With no experience in buying a boat, we initially found it to be quite daunting so we tried to keep it simple.
Having viewed boats on-line we went for a walk around our local marina. We got a lot more information than just looking at boats. We found that, in general, boat people were happy to talk to us about their boat and answer questions we had. To begin with we first needed to know what sort of boats were available. The terms Trad, Semi-Trad and Cruiser were alien to us, but we started looking at the different shapes of boats and soon learnt the difference.
How big a boat did we want? We didn’t know what 35 or 57 feet looked like when presented to us so couldn’t guess what size we wanted. Did we want central heating or not? What sort of toilet (cassette, compost or pump out) was available and did we want pram covers or not? Although just the 2 of us, can we both fit on a standard boat mattress (a small double) or did we want a convertible further sleeping space? Pretty soon we had more questions than answers.
There are no stupid questions and I have asked, it may seem, some rather daft ones along the way but we found boaters always willing to give us an answer. Our requirements of a boat were personal to us and we took all the answers/advice given and worked out what suited us.
Eventually we had to put our toe in the water and go look at a boat with the intention of purchasing it. The first one I went to look out was found by Jo via Gumtree and was berthed just outside of Kings Cross train station. Jo was unavailable and so I made the arrangements with the owner, bought myself a train ticket, and set off South.
In preparation for the visit, I bought a new book (still have it and use today) and wrote down every question I could think of, including the daft ones. I was able to ask the questions to the vendor and write the answers down. Ultimately the boat was not for us. It was apparent that it was too small and not one for a ‘liveaboard’ couple. An expensive, but extremely valuable day out. We very quickly learned that we needed to change our spec for what we wanted. I also got a couple of pints on my own in London but don’t tell Jo!
Further visits ensued with both Jo and I travelling around the country at weekends looking at different boats for sale. To be honest we enjoyed the days out and always came home with more information than we thought. No experience was a waste of time. Like everything to do with boating, we learnt that it can be a slow process.
Eventually, like most things in life, we stumbled on Daisy Duke by accident. Having up’d our spec we visited a boat yard for one advertised on the web. We didn’t like it, but the boat yard owner informed us of 4 more boats recently taken in but not yet ready for sale. He offered us a pre-sale viewing and so we did, with the help of our friends, Shirley and Bill.
We were all attracted to Daisy Duke immediately. Although in a depreciating state, we loved her wood panelling and, for the first time, we had a clear vision of how we wanted our boat to be. After consultation with the yard owner over price and work to be done, we became proud owners of our very own boat.
We now eagerly await her being taken out the water for blacking, a re-spray and some minor repairs so that we can get onboard and make her our own. Whilst our search is now over, the real work begins!
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