Advice needed for an important project

Looked into narrow boats again and the cost of them seems prohibitive nothing I could touch in the 20k budget I have set myself, unless some one here knows a good boating yard that sells them far cheaper than what i can find.

My budget is simplified but not crazy for the first year.
10-11k for a boat
1-2k fuel
1-3k berthing
1-1.5k Insurance
500 pre purchase survey
that leaves a maximum of £7000 and minimum of £1,000 for small modifications and boat maintenance/repair.
As you know until I choose the boat all the other costs do not solidify, yes I could take the cost of a boat up to 15k for a really good one.
Costs after that first year I am estimating at between 4k and 8k which is absorb able in our budget, we may not have much money coming in but we do not run a car/smoke/party.

When the money is in the bank I will be visiting newark and farndom marina, looking for a boat with a solid hull and looked after engines (not petrol) all this time before hand allows me to learn what to look for, Paola can sew curtains, work on new covers for the uphosltry if needed and I can cut new foam but the hull and engines that is the deal point. (points I learnt from here btw)

So if I still have any positive credit on this forum and anyone wants to let me know what are the solid built like a tank older boats (other than steel boats which seem to be out of my price range) as in what were the really good 23-30 ft models from 1980-1990 which are still going strong I would be very grateful.
 
I'm about as far removed from an expert as it's possible to get... but you might want to revise the ages of boats you're looking at. I would think that 1970-1980 would be closer to the mark, anything newer will be too far out of budget I would think.
I was put off anything too big when I started, but on reflection, I wish I had started with something a lot closer to 30' than 20'
When you first get behind the wheel of even a 22' boat, that pulpit looks an awfully long way away so you may as well go the extra length to start with and learn from the off (just my personal thoughts) and enjoy the extra room.
I always liked the seamaster 30, but I think you might struggle to find something serviceable for that budget and access may be too difficult.
Maybe something like this? which I'm assuming is on a shaft, and from only a very quick look: http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/cabin-cruiser/elysian-27/138385
Personally, I'd avoid outdrives at all costs. I know the arguments rage on here, but at that price point, I think there's a significant risk you'll spend more time spannering than actually boating. With, of course, all the cost that goes with the lift-outs and more importantly, that time lost.
Freemans would be worth a look, Birchwood also do a 25' with diesel and shaft drive.
Have a wander around the brokers though, and see what's around. I think that most smallerboats would get cramped with a wheelchair inside so you may even decide to either wait until budget is a lot healthier, or maybe try something else.

Re: budget, you might want to revise the mooring & insurance.
Easy to look online and find out the prices of mooring in the areas you're interested in, but a 30' boat in a "flashy" marina will easily destroy your 3K upper limit.
Good news though, the insurance should be a lot cheaper than you're anticipating. You can get online quote here very easily to give you an idea: https://www.craftinsure.net/

I'm sure the good folk on here will come up with a lot more helpful suggestions, just giving you some thoughts as someone who started with a slightly smaller budget than you, but also with the same zero experience.
 
Just wanted to add...

Unfortunately, there is an awful lot of good sense spoken here about two people needed for boating.
Not wanting to put you off, but it really isn't easy when you first start off. You're travelling on a constantly shifting medium (less so on inland waterways but there is always movement of some kind,) and at the mercy of the wind. Trying to get lines off, in the right order, and maintaining full control is only really something that comes with experience when you have a tricky wind conspiring against you.
There are members at my club who single-hand large boats as a routine, and don't think twice about it. But, they're doing that with many years behind them.
As I say, not wanting to put you off, and it's all do-able but from a fellow newbie perspective, it can certainly be challenging at times.
Nearly 5 Years on, and I still haven't got over that feeling of mild terror when coming in to a berth!
 
I still feel bad about ruining the chances of friendship with a lot of you and with my lack of online forum experience and what I typed I made myself out to be some kind of scammer trying to get money and still it is hard for me to put that right, because I do not want to jinx what is in the works but at the same time I feel like i've some how betrayed really nice people. the only proof I have is look at my timeline before last week on facebook or search for me online, I really do not know how all of this works.

What I can say is this before I logged on this forum I knew my gofundme page was a bust after all a friend put me up to it if it stays at 118 for the next month I am fine with that, why do I still update it ? because I can share on that Paola's latest hospital visit or our latest walk and when people ask me how she is I can just point them at that (plus I put my heart into it and refuse to just disappear) also worst case scenario those people who donated £118 get the first 59 tickets in the raffle.

Without jinxing it I have to say this because yes it does bother me that what I can tell are genuine people thought I came here to scam, during Paola's illness certain companies have kept in touch, all the way back to 1998 when we had a story on the front page of the local newspaper (advertiser stoke edition) a car company and hotel chain made it possible for Paola and me to go to Llandudno for christmas it was great but Paola had just started treatment and that is how we found out car plus normal holiday bad.

