Answers to FAQs on this video: 1) Justin is not a bureaucrat or government agent; he's an independent inspector who is quite correctly checking my boat against the rules and I wouldn't want it otherwise. 2) the old fire bricks were utterly knackered and needed replacement not fixing with stove cement. 3) After I got the grate out, there was enough room to slide the new fire bricks into place under the lip 4) yes there's a hole in the gas locker (two actually, one each side); they're there to let any escaped gas vent to outside rather than build up in the locker, which would be an explosion risk. What you can see is the sunlight sparkling off the water through one of the vents. 5) Yes, I do know how to clean stove glass but it's pointless as the glass immediately goes black with soot within minutes of lighting the stove.
About the stove, would yearly cleaning reduce the tendency of the bricks and the grate to stick, or would wear and tear of removing them risk damaging them too much?
Would a piece of plastic PVC or similar pipe or a 2x2 board be more appropriate for the battery cross beam to hold them down? The tape works now, but I'm leery of it over years of heat and scooching around over time with that metal near the battery terminals. I always prefer to make a problem not possible if at all possible... clearly not an immediate issue, but just a thought. Love the channel and listening to your travels and adventures.
It's often overlooked, but battery security is VERY important when performing maneuvers such as snap rolls, outside loops and stall/spins, especially if you're inverted.
Imagine having your boat lifted out of the canal for maintenance by the wheeled lifter and straps. Then the straps snap. Boucy bouncy drop.... Bang boom gas and battery....
I've spent considerable time working on boats while in the water. A suggestion for working around water with hand tools is to use a lanyard attached to each tool with a double loop slip around your wrist, while using it. If you drop the tool, it doesn't end up with Davey Jones and can be back-in-hand again quickly. A long shoe lace, ID Badge holder, or just a piece of heavy string will work. I like the badge lanyards because they have a safety release clip and a spring hook to snap the tool onto (in place of the badge). I make a sort-of slip knot around my wrist, so it will hold well, but be easy to remove when I want to use another tool, or just put it away.
I always loved the UK usage of "scheme". In America, a "scheme" is looked on as something shady, "Two criminals ran a scheme to defraud that business".
It's only looked at as shady because people usually only hear it in that context. It's not everyday that you talk to folks about 'color schemes' or a particular American 'football scheme'.
Hi David, another great video. I spent 52 years in the paint business selling it and also applying it. Here is a tip for after you varnish and have some dust in the finish. You can't sand because that will scratch. Use the back side ( paper side ) of the sandpaper and rub like you are sanding. This will remove most of the dirt without scratching the finish. Cheers...!
Extremely neat job with the fire bricks. Jolly well done. If you should ever need to work again, as the owner/handyman of a narrowboat, you are qualified for a myriad of skilled trades. 😂🤣😅😉
If I’d planned this better, I could have worn the t-shirt in the video 😂 I wasn’t sure how long you were here for but will definitely try to make it down.
Thank you for the lesson on how to maintain one's composure (or at least give the appearance of doing so) when confronted with bureaucrats justifying their existence. A most relaxing watch while taking a lunch break from organizing the shop. It is a cold blustery day so even a video of the crackling fire added a feeling of warmth.
@@CruisingTheCut Agreed, do not like propane fires/explosion on any boat, very very bad consequences for all involved. Best wishes from Northern Manitoba.
Nothing is more quite satisfying than having a cup of tea and pastries after finishing a few chores and tasks that have been successfully completed to great satisfaction and relief.
I live about 2 miles from the Mississippi River right at the meeting points of the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and the river is a huge part of our lives. The bays, harbors and many of the slackwater sloughs are frozen now and the entire river will be mostly frozen over to a depth of more than a foot shortly, except where the water is rapid or shoved upward by rock bars or underwater 'wing dams' that help define the navigation channel. Thus, our boating is now limited to trailering equipment hundreds of miles south or boarding vicariously through you. I do love your pithy humor and an outlook that serves all boaters well in uncertain times or waters.
Very posh fire bricks, David. The BSS inspection seems like a very good idea, even if a tad annoying of course. (I freaked out a bit when I noticed what i think is actually sunlight flickering in the corner of the gas locker because it looked like an open flame. Be still my heart.)
I really admire the attitude that you display in these videos, David. Essentially, it is to identify a problem or requirement, and then to use your own wits in finding a way through, despite a lack of previous relevant experience in many instances. It’s noticeable that as a result, your confidence (and tool kit) has grown. It sets a fine example for all of us. Hearty congratulations.
