Hi, I'm Candy Marsh and this weekend i'm off to look at boats, hope to buy before next weekend and move onto asap!

I've been researching since october 2011, just been waiting for the payout from my ex which due to my bumbling solicitor has taken a year instead of the expected 12 weeks, very frustrating

I read lots of blogs and of course this site, I think most of my questions have been asked and answered already but i'm sure if i need it help will be offered

look forward to seeing you soon

hi, thanks for your posts

I have a list of eleven, 7 private and 4 with 2 brokers including Whilton, picked up the hire car late this afternoon and I'm off to Worthing to pick my mate up then the road trip begins. So excited can hardly bear myself!

hello again

well what a week its been! fantastic!

we set off monday morning, 1st stop near nottingham, tired old boat, neglected and uninspiring. Next stop was to be hebden bridge, nearly there in terrible weather, on the radio reports of flooding so no chance. Quick look at ebay and spotted a boat at burnley, my home town, so quick re route and arranged to view tuesday morning, stayed over in colne and took my friend for a drive round my old stomping ground.

Tuesday morning and liked what we saw, needed updating lovely outside but dreary and tired inside so cheeky offer made ( refused that evening) then off to shipley, advertised as a liveaboard, as our jim sez my @rse! what a wreck! near derelict rust laden disaster zone, so off to skipton for the night then a bit of retail therapy and a gander at the canal, lovely half day in sunny warm skipton and great for buying wet weather gear, then off to thorne, a lazy trip over the moors as my friend has'nt been oop north before, then a text accepting my offer after all, yea but what to do? return or carry on? stop for coffee in sowerby bridge, canal basin of course! then turned back to burnley, found a hotel and with calls back and forth arranged to meet thursday morning to go over paperwork etc. Went to see friends that evening, on the way out of the carpark managed to bump the owners saab, what a palaver! slight scuff to her bumper you'd of thought it was totalled.

just as we were setting off for meeting got a text to say a higher offer made and accepted, was I pi55ed off? of course, had arranged to pay the night before but he said my word was enough, obviously his meant nothing, que sera, sod 'im, set off for thorne again

well another tired boat but offered potential, broker indicated the offer I might make to reflect work required would be accepted but decided to see my next couple of possibles before deciding so its off to shardlow, kept trying to contact owner but never got a reply so stayed over at castle donnington and the next morning still no contact so next on me list, banbury, successful contact, pleasant drive and arrived just after lunch.

this is IT, the ONE! beautifully kept, loved liveaboard, just the right layout, no work needed, everything as I would want it, just move me stuff on and go starting price was the minimum and as there was nothing for me to do agreed and accepted, deposit by bank transfer and by the time I got home to bedfordshire it had been taken off the market, sorted. (noted that the burnley one is still advertised )

the owner has got 'imself a bigger boat so need to wait a few days til he can transfer over to that, what a nice guy! will move nearer to me to a place I can get to it to unload and has offered me basic set up training, engine maintenance and unlimited support as a newbie, he's been a liveaboard over 10 years and his new wife is also a liveaboarder (not met her but hope to) so thats it for now just need to get rid of all me gear from this rental, only intend to take clothes, bedding, kitchen gear and food all the rest will be going to charity, better get a move on cos time flies

Hi Paul

blacked and 4 anodes last year, ultrasound survey and report at same time, very good when I read it, all servicing bills for the last 4 years and full file of all works for boat for last 15 years including expired licences, bsc until sept 2014, feel good to go