Over the years we met some amazing gaming companies who helped Paola in quite special ways the wonderful thing was it wasn't for media (we have had sky news wanting to do a piece on Paola a few years ago but we knew it would be a media circus and stress her out too much) When the makers of a certain game found out how ill Paola was (found out purely by accident we were gaming on mic one day with some one who was part of the team and Paola had to leave and was sick and in pain having not had time to disconnect) they sent her custom clothing, they could have announced it they could have run with it for media points, another company sent Paola a very personal package including a lovely musical box, the makers of another sent Paola a 3ft high plushy monster from the game lol and so on, a game(not game) store found out how ill Paola was and one of there shops sent her a really sweet skyrim package and a employee shirt signed by all of them and none of these companies ever used Paola or even told there fans it happened, oh yeah and some how we ended up with the french national rugby team game ball and flag from a game.

We never asked for these things we just had people we gamed with back then who talked to others and things happened that all happened over 4 years ago Paola became too ill to play online games.

So without jinxing it all I can say is people are talking to people about what is going on and I knew that before coming here and I really did come here to find out more about boats and my choices, I just really messed up in the worst way possible.
 
Murv said:
I'm about as far removed from an expert as it's possible to get... but you might want to revise the ages of boats you're looking at. I would think that 1970-1980 would be closer to the mark, anything newer will be too far out of budget I would think.
I was put off anything too big when I started, but on reflection, I wish I had started with something a lot closer to 30' than 20'
When you first get behind the wheel of even a 22' boat, that pulpit looks an awfully long way away so you may as well go the extra length to start with and learn from the off (just my personal thoughts) and enjoy the extra room.
I always liked the seamaster 30, but I think you might struggle to find something serviceable for that budget and access may be too difficult.
Maybe something like this? which I'm assuming is on a shaft, and from only a very quick look: http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/cabin-cruiser/elysian-27/138385
Personally, I'd avoid outdrives at all costs. I know the arguments rage on here, but at that price point, I think there's a significant risk you'll spend more time spannering than actually boating. With, of course, all the cost that goes with the lift-outs and more importantly, that time lost.
Freemans would be worth a look, Birchwood also do a 25' with diesel and shaft drive.
Have a wander around the brokers though, and see what's around. I think that most smallerboats would get cramped with a wheelchair inside so you may even decide to either wait until budget is a lot healthier, or maybe try something else.

Re: budget, you might want to revise the mooring & insurance.
Easy to look online and find out the prices of mooring in the areas you're interested in, but a 30' boat in a "flashy" marina will easily destroy your 3K upper limit.
Good news though, the insurance should be a lot cheaper than you're anticipating. You can get online quote here very easily to give you an idea: https://www.craftinsure.net/

I'm sure the good folk on here will come up with a lot more helpful suggestions, just giving you some thoughts as someone who started with a slightly smaller budget than you, but also with the same zero experience.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this (wheelchair folds down to almost nothing, it is part of the reason we bought it), I agree from reading these forums diesel and shaft drive seems to be something that has been around for a long time and yes you can still get a bad engine but the knowledge is out there, Freemans and Birchwood do both look like solid boats for the time.
Finally a boat insurance place that does not need my phone number (always wary of those) so about £200 insurance max that means 1300 more for the boat budget.
Let me take a look at things and redo my budget.
That elysian looks nice wish there was more info on it.
 
Murv said:
Just wanted to add...

Unfortunately, there is an awful lot of good sense spoken here about two people needed for boating.
Not wanting to put you off, but it really isn't easy when you first start off. You're travelling on a constantly shifting medium (less so on inland waterways but there is always movement of some kind,) and at the mercy of the wind. Trying to get lines off, in the right order, and maintaining full control is only really something that comes with experience when you have a tricky wind conspiring against you.
There are members at my club who single-hand large boats as a routine, and don't think twice about it. But, they're doing that with many years behind them.
As I say, not wanting to put you off, and it's all do-able but from a fellow newbie perspective, it can certainly be challenging at times.
Nearly 5 Years on, and I still haven't got over that feeling of mild terror when coming in to a berth!
Click to expand...

You are not putting us off or saying anything bad and yes I expect to be gripping the wheel on my boat and white knuckling a lot as I go into berth it kinda scares the hell out of me lol the thought of it. :)
 
Humm well might just say about boat handling its really quite easy, if you are the sort of person who watch's and listens to whats happening around you. Use those weather effects to your advantage, do not fight them, they are stronger than you and your boat combined. The use of ropes /lines to maneuver any boat works well, especially as them Horses are not used much these days. Really think that you should get afloat at earliest opportunity, together, in a Disability Boat with trained instructors and test both of you's liking for a boating life.

What will and does effect one's boat is the Weather, Current strength, position Current direction and type of drive that the boat has. In them olden days even commercial boats only had relatively small engines to power them, and they managed OK.
 
Go and look at a boat, anything within your perceived window. See how it feels with the 2 of you sitting in there. Imagine going to the toilet. Don't actually lay a loaf, that would rude but pretend (without the noises).

Then imagine being in there for a week of two.

Keep in mind that you are viewing the boat under ideal conditions. A finger berth, shorepower, nearby water etc. No personal items cluttering up the limited space.