Very nice work David. Although you used a hammer on those fire-bricks you certainly are not ham-fisted! BTW if you're going to read spooky story this Xmas time please consider "The Signalman" by Charles Dickens, that'll give 'em spooks, especially with your clarion voice.
There is a lot of work, and the associated costs, keeping your home afloat. It is nice that you show this part as well, not just the lovely canal cruises.
Well done as always. There was a microsecond of excitement during the propane regular sequence when I was drawn away by want appeared to be a small flame in the corner. Very inconvenient spot for that. It was just the sunlight rippling off of the water. In my defense I'm not usually distracted very easily... SQUIRREL!
Goes to show people that there are clean looking and easy fixes that will be great satisfactory/safe. Most times vessel inspectors (as long as you are pleasant towards them) will give you clear and basic instructions on what’s needed. Also if you can work with the same inspector every time the inspection will go smoother.
Excellent video as always, but your narration takes it to the next level- I just love your way with words!😆 Such as:. "my favorite engineering tool, a hammer", and " . . . words were said, out loud" 😆😆😆 Many thanks for the laughs!
Hi from the Mekong Delta. The BSS may seem like “BS“ but the inspectors dedication to duty and safety with his head below his heels deep into the bilge of your boat to find any defects that an owner might possibly not understand is necessary. Taking care of safety precautions with regards to propane gas and batteries is important. Good on you for taking responsibility and making the necessary improvements. You will be safe and that is important to all of us who view your episodes with anticipation and find them informative and entertaining.☮️
We have a DIY program here in the US (formerly known by you Brits as the colonies), called “This Old House”. Perhaps if you want to start a new boat improvement channel, you could name it, “This Old Boat”! Keep up the great work, your videos are entertaining and informative.
"Even dream jobs are full of drudgery." Nice video to illustrate the maintenance work required on a narrowboat. I'm glad your batteries are ready for whenever you take your boat over some sick ramps 😆
Your self-reliant spirit is admirable, especially coming as you do from a white collar background. Well done and happy boating sir. I am an old hat at wood stoves and fire bricks. You did a great job! Cheers.
Great vid as usual David. One tip I'll give as a painter and decorator, invest in a dewalt 18v angle grinder with flap discs for sanding the rust. You will find much better and quicker.
Great way to bring your boat up to current standards. Chipping and sanding rust on a boat is a never ending event. Those stern seat look great after the rehab.
Thanks David, It's not that much what you tell us, but the way you tell us. I love sarcasm (as most of my friends happen to know). I hope you all well, looking forward to your next adventure.
Good to see that you got that fire sorted out, the new vermiculite bricks will be more efficient than the old ones which were probably made from refractory and would have weighed more. Congrats on getting a pass on the safety certificate, stay warm this winter 👍
Enjoyed your sharing of troubles and solutions. Even multi-million $ houses require maintenance nearly as soon as built, sadly. But you got these done in good weather. Thanks. Always good to hear your productions.
Was really glad to see the DIY project on the boat I always love when you do the painting The varnishing was really nice also really enjoyed watching the fire bricks being redone I have to admit besides the cruising videos the project videos are my next favorite
I always found it funny in The Sims when your character "upgrades" objects, they beat them with a hammer and suddenly it's now "fireproof"! I now understand where they got the inspiration :P Great video as always, I love home improvement projects.
Thanks for another great video David. Am so relieved that the batteries will be safe the next time you have a hyper-sonic jump though a worm hole, and I heartily approve of your choice in socks. Be well, friend. j
Hi David I always use Hammerite Kurust rust cure/converter, no need for water and can be painted once dry, say about an hour. Never had rust come back so when I tried it I was "converted" Cheers for your vlogs
Excellent vlog David. It's nice to see narrowboaters preparing for the winter season. It reassures us that you will be a lot more comfortable - and that's a good thing. Steve
You always do such a nice job on your building things and repairs. I consider myself confident on repairing things and I must say you do an excellent job!!
Hi David, lovely to see you looking so well and having more of your boat. We do miss your cruising but use past vlogs for our fix. Keep safe and well. Regards Diane
Im not expert or anything, but I used to do refrigeration work and you should keep your eye on those copper brackets on copper tubing over time. Even a tiny bit of vibration can cause wear-through eventually. Just FYI. We always tried to keep copper from touching ANYTHING because of it, and where copper was hung, the brackets are always lined.
