40. What you need to know before buying a canal boat | Boat life

[@TimoBrown79]

Loved this video. I was born in The UK and grew up near Osterley Park. I moved to Austin Texas 30 years ago when I was 14. The videos you guys make bring back memories of the areas I visited. I am planning a trip to the UK this summer and would love to rent a canal boat for a week.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

So glad you’re enjoying the videos, what a great idea to come back and relive your memories ❤️

[@Hedgey2]

Thanks for that. I’m in the process of buying a narrowboat I’ll be a single boater. Planing a marina for the first year whilst I do stuff to get it how I want then hopefully spend some lovely summers out cruising.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

That sounds lovely 😊 we’d love to have a narrowboat too so we could get to the north but that would be a bit excessive haha 😂

[@TrogART]

Yes you need to be a jack of all trades living on a boat, have built a few myself!

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Most definitely 😆 wow respect to you for building boats too that’s awesome 👏

[@TheNarrowboatPirate]

Fab video guys 😃

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Aww thank you 🙏❤️

[@WaheedRafiq]

❤ looking to buy boat myself this video was rather entertaining and informative cheers

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Aww thank you 🙏 hehe 😂

[@TimoBrown79]

You guys are too COOL ❤️

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Haha 😂 thank you ☺️

[@howardeastman-uk]

Hi. Just out of interest as we are about to venture into the Thames. What guide did you buy and what is a barrel tap, do I need different fittings to a normal plug in hose? Thank you.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi 👋 Thames guide or pearsons guide are best! Just normal hose connections will do! Not sure about a barrel tap but don’t think you need one 😂

[@howardeastman-uk]

@@WidebeamandWellingtons Thank you, appreciate it.

[@richardpearson5036]

Hiya guys, our collingwood 60'x12'6" is 7 or 8 weeks old now. But we have lived on the water for 17 years so far. We're loving your blogs , wide beam life is very different from narrowboat life, but we're getting used to it now. We are in goole, I plan to go to Boston, out over the wash and down the river nene next year if water levels alow. Safe travels guys , keep vlogging. The Yorkshire watts gypsies x

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi 👋and thank you so much for watching 😀Wow it sounds as though you're on for an epic trip next year, that sounds like it will be a lot of fun 😀So glad you're getting used to your wide beam, they are amazing but then again so are narrowboats, to be honest we just love boats lol 😂take care and thank you for the lovely comment x

[@lynettecoates4272]

Any advice for our first cruise leaving the wey up the thames to brentford onto the GU as a newbie first cruise? Leaving in April. Great vlog!!! Xx

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi 👋 Lynette you will go through Thames lock at the end of the Wey that is manned by a really helpful lock keeper who will advise you. You will then turn right down the cut by desborough island keep middle as there is a sand bank on the right. Then once under Walton bridge there is a right hand bend that you need to stay middle as there is another sand bank. They’re really the only 2 slightly dodgy bits. The locks should be mostly manned so they will advise. When you get to Teddington lock we would suggest mooring up and speaking to the lock keeper who will advise the best time to travel through and tides. Our video this Saturday gives you some information about Teddington lock. Just take it slow and steady and have fun ❤️ x

[@ladygardener100]

I got a good trolley from Amazon, it was not cheap, but it takes coal and logs, I use supermarket delivery if far from shops

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Definitely a good idea 👍🏻

[@craiggardner2878]

Hi guys. What’s the radio for please? Is this a requirement?

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi these are just so we can communicate with each other when we’re opposite ends of the boat, so not a requirement just for ease 😁

[@margaretwhite8996]

Hi guys! Watched the vlog, I see where u r coming from, but I would like to ask .. if you knew all this before would you still go ahead and live your life on the boat? P.s. love your coats,could Ibe cheeky and ask where u got yours Hayley? Thanks.🙏🐾❤.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi Margaret 👋 we would still have gone ahead most definitely as the benefits definitely outweigh the negatives 😁 I got my coat from TK Max it’s so warm and definitely worth the spend 😁

[@margaretwhite8996]

👍❤ thank you! X

[@davidd3899]

@@WidebeamandWellingtons that's what I like to hear ❤️

[@shnboardman1]

Think it makes a huge difference if you are a tradesman and are flexible

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Definitely agree 😁

[@ladygardener100]

Yes, and have a van, tools and a workshop !

