FULL RE PLATING

[anna]

I'd like to ask you about little advice. I found the boat, she looks very nice, price is not very high also, but I read that she need full re plating. This is link to this announcement: www.aqueductbrokerage.co.uk/index.php/site/boat_information/aurora_1990_56ft_semi_trad_14750/

Is it very serious and expensive? What do you think, generally, about this boat?

Thank you so much:)
Best regards!

[Roy]

Full re-plating sounds like a big job and expensive to me,
but I'm not an expert.

If I were you I would make some inquiries at a few boat yards and get a few estimates first,
to get a better idea of what you are taking on.

There are other members on the forum with far more knowledge on this subject,
who may be able to give you more detailed advice.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

The price seems good, as long as the re-plating is not too expensive.

[billy]

Hi Anna,

I have been involved in two replating jobs on Dutch barges. Ok, narrowboats are more simple to do but........

To do the job properly you have to dismantle the inside of the boat to get at the metalwork, least of all so you can make sure it doesn't catch fire.

This means that your beautiful inside has to be trashed. Rather too often boats aren't build to have their insides removed at a later date to give you access to the hull. It makes them too expensive.

Why does a 20 year old boat need a full plate anyway? Sounds like there has been a problem or it has just be neglected. A lot of steel boats rust from the inside out with water and condensation collecting under ballast that is sealed under a carpeted floor forever.

There has been a expansion in canal boats over the last few decades and to get the work some built to a price which inevitably meant that even good builders have to compete and cut corners.

Personally I would walk away from it. It is cheap for a reason.

billy

[anna]

Hi Roy and Billy,
thank you very much for your advice! For me it also looks like very big job and expensive. Now I'm reading about engines. I found another boat for sale and she has Lister SR2 Air cooled engine. I already read, that this is the worst engine, which Lister produced. I think that one isn't equal another, but may be those engines have got general defect....What do you think?

Thank you and all the best:)

[veenigel]

Hi Anna, we had canal boats with lister sr2 and were so very reliable.
and you get that pop pop pop sound,we we miss,we had a narrow boat pass us at the weekend,and it had the lister,and it sounded great.so dont write it off just yet.

[anna]

Hi Veenigel,
thank you for your advice:)No, I don't write it off, but I'm still looking for a boat:) I found one, which I like, but the owner wrote down that the hull can be thin in places, but he hasn't got hull inspection. The boat is from 1979. He lived aboard 7 years. He give me price 15.500. On Sunday I'll go and see this boat, bur really I'm afraid of this plating. What do you think?
Thank you:)
Anna

[oscar]

Hi Ann,

Don't rush into anything especially without a full out of water survey, some boats built about this time were noted for having a thin bottom plate being built for a price.

There are plenty of boats about so no rush eh !!! It also may not have been blacked for sometime and now rusting away

If you are about on the 25th & 26th June try and get to Braunston as it's the working boat rally, you will hear plenty of "Pop Pop" engines, there is also a brokerage they should have different styles of boats so you can compare what you will get for your money, also look in the Towpath Talk free newspaper, that will give you ideas about cost etc...

Will you be working and living on it single handed if so I would recommend nothing over forty foot long. I hope this helps

Brian

[veenigel]

Hi this advice from brian is spot on.We would also suggest that may be go for a boat that has been overplated already,and one that can produce a hull survey,or proof that the work was carried out by a reputable yard.or then again there is allways fibreglass.....and there are plenty forum members on the broads whom have them as liveaboards..happy hunting,hope you find what your looking for.....

[anna]

HI Oscar and Veenigel, thank you so much for your advice! It is very, very helpful for me:-D You're right that I have to be patience and I'm sure I find my cherish boat:)