Roger Millin wrote: > Trevor asked: >> As a *total* newbie to the canals I have been following the various >> threads here with interest - BUT ... >> >> Is this the right group for me to start asking (the *most* basic) >> questions about narrowboats, both buying and and living aboard, or >> should I really be doing this elsewhere? >> >> [I'm asking right at the beginning simply because I don't wish to >> upset anybody - especially the list owners/moderators!] > > No probs, as others have said, just ask away. > However, it is probably fair to say that you will get many different > answers and many different opinions on whatever topic you broach. You > will then have to sift the points raised and decide what is important > to you, what is unimportant and what is the 'Wow, I hadn't thought of > that point'. > As you admit you have little experience you have a totally blank > canvas but, be warned, that can be more of a hindrance than a help. > For example, my wife and I boated on many, many boats (hiring and > borrowing friends boats) before we were able to design (and afford) > our first boat. That boat served us well for 7 years before we > changed our minds (admittedly with a greater budget this time) and > went for a different design. It is commonly said that you only get > your boat right by about the third one if you're starting from > scratch. We, in our opinion, got it right on our second boat but that > was with a whole raft of ideas gleaned from all the other boats that > we had used/hired. To some people, our second boat Albion, would not > have suited them so, as I have said, be prepared for many different > opinions. Just to get you started have a look at the ad and simulated > video for Albion (which we have just sold). It's available at: > > http://www.nortoncanesboatbuilders.co.uk/boat_sale_details.asp?id=11 > > but you may need to hurry as Albion has been sold and, I suspect, the > ad won't be there much longer. You will see that, for us, a good > looking, trad boat with portholes and a classic vintage engine was > the order of the day. For others, windows, a dinette, and a hidden > modern Jap-based engine are important. These are some of the > decisions that you will have to make. > Another important decision is the......wait for it......toilet ;-))) > Do you want a Thetford cassette toilet with spare tanks (UNDOUBTEDLY > THE BEST ;-)))) or are you going to put up with the inconvenience of > finding someone to pump a holding tank out just when you happen to be > full and it's turn round day at the local hire fleet yard and they > won't touch it until tomorrow. A buttock clenching decision to be > made ;-)) > HTH > Roger
...so is Pheonix having Thetforery??? -- Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest (self contained) Follow the travels of TNC, now in Ireland http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk/tour.html
