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Buying a Secondhand Boat |
| Get a surveyor.
You need someone to give practical advice about the
condition and value of the boat. Ask around: boatyards
and other owners will be pleased to suggest good
surveyors. |
| Do your homework
(1): the Waterways World Annual has good advice and
useful lists. |
| Do your homework
(2): get a Starter pack from
British Waterways with useful information on
licensing,
Boat Safety Scheme and insurance requirements. |
| Do your homework
(3): Read the ads in Waterways World, Canal Boat and
Canals & Rivers (all monthly from newsagents;
surveyors and insurance brokers also advertise here).
Canal Junction lists brokers. Remember, every boat
is different so when you've seen one you haven't seen
them all; therefore |
| Do the legwork.
There is no substitute for seeing as many boats as you
can. Only then will you know the right one when you see
it - and know its value. |
| Check out the
Recreational Craft Directive - see under new boats
on the right. A boat being offered for sale less than 5
years after completion must comply. |
| Remember that a
private seller is not bound by the Trade Descriptions
Act, but a business seller is - whether from his own
stock or as a broker. |
| Expect proper
paper-work. You should get a contract protecting
your rights, and a Bill of Sale on completion. A boat
less than 5 years old must have a Declaration of
Conformity and Owner's Manual. |
| Last and first, get
a surveyor!
Canal Junction has a list. |
| We sell a small
number of second hand boats. Click for
our current stock. |
|
Buying a New
boat
Canal Junction lists good builders. The
Canal
Boatbuilders Association will send you their
guide (free, and worth its weight in gold) which has information
about proper contracts, decent builders and the Recreational
Craft Directive. The Waterways World Annual is also good.
Make sure your boat is CE
marked and has the relevant paperwork to show compliance with
the Recreational Craft Directive. It must have a Declaration of
Conformity, a list of the standards used, a detailed Owner's
Manual and a 14 digit Craft Identification Number (CIN) as well
as its BW number.
Mike Carter, a surveyor with extensive knowledge and
experience, has lots of advice on his website. DIY
builders can certify their boats through the RYA.
You can look at the
British Marine
Federation
site for information on contracts to protect your rights.
Don't pay more than a modest amount in advance; your stage
payments should be after stated points have been reached and
never for more than the value of work actually done.
For a narrow boat builder who
shares our ideas about quality, talk to
Crown Narrowboats Ltd. They are approachable,
experienced and keen. For narrow boats and especially barges,
see Pickwell
and Arnold, who have a loyal following and a high
reputation. |
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