You're swiftly becoming the go-to man, for all DIY jobs! I'm currently trying to bring a transit van up to scratch and I'll be living on the water in a couple of months, and this little "mishmash" has some great tips. Thanks, as always, David 👏👏👏
Finally caught up. I've watched every one of your narrowboat videos. So glad I discovered you on Amazon and then that led me to here and a whole world I had no idea about. I hope some day to have a narrowboat and have saved some of your educational ones for that day. Now I'll work on your Vandemonium ones. I watched about a dozen earlier this year. They are actually more apropos for me because I'm going to be making my minivan a part time camper van. Thank you for all your videos! Informative and delightful :)
I will say, for a DIYer you seem to research and actually do things the right way. It's really good for your wallet in the long run, especially with the metal rust... an ounce of prevention is worth 100 lbs of gold encrusted diamonds worth of cure
New for the Olympics. Narrow boat jumping. Absolutely bizarre those batteries must be very heavy indeed. Great vid as always with just enough irony in the voice over.
I honestly always love to see your DIY videos - while the information is rarely of use to me (as I, sadly, do not own a narrowboat), just seeing things get fixed in clever ways inspires me to get on to my own to-do list of ongoing maintenance chores and other projects (I do own an early 19th century farmhouse, so the list is always long)! Thank you for sharing, and please continue to do so!
If you ever get a hole in the bottom plate, I know how you are going to repair it: No More Nails and a leftover piece of wood! 😂😂😂 Great vlog, as always.
Great job on the repairs - especially the stove. It looks as good as new again. As far as the rust treatment goes - I don't know if you can get hold of a product called "Metalfix" made by Phoenix Paints in your part of the world. It is made in Perth, Western Australia. You apply it directly onto rusted surfaces - no need to clean them, but I always do and I imagine that you would do too. The product converts the rust into a metal phosphate within the paint film and simultaneously forms a protective abrasion-resistant skin which tolerates temperatures from minus 40 degrees C up to approximately 1000 degrees C. The coating can be used in conjunction with glass fibre matting to repair non-structural rusted holes in surfaces including steel water tanks, gutters, roof panels, and the trays of utilities or pick-up trucks. METALFIX will take any type of topcoat. I have been using it for years in highly corrosive environments in both gold and iron ore mining processing plants (I am a metallurgist) as well as steel structures in my back yard, garden traliers etc. Once applied - you will never see rust in the same spot again. Their website says it is only available in black or red - but you can now also get it in white and grey, and I think possibly also a blue colour similar to your boat.
While a hammer may be your favorite engineering implement, that multi-tool has be running a close second. I remember the video that you showed us you had gone out and got it. Since then, it has made more cameo appearances than Rock Hudson on a Doris Day TV show.
Congrats on passing the BSS. This is the first of your canal boat videos I've watched. You managed to reference both the late great Kenny Everett and A Clockwork Orange in the same video.
Houses don't sink. Our neighbors in the marina woke us up one night because our bilge pump exhausted straight into their hull right where their berth was located. Turns out one of the water hoses burst and we were on shore water. Oops. Six inches of water in the saloon. Replaced all the water hoses with nylon reinforced hose. Drained and dried out the interior of the boat. New policy of turning shore water when not in use. 🙂 These inspections are for the good of the boat owner/operator. Kudos.
I don’t know how you do it Dave- your DiY efforts seem so herculean-It’s inspirational to watch you put in the work👍. Thanks for sharing-You must really, really love your boat. ❤️
Good ‘un David. Especially impressed with refractory brick replacement in stove. Particularly interesting for me as I have log burner here at home. Once again…thank you.!
Oh Lordy, I think your humour is dry enough to make quick work of any wet varnish. I am only about 5 minutes in, so more comments may well follow. All the best. 🇨🇦 😎
Been watching all this time and I hadn't heard the campervan channel. A whole new channel to binge watch while I binge eat! Great watch, never knew the BSS test was a thing, seems like a car MOT test to be honest! Great work on the battery strap!
Thanks for the hint about Fertan. We always battling rust here somewhere and stuff I've tried in past not to impressed with. I will give your way a try so thanks for the heads up. At around $30 a liter it isn't a bad price.
