|
|
Post by thallow on Dec 16, 2007 16:42:49 GMT
I saw somebody sat on a narrowboat recently with a little woodburning stove, a brew and a book - it was pouring with rain and looked so cosy  PURELY out of interest I had a look online at some prices - whooaa HOW MUCH!!!! how come they are so expensive to buy? is it really that difficult to make a narrowboat? |
|
|
|
Post by dom on Dec 16, 2007 17:04:19 GMT
Nah ! Dead easy.
Think I've got a WIP somewhere ;D ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by jfc on Dec 16, 2007 17:37:42 GMT
You can pick up the empty shell fairly cheap and do it up your self . Have a look on boats and outboards www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/php/welcome.php3Keep an eye on the projects as they come up now and then . The main problem you will have with a project narrow boat is paying for it while your not using it . Moorings are charged by the foot . Why not go for a smaller cruiser that is easy to lift out if you need to and alot quicker to make cosy by just turning the cooker on  |
|
|
|
Post by thallow on Dec 16, 2007 22:23:39 GMT
Nah ! Dead easy. Think I've got a WIP somewhere ;D ;D Lets see then ;D ;D ;D |
|
|
|
Post by thallow on Dec 16, 2007 22:25:26 GMT
You can pick up the empty shell fairly cheap and do it up your self . How cheap is cheap? 10k, 30k?  ;D ps what does this mean? "Age: 10 days old " |
|
|
|
Post by jfc on Dec 16, 2007 22:34:16 GMT
Thats how long the add has been on the site i assume |
|
|
|
Post by mel on Dec 17, 2007 23:19:40 GMT
i seem to recognise that vessel  |
|
|
|
Post by thallow on Dec 18, 2007 7:10:45 GMT
Is this your boat then JFC ? |
|
|
|
Post by jfc on Dec 18, 2007 8:08:44 GMT
Yup thats my baby She didnt look like that when i bought her but nothing a bit of elbow grease couldnt sort out . Mel has been aboard and can say how warm it was once the heating was on ( if he can remember ;D ) |
|
|
|
Post by Scrit on Dec 18, 2007 12:31:02 GMT
To the OP (thallow) A long time ago I looked at buying a steel narrowboat, but just like you the price put me off. The difficult bits to build seem to be the prow   and the stern  but especially the prow because both parts are normally formed by rolling then holding to a jig and welding. It's just that the prows curve in two planes as can be seen in the photo above (from S&S Narrowboats). Large jigs aren't cheap or easy and I ended up coming to the conclusion that these two elements were best bought-in. The prow normally contains a stainless steel water tank complete with filter vent whilst the stern has to incorporate a weed hatch, stern tube (for the propellor shaft), engine mountings, rudder tube and fuel tank. Getting the length of "swim" right is apparently critical to how the boat handles (the swim is the tapered section of hull beneath the waterline inside which the engine and gearbox sit). The main part of the hull didn't seem that difficult as it's mainly seam (oxy?) welding sheet steel (learned to oxy weld years ago, although I'm not that practised). The cheapest boats are supposed to be 6mm bottom with 5mm sides and 4mm tops whilst the heaviest are something like 10/12mm bottom, 8/10mm sides and 6mm top. A lot of boat builders are happy to sell you a boat in almost any state of completion, from components to bare shell, to sealed/framed shell through to the completed boats, although I've not seen anything less than £10k for a long time, making fibreglass boats a much more affordable option Scrit |
|
|
|
Post by thallow on Dec 19, 2007 17:47:27 GMT
The cheapest boats are supposed to be 6mm bottom with 5mm sides and 4mm tops whilst the heaviest are something like 10/12mm bottom, 8/10mm sides and 6mm top. 6mm!!!  Wow that is thin!!!! Thanx for taking the time to post Scrit, very interesting, maybe it is an idea that I will leave very much on the back burner for now! ;D Ps what about wooden hulls? or is that just too much trouble? |
|
|
|
Post by jfc on Dec 30, 2007 18:56:39 GMT
Depends on how much time you want to spend on keeping it up to scratch . Wooden boats take a lot of looking after but they are worth it IMHO . I think most people that own wooden boats would say that the boat is the only hobby they have time for . Anyhow i spotted this today www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F167995Bargin as these go for around 6k . I think its a Birchwood 22. The bonus on these is the beam (width) which gives you a nicer layout inside . My friend had one for years and it was great for his wife and two kids . Dave also has one so if your interested he will probably have more details about them . |
|
|
|
Post by blacksheep on Apr 13, 2008 12:31:31 GMT
I too have looked at buying a narrowboat but never had the funds to proceed.
You can get a brand new steel hull fitted with engine, water tank, and basic electrics for around £20-25k for a 50 ft boat.
Fully fitted, the price rises to £60-65k!
That seems an awful lot of money for a bit of carpentry and some plumbing.
