Buying & doing up my narrowboat - from leisure to liveaboard
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- Once upon a time, the Naughty Lass was called 'Jacob' - and looked a bit different than it does now! This video covers the period from when I first saw it on Halloween 2014 and then from March 17th 2015 when I bought it, and then from that point through to May 17th when I left the leisure moorings I used to do the boat up at Saltford, near Bristol.
Introducing the (tragically underused in this case) finest traditional craftsmen I know:
Luke Doddington - / lokicraft
Alex Argo - burrwoodworks.c...
Thanks also to my Dad Big Richie for making the wooden floor possible, and generally supporting me, with mum Sue, in my decision to set off on this crazy adventure. Huge amount of love and respect to you both.
Filmed on an iPhone 4,5 & 6! Edited using iMovie.
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Huge amount of work gone in there Robbie. Truly lost in admiration of your commitment. I can see how proud you are as you watch the footage. I could never have done it. Good on ya buddy. :-}
Thanks Andy, yes very proud, lots of work there - think I just got a bit over excited I think! Plus you know what I'm like, perfectionism, high standards and everything (well to a certain extent)!
Robbie, Thank you for sharing this. You should be very proud of her. You put in a ton of work and I for one think the Naughty Lass is a fine boat. Well done my friend!
You're welcome Eric thanks for the comment! 8^)
Fantastic transformation.
Cheers you two!
A lovely explanation of all the team work and effort to transform your narrowboat. Brilliant.
Thank you Robbie. That was a lovely story and an excellent video to go with it. You and your friends and family have done a super job. You mow have a wonderful home
I think that a lot of single people and young couples are realising that with the 25% deposit, outside of London, to buy a property, they can in fact purchase a narrowboat. Even if they buy a boat and stick it in a marina all year and only use it for holiday cruising, the yearly cost is way cheaper than a house. The average weekly cost of a marina is about £41, shore power £5 and gas bottles that can last a while £26 it really is a way to save some money and have full time jobs. It is no surprise that new marinas are springing up all along the cut. You, Robbie, are in the vanguard of proving that living on the cut is a viable alternative to living in a house. Keep it up young man, your videos are inspiring to those who come after.
Thanks for the comment Al, very much appreciated - and you make it all sound so logical - make me wish I'd done it sooner! The one thing I would say is that it doesn't suit everyone! Spiders, damp and emptying your toilet are just a few things that would put most people off! How about you - do you have a boat or are thinking of getting one? 8^)
Interesting video Robbie. You certainly changed the boat quite a bit to suit you. I like to see things (not just boats) being given a new lease of life with some tlc. Well done mate.
Me too. Thanks for the comment John much appreciated!
Thanks Robbie for showing the purchase and restore of Naughty Lass. Your interior always looks cosy and not sterile like some I have seen.
Thanks John! Two words - white paint. Avoid like the plague!
Really enjoyed the video but it looked like a nightmare but hard work and long shifts and your there now, cracking job mate ☺👍
Great job, it looks so comfortable and homely. Well done.
Thanks Sylvia, yes that was what I was going for. Really like the idea of having a floating 'cottage in the city', but have found I don't moor in cities as often as I originally planned!
Briil as ever Rob, shame you were not Vlogging back then as I'd been along to lend a hand. On my kinda patch Saltford.
Great what you did to her. I couldn't of done the sanding though wow that was a beast of a task! been a paint wash over it showing the grain through for me! I guess there is more to come on the updating?
Cheers
Ade
interesting to see what it was like at the beginning and how much work you have put in to him/ her! See thats an old engine and hope she keeps running ok, I love old motors but you need to love them lots!
Cheers Arnold, yes this particular engine has broken down so hopefully I can it fixed soon (video to follow!) 8^)
Love the colors!
Thanks Mama! 8^)
Robbie I really enjoyed watching your transformation of Naughty Lass. She has character and looks like home. Thank you.
Nice one thanks Craig 8^)
Really like the homely rustic vintage look you have given the boat xD
Ah thanks! 8^)
Stunning boat! Love the colours x
Thank you Jules glad you like 'em 8^)
I really like the wood paneling throughout its really ..... Classic.
I do like your Beer Cellar! Must of been a good feeling after you finished all the work and could move aboard.