[@CaptainK007]

How about revisiting this one?

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Yes I think there is probably more we could add to the list lol 😂

[@thingstodoinguernseychannel]

I brought a sea lion last year at a very good price sleeps 5 I had a very good deal at £6,500 luckily where i live in the channel islands we have a lot of boat places such as sun sport marine and general herm see ways excetra i did an upgrade on a few things i refurbish the twin v8 volvo penta engines inside and out with new out drive new ring gear to new starter motors new bushes excetra not that i needed to but chose to spent all in all another 4,500 with in 5 months I have just sould it for a nice little profit and now just brought a draco i always find it depends on what companies you use if this so-called boat time comes in to use luckily for me some of the work of done myself and other work has been carried out on mechanics but been done very quickly and can't really say anything but i under stand I am different place to the uk hopefully you will find someone reliable and be able to get everything done in one hit eventually

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Wow sounds like you did really well and a profit too is fabulous 😁 Good luck with the next one, sounds like you’re on to a winner 😁 luckily as this vlog was a little while ago, all our issues have pretty much been fixed now, thank goodness 😅

[@canyoudoitagain7978]

Was it vine o'clock at the time of recording? Or you're just a fun couple 😊

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

😂 we’re just a fun couple 😂

[@mange2]

Its been my lifelong dream to live on a Narrowboat but They're just so expensive to buy and i've never had the money. My friends are sick of me talking about living my dream but at 60 years old, I will continue dreaming and continue telling them 😂😂.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Definitely keep dreaming! You never know what the future holds 🥰

[@ladygardener100]

My ropes are from salty water days, they would be £100 , the anchor chain and anchorplait were about £400, again from salty water days.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Definitely not a cheap game boating 😊

[@user-xw6wj2qh5n]

I thought you were going to talk about issues with second hand boats that buyers need to be aware of - things to check so that they are not left with expensive problems to have to deal with afterwards.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Our was bought new so even though we could give a perspective of second hand we don’t know first hand but we talk to the owners of this boat who bought second hand and give their experience in this video 😁 Home on the Water! An Unconventional Move to a Quirky Narrowboat! | 133 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3evYn6YbM9kpMk

[@janeosullivan345]

We have a motorhome in new zealand as we don’t have canals we have ocean all around our Islands

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Sounds idyllic we have never been but would love to one day 🥰

[@neilroland3804]

Whats the running cost for the year plaese.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi Neil, funny enough we have a video coming out on the 9th July, which will cover this in detail 😁

[@jwarmstrong]

A boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into - so think do I want to row (no then have cash) - also good door locks make for friends of your choosing - name your boat Titanic if you don't have a budge pump - a used boat can be named Can of Worms

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Haha 😂 all very true!

[@janeosullivan7027]

we have a motorhome lol amazing to travel around new zealand we don’t have canals

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

We’d love a motor home too but can’t stretch to that just yet 😂😁

[@christinewilliams9305]

I’m from UK living in NZ hoping to return to UK not enough variety in NZ been here 13 years looking at buying a barge and am finding your Chanel informative thanks.

[@AtmosphereAirlines]

I love this video especially because a man finally got some word to say too haha. Love your videos guys.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Haha 🤣 thank you ☺️

[@smullen2000]

Advantage of buying second hand is you can negotiate the price on any faults found, although the fix could still take a similar time depending on who is doing it. Things like your shower should have been tested pre delivery, and why a three year wait for paint? It certainly isn’t a good advert for Collingwood.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi 👋 Very true re second hand boat that’s a good one for people to know! Our shower did work originally unfortunately the thermostat went on it, it is just taking so long for them to replace 🙈 We are told that the wait for painting is so long as it can only be done in the summer months and there is a long list of people waiting, that is down to pre inspection so not great! Don’t get us wrong the boat on the whole is fabulous just after care is so slow, which can sour the experience especially when a simple fix like a shower 😳

[@tarzant4445]

Hi great video quick question when buying a boat do you get a ownership certificate or logbook I'm trying to buy a used boat and having trouble getting the index number what's your opinion thanks

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi and thank you 😊 unfortunately no you don’t get a log book or certificate, it’s one of the tricky things about buying a second hand boat, the owner or seller should be able to provide you with proof of ownership via their own purchase receipts or works carried out etc. The index number should be on any original paperwork and welded in somewhere in the engine bay, hope that helps 🤞😊

[@campervan-john]

sounds like too much hassle, prefer campervans.good video👍

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Haha 😂 Richard is often saying we should have got a motor home 😂 and thank you 😊

[@michaelb2388]

Boat time? I've been living on my boat for 17 years and I haven't got a clue what you're talking about. Why don't you fix stuff yourselves?

