Buying A Narrowboat: Tips & Thoughts

[@LITTLEEXPERIMENTCHANNEL1]

So I have bought a camper that half’s the cost of a car, now I’m looking at buying a narrow boat to half the cost of living. I work for a network company and now my internet and phone is free, I have free water free electric free heating. I have single handed saved £1000 a month living the life I wanted. I’m mad I didn’t do this 20 years ago. Thanks for the video. Love the detail in your videography.

[@susannnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

Hi dan I want to retire in 4 years get a boat and come start my adventure up you’re way Llangollen would be my start place and then onward from there ,can’t wait thanks for all you’re advice it’s been fantastic opening my eyes to lots of things I didn’t think about or knew about you give the whole picture and that makes it so much more to think about before you buy a boat and jump in head first thank you dan I really do appreciate you’re time and effort you put in to all this one day dan dinner on my boat and you as a special guest 😜😜

[@johsa2162]

That is one lovely boat. Love the LED strip lighting and the décor. Good video..

[@johnfineberg2112]

Hi Dan I really like the interior of your boat particularly the white wooden walls. I think when I buy a boat I will look for that design because It just looks so modern and fresh. Nice one mate. Cheers Jo

[@SortOfInteresting]

Hello, thanks! Yes I much prefer lighter painted walls, a lot of people prefer natural or stained wood but I think that having a lighter colour makes it feel more open and roomy... which is definitely a positive on a narrowboat! 👿😂

[@johnfineberg2112]

@@SortOfInteresting Yes That is my thoughts open and roomy is crucial It just makes such a difference

[@FiddlingwithmyWhistle]

Great.... thanks Dan. All good things to think about.

[@flumpaustin1994]

Having said that, I would add: I'd much rather have a boat that has been moving around than a boat that has been stuck in a marina for most of it's life. A diesel engine that has done few miles and a hull that has been subjected to corrosion causing electrolysis from 240v hook-ups is not good. Hulls of hire boats are renowned to be of good quality. Also, a boat that has bee out of water for an extended period, being subjected to damp air and oxygen is not good either. Thanks for the video Dan.

[@malcolm9650]

Happy new year Dan. My mind is in overtime thinking about buying one.

[@SortOfInteresting]

Haha, thanks! All the best, however boatworthy your year turns out to be!

[@tomtilley3162]

hi dan glad to see your looking well and happy as usual ...another great video ...nearly as good as the live stream and the dash for the pot noodle !

[@SortOfInteresting]

Haha that pot noodle stream is going to be hard to top! 😂

[@rugpoker]

Boat tips: Always get a hull survey. I didn't but... hahaha... great tips :D Bosley might take offence at your comments on old is always worse. She's still going from the 1860's and probably much thicker than most boats! But then she has her reasons for that haha. One thing I would also add to your tips is don't settle on the first boat you see. A bit like the sentiments you made on getting to excited about getting onto a boat, but get some experience, view a few boats and you will see various problems on those too that will open your eyes to things to look out for. Also it might sway your overall decision from what you had initially set your mind on if you are new to the boat scene. You will constantly find new and unique boats, no two are the same so do cast your eye over as many as possible within your abilities. Another thing, watch other boaters on youtube as people like yourself and others not to name names, helped me learn massive amounts before I made my first boat purchase. Cheers Dan, enjoying the new series. Looking forward to the next one you have planned.

[@SortOfInteresting]

Some excellent tips here! Thanks, I'm glad you like this series of videos too!

[@Femmpaws]

It is said the two happiest days in a boaters life is, the day they buy the boat, and the day they sell the boat. You have pointed out somethings that are very true. I use to work at a couple of boat yards, one of my jobs was doing systems evaluations. That included engines and propulsion, electrical and plumbing. Many times I saw boats that looked great, but were in sad shape below waterline. Saw a few that were sad looking but were in good shape in the engine and propulsion end of things... The wiring and plumbing needed a little help. The thing was the high dollar stuff was in great shape.

[@SortOfInteresting]

Yes, I forget to add in that often a lot of the electrics etc onboard have been cobbled together over the years when I said about checking things over inside, one boat that I viewed before buying Abel's Ark literally had the inverter in a box in the bathroom a few feet from the shower head!

[@Femmpaws]

Oh OHHH just what you need for a Darwin award! 240 volts in the shower! Can you say DRT! As in Dead Right There. I can say I have seen some of the same kind of things. How about feeding a 1500 watt inverter with 12 gauge wire that was about a 25 foot run. They complained about the smell of plastic early on then it went away... Oh the other thing that was missing was a fuse in the line.

[@pinnertom]

You have listed some very good points thankyou.

[@CONTACTLIGHT2]

Thanks so much for this! It’s super helpful. I’m loving reading your books too! :)

[@SortOfInteresting]

Thanks! Glad you like the videos and the books!

[@PhilPage227]

Very interesting video Dan, the boat looks beautiful.

[@SortOfInteresting]

Thanks! I am really happy with it all in all!

[@SuperChrisholloway]

Hi Dan, I have just put the deposit down on a boat at 5pm tonight its at the same marina as you bought Abels Ark from, i'm going up there tomorrow to sort things and to get a few questions answered, I'm am now in a state of trepidation coupled with being scared shitless (what have I done) I had not thought about the shallow llangollen canal wearing the bottom of the boat? Doh but I am having a survey done, If your around tomorrow midday why not call in the tea and donuts are on me

[@SortOfInteresting]

Ahhh is that Tilly Mint? If so that is the boat that I went to make an offer on before the Ark but it had already been sold! Honestly the panic and fear is as common a part of the experience as the excitement at this point!