Cheers Sam - it was such a good moment, slightly marred by the fact that I spent the first night aboard refitting the throttle lever during a thunderstorm, moored by a pump out machine!! But after I fixed that it felt amazing to finally be on my way. 8^)
What a transformation Robbie,you have made cracking job,and thanks to your dad and friends,full steam ahead mate.👍
That was brilliant... thanks for sharing.kind regards Dave 😁👍👍👍👍
Absolutely beautiful home. Complete legend. Brilliant stuff
Love your narrow boat. I can see your pride. Pretty awesome 😀
Yep it's hard to paint over that 8^) Lovely comment thank you Jen!
Nice work Robbie. Really interesting to see how you put your own stamp on the boat. I love the rustic eastern vibe you have going on with the traditional old narrowboat touches too. Very nice!
Cheers Dean, very kind and yes that was the exact sort of mix I wanted 8^)
Great video to see how you transformed Jacob into Naughty Lass. I really enjoy your videos. Keep on cranking it!
Thanks Susan will do!! 8^)
A homely boat Robbie back in the day for £24k.
Letting emotions blinding the amount of work required to making your dream come to fruition is a process we all go through be it buying a boat ( gone through same experience) or buying a house.
You get there in the end.
Your travel vlogs are excellent and all your viewers we travel with you.
I especially like the real ale bits discovering great pubs along the way.
Keep crankin
What a great idea for a vlog. I really love your crank it cruising, the pub of the week and the accompanying music in your usual vlogs but it was great to see this and how lovely your boat looks since the purchase. Keep them coming! 👍
Thanks Dulcie, well I had all this old footage and pics so I thought I'd do something with them! Thanks for watching and commenting, very much appreciated and keeps me going 8^)
Timothy Taylor’s Landlord….. noice! 🍻😎 and a lovely vlog, too.
Thanks! Good to see the process!
Excellent vblog. Sure it’s dirty, but 100% authentic. Also a great wakeup call as to the amount of commitment and hard work that goes with owning a boat. A real eye opener.
Thanks Paul 👍
Great vlog Robbie, it was nice to see how it all began, and how you got to where you are now. Keep em coming .
No worries thanks for the comment dude 8^)
So satisfying restoring things. Cant help thinking it's very dark for a small area, especially with small windows...
Love the warm colours and thanks for the info about using Danish oil/white spirit to get a softer look :)
You're welcome Clare glad you liked it! The danish oil/white spirit technique I learnt from my friend Alex, he says it helps untreated wood absorb it better. 8^)
Awesome vid mate, good to see the build. I need to learn a lot more about oils on wood, interesting stuff. Great to put your own stamp on a boat without a total refit or buying a sail away. I'll most likely do a similar thing now and mod a retired hire boat. There are some gems out there and staff get killer deals on boats and mooring :) Haha sorry had to drop that in!
Thanks for the insight into making a boat your own and whats involved. Your other videos have been a great source of info too
Hey no worries, thanks for letting me know Zi! 8^)
Love your overall aesthetic. I've thought about chalk paint for some things for my cabin and seeing you use it makes me want to do so now. I like the layering effect. I actually just painted the outside of my cabin very close to the color of your kitchen cabinets. Picked it out last Fall though, way before ever seeing your channel. I just absolutely love every color in the blue-green spectrum. BTW you're one of my fav narrowboat channels.
Ahh thanks Leslie
Hi Robbie, Interesting to see how it started and how you've improved it and moved it on. That French Oak floor looked great! I think the MDF T&G looked good too. What a nuisance that ballast could be though! Looking forward to the next vlog!
You know it Ronnie - I did have a leak recently but thankfully only on the non-gravel part - what luck! Would love to have the oak all the way through but alas it was just too thick!
Shame because the oak looked stunning! The important thing is, she's yours and you're enjoying her!
Well you've got a better eye than I have mate.... Nice place to be and easily one of the nicest boats out there I'd say.