I suspect you will need something much bigger and that £15k doesn't buy you a good boat, it buys you a £10k wreck with the faults better hidden. When I had a quick look for narrow boats after your post I was drawn to a 45' project for £6,500. Bid them, rip everything out, start from scratch salvaging anything possible and know exactly what you have. It does of course assume the hull and engine are ok and you know what they say about assumption ;)
 
calranthe said:
Found this one http://www.newark-marina.co.uk/used-boats/birchwood-25-executive/
Click to expand...

Well, that would tick all my boxes :)
BMC engines are noisy, but very easy to work on and there are hundreds of them still soldering on and they are a very popular choice for marinisation.
Can't say I had any problems at all with mine, it needed a manifold gasket replacing which was bought on ebay for a few quid and easily fitted, even by me.
Servicing was easy, there are even youtube videos that talk you through
I'd have a look at it and see if the size/layout etc would work for you, it's extremely difficult to tell from the pictures.
Don't forget that is just the asking price, it may be obtainable for a lot less, all depends on the sellers circumstances.
 
As I said in my previous post go and look at a boat in your proposed size range. There is no point in looking at specific boats until you have done that.

Similarly until you are ready to push the buy button there isn't really any point in looking at specific boats. At the end of the market you're looking at it will come down to individual boats rather than a specific model. Buy the best boat rather than trying to narrow yourself down to a specific model. There will be a huge difference between individual boats out there.

What you do need to know is a good boat when you see one and that only comes from looking at lots for sale, in the flesh, not online.

Henry
 
Huge +1 to what Henry says.
The princess you linked to is a perfect example, we were really taken with one locally to us and went to have a look.
In the flesh, nice boat, but just way too narrow inside for what we wanted. Until you see them for real, it's impossible to tell what will suit.

I wouldn't personally entertain the one you linked to because of the elderly outdrives, but others may have different opinions :)
 
I know i'm going to have to visit some Marina's I just need as much information and examples as possible before I walk out the door.
I just read up on stern drives and so yeah if possible I really want to go with a shaft type. time to look at things again.
 
But that's my point. You want shaft drives but this amazing example comes along which is on out drives. Knocks spots off anything else on the market, being sold having just been restored as a training exercise for some manufacturer at a cost of over £100k. Perfect in every respect. All the suppliers donated their latest wares free of charge to the project so to replace would be closer to £200k. Price to you £12k.

Now tell me you don't want a boat on out drives.
 
henryf said:
But that's my point. You want shaft drives but this amazing example comes along which is on out drives. Knocks spots off anything else on the market, being sold having just been restored as a training exercise for some manufacturer at a cost of over £100k. Perfect in every respect. All the suppliers donated their latest wares free of charge to the project so to replace would be closer to £200k. Price to you £12k.

Now tell me you don't want a boat on out drives.
Click to expand...

If OldGit reads that he'll be spinning in a quandary :D
 
Now you are just messing with my head :) i am still in a bit of shock having discovered all the galvanic stuff and all the bad stuff that happens to aluminium in salt water.
http://www.newark-marina.co.uk/used-boats/birchwood-25-executive/ still seems to tick all the boxes well erm all the boxes I can tell without actually looking at it,
With my limited knowledge of boats and stuff it will probably have some weird thing going on that means it explodes the moment I press a button.
Actually do boats have self destruct buttons and if so what if they are mislabelled as hand brakes?
 
Last edited:
calranthe said:
Now you are just messing with my head :) i am still in a bit of shock having discovered all the galvanic stuff and all the bad stuff that happens to aluminium in salt water.
http://www.newark-marina.co.uk/used-boats/birchwood-25-executive/ still seems to tick all the boxes well erm all the boxes I can tell without actually looking at it,
With my limited knowledge of boats and stuff it will probably have some weird thing going on that means it explodes the moment I press a button.
Actually do boats have self destruct buttons and if so what if they are mislabelled as hand brakes?
Click to expand...

so if we helped with the dream to get your wife on the water ,what happens to the boat if ,god forbid your wife leaves this earth ,you are only doing it for her ,roy
 
seastoke said:
so if we helped with the dream to get your wife on the water ,what happens to the boat if ,god forbid your wife leaves this earth ,you are only doing it for her ,roy
Click to expand...

I think about that a lot I used to keep some expired bottles of sleeping tablets, I will not apologize for thinking like that, I met her when I was 26, saying it was love at first sight sounds corny, we were at a friends party, we just started talking spent the next 4 hours discussing what was best Ds9 or Babylon 5, 3 weeks later with everyone saying we were crazy I sold my pace 9000 (I think) surround sound satellite system to pay for a rent deposit we moved in together and got engaged 3 moths later we didn't even have a bed for the first 6 months, rest is history.
She is my reason for breathing and the only major regret in my life is the irrational thoughts that I haven't been able to heal her.
Now I think a little different, if anything happens to her I will boat, climb, walk everywhere she would have wanted to visit, see every sunrise and sunset she never did and every single moment I know she will be with me.
 
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