New to this please help.

Answers in original

"John O'Donnell" <john.odonnell57 RemoveThis @btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:dc2473$ke8$1@nwrdmz01.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com...
>I would like to buy a boat for family recreational use, on UK inland
>waterways, weekends etc. The sort of thing I'm thinking about is about 20',
>4 berth, for up-to or around the £5k range. Looking at some sites web sites
>it appears the "Norman" class or something similar might be what I'm after.
>
> However, I'm completely new to this and need some information. Can anyone
> please tell me;
>
> * is there a licence fee, to whom is it paid and how much?

Yes - British Waterways or the Environement Agency depending upon which
canal/river you intend to use it on.

I pay about £450 per year tyo BW for 54 feet, so perhaps £300. EA charges
are different, best ask.


> * do I need a personal licence, is there a test to operate the boat?

No, but if you are concerned you could do an RYA inland helmsman course


> * not after a quote but could someone give a rough idea of insurance
> costs?

Probably about £70 to £100 for "comprehensive", but about half that for
mandatory insurance only.

You are required to carry "third party" insurance for most inland waterways.

>
> * is there a worthiness certificate (MOT) how long does it last etc


Yes - its the Boat Safety Scheme, renewable every 5 years. Although youi are
talking cheap here, I would still get a survey (about £400 to £500) and get
the owner to get it through the BSS before purchase. Noramlly GRP is fine,
but it can start to "perish" (called osmossis) and depennding upon the
thickness of the hull can be expensive to repare. Contact the Boat Safety
Office at Watford and they will send you the deatils of the scheme.

> * what questions haven't I asked?

Moorings - difficult to come by in many parts and probably up to £3000 a
year in a marina in some parts. Other parts perhaps £200 on bank without any
security. This may make a smaller traiolable boat worth the cramping.

Engine - petrol inboards are (in my view) unsafe and should eb avoided.
Petrol is hard to come by at the waterside in may areas so the can makes it
more unsafe.

Two stroke outbopards can be expensive to run and may not take kindly to
canal speeds.

Outboards may noit have the capacity to keep your batteries charged.

Diesels will be more expensive to buy but the fuel is available at the
waterside. expect to get between 1 and 2 hours per litre and cost at todays
garage price - at teh moment we do not pay duty, but that is liley to change
next Januaary.

Can you maintain the boat and systems? If not expect a regular supply of
three figure bills. Sorry about this napparent plug, but many people like
you have attended one of my courses and said they wished they had done one
before they bought the boat - look at www.TB-Training.co.uk in any case the
course notes might be usefull to you.


Do as Martin says and re-post to Uk.rec.waterways. Lurk there and you will
be supprised how much you pick up.

Tony Brooks

> I feel a complete idiot asking these questions but we all have to start
> somewhere.
> Thanks in advance.
>
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