You might want to increase the number of coats of varnish you apply to your wood trim to at least six. Yacht varnish has UV absorbers in it. The outermost layer sees the most UV damage, and each subsequent layer has progressively less damage. With many coats applied, the varnish at the bottom bonding to the wood sees almost no UV damage and so doesn't de-bond. I kept a yacht with lots of teak on it in the Caribbean for a decade, and I never had to take the varnish off down to the wood. When the surface began to dull -- about once every four months in the intense continuous sunlight of the tropics -- I would sand the varnish down 1-2 coats and then add back two coats (Previously, on the U. S. East coast, I would only do it once a year, and that was sometimes not strictly needed.) In the less intense, cloudier UK environment, I would guess you would only need to sand and touch-up about once every year or two.
You made a great job of the Puffin stove. I have one and it's outlasted my friends Squirrel twice! I don't need to change the glass yet but I remember you had a right stress doing yours. Did you have a new door in the end? It's a brilliant economic stove though. P.s You're still the master. Keep well.
A hint I learned from Wranglerstar to clean the ceramic glass pane at the front of of the stove is to use liquid ammonia on both sides to get rid of the cloudiness. He used it on a stove that exclusively burns wood but for the price of a small bottle of the stuff it's certainly worth a try.
Another top tip I discovered myself in fact is if you go and get a small supply of silicon bronze TIG welding wire it makes an excellent highly malleable and corrosion resistant wire that you can bend and shape into all sorts of things including heatproof tie downs.
If you polish the glass with a damp rag dipped in ashes from the fire it will keep the glass clean and stop it going cloudy. The ash is slightly abrasive but to soft to scratch the glass.
Smashing job David. I have never heard of "No More Nails". Appears to be quite the product. Congrats on getting the repairs completed and having you BSS Certification. Catch up with soon.
This video is a nice mix of the mini-documentary style pieces you said you wanted to make this year (Ep. 238) and the vlogs you graced us with in your first several years. Thanks very much!
Answers to FAQs on this video:
1) Justin is not a bureaucrat or government agent; he's an independent inspector who is quite correctly checking my boat against the rules and I wouldn't want it otherwise.
2) the old fire bricks were utterly knackered and needed replacement not fixing with stove cement.
3) After I got the grate out, there was enough room to slide the new fire bricks into place under the lip
4) yes there's a hole in the gas locker (two actually, one each side); they're there to let any escaped gas vent to outside rather than build up in the locker, which would be an explosion risk. What you can see is the sunlight sparkling off the water through one of the vents.
5) Yes, I do know how to clean stove glass but it's pointless as the glass immediately goes black with soot within minutes of lighting the stove.
About the stove, would yearly cleaning reduce the tendency of the bricks and the grate to stick, or would wear and tear of removing them risk damaging them too much?
@@57thorns They become extremely brittle after use and aside from vacuuming the cold ashes should be left alone.
Would a piece of plastic PVC or similar pipe or a 2x2 board be more appropriate for the battery cross beam to hold them down? The tape works now, but I'm leery of it over years of heat and scooching around over time with that metal near the battery terminals. I always prefer to make a problem not possible if at all possible... clearly not an immediate issue, but just a thought. Love the channel and listening to your travels and adventures.
Those gas locker holes are really access points for sneaky spiders 11:21
Neat job as always. Doing what you need to trying to use what you have. In my other comment i was referring to the mm lengths.
It's often overlooked, but battery security is VERY important when performing maneuvers such as snap rolls, outside loops and stall/spins, especially if you're inverted.
Only thing missing is a photo of Tom Cruise upside down over a russian jet.
Sure he’s done all of those in that boat in one video or another lol
Indeed, and they can be a bit lively during a triple salco too.
But “Immelmanns” are ok?
Imagine having your boat lifted out of the canal for maintenance by the wheeled lifter and straps.
Then the straps snap.
Boucy bouncy drop....
Bang boom gas and battery....
I've spent considerable time working on boats while in the water.
A suggestion for working around water with hand tools is to use a lanyard attached to each tool with a double loop slip around your wrist, while using it. If you drop the tool, it doesn't end up with Davey Jones and can be back-in-hand again quickly. A long shoe lace, ID Badge holder, or just a piece of heavy string will work. I like the badge lanyards because they have a safety release clip and a spring hook to snap the tool onto (in place of the badge). I make a sort-of slip knot around my wrist, so it will hold well, but be easy to remove when I want to use another tool, or just put it away.
"Jobs well done, time for tea!" should be a T-shirt.
