As an insurance underwriter for Zurich, I have to take issue with the advice given by the broker regarding circumventing the issue of insurance by a foreign national. Anyone giving an address as their residence for the purpose of obtaining services or financial or material benefit is committing criminal fraud ! The only exemption being if the boats registered and legal owner gave his foreign address and made it abundantly clear that the UK address was "only" a contact agent for the purposes of correspondence. Also if an owner "registered" the boat to a third person who was not the "legal owner" for the expedience of obtaining insurance cover that cover would be declared void in the event of a claim. In any event, any "paper juggling" of any sort, could be judged as misrepresentation by any company and used as a reason not to honour any claim. I hope this is useful.
Yeah, that struck me as a bit dodgy at the time. One imagines you might be able to circumvent the "needing insurance" problem by quoting a UK address. I have to believe you'd be in a whole heap of trouble if you had to make an actual claim.
@@brianferguson7840 I guess a foreign national could establish a limited company in the UK (easy and fairly cheap) whose sole objective was to own and lease out the boat - to the owner. The company could then obtain insurance.
I guess the idea is that even though the insurance won't pay out in that situation, that as long as nothing happens, they at least can get a license for the canal network.
Frankly, if boats go up in price and licences treble then we might get a canal network that can be actually be enjoyed once more. Currently where I am it's nothing more than a waterside shanty town. We need to get bricks and mortar housing in this country sorted out once and for all. People living in filthy canal boats, cars and vans is totally unacceptable in this day and age.
I began watching this vlog during the pandemic, and its calmness and interesting topic meant a lot to me at that time. Thanks for being there during that time and providing a well-needed diversion. It now brings back good memories during a somewhat uncertain time.
Same for me also, but I went down that "canal" rabbit hole, learned exactly how the hulls are made, where they are made, I'm a welder. Looking all over the UK to find out which canals support wide beam, where they interconnect, which is the longest one to be moored in, and yes ... where the taverns are along the canal and if there's room for mooring there. I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and have been thinking of retiring in Scotland or England, but I want to do it with a canal wall as a property line, so that I can rent a boat and if I love it, purchase a boat.
Boats are overpriced with depreciation inevitable. People started thinking of these as houses instead of like a car. They rust like a car, much quickers if you don't look after them a lot of people are going to be disapointed when they go to sell. The bubble has burst especially with the CRT rises in Licence fees which are going to double in the next few years. It no longer is a cheap option for housing if that's why you are looking for one. You spend now 150k on a boat and then come to sell ten years later do you think your boat will rise in price like housing? PS; Forgot to say David fascniating and well made vlog lol :)
It’s really fascinating to think about homes appreciating and depreciating in value. I sometimes think it’s the location that appreciates or depreciates in value and not the actual home itself. When the neighborhood goes down in value so does the house. When you buy a car, house boat or RV you’re just buying the thing.
David, thank you again for making a great video. I live in the US and will never need to buy a Narrowboat but just listening to your presentations gives me a break from the daily grind. Thank you.
Excellent video. The willingness of Rugby Boats to be interviewed and questioned is a testament to your ability not only in"networking" but also in becoming honest & transparent through your UA-cam channel (as you have always been). That question vis "buying" is very similar to having (OR) thinking about having (for example) a UA-cam channel. There has to be "purpose" and not just for "social media" me time. A constructive criticism of some websites (to do with Narrowboats) lack substance but of course this is just IMHO. Thank you once again for such an excellent video.
Brilliant. Love Rugby Boats. Best walk round videos you can get. If I do end up buying then they’re the first port of call. Brilliant. Interesting vlog David. Best wishes
Thanks for your high standard of content, which I never miss. Fascinating topic for us right now, and the insights here are interesting. It's a similar story with sailing boats. I hope your dad is well and he enjoyed your visit. 🙏 Liz
Before you think you can live on a Narrow Boat hire one for a week and look at lengths over 40 foot. You will be living in a metal tunnel albeit made comfortable with your possessions. I had a 13 yr old 65' Wilson hull/with a Simpson Galleon style fit out. I bought it in May 2018 and it was in Marine Servicing for 3 months, (being recovered from a 3 year lay off). It was lovely when done, focusing on Electrics, Engine, Heating & fitting out. In Sept 2023 I sold it, recovering the boat asset costs. But I spent £14,000 on unrecovered Marina costs due to Covid and £3K pa on running costs. illness' forced my sale by having to move the boat every 2 weeks. If you live on the bank you must do the same, which makes fixed location needs difficult. I had to move 4 miles back & forth on open moorings to comply with C&RT rules. This made living in the same spot AWKWARD. Talk to other boaters BEFORE you BUY.
Gosh David, I can now put a face to the name at Rugby Boats, we were just missing The Commodore on your vlog!! A very interesting vlog, as always, thank you so much.
The Company's set the prices, Rugby boats are absolute premium price's...there is no "oh it was this price" and now it's this....If people will pay they will keep charging... Great video btw 👍
We bought our boat in 2010 for 43 thousand and sold it in 2015 with a fifteen thousand loss. I am happy with that loss. We lived on her ,cruised extencivley. spent a fair time on the river Trent. Apart from changing the engine oil every two months we spent nothing on maintainance. hence the loss. If we had spent the money to bring her back to the condition she was bought in, we would have sold for more than we bought her for. But we found we did not need a bow thruster, central heating, and taking her out of the water for blacking was problematic. We left the waterways to buy a smallholding in Poland. ( another adventure). There are many reasons we gave up boat life, But mostly it was because the network got too busy, and the more busy it got the less friendly it got. If I was buying again. I would hit the middle of the market again. If you spend too much, you are frightened to scratch it. and if you spend to little you cannot live comfortably. The main advice I would give to anyone starting out is, make sure you have a wood burner and use it constantly. Wood burners kill any damp problem before damp can set in and ruin your life.
