Boat Buyer's Guides
These guides will help you buy a canal boat with clarity. Know what to check, what to ask, and what the numbers really mean. Start here, then use a Boat Brief report for specific guidance about any boat you're viewing.
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5 Red Flags When Buying a Narrowboat
The five warning signs that turn a fair price into an expensive mistake — and what each costs to fix.
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What Paperwork Should You Check When Buying a Narrowboat?
The five documents to check — and what missing paperwork should cost the seller in negotiation.
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How to Check a Narrowboat's History Before You Buy
With no UK boat title register, here's how to check a narrowboat's history yourself.
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What Is a BSS Certificate? What Buyers Need to Check
What the certificate proves, what the exam covers, and what to check before you buy.
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How to Read an Apollo Duck Listing
Read a listing like a surveyor: the details that matter and the wording that should give you pause.
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Narrowboat Hull Thickness Explained
What 10/6/4 and ultrasonic readings really mean — and why 4mm is an insurance line, not an engineering one.
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Narrowboat Blacking Explained: Is Mine Overdue?
How often a hull needs blacking, what it costs, and how to tell if it's overdue.
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Should You Buy an Overplated Narrowboat?
The risks, the questions to ask, and the warning signs that separate a sound repair from a costly one.