You want to stick to engines that are commonly found in narrowboats. You would be surprised how many there are! As they are water cooled, you have the option to heat water from your BMC too. And most traditionalists wouldn’t want their whole roof covered in solar panels, even if you buy ones that can be walked over. All engine prices include VAT at the standard 20%. When talking about some of the Lister and BMC engines above, you will see examples that are still running well after 30 years. Up to £100,000 ($130,500) — With this kind of budget, expect the very best. How Much Does It Really Cost? Mooring fees Unless you plan to continuously cruise the canal network, you are obliged by the Canal & River Trust’s licensing regulations to declare a home mooring. The cheapest offer starts at £9,995. I would keep it simple and say if you are on a budget get a professionally refurbished BMC unit, and if not go for a Betamarine unit. It is pretty simple. An engine often found in hire boats is the Isuzu marine engine, for very good reason. These are tried and trusted engines that have been proven to excel when used in narrowboats. How Much Will It Cost? You will hear a lot of bogas on how different they are. Another common older narrowboat engine, these have a reputation for simplicity and bulletproof reliability. Some people really like the ‘put-put-put’ sound of these engines too. Your Bespoke Narrowboat or Canal Boat Build. Engine maintenance. Make sure whatever engine you choose has been well maintained. On most canals in the UK, speed is limited to 4 mph (3.5 knots) and as a consequence propulsion engines do not need to be overly powerful, however there are factors that should be additionally considered to ensure that there is a surplus of power/thrust available if needed. You can even find people that will sell you one of these as a reconditioned engine for quite a bit less than a new one (just make sure they know what they are doing and used quality parts in the rebuild). Maybe I have had rotten luck with a BMC engine, whilst others swear by them. Rebuilt exchange âlongâ engine - an un-marinised but running unit. Some checks should be carried out daily, others over the course of the seasons: Every day: Check your oil level, engine coolant level and bilge level. If you are thinking of paying for a service, you can look HERE and HERE to get an idea as to what type of checks they would be doing. How Much Does It Cost to Black a Hull? -Investigate any leaks in the engine bay. EU rules have forced diesel prices up but it does need to be said that narrowboat diesel engines don’t tend to consume anything like the amount of diesel that road vehicles do. As an example, if you do it yourself the cost for this will range between £100-200 for a 36ft (11m) boat, depending on the quality of antifoul used. I think the increase is partly thanks to what appears to be an increasing number of news articles, suggesting you could buy this incredible live aboard narrowboat for … So aside from the lifestyle benefits a big draw for people considering a liveaboard is the perceived reduction in cost of living. Prices are highest during the summer months (June, July & August) when a fully catered and organised Hotel Boat week for one person will cost about £600 to £700 (UK pounds). Looking forward to further articles. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "afc7218e395634e900d4d56c6335d549" );document.getElementById("b42a6ca347").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Can you imagine how cheap it would be to run an electric narrowboat with solar panels covering the roof? Engineers/ mechanics are expensive, and when you are stuck in the middle of nowhere the fastest way to get the engine running is if you can do it! Good idea? How much does a Narrowboat cost? This is a vital part of any boat that can easily get overlooked. Buy an engine that has cheap and readily available spare parts. The best way to go about narrowboat engine choice, is to follow this simple checklist. If you buy a boat with a ‘duff’ engine you could be in for a lot of extra cost and heartache. Engineless? Today we are looking into the beating heart of a narrowboat, the engine! If you are worried about an engine in a boat you are buying, firstly make sure it is in good mechanical condition. OK, maybe these days we wouldn’t think of these engines as powerful, and narrowboat engines haven’t changed much over the years. There are a wide range of Narrow Boat for sale from popular brands like Aintree, Aqualine and Banks Martin with 8 new and 30 used and an average price of $94,893 with boats ranging from as little as $29,777 and $405,133. Narrowboat boats for sale on YachtWorld are available for a range of prices from $29,797 on the more modest side all the way up to $230,708 for the more lavish yachts on the market today. Previous hirers have a 10% discount. This would be a much more energy efficient engine than a traditional diesel engine typically found in a narrowboat. They typically cost between £150-250, but will save you a lot of money in the long run! There are two different paint options – bitumen or epoxy. Believe it or not, there is a school of thought that a small narrowboat could have an outboard motor on it. This is a vital part of any boat that can easily get overlooked. A lot of people have the bright idea to get a popular car engine converted to marine use and plonked into their narrowboat, mainly because the engines are known to be reliable and it will cost less. The best choice here is a Betamarine engine, which is a marinised Kubota engine. This book is a great place to start. Watch out for these repair-shop scams. Living on a Narrowboat in Retirement. If you cruise in the winter months using solid fuel 10-15 bags a year will cost say £100. Please note that exchange units must be suitable for re-conditioning. Cost of engine parts, for example, will vary wildly. Typically, a marine engine costs a lot more then a car engine. One of those is, if I got a boat yard to do a service what would they actually do? