Vintage 55ft Narrow Boat Saab Canal barge wooden cabin liveaboardCurrently in Long term dry dock in CheshireThe BoatThis boat was built in the 70’s, originally as a fibreglass top holiday cruiser. The previous owner extended the boat by 15ft and added a metal A frame to resemble an old working boat. I took the project on 3.5 years ago. I completely rebuilt the cabin (saving only the good bits of frame and roof). the rear is clad with iroko and the front with cedar but the whole cabin has been coated with an acrylic based exterior paint – this could be removed in the future to reveal the natural wood. The rear cabin roof has been fibre glassed and coated with a non slip top coat.The InteriorThe floor has been replaced this year throughout with new pine floorboards. The partitions for the bathroom have been put in including a sliding bathroom door. The lining at the rear has been put renewed with hardwood plywood and pine cladding on the partitions. Mains powered lighting, sockets along with a basic consumer unit have been put into the rear to make it liveable to a basic standard. I have built a folding double bed and a workbench for the engine room (both pictured).The EngineI bought this project up near Barnoldswick when it was moored on the leeds and liverpool canal. I serviced the engine and sailed it down to its current location near Nantwich in Cheshire covering a fair few miles and tackling many locks. Since putting it on dry dock the engine hasn’t been run – but being a bombproof Saab single cylinder GG a quick service should solve this. I rebuilt the gearbox just before taking it out of the water with new genuine saab parts.The HullThe hull needs some work, it performed fine on the sail down from barny but for peace of mind you might want to replace the chime/ fill some pits or overplate the boat. There are two small holes at the front where a pit has met a pit. I have an ultrasonic thickness gauge so we can take some measurements during a viewing.The OfferI have spent a lot of time and money on this boat getting it to where it is and the price is a very fair one (considering a 55ft boat complete is upwards from £40k). But the price does reflect that there is a a lot still to do. I am not desperate to sell but I have realised that this boat would no longer serve the liveaboard purpose I intended for it – as I’ve bought a house. The new owner can take over the dry dock mooring at a cost of £220 per month (including water and electricity), its at a very nice marina with full facilities and they don’t mind people staying on their boats whilst working on them. Alternatively there are facilities (at a price) for loading boats onto trucks at the yard and boat transport companies do serve this marina.Contact me to view the boat, I will not consider offers made before viewing
Current Price: £8000.00
This Vintage 55ft Narrow Boat Saab Canal Barge Wooden Cabin Liveaboard Cheshire boat is located in Manchester, M14*** and is being sold on eBay by zappa_guitars.