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

We would fix ourselves but she’s in warranty so down to boat builders, unfortunately we would invalidate our warranty if we did it ourselves. We waited over 6 months for bow thruster to be fixed and currently over a year for our bow and stern deck to be painted as it was tragic upon arrival- hence boat time!

[@CaptainK007]

Worked in the biz for many years Mañana has nothing on boat time, it’s terrible trying to get stuff done, always a case of who shouted loudest and most. Changed more bow thruster controllers than you can shake a stick at, only a couple of gearboxes. Working in the boat biz ruined what was my hobby. I hate boats………. I’m near to ordering the 65 lined to move onto as a live aboard. Aaaaaaaargh dreading it but looking forward to it. Guess I’ll put my watch back in the bin. 😂

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

That’s a shame that working on them ruined it for you, sounds like not completely though if you’re getting one 😁 exciting times for you ahead but yes bin the watch lol 😂

[@jerrymartinez4490]

you know what they say: there are only two days that a boat owner is happy....they day they buy the boat and the day they sell it.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

That’s sad 😂 all said we are very happy though 😁

[@tonyfoster9834]

A bit like this video

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Thank you we think lol 😂

[@separationanxietysolutions1079]

Hi W&W, We are currently in the process of boat finding 🤔 I have two questions for you if you don't mind? 1.With mooring is it the length of your boat or width that makes available mooring difficult, or just lack of availability at the time? We are looking for 70ft but Narrow. 2. Do you have a dryer? I've watched loads of videos from a wide range of you tubers and no-one ever seems to have washing hanging about? Is the boat magic that happens in boat time? 😂 Keep the vids coming they are so useful xx

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Hi 👋 thank you for your comment 😁 with mooring it just gets very busy in the summer so we would say it’s availability and also the length of our boat, if we were shorter we might squeeze into some spots 😂 We do have a washer dryer but to be honest we don’t really use the dryer, we hang our washing on an airer or in the summer tie washing line across the back of our canopy, we do have a vlog where you can see it 16. I think we found Rosie & Jim! Widebeam narrowboat kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGrZloODedF4grc But try to keep it hidden lol 😂 no one wants to see our pants haha 😂 x

[@davidd3899]

Am kinda thinking am so glad we didn't go with colingwood.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

We think boat time refers to the whole industry lol 😂 but fingers crossed your boat builders will come up trumps for you 😁

[@davidd3899]

@@WidebeamandWellingtons am kinda hearing a lot of repairs on colingwoods can take some time. But yes I get it can happen to most including us. But hey ho i suppose that's part of the 4 mile an hour life.

[@WildwoodTV]

think you need to rename this "Boat-Time"

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Haha 😂 yes there definitely is a mysterious boat clock ⏰ 😂😂

[@DustyRoadsinN.Norfolk]

You mean “what we wish we’d known”.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Probably 🤣😁

[@peterszczesiak6025]

Don't buy Collingwood is my advice

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

The boat itself is fantastic and you get a lot of boat for your money, they just need to sort out their after sales, they only have one person doing warranty work which is just not enough! If they had a bigger team for warranty it would make a huge difference 😊

[@peterszczesiak6025]

@@WidebeamandWellingtons When I was looking to buy my widebeam in 2010 I looked at my boat and lined railways by Collingwood. Lynn my other half at the time fancied the Collingwood until she slipped on the stern deck. It was slightly dipped in the middle allowing water to collect which had turned to ice! Its the details that differ, we have a Johnathan Wilson widebeam, I know him and the team that put together my boat as friends and still see them today. Maybe Collingwood have improved? But at the time build quality was poor when I bought mine

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

@@peterszczesiak6025 Oh no that doesn't sound good! We've had no issues with build quality at all, nor anyone we know so maybe they have improved in this area, it's literally just speed of rectifying warranty issues 🙈

[@spumemonk11]

She looks like a young Jamie Lee Curtis.

[@WidebeamandWellingtons]

Haha 😂 thank you 😊