[@SuperChrisholloway]

@@SortOfInteresting Hi Dan, I went up there to view Tilly Mint but it was not for me (due to previous owners modifications) I asked the marina guy if they had anything else like tilly mint and he showed me "wild swan" and I fell in love with her straight away (ex canal boat club 55ft) in excellent condition from what I can see and I'm a mechanical engineer by trade so if you want you engine serviced give me a call I'm on facebook Cheers Chris

[@nessiebarton6519]

Wow congratulations, hope your nerves soon wear off and you can start enjoying boatlife!

[@SuperChrisholloway]

@@nessiebarton6519 thank you for your good wishes Nessie

[@PhilPage227]

@@SuperChrisholloway Best of luck, I know the marina and the area round there very well and will look out for Wild Swan this year.

[@andrewwilliams3032]

Hiya Dan another good video do you ever get down Trevor on the weekends I would quite willingly give you a few quid to help you as I'm pens and writing pads as I do enjoy your talks and stories 👍👍👍

[@SortOfInteresting]

Hello, sometimes, but honestly nothing like that is necessary! Thanks though!

[@andrewwilliams3032]

What I will a park my car in Trevor quite often and weather permitting I get the bus to Ellesmere and then I spend the day walking back to Trevor

[@andrewwilliams3032]

And what I meant to say is I'll carry some goodies in my bag and if I see you I will hand them over to you thank you for replying and carry on the good work leave you in peace now

[@PhilPage227]

@@andrewwilliams3032 That sounds a mighty walk. I love the area and often visit Ellesmere and Trevor.

[@neilbullen26]

Good point Dan . Thank you .

[@BlueGeneXP]

Thank you for the video.

[@ambientman8150]

Great vid Dan some great advice as ever

[@morrislouiseeagle7161]

A good informative video-clear advice on buying a boat 👏😁❤️

[@SortOfInteresting]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@neilbullen26]

Dan , thanks as always for your video . As one who aims to be a cc on the Brecon cut in 2020 , I am always interested in your investigations ! Question for you - after having two boats - any views on trad , semi trad or cruiser stern ? HNY by the way ..

[@SortOfInteresting]

Thanks, Happy New Year too! Both of my boats have been cruiser sterns and I have got to be honest and say that on Tilly it was a bit excessive to have so much outdoor space and so little indoor, but on Abel's Ark having the covered over stern area is incredibly useful for storing all sorts of things in the dry that you might not want inside the boat, eg rubbish, bags of wood, wet clothes etc! If you have enough room indoors then a bit of extra outdoors space is surprisingly nice!

[@Hustwick]

Is it possible for the people that do the hull survey to do an overall check too? (engine/electrics/plumbing etc ...)

[@chronicfish]

Where did you learn all these useful tips Dan? Did you sit and read up on all the ins and outs before purchasing Tilley back in the day, or did you learn along the way? Was it in some manual or was all the information passed on by someone more experienced? Great video as always Dan.. (still hopeful for that second Pot Noodle session as well)

[@SortOfInteresting]

Sadly I had to learn almost everything along the way! Especially as back then there were no proper videos like this about boat life!!!

[@mhn3773]

Thanks for the video Dan!

[@pageant1fd]

Great vid Dan,again. When are you having your A Ark out of the water. ? When out,do you suggest getting stern gland totally repacked ? How long do anodes last ? Keep up the good work Dan.

[@SortOfInteresting]

Hello! The anodes could last for a long time, years on end, or vanish a lot quicker depending on circumstances, for example the ones on Tilly were never replaced, I had some spare ones but when she came out of thew water the marina staff said they didn't need to be replaced, so they didn't get changed for the four years I had her plus the years since they had been changed before I bought her! Personally I would only fiddle with the stern gland if it is showing signs of needing repacking!

[@diegohr1]

Hi Dan, really good advice, but do you know if there is a website when I can search if the boat is stolen, their history and so on? I mean, how can they prove that that boat is 100% legal? Thanks in advance for your comment.

[@paulthomas4556]

Great video Dan

[@AdrianJeens]

Good advice thanks Dan

[@debraco7748]

Very interesting! Thanks. BTW, Where'd you get the 1940's pinup girls shower curtain

[@experditionrebellions2880]

i am looking for a canal boat where would be the best place to look for a bargain. i have 20-30k to spend and want something around 57ft

[@maxboonkittypoison]

Nice of you to give us advice and tips you should watch your videos hahahahahaha Hope that the hull turn out ok. My hull wassn't ok i had leaks on 2 places and had to replace one meter of steel under the bow. Wel i did it myself, glad im a blacksmith :D Now the hull is ok :D I really hope your boats hull is perfect and you only have to do the blacking. Did you know you can put an extra layer on top of your blacking so it wil last 2 years longer?? I use a brons top coating over my new blacking :D

[@SortOfInteresting]

Thank you fingers crossed for some good news!

[@emmapaignton4765]

How much was Ables Ark. It looks £57,000.00

[@barryuk676]

What was Tilly like underneath it looked quite horrific on the film? I've been reading up a bit on hull blacking e.t.c and it reads like a bit of a minefield.

[@SortOfInteresting]

Not too bad, never caused me any concern and was told she was in good shape... aha had been overplated however so I had two layers of rusty steel down there! It always looks bad because the rust swells up so much!

[@tarmacsurfers]

Evening mate 👍🏻

[@SortOfInteresting]

Hello! Wow that was fast!

[@billcotton1551]

I would think the engines would be fairly simple ,low rpm type ,and prone to long life ,and easy repairs.

[@barrycossins9027]

Good video

[@markcroft3619]

at last