Good to see the latest of your vlogs. I was at that location today. James is one of the straightest guys on the network; not the cheapest, but doesn't stock any junk. Absolutely correct evaluation on prices. Down about 10% from the silly peak (so more factoring in inflation) but demand still high, and steel gets ever more expensive ( as do the mechainicals and fittings). A softening i think they call it! Sensibly plateaued out. I cant see an exodus away from boats any time soon. As always buy something in good general condition get a full survey, and just dont overpay.
@@katienorthenmore1892 I would suggest that the better condition that the surveyor reports it to be in, the less aggressive and low your offer. I helped a friend negotiate his purchase. We got down to the selling brokers bottom line and they were argguing over £500, and I said it would be silly to lose a good boat for the sake of £500! I bought mine in the madness of Covid lockdown. A 45ft 10 year old semi trad. It was £46,000 asking at a well known marina brokerage. Twice it was sold; once failing at survey. However, I could see it had just been lashed up for the sale (by the seller, a boatyard, not the broker) The survey was ok; not at all good, but average, with a number of fairly major items but a very good hull. I could see it had not been well maintained and neglected. I'm fairly handy so could do a few jobs myself. We eventually agreed on £37,000 I got it tidy and updated within budget of £43k with lots of work!
This was a very informative video. Thank you! We’ve been researching boats all year and had decided the majority of the ones we’re interested in seem to be sold through Rugby Boats. So we had planned on relocating near this brokerage in May so that we are convenient to see new boats when they come on the market. Seeing this interview with them makes us more confident in that decision. Thanks for clarifying so much. We’ve look forward to meeting you this Spring!
A terrifically helpful video for those looking to buy for the first time, sell or trade up. I really enjoyed this one and your guest struck me as knowledgeable and realistic.
I’m likely never going to buy a narrowboat, but I would absolutely want the living space at the back and the bed in the bow. I would want the galley and the living at the rear so the person at the tiller could still interact with those inside and I don’t want to have to crawl through the bedroom to get a cup of coffee.
Or drip wet clothes all through the bedroom. The bedroom at the back seems a crazy idea, why on earth would people want that layout, it does seem pretty popular though.
Agreed, the reverse layout is my preference. I think the reason all three boats had the same layout was to compare like with like. Unfortunately what he didn't do was specify the age of the boats! Also I think the bedroom close to the engine bay was originally for heating reasons, that would have been the warmest part of the boat before the days of radiators.
@@babyclarabelleFor some bizarre reason, I couldn't post any comment after clicking on Reply yesterday and I could not add any explanation to the comment below which is about the ages of the boats.
Thank you so much for balanced interview and questions regarding the state of the market for boats. I was shocked to hear of the insurance difficulties for my friends in the USA, should they decide to invest. I loved the last boat's interior - from Buckingham Palace, no less. By the way, with regard to the outrow - that is THE most energetic dog I have ever seen! Oh, and may you and the many CTC viewers have a splendid Christmas/Holiday Season!🛥🎄
The Commodore is Rugby Boat's cupboard inspector. Rugby Boats have their own channel where they give tours of the boats they have for sale. The Commodore is allowed on some and always peeks his nose in when James or Billy opens a cupboard. I like them because they don't play music when they show a boat.
What a great interview, David! It was nice to see the face of the voice of the Rugby Boats channel. And you made sure to film The Commodore! Cheers from America!
Thank you David for this video! We have been watching you for a few years, and have talked about doing a narrow boat vacation in Lockport NY. Thank you for helping us to expand our visions of what a vacation can be. I hope your renovation on the new boat is going well. Happy holidays from Pennsylvania!
Do and would love this life style. Watching "you tubers" on the cut, show such pretty scenery, slower lifestyle looks enchanting, but I enjoy to watch from my trusty sofa. Very interesting informative vlog. ❤
Me too - I'm 84 & not allowed to drive these days, so I spend a lot of time on the internet - these canals & boats are one of my go-to subjects for seeing how others live, and to enjoy the countryside. I'm in the US for the past 40 years, but we did hire a boat for a few days many years ago, it was on a river in Norfolk but the river was in full flood from too much rain -& very scary - not a holiday I remember with much pleasure unfortunately, but we knew if the weather had been good, how beautiful it would have been ! .I too love my sofa !
David, your experience as a television interviewer/presenter shines through! Without being aggressive or demanding you asked the questions I might have and presented the questions and answers in an interesting way.
Not forgetting the price difference of size of boats. If you are happy living/weekend cruiser in a smaller boat, you can get a cracking one for the price of a well made larger boat.
An excellent video packed with advice for anyone looking to buy their first narrowboat. Broker James strongly recommended getting a survey done before buying any boat which is very good advice. Be wary though of buying a boat with a recent survey for two reasons. Firstly, you have no assurance of the independence of the surveyor from the seller. This is usually more of a problem when buying privately at the lower end of the price range but the principle applies at all price points. Secondly, if you did not commission the survey, the report carries no warranty for you should a problem emerge that wasn't identified in the report.
This is a great idea for a show. I really enjoyed it. I think the interior on the last boat is pretty incredible. The craftsman workmanship and planning are incredible.
