How To Buy A Residential Boat

NO TIMEWASTERS

Selling your home is one of the most stressful things to do. It would only be made worse if a stream of "tourists" came to view

( "to see what they might like to buy if they ever were in a financial position to do so" ! )

A. R. C. and its members expect you to wait till you are in a position to buy before you come to view Just as boats are expected to be available for immediate sale and posession within 10 days of viewing or less. If the seller is prepared to show his boat to you, it is only fair that you should be prepared to show your money (or proof of) to the seller.

(obviously, you will tape over the actual ACCOUNT NUMBER on your bank statement for security)

Visitors will be expected to provide proof of funds, (or pre-arranged loan) on arrival to view any boat

No show - no view!

For legal advice, always consult a professional, Check carefully with the apropriate owners and authorities about current rules regulations and permissions. The following observations relate only to past experience, anything can change.

How to buy a boat.

To be fair to both parties it is necessary to be very cautious. The buyer is recommended to have the security of a completed Bill of Sale from Department of Transport under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 This declares wether the boat is sold with or without an outstanding mortgage. (In English law a debt goes with the boat when sold!).

This is your assurance that the boat doesn't have a mortgage you don't know about.. Because of recent fraud rackets, sellers are unwise to accept bank cheques or draughts. (these If forged or stolen, can be be cleared, then "uncleared" up to 13 weeks later)

Also cash paid by strangers can turn out to be forged or stolen. It may be that the only safe method, that is fair to both parties, is for the buyer to arrange to send the money direct to a Broker's account via C.H.A.P.S. (Clearing House Automated Payment System. - it costs the sender £20).

There is a lot of protection for both buyer and seller in using a boat broker, but never be caught out by a seller who tries to bypass the broker to save on comission. Under marine law a LIEN can be issued on your BOAT for the amount of commission plus costs. If this happens, NO-ONE will be allowed to board your vessel until the debt is paid!

This is the typical order of events in buying a houseboat

1. Get the funds in place

2. See the advert.

3. Visit the boat

4. Decide to buy

5. PROVISIONALLY arrange date and cost for survey and slipping for survey (recommended for boats of £35,000 and over)

6.Pay 10% deposit and sign Contract of Sale, subject to survey (and sea-trial if it has engine)

7.Within ten days, survey & sea-trial being OK, pay rest of money and get given Department of Transport Bill of Sale .

-The Houseboat is now YOURS!

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Houseboats can be STATIC or Residential Cruisers. Both sorts need to be licensed by the local River, Canal , or Harbour Authority and should be fitted out for comfortable living afloat. Any houseboat or Resdential cruiser can have the same level of equipment and comfort as a house, (if there is sufficient space). Floating homes often have better Indoor Swimming Pool, TV, Massage Chair, "Shower Tower",water pressure , fitted kitchen etc etc. , than many houses.

click the Menu link to find out about A.R.C. Certificate of Compliance

NB because moorings are geographically LOW, you are advised to use a Freeview digital box to get good reception (plus better quality sound and pictures and greater choice of channels)

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A STATIC Houseboat needs a secure residential mooring, you should then not be liable to pay VAT on the mooring fees, but you will have to pay the same Council Tax as a house owner. Theoretically you can buy a mooring with planning permission for a residential houseboat and moor on that, but such moorings are virtually unheard of and would probably be sold without the need to advertise. A Static houseboat will not need the same level of equipment and readiness as a Residential cruiser.

Also you will usually have the benefit of mains water, mains electricity and BT telephone (+ Broadband if available)

BUT

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A Residential cruiser can moor anywhere on non-tidal public moorings, usually for free, for varying lengths of time. In practice the six to eight out-of-season months (SEP/OCT - FEB/MARCH) are when Residential Cruisers have usually tied up on a free mooring without having to move. This is a time when few hire boats & private pleasure cruisers venture out, so the Rivers are relatively empty and there is relatively little competition for bank-side mooring spaces.. If you do moor in a marina, you would ususally pay mooring fee and VAT, but not Council Tax. The warmer months are when most residential Cruisers enjoy cruising at least a couple of times a week, often using a folding bicycle to go back to fetch the car from the mooring they just left. This is an active life style for people who want to keep fit and enjoy fresh air, the river and the countryside. YET it is still possible to hold down any job, just by driving to work from where you are moored. Mobile phones are a great boon! You can also use laptops and connect to your mobile for internet access. Your social life can continue as before, but with the added bonus that you will be able to meet many friendly, easy going boaters, both residential and pleasure boaters. If your neighbours don't happen to please you one day, it's easy to start your engine, slip your moorings and find a more congenial spot.

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You will be generating your own electricity (usually from the engine that also drives the boat along) This can be 24 or 12volts DC,or 240 volts AC(like the mains) Usually the DC voltage is stored in large capacity ("domestic")batteries and the , through an "INVERTER" changed to 240 AC like the mains. A. R. C. recommend at least 2KW for domestic use on board.

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You will have large water tanks on board, these can be filled (for free) at locks along the River, or at boatyards. You will need a high pressure water pump and wide-bore plumbing with large scale fittings ( not the feeble stuff that is usually fitted in pleasure cruisers). You will need a proper sea toilet, with a wide seat . In some waters it will need a holding tank . (in those areas there are frequent pump-out stations on the bankside, where the tanks can be cleanly and hygenically vaccuumed out for about a Fiver about once a fortnight). A full size designer ceramic loo with push button electric flush has converted many otherwise reluctant boaters to enjoy the experience!

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It is important to have adequate ventilation on board. Boats often have lower Air volume than houses, This means air is used more quickly. The Up-side of this is that very little heating is needed to heat and keep the air moving, creating ventilation. Frankly narrow-boats (sometimes called canal boats or barges)are too narrow for the comfort of many who are used to houses. All people can get used to some change and some are very happy living on narrow-boats. They are not considered 100% ARC compliant simply for "lack of adequate width" There are wider ("Wide beam") narrow boats that overcome this limitation.

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click the Menu link above to find out about A.R.C. Certificate of Compliance