First up. What a cracking boat. Congratulations. I became a new single hander of a 60 footer on October 4th 2024. Many of your observations and comments were fresh in my mind. At this time of year, the Sebastopol and Refleks save will be your friend. There will be many amazing people in the marina who would be willing to assist. I look forward to following your adventures.
Thanks for the comment and congrats on your new boat. I have managed to get the diesel stove working. Took a few goes, but I got there. The video is in the works. I much prefer the webasto. Just needs two switches and no fire lighters. The diesel stove does get very hot. Toasty!
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I guess it is. I was set on a 57 ft boat. I have no idea where that length came from other than it doesn't limit access to any canals (some canals can't take longer boats).
How exciting! Congratulations! We are considering buying a liveaboard, so we are really looking forward to following your journey from the very beginning. Good luck and bon voyage!
I cant believe you havent tried out the boat. Brave man! Dont the sellers give you a handover? You have obviously driven a narrowboat b4 but nevertheless. I'm stressed already 😅 Ooooooer Nick 😊@@Nicks-Wanderings
What a lovely boat! All that storage wow. I have a 42ft boat and i love boat life. Ive had it for 5 years now. Ive had a lot of work done on it but painted the outside myself. Its camoflage now 😊
Nik. I am smitten with my stove. In my particular Marina there is an embargo of webasto use between 10pm and 6am, so can get rather chilly. As a liveaboard comfort is king. Awaiting a dehumidifier. Baby happy steps
Congratulations on your beautiful boat. You must be so excited to start your new adventures. I have to say, you are exceptionally brave going onto the canals at this time, considering the drive by the CRT to shut stretches of the network, I think it's called re-wilding, also the licence fees are guaranteed to increase each year over the next 4 years and the obvious lack of maintenance being carried out, the towpath in places are awful, the whole network needs dredging and the overgrown banks reduce the available mooring. Diesel boats are under the microscope as polluters as well as increasing marina fees. I fear for the future of the canals, but like everything, if funding allows, enjoy life while you can. Despite all I have said above 😅, I really wish you the very best of luck and fingers crossed 🤞 you will have a fantastic experience 😊
Nick, greetings from Maryland, USA. I find it very hard to resist your "no idea what that does" comments, as buying something like this delightful boat without a clear idea of how everything aboard works is very like something I might have done. I've subscribed and I look forward to more videos. All best!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. When I bought the boat, all I knew was what was in the sale description and what the report from the full survey said. I knew the boat had everything I would need, and I knew what sort of equipment to expect from watching other boating videos. I didn't know what the different bits inside the boat did (or do). After a month of ownership, I now have a better idea (thanks to an excellent set of documentation that came with the boat), but I am still struggling with a few 'boxes', and I found a fresh batch of pipes and stuff last week.
Hi Nick Good Luck with your new adventure. I am surprised the marina didn't give you a brief of how everything works. It looks like you will be doing it the hard way. Best wishes
Looks like an ex-tour boat, fully stocked. In good shape. Pipe is ... prop shaft. I think. Narrowboat The rum wench has a mid-engine, and a YT account i follow
Thanks for the comment. I looked back at the video, and the pipe I mentioned was just under the prop shaft. I think I commented later that it is not connected. It looks like the sort of black airduct you would get on a car.
Thanks for the comment. Easy answer, old age! I think I would struggle to work on an engine buried in the stern. I liked the idea of the engine being easily accessible and therefore easy to check.
@@Nicks-Wanderings That's a very good point. I'm leaning towards an electric boat when the time comes, which should mitigate service access problems, but I completely get your thinking. Future proofing.
I wish you all the best. But please find someone to take wirh you if only for the first day. Im also curious why no one gave you a tour of the boat or a test cruise.
Thanks. In the end, I did get a tour of the boat and I did get help on the first day, but when I made the video, there was no handover and due to the timing of my move, no one was available to help. I changed dates, and got help.
The boat looks in great condition. I enjoyed seeing someone from scratch finding their way with their new home and I’ll be following along. Best of luck 👍
Thanks for the comment. Yes and no. After the survey, the marina went back to the seller and said the boat had the following issues. The seller then agreed to have them fixed. So, no money was knocked off, but I got work done as part of the sale.
First up. What a cracking boat. Congratulations. I became a new single hander of a 60 footer on October 4th 2024. Many of your observations and comments were fresh in my mind. At this time of year, the Sebastopol and Refleks save will be your friend. There will be many amazing people in the marina who would be willing to assist. I look forward to following your adventures.
Thanks for the comment and congrats on your new boat. I have managed to get the diesel stove working. Took a few goes, but I got there. The video is in the works. I much prefer the webasto. Just needs two switches and no fire lighters. The diesel stove does get very hot. Toasty!
That's a heck of a BIG boat for one person?
Bon voyage.
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I guess it is. I was set on a 57 ft boat. I have no idea where that length came from other than it doesn't limit access to any canals (some canals can't take longer boats).
How exciting! Congratulations! We are considering buying a liveaboard, so we are really looking forward to following your journey from the very beginning. Good luck and bon voyage!
Great stuff. What a beautifully looked after boat. Well done. Whoever has owned this had looked after it well. So neat and clean. ❤
Thanks for the comment. Yes, that was one of the things that sold it to me - its excellent condition. I now have the challenge of maintaining it!
