Is a 23ft Narrowboat Too Small for Comfortable Living?

Who is this for? These questions are for someone trying to buy a narrowboat to live on.

The purpose of these questions is to give you a complete map of buying a boat. You may not neccesserily use every single one of them verbatem but by understanding what categories they cover and why they are asked, you will get a very good idea of what to look out for.

If this guide saves you 000’s by helping you avoid a boat with a bunch of problems, or makes you 000’s by helping you grab a great quality one when you see it, then it has served it’s purpose.

Should Have Been In The Advert

Break you in gently. These quustions should have been answered on the ad.

• • How old is the Narrowboat? Self explanetory
• • What is the layout of the boat? (Knowing this beforehand will help you visualize how you might live aboard.)

Common layout (from the stern):

• Back Deck
• Bedroom
• Bathroom
• Sofa Area
• Kitchen
• Front Deck

Or reversed, with the bedroom in the bow (front).

If the boat is longer than 38 foot, you may have another bedroom somewhere along the chain.

• Who built the boat? What can you tell me about the reputation of this manufacturer? Realistically no one is going to be able to tell you any decent amount of information about the maker of the narrowboat. At most they will tell you the maker’s name.

If you have already broken the ice, skip this question.

General Boat Questions

You need to work out if you trust the seller, and get them to trust you in return. Without this there is very little chance of closing the sale.

• • Has the boat been surveyed recently? Can I see the survey report? This is in general boat questions even though it it very specific because it is one of the most useful pieces of information to know. The reason you would get a boat surveyed is because you were buying it (you ‘borrow it’ from the seller before you buy) or if you were unsure about its stability.

If someone in the last 6 months has taken it for a survey at their own expense (as a buyer) and then did not buy it, there is likely something nasty lurking. If they do not have access to that written survey report or wont show you for some reason, probably move on.

• • How long has the current owner owned the boat? If you are going through a boat broker this is good question. What you are trying to find out is how attached to the boat the seller is. If you know this, you can judge if you can put a lower price in. These are my personal thoughts of attachment for different lengths of boat ownership:

0 - 1 Year. Could be a boat flipper that has their eye on what the work cost them and the profit they want, so very little negotiation room. Or someone that doesn’t enjoy living on a boat, some negotiation room.
1 Year to 2 years Probably someone living on it for a while, or someone that has taken a little while longer than a flipper to renovate the boat. 2 Years to 5 Years Probably living on it full time. Attached to the boat, and has their original price they themselves paid for it. “I just want to get out what I put in”. 5 Years + Obviously this is a big bucket, but if they are going through a boat broker and the owner has had it longer than 5 years, probably they don’t live in the narrowboat and keep it in a marina, used to use it a lot, now have had a couple of years where they don’t use it. Each month they pay marina fee and maybe there is blacking to be done in the next year or so. BSS certificate nearly due for renewal is a kick for some people to sell. A lot of boats online need blacking and BSS in the next year or two. People shout about it in their ads if it has just been blacked.

• • Why is the current owner selling the boat? Then you find out more details about the owner. With the length
• • How many previous owners has the boat had? More important to know when buying a car, but still applies to a narrowboat. In my opinion, lots of owners on a single boat suggests it either got a lot of use on longer trips, with each person owning for a year or so, or there is something wrong with the boat that only becomes apparent after a little while of living on it.
• • What was the outcome of the most recent hull survey, specifically? If they are happy to discuss the outcome of the survey with you, this is a great one to ask. The hull survey uses an ultrasound machine to give the exact milimetre reading of the hull thickness. If your plate is meant to be 6mm and you have some bits which are 5.6, 5.7 or 5.8mm, its okay. At this point you do not have to think about overplating in your near future. Just make sure the blacking is done on schedule and your hull is sound.
• • When was the last time the boat was blacked (hull treated to prevent rust)? This will have come up before the hull survey question. If it was not specifically written in the Product Description then it is probably out of date.

Blacking is the process of applying a substance to the outside of the hull that protects the metal from the water. This needs to be done every 3 to 4 years usually.

• • Has the boat ever had any serious damage or needed significant repair work? I love this question. From this you really get a sense of what kind of boater this is. Are they someone that completely understands their boat? Are they an engineer type? Do they know enough about engines to have looked after it as their own child? Am I buying this from someone that doesn’t actually have a clue?

This question will really show quickly who you are dealing with.

Expect boats over the age of 20 to have had some bigger things done to them.

• • How frequently was the boat serviced? A follow up question from the last one really. If you know engines, go into the service history. If you don’t know them, skip this part and get your surveyor to check.

Pro Tip Make sure the surveyor comes from you, not someone recommended by the seller. This is a small community than you realise. Certain parties are motivated to get this boat sold. Not everyone is a cowboy but by not knowing the surveyor you open yourself up to a little more risk.

Price Lowering Questions

The reason you want to ask questions like this is because you are looking for the golden nuggets that mean the price you pay for the boat is lower than the advertised price.

• • Is there any outstanding maintenance or repair work that needs to be done? If they don’t tell you, in my opinion its fraud. However, most things like a boat or a car are sold as seen and therefore it is down to yourself to ensure what you are buying is legit. That’s why you get a survey done.

Where has the boat been moored and has it been used in salt water? How does the boat handle? Does it track straight or does it pull to one side? Are there any warranties still in effect on the boat or any of its parts? What is the boat’s fuel efficiency? How much does it cost annually to maintain and operate?

Boat Build Questions

• • How is the insulation? Is it suitable for winter living? Thin insulation on a boat means that your cabin will be warmer in Summer, and take more fuel to heat in winter. Try and see the insulation with your own eyes through out different points along the boat. Ask the owner to pull a panel off if they can. Each room can have different insulation, so checking one room only is a sub par check. If you trust the owner and they know the insulation situation on the boat, ask them specifically about it. Asking them if its hot in summer and cold in winter is a bad question because it is so subjective. What do you expect them to tell you if you ask a question like that.
• • What is the condition of the bilge and when was it last cleaned? How easy is access to it?

Internal Function Questions

This is where you find out the nitty gritty of how the boat is going to operate day to day. You need to imagine yourself living here for this section.

How often is the boat taken out on the water? What type of toilet does the boat have? (This can affect your experience living on the boat as well as maintenance.) What type of heating system does the boat have? What type of energy does the boat use (gas, diesel, electricity, etc.)?

Maintenance Needed Questions

What is the condition of the water and waste tanks?

Part of the Deal Questions

What appliances or features are included in the sale? Are all of them in working order?

• What was the outcome of the most recent hull survey, specifically?
• When was the last time the boat was blacked (hull treated to prevent rust)?
• Has the boat ever had any serious damage or needed significant repair work?
• How frequently was the boat serviced?
• How many hours does the engine have?
• What is the layout of the boat? (Knowing this beforehand will help you visualize how you might live aboard.)
• What appliances or features are included in the sale? Are all of them in working order?

Has the boat ever been used for rental or commercial purposes? Are there any liens or encumbrances on the boat? Can the current owner provide a record of all maintenance and repairs?

How to Create a Boat Listing

This section covers what someone should include in their product description when they are selling their boat.

FAQ

1. FAQ1

2. FAQ2

3. FAQ3*