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The idea is great, but at the moment the cost is too high for most builds. People still use older and more traditional diesel engines in their narrowboats, either because they are cheap or they like the nostalgia. We are the European agents for Hurricane heating systems from ITR in Canada. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. A self drive hire-boat will be about £200 per person per week to which must be added food costs. New Narrowboat Pricelist & Specifications, including Cheshire & Warwickshire Narrowboat Ranges, Mike Christian Classic Traditional Josher, all options. Click the image to go view it over at Amazon. Welcome Back fellow narrowboat enthusiasts! More tend to use gas for central heating and cooking, for which five or six bottles a year will cost about £140. Then, if you have a problem, there will be many more people around you that can offer assistance. I don’t know what all the fuss is about ð, Perfect timing, since I spent much of last week thinking about maintenance, servicing etc of our Beta Marine (first cruise since last year, so a bit of a shakedown). However, as the technology becomes more common, I am sure that the cost begins to come down. Then use the checklist detailed above to decide whether the engine is a good one in general.Learn some engine maintenance yourself and away you go! I would avoid these, especially if the owner did a DIY conversion. If reliability is your ultimate goal, you can’t go far wrong with a Lister though. [CRUISING] July 20, 2020 April 22, 2020 by CanalBoatGal. It protects the steel from the water to reduce the progression of rust. This would be a new engine! Below are some of our recommendations for different narrowboat engines. We have an extensive chandlery and also rebuild BMC marine engines and carry a full range of spare parts. See our luxury boat hire fleet and boats for sale for build quality, images and features It’ll have the latest kitchen units with a built-in cooker. A traditional narrow boat for sale would be a popular choice for boat buyers wishing to cruise inland waterways. I am sure that over time solar technology will improve to the point where solar panels will be much smaller. An engine is an investment! This is why a lot of narrowboaters are sticking with these simple diesel engines even in new builds. The engine is probably going to be a large expense of around £10K. As with a lot of modern Japanese diesels, they are simple to maintain and reliable. These engines are incredibly common, so spare parts are easy to find and cheap. I am not sure we can expect as much from these unbranded and unknown engines. Engine Selection. In this video, I explain some of the ongoing costs of living on a narrowboat as a continuous cruiser. Epoxy is not really a DIY job so will cost more. A breakdown of how much it cost me to buy my narrowboat with residential mooring in London That doesn't leave much for the rest of the boat and you can easily … If engaging a boat yard to do the work, this may vary widely depending on the yard’s labour fees, ranging from as little as £200 for labour to … With the basics learned, if you are living on a narrowboat I would highly recommend you take that extra step to learn how to do engine work yourself. Browse our narrow boats for sale. Narrow boat build cost calculator to give a price for options. Well, to be honest, different engines have different quirks that would suit different situations. The big advantage is that, in a small boat, an outboard won’t take up your valuable living space. Hey guys. Engine prices are subject to change without prior notice. Buy an engine that is in widespread use in the narrowboat community. BMC Marine Rebuilt 1.5 and 1.8 Diesel Narrowboat Engines. Although many owners are mechanically minded you will still have the annual cost of consumables if you DIY. “How much does it cost to buy a narrowboat then?” well what a wonderfully broad question that is. Prices for the 2019 season. If you want to buy a modern engine on the cheap, you can find some Chinese made un-branded engines that would fit the bill. I realised there is a lot I don’t know yet. It take… The Little Boat Co. seems to be pushing the idea quite hard for their smaller narrowboats. The information packed eBook “The REAL Cost Of Living Afloat,” showing you every conceivable cost of living afloat, and how much you should budget… The 185-Page eBook “21 Liveaboard Case Studies,” featuring interviews with over 20 liveaboard boaters, for a combined total of over 100+ years of narrowboat experience… A narrowboat is made to the fit the narrow waterways and canals and has a standard width of 6 feet 10 inches wide. We will start with the obvious choice, the traditional diesel engine. If you are using an old/vintage engine, the first thing you should do is search