Aw shucks that can't be true but thanks Matt!! 8^)
Aw shucks that can't be true but thanks Matt!! 8^)
hay Robbie, nice video of your narrowboat Thank you for sharing.cheers
You're welcome glad you enjoyed it 8^)
Bet it's so satisfying looking back on all your work making your home, really interesting to see how a project like this all comes together, thanks for sharing. I love the hatches in the floor for keeping in the drinks:)
Thanks Rebecca! Well it is great to lool back - and so much better than having to make a vlog about it as I was doing it, now that would have been hard work! 8^)
Nice watch, gave me some ideas for when we get on the canal next year, cheers Robbie!
Interesting. You did good with the visual documentation of the process to get this to your liking.
In the picture of you with your dad, did I see an Air Products Ltd label on his jacket. I worked at AP headquarters in T'town until 2012. Not the same company with the latest CEO selling off what is left of chemicals and electronics.
Interesting! I'll ask dad about that!!
You made it into an absolutely beautiful boat ! :)
Thank you Sofia very kind 8^)
I find it amazing that people like yourself buy a boat and on a budget.... How do you stop yourself going getting a fat loan and ripping everything out???? very admirable..
Pure laziness on my part! To get a fat loan you gotta work to the bone!!
@@RobbieCumming that is true!!!!!
Nice job Robbie. But, I noticed some kitchen utensils hanging from hooks. With movement of the boat they will, over time, swing back and forth and mark your lovely walls. I'd suggest some protection.
Thanks Alan I'll investigate that! 8^)
Hello there, nice to see what you went with. I'm forever making little changes and improvements, wish I could have a clearer run like that. Hope you don't mind me pointing this out and maybe someone has already but; your MPPT charge controller is a fake. Its a, dishonestly packaged, PWM. It may not impact you too much. It depends on your needs and how your panels are connected. You could expect a good 30-40% more power from a genuine MPPT controller and many times more if your panels happen to be in series.
You're fecking awesome. Been looking at narrow boats since I saw you could even live on them now I'm obsessed. Hope I can get my own one day but seems they're bloody expensive. Good luck like.
Ah shucks. Thank you! Yep boats that you can actually live fairly normally in can be really expensive but there are opportunities if you look out for them and make a few compromises (in my case no washing machine/fridge!) 8^)
Nice boat mate,a name's a name it means something to somebody and nout to others!,, cheers dude,Stu..
Never a truer word said cheers Stewart! 8^)
Hi Robbie
Would really welcome a chat about boats - really want one but prices are so varied.
Love your vids by the way
Great and interesting vlog Robbie, been watching all your vlogs always good, catch you on the cut one day.
Cheers Ian glad you liked it, yes see you out there I hope!
Lovely stuff.
Really interesting story and well told. New subscriber and thank you 🤗
Great vlog interesting to see what you have done to her.
Thanks! Yeah I thought you might want to see how it all looked before! 8^)
Really helpful video - thanks Robbie :-)
You’re welcome mate 👍
Really interesting video Robbie, you must be well chuffed you documeted everything so well.... Great Job!! :-0
Thanks Peter! Yeah I just filmed and snapped away without thinking really, lucky to have it all really!
Lovely job! 👍🏻👌🏻
Hey thanks! 8^)
That was really interesting and enjoyable.
Thanks Sue 8^)
Good vlog. A historical one of naughty lass !
Thanks Steve, yes very important to remember how much work went in - I'd almost forgotten!
You might have already discovered the most common ballast is red bricks I like the old Lister diesels but I prefer water cooled as when it's chilly out you can run the hot water through the radiators in the boat to get two uses from the fuel consumed.
No I didn't know that! A water cooled engine would be great for those on the move during winter James, I agree. Although not so much when it freezes I hear! 8^)
Great blog/vlog
Good job!
That "Beer fridge" has nice millennium falcon vibe.
I like your colour scheme buddy reminds me of a bar I useto frequent ( a bit to much in Madrid) nice one ! Great vids !
Awesome! Now that sounds like a pub of the week situation right there. Thank you! 8^)
How many boats did you look at before you found Naughty Lass? I think the heart tends to rule over the head when deciding on a boat. It's certainly true in my case.
Too true, and you start making compromises on things you would have previously said was a must have! I looked at hundreds online, but actually just viewed 4 - but it took about 2 years of research and financial wranglings!