I would happily wear that t-shirt😊
... and a cheese sandwich! :)
Take my money!
I always loved the UK usage of "scheme". In America, a "scheme" is looked on as something shady, "Two criminals ran a scheme to defraud that business".
Or Schemer the nefarious arcade owner from Shining Time Station
It's only looked at as shady because people usually only hear it in that context. It's not everyday that you talk to folks about 'color schemes' or a particular American 'football scheme'.
Hi David, another great video. I spent 52 years in the paint business selling it and also applying it. Here is a tip for after you varnish and have some dust in the finish. You can't sand because that will scratch. Use the back side ( paper side ) of the sandpaper and rub like you are sanding. This will remove most of the dirt without scratching the finish.
Cheers...!
Newbie question: what do you use to “lightly sand”? Is the minimum setting on a sander acceptable for the primer?
Extremely neat job with the fire bricks. Jolly well done. If you should ever need to work again, as the owner/handyman of a narrowboat, you are qualified for a myriad of skilled trades. 😂🤣😅😉
Oh glorius sanding indeed! :D Swing by and say hi if you find yourself near Gosport over the next 4 months :)
If I’d planned this better, I could have worn the t-shirt in the video 😂 I wasn’t sure how long you were here for but will definitely try to make it down.
What meeting of minds that would be lads please do a crossover 🤞🤞🤞
Thank you for the lesson on how to maintain one's composure (or at least give the appearance of doing so) when confronted with bureaucrats justifying their existence. A most relaxing watch while taking a lunch break from organizing the shop. It is a cold blustery day so even a video of the crackling fire added a feeling of warmth.
To clarify, Justin is no bureaucrat or justifying his existence; he is correctly checking my boat against the rules.
@@CruisingTheCut Agreed, do not like propane fires/explosion on any boat, very very bad consequences for all involved.
Best wishes from Northern Manitoba.
Nothing is more quite satisfying than having a cup of tea and pastries after finishing a few chores and tasks that have been successfully completed to great satisfaction and relief.
I live about 2 miles from the Mississippi River right at the meeting points of the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and the river is a huge part of our lives. The bays, harbors and many of the slackwater sloughs are frozen now and the entire river will be mostly frozen over to a depth of more than a foot shortly, except where the water is rapid or shoved upward by rock bars or underwater 'wing dams' that help define the navigation channel.
Thus, our boating is now limited to trailering equipment hundreds of miles south or boarding vicariously through you. I do love your pithy humor and an outlook that serves all boaters well in uncertain times or waters.
That image of the new firebricks in the stove was very satisfying. They fit perfectly!
Stove is looking great!
Haha thank you - it’s now very sooted up indeed, alas ☹️🤣
The quality of filming and production of David's videos is amazing. Even though he's a professional they must take a lot of work
Very posh fire bricks, David. The BSS inspection seems like a very good idea, even if a tad annoying of course. (I freaked out a bit when I noticed what i think is actually sunlight flickering in the corner of the gas locker because it looked like an open flame. Be still my heart.)
I really admire the attitude that you display in these videos, David. Essentially, it is to identify a problem or requirement, and then to use your own wits in finding a way through, despite a lack of previous relevant experience in many instances. It’s noticeable that as a result, your confidence (and tool kit) has grown. It sets a fine example for all of us. Hearty congratulations.
A stitch in time saves nine. Good that you are maintaining your home - and why wouldn't you. Another very enjoyable video, thank you.
The way you secured the batteries in place was absolutely ingenious!
"Glorious, glorious sanding" Mads would approve.
Forgot the long "Ooooh Glorious" lol
Very impressed by your fire brick fitting, looks a very proffesional job.
Very nice work David. Although you used a hammer on those fire-bricks you certainly are not ham-fisted! BTW if you're going to read spooky story this Xmas time please consider "The Signalman" by Charles Dickens, that'll give 'em spooks, especially with your clarion voice.
All that work and a reference to Clockwork Orange....Well done David.
Being a narrowboat owner is really not easy....you are very good at solving problems with your DIY methods... a 'BIG THUMB UP' for you
The joys of "home" ownership... there is always something to fix or that needs doing. Always enjoyable watching the vlog!
There is a lot of work, and the associated costs, keeping your home afloat. It is nice that you show this part as well, not just the lovely canal cruises.
