err - sorry for my s
te terminology) which was collecting in the bilge. I suppose for the price of two iMacs I needn't have expected much, but worth a gander!
te terminology) which was collecting in the bilge. I suppose for the price of two iMacs I needn't have expected much, but worth a gander!As we were mooring at the weekend a fisherman informed us there was water pissing out of our engine. OH said to him he’d be worried if there wasn’t 
What’s your budget and requirements Jimmy? Apparently I’m developing a knack for finding bargain boats. Am always looking through the marinas and classifieds. Found our friends their Buckingham last year and they couldn’t be happier with their £2.5k bargain. We paid less than half that for ours
I’d really like to buy a plot of land with mooring and run a business renovating at some point.
OH just wants a bigger engine. He located an absolute bargain of one last week and we drove an hour to have a look on Friday afternoon across the Fens.
I was muttering something about ‘too good to be true’ and how he’d him not let me check out (stalk) the seller whilst giggling at where I thought we’d end up… he dismissed it.
We turned down a lane and I let out a chortle as we passed a particular site. He still dismissed it. Pulled up at a lovely house, new RR out the front, he says something about me being wrong. Until he knocked on the door and the confused looking chap told him there was another plot at the end of the lane where the caravans are with the same number… OH got back in the car in silence and drove home while I stifled my laughter.
We then spent the rest of the weekend away in St Ives
What’s your budget and requirements Jimmy? Apparently I’m developing a knack for finding bargain boats. Am always looking through the marinas and classifieds. Found our friends their Buckingham last year and they couldn’t be happier with their £2.5k bargain. We paid less than half that for ours
I’d really like to buy a plot of land with mooring and run a business renovating at some point. OH just wants a bigger engine. He located an absolute bargain of one last week and we drove an hour to have a look on Friday afternoon across the Fens.
I was muttering something about ‘too good to be true’ and how he’d him not let me check out (stalk) the seller whilst giggling at where I thought we’d end up… he dismissed it.
We turned down a lane and I let out a chortle as we passed a particular site. He still dismissed it. Pulled up at a lovely house, new RR out the front, he says something about me being wrong. Until he knocked on the door and the confused looking chap told him there was another plot at the end of the lane where the caravans are with the same number… OH got back in the car in silence and drove home while I stifled my laughter.
We then spent the rest of the weekend away in St Ives
Edited by Gretchen on Tuesday 1st August 22:02
Gretchen,
Well, probably up to £8k I’d say. Happy to spend a bit less to do jobs that aren’t too substantial. As I say, circumstantially I could feasibly live aboard for a year or so now. I was happy size wise with the Seamaster 27/28 I viewed (he said it was a 28, looked like a 27 due to being the same as all the images of a 27 I’ve seen!) and certainly enough for me. Keep seeing the odd cheap Norman 20 but honestly don’t know if they may be too small or not.
Well, probably up to £8k I’d say. Happy to spend a bit less to do jobs that aren’t too substantial. As I say, circumstantially I could feasibly live aboard for a year or so now. I was happy size wise with the Seamaster 27/28 I viewed (he said it was a 28, looked like a 27 due to being the same as all the images of a 27 I’ve seen!) and certainly enough for me. Keep seeing the odd cheap Norman 20 but honestly don’t know if they may be too small or not.
Jimmy No Hands said:
Gretchen,
Well, probably up to £8k I’d say. Happy to spend a bit less to do jobs that aren’t too substantial. As I say, circumstantially I could feasibly live aboard for a year or so now. I was happy size wise with the Seamaster 27/28 I viewed (he said it was a 28, looked like a 27 due to being the same as all the images of a 27 I’ve seen!) and certainly enough for me. Keep seeing the odd cheap Norman 20 but honestly don’t know if they may be too small or not.
Have you got moorings in mind? Access to showers etc? Do you want full kitchen/bathroom on board? And is two berth sufficient? Which river would you be on? What are the lock height/widths and where would you like the ability to travel to? Well, probably up to £8k I’d say. Happy to spend a bit less to do jobs that aren’t too substantial. As I say, circumstantially I could feasibly live aboard for a year or so now. I was happy size wise with the Seamaster 27/28 I viewed (he said it was a 28, looked like a 27 due to being the same as all the images of a 27 I’ve seen!) and certainly enough for me. Keep seeing the odd cheap Norman 20 but honestly don’t know if they may be too small or not.
Gretchen said:
Have you got moorings in mind? Access to showers etc? Do you want full kitchen/bathroom on board? And is two berth sufficient? Which river would you be on? What are the lock height/widths and where would you like the ability to travel to?
I work in York currently, so the Ouse is quite convenient! Two apparent downsides - moorings, are apparently like rocking horse st and it floods about 28 times a month. Just solo so two berth is more than sufficient. More than likely doing a remote Masters degree so location can honestly be very flexible, I like the concept of moving every so often and picking up work wherever I can while I finish my postgrad.Me and MrsGP are currently out on the Trent and Mersey for the week dodging the showers. We made it down from Middlewich and have been through the Harecastle tunnel which was a first for us. Now on our way back north. We’ve tried to make the best of the weather as been a real mix of sunshine and torrential showers but we’ve found some really peaceful spots to moor up in between the downpours. Also been to some great pubs and restaurants along the way and seen some cracking sunsets.
We had four nights away on our Dandy with friends in their Buckingham to Bedford. I’m awe of some of you who post about the big Locks after going through Castle Mill. Some chap on a presumably hired tiny wooden boat was going through (his first lock!) with us and his partner and toddler he stood holding on to the chains 
Stayed a night on the island near Willington on our return journey where I told Ghost stories of its haunting based around this find of a hat with love and a plaque in memory of. My stories were awesome about the Lock Keepers wife maintaining the house and chopping wood several hundred years after her husbands death and squeaky wheelbarrows and axes in the middle of the night. I was then woken at 4am by messages from my friend who was scared..:
Definitely staying there again.
Met lots of lovely people, including a few I knew already and amongst the spotted favourites this Wilderness Cub
And this awesome rare 70s Cara Cruiser
On the look out the whole time for parcels of land for sale noted that this mooring in St Neots is back on the market. I used to work on a narrow boat moored here in the ‘80s which was a vegetarian restaurant called Popeye’s if anyone knows it. £300k is little above our budget unfortunately.
https://www.cooper-wallace.co.uk/properties-for-sa...
Stayed a night on the island near Willington on our return journey where I told Ghost stories of its haunting based around this find of a hat with love and a plaque in memory of. My stories were awesome about the Lock Keepers wife maintaining the house and chopping wood several hundred years after her husbands death and squeaky wheelbarrows and axes in the middle of the night. I was then woken at 4am by messages from my friend who was scared..:
Definitely staying there again.
Met lots of lovely people, including a few I knew already and amongst the spotted favourites this Wilderness Cub
And this awesome rare 70s Cara Cruiser
On the look out the whole time for parcels of land for sale noted that this mooring in St Neots is back on the market. I used to work on a narrow boat moored here in the ‘80s which was a vegetarian restaurant called Popeye’s if anyone knows it. £300k is little above our budget unfortunately.
https://www.cooper-wallace.co.uk/properties-for-sa...
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