If you are buying, restoring or maintaining an older steel narrowboat, you may come across the term overplating. It can sound alarming at first, especially if it appears in a survey report, but it is a common repair method on canal boats. This guide has narrowboat overplating explained in plain English. It covers what overplating…

Should you buy an overplated narrowboat? It is a common question for anyone looking at older boats, especially if the asking price looks tempting. Overplating can give a tired hull a new lease of life, but it can also hide problems if it has been done badly. The short answer is: yes, an overplated narrowboat…

If you are buying, maintaining or insuring a narrowboat, hull thickness is one of the most important subjects to understand. The hull is the boat’s structure, protection and foundation. When it is in good condition, it quietly does its job. When it is neglected, repairs can become expensive and disruptive. This guide gives you narrowboat…

If you are buying, selling or maintaining a steel narrowboat, an ultrasonic survey is one of the most useful checks you can arrange. It helps show how much metal remains in the hull and whether corrosion, pitting or previous repairs need attention. This narrowboat ultrasonic survey explained guide covers what the survey involves, how readings…

Buying a narrowboat is exciting, but the survey report can feel rather less romantic. Suddenly you are faced with hull thickness readings, recommendations, caveats and a list of defects that may sound alarming at first glance. This guide has your narrowboat survey report explained in plain English, so you can understand what matters, what needs…

When you are viewing a used narrowboat, the engine hour counter can feel like one of the most important numbers on board. It is easy to look at a low reading and feel reassured, or see a high reading and worry about expensive repairs. In reality, narrowboat engine hours when buying are only part of…

When looking at narrowboats for sale, age is one of the first details most buyers notice. It is also one of the easiest details to misunderstand. A boat built twenty or thirty years ago may be a much better buy than a newer boat that has been neglected, poorly fitted out, or left with hidden…

Choosing between an old narrowboat and a newer narrowboat is one of the biggest decisions you will make when buying a canal boat. Both can be excellent choices, but they suit different budgets, lifestyles and levels of confidence with maintenance. The right answer is not simply about age. A well cared for older boat can…

Choosing the best time of year to buy a narrowboat can make a real difference to your budget, your choice of boats and how confident you feel during the buying process. There is no perfect month that suits every buyer. A liveaboard looking for a winter bargain may have different priorities from a family hoping…

Working out how much to offer on a narrowboat can feel tricky, especially if it is your first boat purchase. Unlike buying a car, there is no simple price guide that tells you exactly what every boat is worth. A narrowboat’s value depends on its age, hull condition, fit-out, engine, paperwork, mooring situation, and how…