A good friend of mine is nearing completion of just such a fit-out project. If he gets the price he wants for the finished boat he will have made over £25k for 9 months part-time work allowing for all costs. He reckons that if he had been able to work full time on it he'd have got it finished in 3 months.
It's a thought, isn't it?
|
|
|
|
Post by thallow on Apr 13, 2008 16:56:24 GMT
That seems an awful lot of money for a bit of carpentry and some plumbing. A good friend of mine is nearing completion of just such a fit-out project. If he gets the price he wants for the finished boat he will have made over £25k for 9 months part-time work allowing for all costs. He reckons that if he had been able to work full time on it he'd have got it finished in 3 months. It's a thought, isn't it? Certainly is! Still like most things in life I reckon its probably not as easy as it sounds! good luck to your mate though, I spose once he has done one then it is bound to get easier once you have completed that steep learning curve -I wonder if there are any regs that apply - or do building regs (of a sort) apply because it is somebodys home? |
|
|
|
Post by jfc on Apr 13, 2008 17:00:38 GMT
Regs do apply on most waterways in the form of a safety cert . Renewed by a test every four years . I think mine is due next year  |
|
|
|
Post by richards on Dec 17, 2008 12:57:39 GMT
The honest answer is, yes it is difficult to fit out a narrowboat, however it is no beyond the skills of most competent woodworkers, however there are several things you should bear in mind, in no particular order. 1. There is a world of difference between fitting a boat out for your own pleasure / use and bringing to the open market a desirable and sale able product, I'm not saying it can't be done just that there is some very stiff competition out there, the market is quiet and buyers are choosy, you need to be not just a good fitter but an excellent designer too. Look here for ideas of what the true competition has going for it www.aqualinemarine.co.uk and www.metrofloat.co.uk . 2 There are some regulations with which you will have to comply, principally this is The Recreational Craft Directive. In essence any boat built and placed on the European open market since October 1998 has to comply with this legislation and be CE marked. The regulations are complex but basically require you to identify which standards you have applied in the construction of the vessel eg ISO, BS etc, among other things you need also to produce an owners manual, a declaration of conformity and keep a technical file for ten years post completion. If the boat is to be sold there is no escaping the above it is the law. 3 There is an exception to the above and that is for people who genuinely fit out / build a boat for there own use and intend to keep it for five years or more. Sound good but if your circumstances change and you need to sell the boat you will need the paperwork. 4. I'm not saying that narrowboats have not been bought and sold since 1998 without the above documentation being in place, they have but it's not legal. I suppose it all boils down to how well you want to sleep at night (presuming you have a conscience). There have been numerous successful prosecutions for non compliance brought by the Trading Standards Department. 5. If you really want to fit out your own narrowboat, go for it, many people have, some just for fun and some for profit, most have enjoyed the experience though not all have made as much money as they thought they would, bear in mind that there is considered to be about a thousand man hours in the fit out of a decent boat. How many hours a week can you spare? Also do yourself a favour and factor in the cost of employing a marine surveyor to help you produce your Manual / Declaration and ensure you comply with all current legislation as the Declaration of Conformity is exactly what it says, it's you declaration that everything that has been done to the boat conforms, ie. it's your neck on the line if it doesn't especially if someone gets hurt! 6. As with most things at the present time the economy is not doing my industry any favours, there are currently thousands of boats for sale both new and second hand, there are still buyers in the market, but many many fewer than twelve months ago, prices are under pressure as sellers compete with each other to attract the buyers that are left and good presentation, desirable specification and an attractive price point are vital but even with all these a sale is not guaranteed. 7. So if your keen go for it but have your eyes open and do your research, look at whats selling and whats not, decide if the boat is for your pleasure, in which case design it to please your self or if you are building to sell find out what people are looking for and do that, stay detached from what you like and concentrate on providing what the buyers want not what you like. to see a good cross section of pre owned boats for sale you can look here www.theusedboat.co.ukI've been looking at this site for a while now but this is the first topic I've felt qualified to comment upon, I've probably rambled a bit but if anyones interested and wants any further advice or information, let me know. I'm sorry I don't call in everyday but I will respond as soon as I can. Merry Christmas Richard |
|
|
|
Post by modernist on Dec 17, 2008 15:20:09 GMT
I've been looking at this site for a while now but this is the first topic I've felt qualified to comment upon, I've probably rambled a bit but if anyones interested and wants any further advice or information, let me know. I'm sorry I don't call in everyday but I will respond as soon as I can. Merry Christmas Richard I admire your restraint at watching the rest of us since Oct 2007 without comment. I don't think "qualification" is essential to participate ;D ;D Brian |
|
PURELY out of interest I had a look online at some prices - whooaa HOW MUCH!!!! how come they are so expensive to buy? is it really that difficult to make a narrowboat?
;D
