desperately seeking seamen

15 Jul 2005

Ahhhhh, got yer!
not exactly as requested but would like some advice from the wise collective that is SH.
Been thinking of buying a river cruiser/ canal boat(not a barge). have been to look at a 30ft 4 berth fibreglass cruiser thats looks fine, but as a lifelong inhabitant of the midlands i don't know a fat lot about what i should look at other than 'it still floats and it has a safety cert.'
so any advice from boat owners/ ex boat owners or any gereral know it all's would be very appreciated :thumbup:

15 Jul 2005

Get a professional marine surveyor - it'll cost you but you'll get a comprehensive survey so there'll be no nasty surprises later on. If you get it wrong the old adage - that a boat is "a hole in the water into which you pour money" - will apply in spades.
The RYA ( ) have some useful advice available. They have an inland section.
Go to the newsgroup and ask about the specific type of boat you are looking at - there's bound to be some other owners out there. (You can access newsgroups via Outlook Express if you don't have any specific software on your PC).
Look to see if the boat has a class association or owner-group web site - usually lots of advice on those type of sites, or at the very least useful contacts numbers.
Have fun.

15 Jul 2005

Quote by MikeyMann
Get a professional marine surveyor - it'll cost you but you'll get a comprehensive survey so there'll be no nasty surprises later on. If you get it wrong the old adage - that a boat is "a hole in the water into which you pour money" - will apply in spades.
The RYA ( ) have some useful advice available. They have an inland section.
Go to the newsgroup and ask about the specific type of boat you are looking at - there's bound to be some other owners out there. (You can access newsgroups via Outlook Express if you don't have any specific software on your PC).
Look to see if the boat has a class association or owner-group web site - usually lots of advice on those type of sites, or at the very least useful contacts numbers.
Have fun.

That sounds really sensible.
I was going to sugeest, jumping on to it from a high bridge, if you dont get wet, buy it.

15 Jul 2005

thanks mate.
been doing a bit of research and fairly sure it's a Norman, similar to the conquest, so i'll start there and see if i get any other advice

15 Jul 2005

Quote by meat2pleaseu
thanks mate.
been doing a bit of research and fairly sure it's a Norman, similar to the conquest, so i'll start there and see if i get any other advice

No problem

15 Jul 2005

Quote by Happy Cats
I was going to sugeest, jumping on to it from a high bridge, if you dont get wet, buy it.

Except its hard to leap onto the shore to moor up when you have two broken legs!

15 Jul 2005

Quote by Happy Cats
Get a professional marine surveyor - it'll cost you but you'll get a comprehensive survey so there'll be no nasty surprises later on. If you get it wrong the old adage - that a boat is "a hole in the water into which you pour money" - will apply in spades.
The RYA ( ) have some useful advice available. They have an inland section.
Go to the newsgroup and ask about the specific type of boat you are looking at - there's bound to be some other owners out there. (You can access newsgroups via Outlook Express if you don't have any specific software on your PC).
Look to see if the boat has a class association or owner-group web site - usually lots of advice on those type of sites, or at the very least useful contacts numbers.
Have fun.

That sounds really sensible.
I was going to sugeest, jumping on to it from a high bridge, if you dont get wet, buy it.
Funnily enough it's moored by a bridge, but if i try this i'm either going through the canopy or bouncing in a ' hong kong phooey' style straight into the slimey canal

15 Jul 2005

Quote by meat2pleaseu
thanks mate.
been doing a bit of research and fairly sure it's a Norman, similar to the conquest, so i'll start there and see if i get any other advice

I ain't a boaty type person, but I am up for the revolution that your gonna lead in another thread, but to be honest, leading it from the helm of a boat called a 'Norman' is gonna look shite in the history books......it just ain't got the right ring to it. Any chance of buying one with a more gutsy name.

15 Jul 2005

Quote by davej
thanks mate.
been doing a bit of research and fairly sure it's a Norman, similar to the conquest, so i'll start there and see if i get any other advice

I ain't a boaty type person, but I am up for the revolution that your gonna lead in another thread, but to be honest, leading it from the helm of a boat called a 'Norman' is gonna look shite in the history books......it just ain't got the right ring to it. Any chance of buying one with a more gutsy name.
but they won't be expecting it from a boat called 'norman' rotflmao

and i can't aford one big enough to call it 'Crazyrevolutionaryswithbigclubsandtwatingsticks' :sparring:

16 Jul 2005

SORRY carnt help you but whatever floats your boat... is all good in my book rolleyes

16 Jul 2005

Quote by MikeyMann
Get a professional marine surveyor - it'll cost you but you'll get a comprehensive survey so there'll be no nasty surprises later on. If you get it wrong the old adage - that a boat is "a hole in the water into which you pour money" - will apply in spades.
The RYA ( ) have some useful advice available. They have an inland section.
Go to the newsgroup and ask about the specific type of boat you are looking at - there's bound to be some other owners out there. (You can access newsgroups via Outlook Express if you don't have any specific software on your PC).
Look to see if the boat has a class association or owner-group web site - usually lots of advice on those type of sites, or at the very least useful contacts numbers.
Have fun.

bluddy Hell Mikey!!... I had to do a double take on your avatar there....... it looks like a .... ..... good piccie!!!! .... hehehe

16 Jul 2005

do what my uncle done
he was told to look for dry rot
to put a screw driver into the wood against the grain
to his horror he stuck it wrongly and sprung a leak
he made a quick exit
and did not buy it
lol
2`s

16 Jul 2005

Quote by twos_company
do what my uncle done
he was told to look for dry rot
to put a screw driver into the wood against the grain
to his horror he stuck it wrongly and sprung a leak
he made a quick exit
and did not buy it
lol
2`s

don't think you get dry rot with fibreglass dunno

17 Jul 2005

just a shameless bump for my own thread as i'd still like to tap into the expert knowledge of the SH massive, so as a quick update, been looking at a 28ft Norman fibreglass 4 berth river cruiser and as a boat virgin i would welcome any advice you have on the subject

17 Jul 2005

Lived on a narrowboat for six years and owned "steel" boats for ages, never a cruiser tho. Make sure its got a certificate of compliance (M.O.T for boats) . Is the boat your looking at in dry dock?, (easier to check the hull in dock) if you have any questions , pm me and i`ll try n answer em wink

17 Jul 2005

meat2pleaseu
Do it as if you were buying a second hand car. Insist on a test cruise and push it to the limits. Look out for repairs on the hull like uneven surface etc. The advantage of fiberglas is that you do not have to repaint so often. Also search the web for that particular type of boat and read the reviews.