If you have decided to take the plunge and buy a used narrow boat this year, good for you! However if you are a little hesitant because you are new to boating and not sure what you should ask the seller, don't worry we can help.   

Whether you buy privately or through a professional brokerage company these are the key questions you should ask the seller/broker and yourself before making an offer and buying a narrow boat.   

1 Has the boat had a recent survey? 

It's important to ask this question as the survey will highlight any issues the boat may have. If the boat is second hand boat and hasn't got a recent survey then we advise you to get one organised. This survey is for your benefit and could be the difference in buying a serviceable narrow boat or buying a sinking wreck.   

2 What are the estimated running costs?

The owner or the brokerage company should be able to give you some estimated running costs for the boat. Ask for an average monthly cost based on; the time spent on the boat using all the facilities and the number of people on board at the time. Knowing in advance what sort of bills you will incur will help you when you come to sort out your finances later on in the process.   

3 Can you afford it?

Consider the following costs involved in owning a narrow boat. You will need to be able to afford the following;

• Purchase price
• Running costs 
• License
• Surveys
• Insurance
• On going maintenance
• Moorings  

4 How will you finance the purchase?

Will you be selling your land home to fund the boats purchase, or will you need to approach a finance company like Pegasus Finance to apply for a personal loan. There are many different ways to fund your purchase, so do your research to find the best solution for you.  

5 What style boat will best suit your needs?

Consider how often you are going to use the boat, how many people will be aboard at any one time, where you will moor the boat and how much cruising you intend on doing. Styles available include; semi trad, trad, cruiser or wide beam.

6 What length boat will best suit your needs?

The length of the vessel is a important factor as this will determine where you can cruise, your mooring costs, how much your insurance will be and also affect your maintenance bills. Our advice is to get aboard as many different lengths and style boats as you can to get a good feel of the boats size before making a purchase. Visiting a marina will easily enable you to carry out this task. 

7 Ask about the engine

It's quite reasonable and right to ask the seller to start the engine for you. Tip - It should start from cold!  

8 Do the facilities on board meet your expectations?

How is the boat heated, are you happy with the utilities such as the appliances in the kitchen and bathroom. Is the shower and toilet to your liking These fittings should be in good working order and in a satisfactory working condition. If the interior fittings don't meet your expectations, can you afford and are you happy to replace them.  

9 Where will you moor your narrow boat?

If you are not going to live aboard and continuously cruise, then you need to decide where to keep your boat. It's important to sort out where you are going to moor your boat before purchase. If you have a mooring already organised, you'll need to make sure that you buy a canal boat that is the right length for your available mooring.   

10 Ask to see paper work

Now the boring bit, the paper work is important and some documentation will be needed by the insurance company, so make sure you see it, and if you buy the boat get to keep the relevant paper work.        

Have you got a question you want to ask us?