Well done as always. There was a microsecond of excitement during the propane regular sequence when I was drawn away by want appeared to be a small flame in the corner. Very inconvenient spot for that. It was just the sunlight rippling off of the water. In my defense I'm not usually distracted very easily... SQUIRREL!
Haha! I was looking at the same thing!
Goes to show people that there are clean looking and easy fixes that will be great satisfactory/safe. Most times vessel inspectors (as long as you are pleasant towards them) will give you clear and basic instructions on what’s needed. Also if you can work with the same inspector every time the inspection will go smoother.
Well done Dave! I was especially impressed by the stove refurbishing project with its precision hammer work.
It was good to be back aboard the boat.
Metal not rusting seems like a good plan, Ambassador. Ferrous rustier.
Hehe
Your handyman skills have reached the "pretty impressive" range, David. Well done.
Excellent video as always, but your narration takes it to the next level- I just love your way with words!😆 Such as:. "my favorite engineering tool, a hammer", and " . . . words were said, out loud" 😆😆😆
Many thanks for the laughs!
Hi from the Mekong Delta. The BSS may seem like “BS“ but the inspectors dedication to duty and safety with his head below his heels deep into the bilge of your boat to find any defects that an owner might possibly not understand is necessary. Taking care of safety precautions with regards to propane gas and batteries is important. Good on you for taking responsibility and making the necessary improvements. You will be safe and that is important to all of us who view your episodes with anticipation and find them informative and entertaining.☮️
We have a DIY program here in the US (formerly known by you Brits as the colonies), called “This Old House”. Perhaps if you want to start a new boat improvement channel, you could name it, “This Old Boat”! Keep up the great work, your videos are entertaining and informative.
Perhaps Norm might be persuaded out of retirement, not forgetting Tommy and bro's.
😂
There seems to be no end to your ever growing list of handyman talents. Proud of you David, proud. Best wishes
Absolutely bolloxed up firebrick removal requirements and absolutely lovely cleanup and installation of the new firebrick. Bravo!
Ta
"Even dream jobs are full of drudgery." Nice video to illustrate the maintenance work required on a narrowboat. I'm glad your batteries are ready for whenever you take your boat over some sick ramps 😆
Good to see all the little things getting taken care of - soothing to hear you describe the work!
Your self-reliant spirit is admirable, especially coming as you do from a white collar background. Well done and happy boating sir. I am an old hat at wood stoves and fire bricks. You did a great job!
Cheers.
Great vid as usual David. One tip I'll give as a painter and decorator, invest in a dewalt 18v angle grinder with flap discs for sanding the rust. You will find much better and quicker.
Great way to bring your boat up to current standards. Chipping and sanding rust on a boat is a never ending event. Those stern seat look great after the rehab.
Your usual, very informative clips - I saw rust spots on the narrowboat I am hoping to buy soon! Thanks for giving me less to worry about.
Must have been so satisfying to get all those little jobs done. You well and truly earned that cuppa!
very interesting video, glad you were able to do those repairs. Certainly earned your tea, and maybe a cheese sandwich or two.
I’d forgotten all about Reg Prescott, to my eternal shame, but both you and the wonderful Everet brought smiles to my face once again. Thank you.
That stove repair was grate lol. I'll see myself out...
Ah, a Grateful Dead fan....
Not punny.
I suppose that joke fell over like a brick.../runs away cackling
Don't worry we won't
Rake you over the coals..
Thanks David, It's not that much what you tell us, but the way you tell us.
I love sarcasm (as most of my friends happen to know).
I hope you all well, looking forward to your next adventure.
Good to see that you got that fire sorted out, the new vermiculite bricks will be more efficient than the old ones which were probably made from refractory and would have weighed more. Congrats on getting a pass on the safety certificate, stay warm this winter 👍
Enjoyed your sharing of troubles and solutions. Even multi-million $ houses require maintenance nearly as soon as built, sadly. But you got these done in good weather. Thanks. Always good to hear your productions.
Was really glad to see the DIY project on the boat I always love when you do the painting The varnishing was really nice also really enjoyed watching the fire bricks being redone I have to admit besides the cruising videos the project videos are my next favorite
Thanks 👍
I always found it funny in The Sims when your character "upgrades" objects, they beat them with a hammer and suddenly it's now "fireproof"! I now understand where they got the inspiration :P
Great video as always, I love home improvement projects.
I really hope the "Ultra violence" comment was a Clockwork Orange reference. Because it cracked me up
Thanks for another great video David. Am so relieved that the batteries will be safe
the next time you have a hyper-sonic jump though a worm hole,
and I heartily approve of your choice in socks.