Me too But I sadly lack the funds,surely I could get something for a few thousand. My god I'm English, I should be able to live my life on a river. Time,nor tide wait for no man. And I can see the tide coming in,
Very interesting video guys. No mention of mooring fees, this possibly a stumbling block to some. I recall very many years ago a pal was thinking of buying an ex MTB twin engine job priced at around (then) 20 k. He was on the point saying yes when he was informed of mooring fees and what with the insurance issue and possible maintenance, he let it go by. Well done on this must be very tempting for so many.
Great video as always. I’d love for you to do a deeper dive on the lower end of the market. Plenty of people looking for a boat with a budget under 25k for reasons mentioned in this video. Not as much quality info about showing what you really get (or don’t!) for that money in 2024/5 as there is for the mid-high end of the market on UA-cam
Fascinating. Esp how the market has changed over time. And how folks are still looking for a ‘cheap’ house alternative. Mooring availability and cost has to also be factored in. Thanks. C&Lx
Doesn't it just! My daughter lives in Bristol and was thinking of getting a narrowboat to live on. No way can she find a mooring so it's just not going to happen. Not only that the mooring charges these days are getting to the point you may as well pay rent on a flat. Shocking!
Thank you for another great video. Guess your vids are the only ones where you can watch the thumb-counter rollin every 2 to 5 seconds. No wonder. You give us alltimes a good time. Especially with this "how much is a boat these days?" It´s a very good idea to produce every for or five years a new vid about this, cause things do change quick. Thank you an have a good time.
Excellent. Rugby and James seem tops. Pynots(magpies) & Sixpense: 35K£, 48', 10yr old engine!!!, 2 side hatches, big windows, clean layout - if I had been in the market I would have bought it in a heartbeat from James. Perfect for 2-3yrs year round living, marina and cruising. Gawd I would have been happy!!!!! No interest in the other 2 but they have their place in the market. Interesting about US and insurance. I'll have to move to UK. No problem! Very nicely done! 🤩
@@CruisingTheCut Darn it David , you do a really good interview, and you pick your targets super well. Now I know Rugby and James! 90% of the battle!!!
Theres a definite North-South divide with prices too. But that goes for housing too so taken as a given. The Bumble clip was worth the watch until the end ❤
@@sianwarwick633 If you watch the Rugby Boat Sales videos of boats for sale he is a regular and people ask after him If he is missing for two consecutive videos.
Metric tons of great information for those looking to get into the narrowboat life! I'd love it, if I lived on that side of the pond or if the USA had a similar set of canals. I suspect even a "wide body" canal boat would end up getting rolled on many of our rivers! I'd love to see you and the "Duo Vagari" channel do a collaboration on how they (and Barley, can't forget him!) are building out their boat.
I seemed to have missed these videos for awhile. Lovely to watch a sensible down to earth youtube video again. Do the surveys give any financial comeback if they were wrong or even negligent. I remember David did a video on a lady who bought a boat , had it surveyed only to find out a short time later it was almost a write off for her financially due to the thinness of the hull.. My friends were continuous cruising canal chaplains for a few years but have now gone back on land. Cheese sandwich on the way David, thank you
Great informative vlog David good to see the three different options price wise. Have to agree with the liveaboard issues in relation to canal systems and CRT finances definitely a lot to think about unfortunately. Have to say I love the diversity of the channel.
I'm currently living aboard a friend's 40 ft springer in Nottingham with my pet greyhound throughout January and February to see if I enjoy the lifestyle. So far, so good, even if it did get to -7 here a week ago. I'm looking to buy my own later this year. Your channel is very exciting and useful!
This was a very useful, practical perspective on narrow boats. The lifestyle is definitely not for the faint hearted, or those that like warmth in Winter. Oh, and you have to keep moving!
I thoroughly enjoyed this very informative video David, and thanks to James for being so forthright with his answers. It is somewhat comforting to know I still can't afford one.
thank you so much for doing this vlog, it was so helpful, as i have just started looking again at boats. you asked some good questions. I think i will watch it again and take notes, best wishes and keep doing the vlogs!!
'feeling the pinch' is an extreme understatement when it comes to 'living'- it's more of a 'series of punches in the gut' just to survive. Would like to hear more about the low end of the boat market
You vlog is timely David. Having reached retirement age, I have just commenced a search of boats for sale with a view to traveling to Britain next year to purchase one. I have borrowed boats about four times now since 1997 and had always planned to purchase a boat during our early retirement. Our budget in the present market is around UK$60,000. However, as a New Zealander I was more than a little non-plussed by the comment that the insurance market is actively refusing to insure my countrymen and me. This is all the more galling as I have spent 46 years in the insurance industry here in NZ! Frustratingly I will now have to make contact with various brokers to determine whether I can buy cover. As least I have had a heads-up, so thank you for your informative vlog. All the best, Grant
In 2012 other half and I argued about having a narrow boat or motorhome ! Luckily I won and so went for the motorhome as my partners health deteriorated so the boat would have been impractical. I don’t think potential purchasers always consider health requirements for canal passage. Thanks for the video.
Two pack polyurethane coatings nowadays will never come off the steel as long as the steel is shot blasted just before applying..plus the steel is at least 20 plus degree in dry room ... Always best buy the steel shell (hull) and fit it out yourself..
I bought a boat Jan this year Im on my fourth trip back this year cruising the canals… love it and will keep it for a year or two longer until I’m done.. Easiest,cheapest way to see the country
Thanks for this. I’m ever curious about the economics and practicalities of boat ownership in other parts of the world. Looks like middle price is the planning factor. By the time one fixed up the low price point one, you’d be in striking distance of the middle range. The insights about foreign ownership were most useful.
That's true but if you fix one up you can get it just so, whereas buying a mid range boat with nothing much to do means you live with it as it is. We bought an old springer back in 2012 for just £12000, we've spent that again and some on getting her all done up but now we just can't look at another boat without thinking of all the work we'd need to do to get it as nice.