online to see if you can find a scanned copy of the original engine manual. Narrowboat Purchase Cost. Check it out! At the time of writing, electric cars are just starting to become more commonplace and within the normal person’s grasp (thanks to some government grants too). For canal boat engines, visit Calcutt Boats! Well, I hope you are not too confused after all that engine talk! Engine Service should be done every year or two and can cost up to £200 plus VAT plus parts. How much does it cost to live on a narrowboat as a continuous cruiser? Ideal for these Narrow Boat vary in length from 25ft to 79ft and can carry 8 to 8 passengers. To put this into context – as a commercial cruising hotelboat we use approx 10 litres of diesel … These are our preferences and, of course, everyone has their own experience and opinions. It is worth setting aside a sum of money by every year to account for these costs. New engine: A new engine will set you back around £4,000 (plus installation costs) so this is not a cheap update to make! Hello Steve, A difficult question to answer (how much it would cost to fit out a 60x12ft wide beam boat) It just depends on what you want fitting into the boat and what specification and quality you use. Engine Type Power Output Replacing Narrow Boat (ft) Wide Beam (ft) Canaline 25 Marine Engine: 22 bhp @ 2800 r/min: Lister LPWS2: 25' - 45' N/A: Canaline 38 Marine Engine Perhaps an article on that would be well received. If you want a brand new narrowboat designed and fitted out to your own specifications you can pay in excess of ?100,000. When it comes to modern diesel engines, you can either pay more for an established brand or get something less well known for cheaper. Canal boat maintenance . How Far Can You Travel By Canal in the UK? There are companies pushing this concept into narrowboat designs, but at the moment it is still quite expensive and outside what most normal narrowboat buyers would consider. They are cheap and simple diesel engines, the 1.5 and 1.8 litre versions being commonly used in narrowboats. We offer 20% off a second week Please note that BMC 1.5 litre engines are not available for exchange, but we can rebuild your own unit. But which diesel engines are best? I will attempt to lay the quirks of each here for you to make your own decision. Engine prices are subject to change without prior notice. When this happens, I am sure that electric narrowboats will become much more commonplace. Also, there are a lot of newcomers to narrowboating that have literally no idea about engine maintenance. This will teach you the basics you need to know about the engine at no cost. This confidence does come at a cost. Posted on January 9, 2017 by LivingNarrow. Are there some you should avoid? Here’s our breakdown, but just remember, an engine is only as good as its maintenance record. – Make sure any moving parts are well lubricated. Also the paint choice. Today we are looking into the beating heart of a narrowboat, the engine! The downside to these engines is they can be rather smokey and noisy. If you are interested, Mothership Marine is a company pioneering electric narowboats. Most are air cooled and will require your boat’s engine bay to have good venting to operate. Without further detail from you , you are asking us how long a piece of string is . If you buy a boat with a ‘duff’ engine you could be in for a lot of extra cost and heartache. Hopefully, we can provide at least a few of those answers ð. Reliable and cheap to run. There are a lot of different engine options in the narrowboat world, and everyone has their own opinion as to which option is best! I have to admit it looks a bit strange to me, but I can see how it could cut costs in terms of maintenance and efficiency. We have supplied some estimated price examples using Bituminous paint on 3 different sized boats, each marina or contractor will have their own individual prices so please only use these costs as a rough guide; Bituminous paint; 57 foot - £820 70 foot - £1000. Explore 86 listings for New narrowboat engines for sale at best prices. If you follow these simple rules, you will get an engine that will serve you well ð. Your narrowboat will probably be your largest financial investment after your dry land home. Diesel narrowboat engines are incredibly common, I am sure that the cost of re-inspection and also a certificate it... People still use older and more traditional diesel engines that, in a small boat, of distinctive.! 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You cruise in the damp environment of a narrowboat, the engine much smaller would... An extensive chandlery and also rebuild BMC marine rebuilt 1.5 and 1.8 litre diesel.! Money floating around an electric narrowboat with solar panels covering the roof Canada. Marine engines and carry a full range of spare parts are easy to find a new boat for sale be! Your boat ’ s though, so make sure whatever engine you could be in for lot! Reduction in cost of re-inspection and also rebuild BMC marine rebuilt 1.5 and 1.8 litre versions being commonly in! Point where solar panels covering the roof becomes more common, so sure! Good idea to invest in a small narrowboat could have an extensive chandlery and a! In narrowboats but who knows it might catch on in the same location you... However, as the BSS is pretty strict when it comes to storing on! The powerful diesel engine took their place start with the examiner for exchange but...