I expected Sarah Beeny to pop out at the end... Cool look to the place fella 👍🏼
Ha ha no I had to hide her in the gas locker - cheers Robbie! 8^D
I hadn't seen this video Robbie. Now I understand your love of, pub of the week.
See you do work hard, not just cranking it around the canals in beautiful scenery.
I try! Cheers Gary - and I think this one was for you as you did mention a while back that you wanted to see more of this sort of thing. Will be doing an interesting engine maintenance video in a few...
Robbie Cumming Really good job done, keep at it. :)
Looks great. Love the colours!
Thank you lovely glad you like them! Most people go for white 😝
Robbie Cumming White can be boring though, it looks great ! 👍🏻
I agree, and with lamp/led lights on darker colours you can add drama and mystery, and actually create the illusion of more space! Contraversial or what!?!
Robbie Cumming I think you're a secret interior designer 😅 I agree the lighting and the colours look very atmospheric 💡💡
Many thanks, informative and fun to watch :-)
Ah cheers Pete 8^)
This was the second time I had watched this vid. John was right some of the shots were not up long enough for me to focus on what things were. But it's good other wise, I'm still using your quiet engine sound only vid to get sleepy by . Thanks
Like an ASMR video! Great! Thanks for watching again 8^)
Hi Robbie great vid very interesting
Thank you Peter! 8^)
brill brill vlog robbie great always good and intresting
Cheers Dave! 8^)
Around 15 years ago I was tempted to buy a 72 foot narrowboat with a working Lister engine for £3000. I consulted a friend of mine who was a writer for a certain boating magazine. His speciality was live aboards. He did a bit of research and there were two reasons I think the man was selling it. (1) He was moored next to the custom house in Kings Lynn and the council wanted him to move it sharpish. (2) It was a 72 footer and the locks on the River Great Ouze were all 60 foot which meant that for both reasons I would have to first find another mooring and secondly would have to have the thing craned out and transported to the new mooring. I just didn't have the finances to do it.
Interesting Grahame, that sounds like one of those opportunities that you have to snap up there and then without a survey so who knows how much it would have costed in the end! 8^)
Yes, pity I didn't take that opportunity. The Lister alone was probably worth £3000 on its own? It was a wooden boat so who knows what was lurking below the surface? And yes of course it is unwise to buy a boat without a survey. Also I hear they are trying cunning ways to try and get all live aboards off the canals so they just have those who are prepared to pay high prices for moorings?
Ah wood, yes that may have cost a lot of time certainly! Well, I know there are cynical people on either side which won't help, but we can't listen to the curmudgeons out there. We can't predict the future or truly know everyone's intentions but hopefully if we keep putting on the boats are homes demos we can keep that message going.
I answered an advert from Gweek Quay near Mawgan in Cornwall once. They were advertising a small live aboard around 35ft. The advert read, "Ideal for live aboard, but not for holiday residence". I was intrigued so I phoned up the bloke. I said, "Surely if it is ideal for living aboard it must also be ideal for a holiday residence"? "Ah yes" He said, "The reason reason for that is that it has a leak and needs to be pumped out every day". Lol. When I was next in Cornwall I went to Gweek Quay but couldn't find the boat. Perhaps it sank? :-)
I think you had a lucky escape.
Good job mate - fantastic
Thank you sir 8^)
Lovely refurb.
Thanks!
Hey Robbie,
Any advice on how much I should budget each year if I'm living full time on the boat? I'm brand new to all this but you've convinced me that this is the life I want! Thank you so much for your videos :)
Alix
Hey Alix, that's amazing, I'm glad to have inspired you but also big up yourself for committing to such an adventurous decision! I should think you'd need to budget for around the same amount as if you were renting - but as there are so many different variables (e.g. are you going to be aboard all the time, are you going to buy a boat out right or take out a loan etc) but for me it has been about the same as renting a shared house.
great looking flooring
Thanks Douglas - made sure to invest in some nice french oak (but the checkered tiles are just cheap stick-on vinyl!)
Nice one seriously!