Hello David, An interested video, thank you... I think sadly the costs have gone to high for me to get a narrowboat... So it's a life of gongoozling for me... Take care. Paul,,
They should hire you to make sales videos! I live in the middle of America, and I was ready to get out my checkbook. Joking aside, I found this very interesting.
Great video my friend, and one with a lot of valuable information, most of which seems as though would be common knowledge but unfortunately over looked. Know what you need and can afford. The rest is in the details where the devil lives. Well done sir & thank you.
Hi David! Great video. You are a good interviewer. One day I would like to have a Narrowboat holiday on a hire boat but that looks increasingly less feasible as time goes on.
Goodest boy in the end, lovely! I truly need to check your channel, because either you didn't upload anything in a while or the UA-cam-Algorythm is not recommending your videos (despite me still being subscribed!). Still, thanks for another video about a topic that is interesting despite the fact that as a German I'll probably never own a canal-boat!
I upload regularly but YT's home page doesn't always show new videos from any channel you subscribe to. It's much more reliable if you check your Subscriptions tab.
I was surprised that the one thing not mentioned was the length of boat versus practicality and price. Very interesting video though and really helpful. Many thanks.
Another option for people from overseas who are interested in narrow boating is syndicate boating. We are in a syndicate that has an American couple who own a share. We operate a system that gives us one week per quarter but allows people to do swaps, so our US couple have managed to get at least two consecutive weeks each year and nest year have three.
As an insurance underwriter for Zurich, I have to take issue with the advice given by the broker regarding circumventing the issue of insurance by a foreign national. Anyone giving an address as their residence for the purpose of obtaining services or financial or material benefit is committing criminal fraud ! The only exemption being if the boats registered and legal owner gave his foreign address and made it abundantly clear that the UK address was "only" a contact agent for the purposes of correspondence. Also if an owner "registered" the boat to a third person who was not the "legal owner" for the expedience of obtaining insurance cover that cover would be declared void in the event of a claim.
In any event, any "paper juggling" of any sort, could be judged as misrepresentation by any company and used as a reason not to honour any claim.
I hope this is useful.
Yeah, that struck me as a bit dodgy at the time. One imagines you might be able to circumvent the "needing insurance" problem by quoting a UK address. I have to believe you'd be in a whole heap of trouble if you had to make an actual claim.
Great comment and advice! So, is there a way for a foreign national to insure a UK narrowboat, or is it impossible?
@@brianferguson7840 I guess a foreign national could establish a limited company in the UK (easy and fairly cheap) whose sole objective was to own and lease out the boat - to the owner. The company could then obtain insurance.
On the other hand we all know insurance companies have a reputation of doing their best at avoiding paying up on any claims
I guess the idea is that even though the insurance won't pay out in that situation, that as long as nothing happens, they at least can get a license for the canal network.
What a good interview . Sensible but searching questions answered in a clear plain english factual manner. Well done
You described my thoughts on it exactly. Excellent interview.
Frankly, if boats go up in price and licences treble then we might get a canal network that can be actually be enjoyed once more. Currently where I am it's nothing more than a waterside shanty town. We need to get bricks and mortar housing in this country sorted out once and for all. People living in filthy canal boats, cars and vans is totally unacceptable in this day and age.
I began watching this vlog during the pandemic, and its calmness and interesting topic meant a lot to me at that time. Thanks for being there during that time and providing a well-needed diversion. It now brings back good memories during a somewhat uncertain time.
I'm so glad!
Perfect comment. I bet this applies to many of us
@@Sea_Barb I'm in that group and glad I came.
Exactly the same for me
Same for me also, but I went down that "canal" rabbit hole, learned exactly how the hulls are made, where they are made, I'm a welder. Looking all over the UK to find out which canals support wide beam, where they interconnect, which is the longest one to be moored in, and yes ... where the taverns are along the canal and if there's room for mooring there.
I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and have been thinking of retiring in Scotland or England, but I want to do it with a canal wall as a property line, so that I can rent a boat and if I love it, purchase a boat.
You are the person who mad me fall in love with narrowboats and the canals. I now watch dozens of people because of you.
Another great video with a lot of effort on your part David.
It’s nice to put a face to the voice on all the rugby boat tour videos
Thanks 👍
Boats are overpriced with depreciation inevitable. People started thinking of these as houses instead of like a car. They rust like a car, much quickers if you don't look after them a lot of people are going to be disapointed when they go to sell. The bubble has burst especially with the CRT rises in Licence fees which are going to double in the next few years. It no longer is a cheap option for housing if that's why you are looking for one. You spend now 150k on a boat and then come to sell ten years later do you think your boat will rise in price like housing?
PS; Forgot to say David fascniating and well made vlog lol :)
It's certainly going to be interesting to see how things play out in the next few years, I agree. Glad you liked the video!
@@CruisingTheCut Totally agree there are going to be a lot of disapointed people I think.
Good to see that evil depreciation affects narrow boats. In the US depreciation is devastating, especially for new RVs. RV=caravan.
@@steveschlackman4503hi, can you explain why the high depreciation is so good.
It’s really fascinating to think about homes appreciating and depreciating in value. I sometimes think it’s the location that appreciates or depreciates in value and not the actual home itself. When the neighborhood goes down in value so does the house. When you buy a car, house boat or RV you’re just buying the thing.
Well done video. One of the best interviews I’ve seen with both questions and relevant forthright responses. Thank you. Learned a lot.
