Narrowboat 44ft 'Malourie'

Applications Closed

Afloat in W9

This narrowboat is 44ft long, 6ft wide. She is far from being in perfect shape, in particular, the roof is reported to be in an irreparable state. 

The condition can be judged by the pictures and the mini-survey provided to us by the owner, see below. Please read it carefully before applying for the boat.

The boat will have to be removed from her current berth in 2 weeks time.

aka SURVEY
ENGINE: 3 CYL LISTER AIRCOOLED with LISTER GEARBOX

Exhaust and manifold appear to be in good condition. As the exhaust pipe is heatproof wrapped, the actual condition of the pipework could not be seen to check, but did not feel corroded when squeezed.

The air-cooling trunking visible appeared to be in good condition.

FLOODING:

The engine bilges, and all adjacent bilges were found to be full of a large amount of water and overflowing into the inside of the cabin floor.

Temp remedy: A bilge pump was found in the engine bilge, with damaged wiring. This was jury rigged to our slave battery, and persuaded to work. Over 100 gallons of water was pumped out, from the central partition in engine room, which drained to water in the cabim interior too, at which point the separate bilges could be identified.  Approximately another 100 gallons were pumped out from the separate bilges in turn. (the pump extracts about 100 gallons per hour.)

As the engine was now completely visible checks could be made.

The engine appears fairly clean considering its extended downtime, with no obvious signs of leakage, or signs of being overheated.

The oil in the engine appears quite clean and uncontaminated. The level is correct. I would suggest an oil and filter change before any attempt is made to start, as the age and previous service of the oil is unknown.

The gearbox oil also appears uncontaminated. Level is correct. Also would advise change for the above reason.

The reduction gear case oil could not be checked as the dipstick is seized in the housing. Attempts were made, but as the socket can be removed from the casing, and addressed on a bench, it was decided to not risk damaging it in situ, as no attempt to drive the boat was going to be made.

The decompressor/valve lifting system appeared to be working correctly on all three cylinders. This is important as if the engine was started and had an air leak on the intake system, a condition known as "runaway" can occur, and if the engine stop system is found to be inoperative the valve lifter is a safe way of stopping it revving to catastrophic destruction.

The genuine Morse controls, on a pinnacle to the port side, were found to be in good working order as far as could be checked, the quadrants on the gearbox move as they should via the Morse remote controls. Gear selectors and throttle are of the usual cable type.

SEIZING TEST:

As the integrity of the boats wiring is unknown it was decided to run a direct feed from a heavy commercial type battery via jump leads to the engines starter. This was done. A few attempts were made, the starter clicks but the engine would not turn over. The propeller shaft was checked to be moving slightly with the gearbox in neutral. I believe the engine has hopefully just a standing seizure, as I'm told the engine arrived at the mooring in a running state.

The electrical system from the engine room bulkhead sternwards appears to be once of good quality, but is showing its age. It was not connected as it was clear that the wiring loom inside the boat was very water damaged, and did not wish to risk a short in the system.

ENGINE OPTIONS:

Its possible that the engines standing seizure could be addressed, I would estimate a day to assess if the engine could be unseized, then another 1-2 days to prepare the engine to run, and then run and test the gearbox.  The engine would not be connected to the boats electrical system, but would be rigged with a temporary "stand alone" system. This is mechanical work and its charged at a different rate. THis would allow the boat to be moved under its own power if day 1 initial unseizing attempt is successful.

As the stern gear, tube and steering system appear to be in working order, if the engine could made to run the boat would then be capable of being moved under its own power, although only by day. It would be impossible to spend any time in the cabin, Most certainly not overnight

HULL:

The hull does not appear to be in very bad condition, but obviously due to weed growth this is not a reliable check. The anodes visible appear to be around 50% their original size, this again is only a visual and possibly unreliable check.

SUPERSTRUCTURE:

The cabin roof is in unrepairable condition, and rainwater has rotted a large proportion of it, resulting in serious leakage over a long period of time. It (and probably the cabin sides) also would need completely replacing to make the boat viable. Same can be said for the interior floor, and a good amount of the wooden interior.

INTERIOR

The condition of the kitchen and precludes any detailed review, it is full of damp, mould, dirt and old tools and rubbish. All needs replacing, fridge, cooker etc. The gas fire is unsafe and not recommended to be fitted to a narrowboat.

GENERAL:

Its quite an attractive hull design, prominent bow, cruiser stern, with unusual and very useful raised "poop deck" with internal storage.
The boat appears to have been once very well found, and appears to have been equipped for tidal cruising. It has an extensively instrumented control panel and many unusual marine fixtures that appear to have been of good quality. These have apparent water damage, possibly cosmetic, but therefore were unable to be checked.

OPTIONS MOVING FORWARD:

The boat can only be described as a "serious long term project" or irreparable without significant investment. There may be value in the engine to a boatyard if it can be unseized, and possibly the hull, but will require to be working and will require and buyer prepared to buy the engine and/or hull, remove it from the boat and dispose or re-use the hull. I will try to find out a little about this option.

To register your interest and make an offer please fill in the form:
https://forms.gle/x228m1nEv7HjWhzd8

To repel timewasters, a deposit of £200 will be requested to secure the boat from just one selected person, refunded upon removal/take over within two weeks.

We offer the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. Any potential new owner should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the they desire validated.