Acquiring

Specification
Search
Selection
Purchase

Acquiring

Preparing

Design/Layout
Equipment
Suppliers/Trades
Alteration/Conversion

Using

Delivery
Handling

Specification

What barge is right for you?

What type? How big? What condition?  What accommodation? What materials and equipment? What style? What price?

Barges vary a great deal.  If you don't answer these questions before you start looking for your barge, you will quickly get overwhelmed by the choice.

Getting these answers right is crucial to your ending up with the barge you really want. But the full implications of the answers you pick may not be apparent until much later.

We can take you through the specification process, explaining the choices and their impacts

Search

Once you know what you want, how do you go about
finding it? 

Barges are surprisingly good at hiding, so you need to know how to look for them if you are to locate a good selection of suitable candidates to choose from.

We can advise you on how and where to search

Selection

You've seen a number of barges broadly meeting your criteria.  Which one will you pick? What do you need to consider, and what weight should you put on the various factors?

We can help you make your selection.
 
 
Purchase

Buying a barge is not like buying a house, a car, or a bag of groceries. The process has its own conventions, and involves some steps you may be unfamiliar with.

We can explain this process to you, and help you through it.

If your purchase involves paying Value Added Tax (VAT) in a mainland Europe country, we may be able to assist in reducing the amount payable.
 
 

Design/Layout

Few people find a barge which is already perfect for them. Most convert, reconvert, or at least alter their purchase to make it just right.

Barges have more room in them than most other private craft, but even so careful design of the accommodation is needed to make best use of the space.

We can tell you about layout techniques for barge conversions, and help you apply them to your barge.

Equipment

The equipment needed in a barge may not be what you expect, may include items you are unfamiliar with, and can vary depending on how and where you will use the barge. 

Does your barge have everything it needs?  Is it of suitable quality, or from a reliable manufacturer?  Are parts available? 

If vital equipment is missing, or needs replacing, what should you buy?

We can discuss requirements, options, and brands with you.

Suppliers/Trades

Finding some of the equipment and skills barges need is not always easy. Finding them at good prices is even more of a challenge. And as you might expect, the providers vary from craftsman to cowboy.

We can suggest to you, or help you find, the people and businesses you need.
 
 Alteration/Conversion

The work you need to have done on your barge may take a while to complete.

No matter how carefully you have specified it, questions are bound to come up during the execution. And there is always the possibility that the boat yard will misinterpret your instructions, or even skimp on quality.

If you are able to drop by and check on progress every few days, fine. But what if you are too far away for that?

We can arrange for monitoring of the work, and regular communication with you to keep you up to date on progress and to discuss required decisions during the job.

If the invoices for the work are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT), we may be able to assist in reducing the amount payable.

Using

Delivery

Your barge may be in one place, but you want it in another.  And you don't have the time (or perhaps the confidence) to move it yourself. 

We can discuss options with you, and arrange delivery of barges.
 

Handling

Most European countries (UK is a notable exception) require the steerer of a barge to have a formal qualification.

Such qualifications are not that difficult to get, but you may welcome some advice as to which one is appropriate, and how to prepare for the examinations involved.

Even with a qualification, you may find being at the wheel of your own barge somewhat daunting.  We can advise you on how to get training or experience in barge handling.