David, thank you again for making a great video. I live in the US and will never need to buy a Narrowboat but just listening to your presentations gives me a break from the daily grind. Thank you.
🤗
@@CruisingTheCut I wish they had these in America poverty is pretty bad here for single parent kids and foster kids
Excellent video. The willingness of Rugby Boats to be interviewed and questioned is a testament to your ability not only in"networking" but also in becoming honest & transparent through your UA-cam channel (as you have always been). That question vis "buying" is very similar to having (OR) thinking about having (for example) a UA-cam channel. There has to be "purpose" and not just for "social media" me time. A constructive criticism of some websites (to do with Narrowboats) lack substance but of course this is just IMHO. Thank you once again for such an excellent video.
What a great video and interview. Fascinating about the reclaimed wood on the Baleine. Absolutely loved the little cameo at the end!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant. Love Rugby Boats. Best walk round videos you can get. If I do end up buying then they’re the first port of call. Brilliant. Interesting vlog David. Best wishes
Thanks for your high standard of content, which I never miss. Fascinating topic for us right now, and the insights here are interesting. It's a similar story with sailing boats.
I hope your dad is well and he enjoyed your visit. 🙏 Liz
Before you think you can live on a Narrow Boat hire one for a week and look at lengths over 40 foot. You will be living in a metal tunnel albeit made comfortable with your possessions. I had a 13 yr old 65' Wilson hull/with a Simpson Galleon style fit out. I bought it in May 2018 and it was in Marine Servicing for 3 months, (being recovered from a 3 year lay off). It was lovely when done, focusing on Electrics, Engine, Heating & fitting out. In Sept 2023 I sold it, recovering the boat asset costs. But I spent £14,000 on unrecovered Marina costs due to Covid and £3K pa on running costs. illness' forced my sale by having to move the boat every 2 weeks. If you live on the bank you must do the same, which makes fixed location needs difficult. I had to move 4 miles back & forth on open moorings to comply with C&RT rules. This made living in the same spot AWKWARD. Talk to other boaters BEFORE you BUY.
Gosh David, I can now put a face to the name at Rugby Boats, we were just missing The Commodore on your vlog!! A very interesting vlog, as always, thank you so much.
The Company's set the prices, Rugby boats are absolute premium price's...there is no "oh it was this price" and now it's this....If people will pay they will keep charging...
Great video btw 👍
The Commodore was not missing ... you didn't watch the whole video, did you? 🤣
Hahaha So busted! You always make me laugh, David. Interesting video, but the little romper at the end--stellar! Love that furry face.
Bumble barked the entire way through
We bought our boat in 2010 for 43 thousand and sold it in 2015 with a fifteen thousand loss. I am happy with that loss. We lived on her ,cruised extencivley. spent a fair time on the river Trent. Apart from changing the engine oil every two months we spent nothing on maintainance. hence the loss. If we had spent the money to bring her back to the condition she was bought in, we would have sold for more than we bought her for. But we found we did not need a bow thruster, central heating, and taking her out of the water for blacking was problematic. We left the waterways to buy a smallholding in Poland. ( another adventure). There are many reasons we gave up boat life, But mostly it was because the network got too busy, and the more busy it got the less friendly it got. If I was buying again. I would hit the middle of the market again. If you spend too much, you are frightened to scratch it. and if you spend to little you cannot live comfortably. The main advice I would give to anyone starting out is, make sure you have a wood burner and use it constantly. Wood burners kill any damp problem before damp can set in and ruin your life.
Wow I’m very interested to hear how it’s going in Poland ? Do you speak polish ?
Good to see the latest of your vlogs.
I was at that location today. James is one of the straightest guys on the network; not the cheapest, but doesn't stock any junk.
Absolutely correct evaluation on prices. Down about 10% from the silly peak (so more factoring in inflation) but demand still high, and steel gets ever more expensive ( as do the mechainicals and fittings).
A softening i think they call it!
Sensibly plateaued out.
I cant see an exodus away from boats any time soon. As always buy something in good general condition get a full survey, and just dont overpay.
thats good advice, as a first time buyer i would always wonder what sort of offer you would go in with? i suppose once you have had the survey done?
@@katienorthenmore1892 I would suggest that the better condition that the surveyor reports it to be in, the less aggressive and low your offer.
I helped a friend negotiate his purchase. We got down to the selling brokers bottom line and they were argguing over £500, and I said it would be silly to lose a good boat for the sake of £500!
I bought mine in the madness of Covid lockdown. A 45ft 10 year old semi trad. It was £46,000 asking at a well known marina brokerage.
Twice it was sold; once failing at survey.
However, I could see it had just been lashed up for the sale (by the seller, a boatyard, not the broker)
The survey was ok; not at all good, but average, with a number of fairly major items but a very good hull. I could see it had not been well maintained and neglected.
I'm fairly handy so could do a few jobs myself.
We eventually agreed on £37,000
I got it tidy and updated within budget of £43k with lots of work!
Just when I was about to moan about the Commodore not getting a cameo, there he is! Best little Narrowboat cupboard inspector in the business! 💕🐶💕
I was getting ready to reply, as a joke, "no Commodore? Unsubscribed" when I saw the post credit scene. Good thing I left the video running.
This was a very informative video. Thank you! We’ve been researching boats all year and had decided the majority of the ones we’re interested in seem to be sold through Rugby Boats. So we had planned on relocating near this brokerage in May so that we are convenient to see new boats when they come on the market. Seeing this interview with them makes us more confident in that decision. Thanks for clarifying so much. We’ve look forward to meeting you this Spring!
A terrifically helpful video for those looking to buy for the first time, sell or trade up. I really enjoyed this one and your guest struck me as knowledgeable and realistic.