I cant believe you havent tried out the boat. Brave man! Dont the sellers give you a handover? You have obviously driven a narrowboat b4 but nevertheless. I'm stressed already 😅
Ooooooer Nick 😊@@Nicks-Wanderings
What a lovely boat! All that storage wow. I have a 42ft boat and i love boat life. Ive had it for 5 years now. Ive had a lot of work done on it but painted the outside myself. Its camoflage now 😊
Thanks for the comment. I will keep an eye out for a camouflaged boat on the canals - but will I be able to spot it?
Nik. I am smitten with my stove. In my particular Marina there is an embargo of webasto use between 10pm and 6am, so can get rather chilly. As a liveaboard comfort is king. Awaiting a dehumidifier. Baby happy steps
What a beautiful boat you've purchased, an I now look forward to the coming journeys and getting to know you and your boat, living the dream, 😎🏍️😊
Thanks so much! I am looking forward to spending many hours exploring the UK canals and rivers.
From far away Victoria Falls, I shall follow your journey with interest. Congratulations and happy cruising.
Thanks. I am looking forward to my wanderings and posting more videos.
You had me chuckling when you kept saying "I have no idea what it is" so I subscribed. I'm looking forward to your future videos.
Well, I still have no idea what a lot of it does. But I’m getting there. I think. Thanks for the comment and subscribing.
Congratulations on your beautiful boat. You must be so excited to start your new adventures. I have to say, you are exceptionally brave going onto the canals at this time, considering the drive by the CRT to shut stretches of the network, I think it's called re-wilding, also the licence fees are guaranteed to increase each year over the next 4 years and the obvious lack of maintenance being carried out, the towpath in places are awful, the whole network needs dredging and the overgrown banks reduce the available mooring. Diesel boats are under the microscope as polluters as well as increasing marina fees. I fear for the future of the canals, but like everything, if funding allows, enjoy life while you can. Despite all I have said above 😅, I really wish you the very best of luck and fingers crossed 🤞 you will have a fantastic experience 😊
Thanks. It is worrying times. Last week, I went back to the two locks that were closed for repair and I was most impressed with what they were doing.
Nick, greetings from Maryland, USA. I find it very hard to resist your "no idea what that does" comments, as buying something like this delightful boat without a clear idea of how everything aboard works is very like something I might have done. I've subscribed and I look forward to more videos. All best!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. When I bought the boat, all I knew was what was in the sale description and what the report from the full survey said. I knew the boat had everything I would need, and I knew what sort of equipment to expect from watching other boating videos. I didn't know what the different bits inside the boat did (or do). After a month of ownership, I now have a better idea (thanks to an excellent set of documentation that came with the boat), but I am still struggling with a few 'boxes', and I found a fresh batch of pipes and stuff last week.
Hi Nick Good Luck with your new adventure. I am surprised the marina didn't give you a brief of how everything works. It looks like you will be doing it the hard way. Best wishes
Thanks. They did give me a run through a day or two later. However, there was so much to take in.
Looks like a great little boat
Thanks. I think it is! I had been looking for a boat for some time and this one ticked a lot of boxes for me.
Unless Wilton Marina are paying you for advertising you might want to take the stickers out of the window if you haven't already...... Happy cruising
Congratulations 🎉 lovely boat - we are new too both to narrowboats & UA-cam
Thanks for the comment. Nice to hear from another newbie, and good luck with your boat. I think I have seen you on Bluesky?
looks like you have a nice boat
Thanks.
Looks like an ex-tour boat, fully stocked. In good shape. Pipe is ... prop shaft. I think. Narrowboat The rum wench has a mid-engine, and a YT account i follow
Thanks for the comment. I looked back at the video, and the pipe I mentioned was just under the prop shaft. I think I commented later that it is not connected. It looks like the sort of black airduct you would get on a car.
Can I ask, what made you opt for a boat with a mid-engine layout?
Thanks for the comment. Easy answer, old age! I think I would struggle to work on an engine buried in the stern. I liked the idea of the engine being easily accessible and therefore easy to check.
@@Nicks-Wanderings That's a very good point. I'm leaning towards an electric boat when the time comes, which should mitigate service access problems, but I completely get your thinking. Future proofing.
I wish you all the best. But please find someone to take wirh you if only for the first day. Im also curious why no one gave you a tour of the boat or a test cruise.
Thanks. In the end, I did get a tour of the boat and I did get help on the first day, but when I made the video, there was no handover and due to the timing of my move, no one was available to help. I changed dates, and got help.
The boat looks in great condition. I enjoyed seeing someone from scratch finding their way with their new home and I’ll be following along. Best of luck 👍
Thanks. It’s a lot of fun. I really enjoy learning new things and having new adventures.
I suggest you hire someone to assist you to get you to your destination
Thanks for the comment. I did get help in the end, and on my only solo day, the two locks I had to do, I was helped.
Just a question did the place where you got the boat Knock any money of just looking at boats myself and looking for a good deal.
Thanks for the comment. Yes and no. After the survey, the marina went back to the seller and said the boat had the following issues. The seller then agreed to have them fixed. So, no money was knocked off, but I got work done as part of the sale.
Xx
To many jumping on the narrow boat blog bandwagon
I thought the starter pack from the marina would include a how to start a channel book, seems compulsory nowadays, cracking boat though.