Be well, friend. j
Hi David
I always use Hammerite Kurust rust cure/converter, no need for water and can be painted once dry, say about an hour.
Never had rust come back so when I tried it I was "converted"
Cheers for your vlogs
Excellent vlog David. It's nice to see narrowboaters preparing for the winter season. It reassures us that you will be a lot more comfortable - and that's a good thing. Steve
You always do such a nice job on your building things and repairs. I consider myself confident on repairing things and I must say you do an excellent job!!
I actually like your DIY blogs David and i am 100% behind you on wanting the inspectors, no matter what the field, to be independent
I see you've changed your mind and decided to lay the fire bricks vertical afterall. They look very smart.
Hi David, lovely to see you looking so well and having more of your boat. We do miss your cruising but use past vlogs for our fix. Keep safe and well. Regards Diane
Im not expert or anything, but I used to do refrigeration work and you should keep your eye on those copper brackets on copper tubing over time. Even a tiny bit of vibration can cause wear-through eventually. Just FYI. We always tried to keep copper from touching ANYTHING because of it, and where copper was hung, the brackets are always lined.
You're swiftly becoming the go-to man, for all DIY jobs! I'm currently trying to bring a transit van up to scratch and I'll be living on the water in a couple of months, and this little "mishmash" has some great tips. Thanks, as always, David 👏👏👏
Finally caught up. I've watched every one of your narrowboat videos. So glad I discovered you on Amazon and then that led me to here and a whole world I had no idea about. I hope some day to have a narrowboat and have saved some of your educational ones for that day. Now I'll work on your Vandemonium ones. I watched about a dozen earlier this year. They are actually more apropos for me because I'm going to be making my minivan a part time camper van. Thank you for all your videos! Informative and delightful :)
Thank you for watching! I hope you have fun with your minivan conversion.
Your DYI are so entertaining! That stove cleanup looked like a huge mess. Well Done!
Always entertaining watching someone else working.
I would have never guessed before this video but now I believe we need a narrowboat crackling stove video.
What a “Trade” skills you have. I can imagine you would be a fabulous teacher. This was so interesting. A fascinating watch. Thank you.
I will say, for a DIYer you seem to research and actually do things the right way. It's really good for your wallet in the long run, especially with the metal rust... an ounce of prevention is worth 100 lbs of gold encrusted diamonds worth of cure
New for the Olympics. Narrow boat jumping. Absolutely bizarre those batteries must be very heavy indeed.
Great vid as always with just enough irony in the voice over.
Lovely job of the fire bricks
I honestly always love to see your DIY videos - while the information is rarely of use to me (as I, sadly, do not own a narrowboat), just seeing things get fixed in clever ways inspires me to get on to my own to-do list of ongoing maintenance chores and other projects (I do own an early 19th century farmhouse, so the list is always long)! Thank you for sharing, and please continue to do so!
If you ever get a hole in the bottom plate, I know how you are going to repair it: No More Nails and a leftover piece of wood! 😂😂😂 Great vlog, as always.
“ Words were said aloud “ love it. Great vlog.
Great job on the repairs - especially the stove. It looks as good as new again.
As far as the rust treatment goes - I don't know if you can get hold of a product called "Metalfix" made by Phoenix Paints in your part of the world. It is made in Perth, Western Australia. You apply it directly onto rusted surfaces - no need to clean them, but I always do and I imagine that you would do too. The product converts the rust into a metal phosphate within the paint film and simultaneously forms a protective abrasion-resistant skin which tolerates temperatures from minus 40 degrees C up to approximately 1000 degrees C. The coating can be used in conjunction with glass fibre matting to repair non-structural rusted holes in surfaces including steel water tanks, gutters, roof panels, and the trays of utilities or pick-up trucks. METALFIX will take any type of topcoat.
I have been using it for years in highly corrosive environments in both gold and iron ore mining processing plants (I am a metallurgist) as well as steel structures in my back yard, garden traliers etc. Once applied - you will never see rust in the same spot again. Their website says it is only available in black or red - but you can now also get it in white and grey, and I think possibly also a blue colour similar to your boat.
And quite the ambassador of the DIY World Association you are! Well done my friend 👏
While a hammer may be your favorite engineering implement, that multi-tool has be running a close second. I remember the video that you showed us you had gone out and got it. Since then, it has made more cameo appearances than Rock Hudson on a Doris Day TV show.