I’m likely never going to buy a narrowboat, but I would absolutely want the living space at the back and the bed in the bow. I would want the galley and the living at the rear so the person at the tiller could still interact with those inside and I don’t want to have to crawl through the bedroom to get a cup of coffee.
Or drip wet clothes all through the bedroom. The bedroom at the back seems a crazy idea, why on earth would people want that layout, it does seem pretty popular though.
Agreed, the reverse layout is my preference. I think the reason all three boats had the same layout was to compare like with like. Unfortunately what he didn't do was specify the age of the boats!
Also I think the bedroom close to the engine bay was originally for heating reasons, that would have been the warmest part of the boat before the days of radiators.
@@tonycamplin8607 It's the traditional layout. It made sense when they were work-boats and they just had a tiny cabin at the back and nothing else.
@@babyclarabelleFor some bizarre reason, I couldn't post any comment after clicking on Reply yesterday and I could not add any explanation to the comment below which is about the ages of the boats.
If you pause the video when he shows the spec sheet and make sure it is at 1080 resolution, you can see more info.
1986
2008
2012
Yes one of the best vlogs on the internet for getting a bit of peace and serenity on the canals of old England.
Thank you so much for balanced interview and questions regarding the state of the market for boats. I was shocked to hear of the insurance difficulties for my friends in the USA, should they decide to invest. I loved the last boat's interior - from Buckingham Palace, no less. By the way, with regard to the outrow - that is THE most energetic dog I have ever seen! Oh, and may you and the many CTC viewers have a splendid Christmas/Holiday Season!🛥🎄
The Commodore is Rugby Boat's cupboard inspector. Rugby Boats have their own channel where they give tours of the boats they have for sale. The Commodore is allowed on some and always peeks his nose in when James or Billy opens a cupboard. I like them because they don't play music when they show a boat.
What a great interview, David! It was nice to see the face of the voice of the Rugby Boats channel. And you made sure to film The Commodore! Cheers from America!
Thank you David for this video! We have been watching you for a few years, and have talked about doing a narrow boat vacation in Lockport NY. Thank you for helping us to expand our visions of what a vacation can be. I hope your renovation on the new boat is going well. Happy holidays from Pennsylvania!
What a fantastic and informative vlog, as a narrowboat owner we follow Rugby Boat Sales along with yourself, keep up the great work David
Thank you! Will do!
Wonderfully interesting. Great to see the comparison with the old video
Do and would love this life style. Watching "you tubers" on the cut, show such pretty scenery, slower lifestyle looks enchanting, but I enjoy to watch from my trusty sofa. Very interesting informative vlog. ❤
Me too - I'm 84 & not allowed to drive these days, so I spend a lot of time on the internet - these canals & boats are one of my go-to subjects for seeing how others live, and to enjoy the countryside. I'm in the US for the past 40 years, but we did hire a boat for a few days many years ago, it was on a river in Norfolk but the river was in full flood from too much rain -& very scary - not a holiday I remember with much pleasure unfortunately, but we knew if the weather had been good, how beautiful it would have been ! .I too love my sofa !
David, your experience as a television interviewer/presenter shines through! Without being aggressive or demanding you asked the questions I might have and presented the questions and answers in an interesting way.
Thank you 🙏
Not forgetting the price difference of size of boats.
If you are happy living/weekend cruiser in a smaller boat, you can get a cracking one for the price of a well made larger boat.
An excellent video packed with advice for anyone looking to buy their first narrowboat. Broker James strongly recommended getting a survey done before buying any boat which is very good advice. Be wary though of buying a boat with a recent survey for two reasons. Firstly, you have no assurance of the independence of the surveyor from the seller. This is usually more of a problem when buying privately at the lower end of the price range but the principle applies at all price points. Secondly, if you did not commission the survey, the report carries no warranty for you should a problem emerge that wasn't identified in the report.
I think this was one of your best ever about buying a boat and of course very up to date.
Great tour of those boats and explanation of the three levels of boats.
This is a great idea for a show. I really enjoyed it. I think the interior on the last boat is pretty incredible. The craftsman workmanship and planning are incredible.
Greetings from New Gloucester. Maine, USA. I would love to live and own a narrow boat.. Thank you ever so much for sharing your wonderful video! Dan
An excellent video giving a price lowdown and an overview of who buys canal boats. Very useful! Hello from Canada.
Thanks for watching!
What perfect timing. I'm just in the process of boat hunting.
Same here, The Sub is now fully loaded with torpedo's
me to.
Snap
Me too
But I sadly lack the funds,surely I could get something for a few thousand. My god I'm English, I should be able to live my life on a river.
Time,nor tide wait for no man. And I can see the tide coming in,
@@katienorthenmore1892good luck katie. Same here.
Excellent video Dave , very interesting / informative as normal ole chap. Well done.
Very interesting video guys. No mention of mooring fees, this possibly a stumbling block to some.
I recall very many years ago a pal was thinking of buying an ex MTB twin engine job priced at around (then) 20 k.
He was on the point saying yes when he was informed of mooring fees and what with the insurance issue and possible maintenance, he let it go by. Well done on this must be very tempting for so many.
This was a video about purchase costs, not running costs. I will be making a video about running costs soon.
I really appreciate how honest & open the broker James, is here.
He comes across as a trustworthy guy.
Very interesting video. And great to see Bumble putting in an appearance.
I love Rugby boats. I always watch their sale video's. The boss man is so good at his job.
