Getting back into boating!

[Cruiser Malc]

Had some great holidays on narrow boats, but it always seems like I end up at the stern, on my own, in the rain.... While everyone else is in the warm with a beer :disgust:

I also suffer due to the lack of headroom down below, sometimes it's a bugger being tall!

 

[ProDave]

Had some great holidays on narrow boats, but it always seems like I end up at the stern, on my own, in the rain.... While everyone else is in the warm with a beer :disgust:

I also suffer due to the lack of headroom down below, sometimes it's a bugger being tall!

You can't improve on the headroom in a narrowboat, at least not if you want to go places. I've had narrowboats run aground as the draft is too deep for some places, and I've been through tunnels where the roof almost touches the ceiling of the tunnel. Same with some low bridges.

The sort of boat you are looking at, wide beam, greater headroom and much greater air draft is fine, as long as you accept it's cruising limits. That's why narrowboats are so popular.

 

[Flynnbarr]

I am category 4...
That is, had a modest family cruiser and a large detatched house.
And I spent every spare moment aboard cruising until one day I had an epithany, why bother going home.
So the modest cruiser and large house went....and was replaced with a larger boat and a modest house...and I've not been back since!

That is the way to do it,anyone I have ever met who has done that has had no desire to return to land.

 

[CX54WEK]

You can't improve on the headroom in a narrowboat, at least not if you want to go places. I've had narrowboats run aground as the draft is too deep for some places, and I've been through tunnels where the roof almost touches the ceiling of the tunnel. Same with some low bridges.

The sort of boat you are looking at, wide beam, greater headroom and much greater air draft is fine, as long as you accept it's cruising limits. That's why narrowboats are so popular.

That really does depend where you want to keep it and how large you go.

With the area the OP wants to cruise there is little point having a narrowbeam boat as that just limits your living space rather than your cruising grounds. These are big waterways design for commercial vessels, no point limiting yourself when you dont have too.

As I said previous we have yet to even scratch the surface of the cruising grounds at hand and that isnt through lack of trying

 

[Cruiser Malc]

This weekend I'm off to check out a few boats down on the River Severn. A couple of Fairline Mirage, a Princess 32 and a Project 31. They all seem to fit the bill, might just come down to the small details.

 

[oldgit]

This weekend I'm off to check out a few boats down on the River Severn. A couple of Fairline Mirage, a Princess 32 and a Project 31. They all seem to fit the bill, might just come down to the small details.

Its all down to condition . If you are buying something with outdrives (you may well have no choice in this price bracket) be very wary about condition,anything that comes with a vast wad of bills and paperwork going back over the years is to be welcomed.

 

[CX54WEK]

You really dont like outdrives do you Oldgit?

 

[boatone]

He 's not the only one !
You can only understand why if you've seen the light and got shafted

 

[apollo]

He 's not the only one !
You can only understand why if you've seen the light and got shafted

Once bitten, same as Petrol engines...

 

[prof pat pending]

There's a nice Freeman 30 at Penton Hook which may be worth a look at

http://motorboats.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=369736

 

[Flynnbarr]

Don't know what the budget is but one of the nicest birchwood 33's I've ever seen is for sale at penton hook called Simray.
Don't know how to do links.
No connection just seen it around,a lot of money gone into it I think.

 

[Cruiser Malc]

Very nice. Me thinks I need to make a trip south. As always... finding the time!

 

[Cruiser Malc]

Just checked it on PH site. As you say, very well presented. Unfortunately, about double my budget

 

[CX54WEK]

A quick taster of what we were up too on the river at the weekend

http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=67782

 

[Cruiser Malc]

Looks like you had a super trip. Can't wait to get on the ester again

 

[Cruiser Malc]

Okay.... Been out over the last two weekends to view some potential boats. Seen some beauties and some horrors!

I've narrowed it down to 2 possibilities. One is an older boat, well looked after with plenty of character. Only area of concern is a couple of Perkins 4107's on Enfield outdrives. The other choice is much newer, very well looked after with a pair of Volvo petrols on outdrives. Now factor in that 90% of my cruising will be on inland waterways travelling at around 5 knots. Both boats are similarly priced.

The heart leans towards the older boat but the head says take the newer boat and the probable greater reliability, as I don't want to get into having to spend vast amounts re-engining in the near future.

Your thoughts are, as ever, most welcome

 

[prof pat pending]

Outdrives can be very costly and twin engine only doubles that.
You don't really need twin engine reliability if you never leave the non tidal river IMHO

If you are looking for something easy and cheap to maintain, look for a single with shaft drive

 

[Flynnbarr]

Go with your heart.
I would never have petrols,safety,resale,finding filling up places and even 10% Coastal will be expensive.
Perkins are simple,masses of boats still have them
But only if the 4107's are freshwater cooled(have header tanks),don't buy raw water cooled,the liners rot if they have seen any salt water in there life.

 

[Actionmat]

4107's and enfields are great bits of kit if they've been looked after. Be more wary of the electrical system on an older boat and any signs of bodging. I'd be more inclined to go for something older that's been well looked after by good owners.

 

[Cruiser Malc]

Outdrives can be very costly and twin engine only doubles that.
You don't really need twin engine reliability if you never leave the non tidal river IMHO

If you are looking for something easy and cheap to maintain, look for a single with shaft drive

Unfortunately, size and budget mostly rule out shafts. Did look at an old Freeman 30 yesterday, but a needs way too much work to be viable for me.

Still looking though!