Take care :)
Euuuwww, CARPET in the BATHROOM, how flippin’ gurrrosss. Some years ago when I was having trouble with my shoulder, the doc said it would be a good idea to exercise 8n the pool at the motel across from the hospital which they had booked for patient care. The first time I arrived to find out thar when you stepped out of the large men’s shower you found 3 urinals also in the room surrounded by indoor/outdoor carpet.As most guys know, on occasion you might aim wrong and spritz pee into the rug. That concept for me was enough. That a hospital would be that insensitive to place a patient in such an unsanitary situation...fuggedaboudid.
Spotted the hobgoblin gold,one of the best beers
Hey Robbie, The boat I want has got to be about the same price you paid. I have not received and notifications of recent blogs so I am wondering are you taking time out? I will never qualify to get into the Crank it log. I have seen this vid before but I am running out of new stuff LOL Crank it nice and easy mate.Kaiora mi......... .Nottingham John from NZ Kaiora
Hi John! Yeah just working on other projects but will be back soon!
choice Robbie look forward to it. Cheers for now
how old is 'Naughty Lass'? How much did the overplating cost, if I may ask?
36 years old. I think the bill came to £8,000 for the entire length of the boat, but I simply didn't have enough money yet was committed to buying so previous owner kindly paid for most of that.
Am watching this whilst working so forgive me if I ask daft questions you may have already answered. Firstly, how is the MDF standing up to being installed on a canal boat? Did you use some kind of marine grade because I know it can swell up if it gets wet or is exposed to damp for too long. Also, you spent time sanding everything down - did you also sand down the areas where you applied Annie Sloane paint? I thought the whole idea of her chalk paints was to remove the need to spend ages on surface prep? I have done a lot of furniture projects using chalk paint and I never sanded any of them before painting, although I did lightly wire wool some after painting where I wanted a gloss rather than matt finish.
PS great video by the way 👍
Hi Simon, thanks for this - yes the MDF is just standard stuff I think, yet has expanded much less than my oak floorboards. Anni Sloan can go on most things you’re absolutely right I only sanded to get rid of the varnish so I could apply a softer looking danish oil
Is it Mitch Pendagast !? Do you know what he does now, right? He is a great guy, I would give him a grand too to do anything on my boat!, but he is not an engineer anymore!
Yes!!! Do you know him? He was going to become a Landrover mechanic when I last saw him. Such a dude, and he has so many crazy and wonderful ideas. This was his last narrowboat job though I'm afraid 😩 Unless you can use your charms (or set your herd of cats on him)?!!
I know him and I love his copper art! I am also quite impressed with his crow-pet. Ah! I don't need his help for Swan, it was just to say that he is a very trustworthy guy, but yeah...actually...at the moment he is giving me advice on boat-painting for free! :D
Copper n crows, sounds awesome!! You really are ensconced in the boater community now, it's great to hear. I'm looking forward to bumping (not literally) into you and the Swan one day to see how much you've changed (or not!) 8^)
Love these! 😻
Thanks James and thanks for your support matey! 8^)
Very nice
Thank you 8^)
Great video love the look.
Cheers Lee! 8^)
Brill video Robbie
Beer fridge? That Taylor Landlord should be drunk at at least 55.
You can shake rattle and roll, Up/down lighting. I'm not a moaner...Just a jealous egit! Trapped in the system!
think ive watch this a few times now, not to self, do not buy a boat with dark varnish slapped all over it
sanding is a soul killer !
Can you remember the cost of the french oak flooring, how is it standing up. what thickness is it, are the tiles on top?
Hi Jo, the cost was about £30 per square foot. We got a good deal though. It’s about 20mm thick I think. It goes as far as the tiles which are on top of the marine ply base boards (looking back I should’ve added another sheet of ply as they have cracked).
A foot or yard ? Approx 3K + per 100 foot. Wow. I would have thought tile would be cheaper and there's your ballast. Just a thought. Nice job on the ship mate... Cheers
well done made your self a home.
for the love of god Mild chillie powder but the flagon of ale spot on on
Loved it😁👍👏👏👏
for about 30 grand you have a nice home
Thank you Peter!
nice job m8
Ah cheers man 8^)
Great video :)
Wow beautiful craftsmanship very cozy home👍⚓️
Thank you very kind
a little bit dark for my liking, baroque but not much light throw, but each their own.
If you ever have to get rid of that much paint and or varnish again use paint stripper.
I did, used nitromors - should have said. Thanks for the tip 8^)