Great video David! After 4 years of obsessively watching Rugby Boat tours it’s quite surreal seeing the face behind the voice of James 😂
Great video as always. I’d love for you to do a deeper dive on the lower end of the market. Plenty of people looking for a boat with a budget under 25k for reasons mentioned in this video. Not as much quality info about showing what you really get (or don’t!) for that money in 2024/5 as there is for the mid-high end of the market on UA-cam
Very informative video. One can really see David's journalistic skills at work in the formation of the questions.
I am NOT in the market for a narrow boat (being in USA) and I find this very interesting! I have never thought about buying one to spend a summer in.
As always, a great job of interviewing and presentation. Thank you.
Fascinating. Esp how the market has changed over time. And how folks are still looking for a ‘cheap’ house alternative. Mooring availability and cost has to also be factored in. Thanks. C&Lx
Doesn't it just! My daughter lives in Bristol and was thinking of getting a narrowboat to live on. No way can she find a mooring so it's just not going to happen. Not only that the mooring charges these days are getting to the point you may as well pay rent on a flat. Shocking!
Bought and sold our boat through James during the mad times
It sold in about 45 mins from going live
Bet he kicked himself after, as could of priced another 10k on for himself and perhaps sold a day later 🤦🏻♂️😃
Thank you for another great video. Guess your vids are the only ones where you can watch the thumb-counter rollin every 2 to 5 seconds. No wonder. You give us alltimes a good time. Especially with this "how much is a boat these days?" It´s a very good idea to produce every for or five years a new vid about this, cause things do change quick. Thank you an have a good time.
Jim at Rugby boats is a fabulous broker to deal with. Great vlog
Which i assume is in Rugby, a bit far from me😩
Is there any kind of tuition when it comes to the locks when purchasing a narrowboat please!
I love Baleine, full of character❤️
Bumble! 🐕 ❤ I look at Rugby's boats videos just to see him since I'm in the US and not in the market to buy a boat---except in my dreams.
Excellent. Rugby and James seem tops. Pynots(magpies) & Sixpense: 35K£, 48', 10yr old engine!!!, 2 side hatches, big windows, clean layout - if I had been in the market I would have bought it in a heartbeat from James. Perfect for 2-3yrs year round living, marina and cruising. Gawd I would have been happy!!!!! No interest in the other 2 but they have their place in the market. Interesting about US and insurance. I'll have to move to UK. No problem! Very nicely done! 🤩
Thank you! 🤩
@@CruisingTheCut Darn it David , you do a really good interview, and you pick your targets super well. Now I know Rugby and James! 90% of the battle!!!
And Bumble - I hope you spotted the 'bonus footage' at the end 😂
@@CruisingTheCut Thanks - totally missed it! AWWWWWW cute!!!!!!!!! 😍
@@kristiwanders-o1m he was an excited dog, I almost thought he was going to fall in the canal! 😄
Thanks dearly for all the pricing info... and sharing the energetic, beautiful dog.
Great vlog and lovely to see the Commodore at the end
Well done sir !! Great & useful information 😮
Glad you liked it!
We are in the process of purchasing a 58ft narrow boat from Black Prince. They have been excellent to deal with and given us a very good deal.
In 2024, we have CruisingTheCut reporting from the future! Good work!
It's December 2024 hence anyone looking to buy or sell now will be doing so in 2025.
Theres a definite North-South divide with prices too. But that goes for housing too so taken as a given.
The Bumble clip was worth the watch until the end ❤
Nice to see the commadore at the end
A little bit of bonus footage!
@@CruisingTheCut There would have been a riot in the comments without a bit of Bumble.
@seniorslaphead8336 first time I've seen the adorable little blighter
@@sianwarwick633 If you watch the Rugby Boat Sales videos of boats for sale he is a regular and people ask after him If he is missing for two consecutive videos.
@@sianwarwick633 Bumble is sometimes in the Rugby boats vids.
Nice to put a face to the voice of many of rugby boats videos
Metric tons of great information for those looking to get into the narrowboat life! I'd love it, if I lived on that side of the pond or if the USA had a similar set of canals. I suspect even a "wide body" canal boat would end up getting rolled on many of our rivers!
I'd love to see you and the "Duo Vagari" channel do a collaboration on how they (and Barley, can't forget him!) are building out their boat.
I seemed to have missed these videos for awhile. Lovely to watch a sensible down to earth youtube video again. Do the surveys give any financial comeback if they were wrong or even negligent. I remember David did a video on a lady who bought a boat , had it surveyed only to find out a short time later it was almost a write off for her financially due to the thinness of the hull.. My friends were continuous cruising canal chaplains for a few years but have now gone back on land. Cheese sandwich on the way David, thank you
Cheers!
Great informative vlog David good to see the three different options price wise. Have to agree with the liveaboard issues in relation to canal systems and CRT finances definitely a lot to think about unfortunately. Have to say I love the diversity of the channel.
It’s good to see David Johns, ace television reporter, doing a proper interview.
I'm currently living aboard a friend's 40 ft springer in Nottingham with my pet greyhound throughout January and February to see if I enjoy the lifestyle. So far, so good, even if it did get to -7 here a week ago. I'm looking to buy my own later this year. Your channel is very exciting and useful!
Thank you.
Although I'm far from buying a boat, it's a good video to get an overview on the current market. I can now know what to fantasize about :)
I love it when you post videos. Can’t wait to see them I am also enjoying your fix your new boat.
Thanks 👍
This was a very useful, practical perspective on narrow boats. The lifestyle is definitely not for the faint hearted, or those that like warmth in Winter. Oh, and you have to keep moving!
Oh no, no, no ... narrowboats can be very warm in winter again.
I thoroughly enjoyed this very informative video David, and thanks to James for being so forthright with his answers. It is somewhat comforting to know I still can't afford one.
