There are many guides to buying a narrowboat and loads of articles/experts giving advice on the best approach, pitfalls and pearls. I took notice of some and not so much of others. We were pretty open but had a few ‘absolutes’ when we started our search in early 2020. The below list is in no particular order.
Budget – pretty set! I did have a bit for upgrades/repairs/urgent work but spent all that on the boat, so work will go a lot slower than originally intended.
Length – big enough for the daughters, the dog pile, the budgie and vast quantities of wine. We weren’t overly bothered about being able to navigate the entire network, we just wanted to get around the Midlands and maybe onto the Shroppie or the Llangollen as we will not be able to cruise extensively for quite a few years.
Beam – narrow!
Smell – not mouldy or damp or rank or leaky or nasty or just plain stinky.
General internal state – not bothered, most things can be changed, however the caveat to this was that we need to be able to cruise and enjoy her while updating her so a large project where everything needed to ripped out was not for us.
Which leads to layout – reverse, traditional, walk through bathroom; the choices are baffling. We didn’t mind where the kitchen or bathroom were but had set ideas about the beds. A fixed double and 2 fixed single berths were on the list, I’m far too lazy to make beds up every evening and take them down every morning!
Toilet – contentious area but we wanted a pump out. Traipsing up the canal with our waste was not for us, incinerator toilets are a possibility for the future but not common on secondhand boats and I’m not convinced that composting toilets actually compost the waste (but stand to be corrected!) Also, we are in a marina so close to pump out.
Multi-fuel burner – not on our list but loving the one that came with the boat and my toasty feet.
Style of boat – cruiser, trad… We didn’t care. At all. Not a jot.
Ps. Keith said I have too many question marks in the title. I disagree, I think that is clearly a sign of a well balanced mind so I left all of them.
