Buying a boat through ABNB

Your Research

Initially, check our boat listings: you have a choice of whether to view a summary of boats on our Boats for Sale - Grid View; or our more detailed Boats for Sale - List View.

They are updated daily, and for your convenience you can sign-up for an e-mail alert of boats added. You can also follow us on Twitter at #ABNBbrokerage or like us on Facebook!

When you see a boat you like on the website or in one of our magazine adverts you can either download the brochure from the website, request a brochure via the email alerts form, or call us so that we can post you the full brochure.

Your RESEARCH

Every boat is complimented by a comprehensive full colour sales brochure: 4 pages packed with information, photos and a detailed line drawing of the boat. The photos are taken by us and show the boat in its current state - not when it was launched! Similarly the comprehensive written detail is the result of our careful inspection of each boat - we spend around four - five hours on board each boat in order to obtain the detail for our brochures.

Take a look at our testimonials page and read how some past customers feel about the service we provide:

"Brochures and website are particularly good, better than all competitors"

Use the links throughout our website to discover lots of useful information you'll be glad to know about during ownership of your boat. Buying a narrowboat is just the start of your journey! Remember there's licencing, mooring fees, servicing and maintenance costs also!

Canal and River Trust are enthusiastic about providing information to new boaters, they have a DVD explaining how to get started.

"The friendly spirit that pervades the waterways means there is a lot of help available on the spot but it’s obviously a good idea for new boaters to build up their knowledge and confidence in other ways too".

This link will take you to the Canal and River Trust website where you can discover more. Take a look.

British Marine produce a useful Guide to Inland Boating packed with information.
Your VISIT

Should the brochure whet your appetite further, contact us to arrange to view the boat. Remember that some boats may be more local than others as we specialise in selling boats from their own moorings, so check on the website to gain a general idea of the area where the boat is moored. We will make an arrangement to view suitable to both you and the owner.
Your DECISION

If you then decide the boat is for you - call us to discuss your desire to purchase, your means of funding the purchase and whether the decision is subject to survey or demo, for example. When agreement is reached you will be asked for a deposit of £1,000 - this will take the boat off the market whilst things are sorted, such as demo, survey or finance. Deposits are fully refundable up to the date of exchange of contracts.
Your deposit is paid into our Client Account, named as such and kept at all times separate and distinct from our trading account.
We will not take an offer from you if the purchase funds are being raised from the sale of a house or boat UNTIL you have exchanged signed contracts with a completion date.
PLEASE NOTE: To comply with Anti Money Laundering regulations, we conduct identity checks on all named Buyers and anyone else paying funds into our Client Account. There will be a small charge to cover our costs for this service.
Onsite Facilities

Blacking

Arranged as part of the sale

Surveys

Easy lift out, pressure washed & blacked

Carpenters Workshop

For the jobs before and after sale

Mechanical Workshop

Engine servicing, gas, electrics, plumbing

Painting

Boat painting by John Barnard

Accessible Moorings

North Kilworth Marina
The CONTRACT

Once an offer has been accepted and your deposit paid, you will be asked to sign a binding Sale and Purchase Agreement contract. This specifies the conditions of the sale, and outlines when the balance of the purchase price has to be paid and how ownership transfer will take place. All payments must be made by electronic transfer such as CHAPS or Internet Banking into the ABNB Client Account.
Your PAYMENT

When the funds have cleared into our Client Account, and the ownership transfer has been completed, you are the proud owner of your boat! Your ASSURANCE - For your peace of mind, we are able to offer 2 months free membership to RCR, River Canal Rescue a waterways recovery breakdown service.
THE BOAT IS NOW YOURS - TIME TO SAIL OFF INTO THE SUNSET

Now you've bought a boat do you need some work doing before you can happily cruise away? Perhaps an engine service, a bit of boiler maintenance, or just a thorough clean & polish. Perhaps you're looking for a few alterations to the woodwork, maybe a re-paint or even change of location to cruise from. Our tradesmen page has contact details for engineers, carpenters, cleaners, painters, and even boat movers.