I tried to add a smile emoji but couldn't.
thank you so much for doing this vlog, it was so helpful, as i have just started looking again at boats. you asked some good questions. I think i will watch it again and take notes, best wishes and keep doing the vlogs!!
Glad it was helpful!
'feeling the pinch' is an extreme understatement when it comes to 'living'- it's more of a 'series of punches in the gut' just to survive. Would like to hear more about the low end of the boat market
Great to see Mr M back on your channel ❤
Great interview! I love watching the videos from Rugby Boats - James has a great voice. Ah, maybe one day I'll get a boat!
You vlog is timely David. Having reached retirement age, I have just commenced a search of boats for sale with a view to traveling to Britain next year to purchase one. I have borrowed boats about four times now since 1997 and had always planned to purchase a boat during our early retirement. Our budget in the present market is around UK$60,000. However, as a New Zealander I was more than a little non-plussed by the comment that the insurance market is actively refusing to insure my countrymen and me. This is all the more galling as I have spent 46 years in the insurance industry here in NZ!
Frustratingly I will now have to make contact with various brokers to determine whether I can buy cover. As least I have had a heads-up, so thank you for your informative vlog.
All the best,
Grant
In 2012 other half and I argued about having a narrow boat or motorhome ! Luckily I won and so went for the motorhome as my partners health deteriorated so the boat would have been impractical. I don’t think potential purchasers always consider health requirements for canal passage. Thanks for the video.
A good point
Its nice to put a face to the voice at last, I have seen quite a few Rugby videos looking around boats for sale, featuring James's voice.
A new video is always a welcome relief.
Two pack polyurethane coatings nowadays will never come off the steel as long as the steel is shot blasted just before applying..plus the steel is at least 20 plus degree in dry room ...
Always best buy the steel shell (hull) and fit it out yourself..
WOW that was the best and most informative post you have done. Well done. I loved it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Sitting in Singapore waiting boarding
Nice little entertainment watching your vlog
Glad you enjoyed it
I could have a holiday at Singapore Airport, best stopover coming and going between UK and NZ.
@@DomingoDeSantaClara wee currently live in invercargill
Google me if in area Tom Morton
But in Africa this month
Great Vlog. Good to see the voice behind the boat tours! Plus you met Bumble! Though I'm not sure who was annoying who!!!
I bought a boat Jan this year Im on my fourth trip back this year cruising the canals… love it and will keep it for a year or two longer until I’m done.. Easiest,cheapest way to see the country
Very interesting. Great vlog David.
Brilliant vid/interview David, very realistic update. Thanks atb
Fabulous, great to the main star of Rugby Boats at the end. NB still seems to be in a healthy state, network issues aside.
Thanks for this. I’m ever curious about the economics and practicalities of boat ownership in other parts of the world. Looks like middle price is the planning factor. By the time one fixed up the low price point one, you’d be in striking distance of the middle range. The insights about foreign ownership were most useful.
That's true but if you fix one up you can get it just so, whereas buying a mid range boat with nothing much to do means you live with it as it is. We bought an old springer back in 2012 for just £12000, we've spent that again and some on getting her all done up but now we just can't look at another boat without thinking of all the work we'd need to do to get it as nice.
Hello David,
An interested video, thank you... I think sadly the costs have gone to high for me to get a narrowboat... So it's a life of gongoozling for me...
Take care.
Paul,,
They should hire you to make sales videos! I live in the middle of America, and I was ready to get out my checkbook. Joking aside, I found this very interesting.
Haha they do their own excellent (apart from wobbly camerawork 😂) videos on their UA-cam channel
Rugby Boat Sales do the best Narrowboat tours on their channel, far better than any other brokers with UA-cam channels.
16:14 I adore that range!
What a beautiful boat, I love the wood.
You love the wood, be careful what you say!!!
Thanks
Thank you too! Much appreciated 😀
Great video my friend, and one with a lot of valuable information, most of which seems as though would be common knowledge but unfortunately over looked. Know what you need and can afford. The rest is in the details where the devil lives. Well done sir & thank you.
Hi David!
Great video. You are a good interviewer.
One day I would like to have a Narrowboat holiday on a hire boat but that looks increasingly less feasible as time goes on.
😔
Sure miss cruising with you! Buy that fancy one, and let’s GO!
Great questions, great answers; 2 men providing brilliant content. Thanks 👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it!
Goodest boy in the end, lovely! I truly need to check your channel, because either you didn't upload anything in a while or the UA-cam-Algorythm is not recommending your videos (despite me still being subscribed!). Still, thanks for another video about a topic that is interesting despite the fact that as a German I'll probably never own a canal-boat!
I upload regularly but YT's home page doesn't always show new videos from any channel you subscribe to. It's much more reliable if you check your Subscriptions tab.
Thanks for another great video. Our dog appreciated the end of the video! 😊🐕🐾🐾🐾
Very informative, nice to see the trade aspect of boating , thanks David.
I was surprised that the one thing not mentioned was the length of boat versus practicality and price. Very interesting video though and really helpful. Many thanks.
Another option for people from overseas who are interested in narrow boating is syndicate boating. We are in a syndicate that has an American couple who own a share. We operate a system that gives us one week per quarter but allows people to do swaps, so our US couple have managed to get at least two consecutive weeks each year and nest year have three.
Yes indeed; I made a video ages ago about share boats, see cruisingthecut.co.uk/2017/03/15/vlog-81-share-and-share-alike/
I have a friend, who got a job helping out with the renovations of the royal yacht - so in his house, he has some wood from The Royal Yacht Britannia