Buying a new or used canal boat

Mike Carter is a well known boat surveyor with experience in boat repairs and maintenance. Here are a few brief thoughts with regard to buying a new or secondhand (or more) canal boat. Mike has his own website at www.mcarter.co.uk  which details his services.

There is a limit to what the buyer can see if the craft is in the water, but they can check accessibility of internal cabin areas and components, that is; how much of the floor comes up, could the toilet holding tank be changed if it were to be holed, is the calorifier accessible are the systems, wiring etc, neat and tidy etc. etc.

It is always a good idea to establish, as far as is possible, what maintenance has been carried out to the craft and by whom. A buyer could always ask to see any receipts the vendor may have for maintenance or materials costs and especially for any slipping or docking fees, and ask to see paperwork to back up claims any that engines or systems have been 'overhauled' or 'reconditioned'.

Buyers should be aware that a Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) pass Certificate is NOT a craft survey and only represents compliance with a certain set of minimum safety standards on the day it was issued. This is also true of new craft which are CE marked in accordance with the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) 94/25/EC. The RCD is not necessarily a mark of quality, but a mark of compliance with 'Essential Safety Requirements' - just as it is with a domestic kettle. You can spend £5 or £50 on a CE marked kettle and they both comply to their essential safety requirements but one may be judged to be 'of better quality'.

You can see details of the Boat Safety Scheme at www.boatsafetyscheme.com.

Many buyers of new boats choose to employ surveyors to monitor the building process, either because they want to be sure of the quality of the craft throughout its build or simply because the craft is being built a distance from their home. - a good idea if you are spending such a large sum of money.

Why Have A Survey?
It can be the case that those who take a friend along who claims to 'knows about boats' are often the ones who are least well informed about the craft they are buying of have bought. A professional independent surveyor is commissioned for their impartial and informed opinion generally drawing from a broad experience and often charging less than the cost of a service on a car or the premiums for one years insurance.

Insurance companies will invariably want an independent valuation survey before providing cover especially, if as on some policies, the insured sum is the pay out in a total loss. In addition also many insurance underwriters require a hull condition survey before they will offer cover. Therefore, for a few pounds more, a condition survey before the craft is purchased can better inform the buyer of the craft they are intending to buy, offer a valuation, if requested, and provide the relevant information to the insurance underwriters in order that they may offer insured cover.