Thanks David, your production skills are such that even the mundane day-to-day repairs are enjoyable to watch...
Congrats on passing the BSS. This is the first of your canal boat videos I've watched. You managed to reference both the late great Kenny Everett and A Clockwork Orange in the same video.
Welcome along!
Houses don't sink. Our neighbors in the marina woke us up one night because our bilge pump exhausted straight into their hull right where their berth was located. Turns out one of the water hoses burst and we were on shore water. Oops. Six inches of water in the saloon. Replaced all the water hoses with nylon reinforced hose. Drained and dried out the interior of the boat. New policy of turning shore water when not in use. 🙂 These inspections are for the good of the boat owner/operator. Kudos.
Yikes
Battery safety is important. Imagine going over Speedbumps at the full 4mph. Those things could fly all over the place.
I don’t know how you do it Dave- your DiY efforts seem so herculean-It’s inspirational to watch you put in the work👍. Thanks for sharing-You must really, really love your boat. ❤️
I do hate it when batteries just decide to go for a fly!
The more and more I watch of this channel, been watching for some time btw, the more I want to move to England and a get a narrow boat.
Good ‘un David. Especially impressed with refractory brick replacement in stove. Particularly interesting for me as I have log burner here at home. Once again…thank you.!
Loved the cozy shot of the stove after replacing the bricks thank you for including that!
Now performing: "The Bouncing Batteries of Bedlam!" Please stand back.
Oh Lordy, I think your humour is dry enough to make quick work of any wet varnish. I am only about 5 minutes in, so more comments may well follow. All the best. 🇨🇦 😎
Need for battery hold down: ridiculous. Solution: brilliant!
Been watching all this time and I hadn't heard the campervan channel. A whole new channel to binge watch while I binge eat!
Great watch, never knew the BSS test was a thing, seems like a car MOT test to be honest! Great work on the battery strap!
Thanks for the hint about Fertan. We always battling rust here somewhere and stuff I've tried in past not to impressed with. I will give your way a try so thanks for the heads up. At around $30 a liter it isn't a bad price.
You might want to increase the number of coats of varnish you apply to your wood trim to at least six. Yacht varnish has UV absorbers in it. The outermost layer sees the most UV damage, and each subsequent layer has progressively less damage. With many coats applied, the varnish at the bottom bonding to the wood sees almost no UV damage and so doesn't de-bond. I kept a yacht with lots of teak on it in the Caribbean for a decade, and I never had to take the varnish off down to the wood. When the surface began to dull -- about once every four months in the intense continuous sunlight of the tropics -- I would sand the varnish down 1-2 coats and then add back two coats (Previously, on the U. S. East coast, I would only do it once a year, and that was sometimes not strictly needed.) In the less intense, cloudier UK environment, I would guess you would only need to sand and touch-up about once every year or two.
Definitely jobs well done. You earned your cuppa 👏👏👍😀
That "No More Nails" sounds neat, especially as it seems to bond with wood and metal easily. Nice work on these projects.
You made a great job of the Puffin stove. I have one and it's outlasted my friends Squirrel twice! I don't need to change the glass yet but I remember you had a right stress doing yours. Did you have a new door in the end?
It's a brilliant economic stove though.
P.s You're still the master. Keep well.
Totally agree.
Love to watch van conversion and diys usually get a great laugh
Thanks , looking out for more stories. Best wishes
Love seeing a new video. You make my day a little brighter.
A hint I learned from Wranglerstar to clean the ceramic glass pane at the front of of the stove is to use liquid ammonia on both sides to get rid of the cloudiness. He used it on a stove that exclusively burns wood but for the price of a small bottle of the stuff it's certainly worth a try.
Another top tip I discovered myself in fact is if you go and get a small supply of silicon bronze TIG welding wire it makes an excellent highly malleable and corrosion resistant wire that you can bend and shape into all sorts of things including heatproof tie downs.
If you polish the glass with a damp rag dipped in ashes from the fire it will keep the glass clean and stop it going cloudy. The ash is slightly abrasive but to soft to scratch the glass.
Cheers, please see the pinned comment!
Smashing job David. I have never heard of "No More Nails". Appears to be quite the product. Congrats on getting the repairs completed and having you BSS Certification. Catch up with soon.
How fascinating, love your solutions to your problems, interesting to watch 🌟😀 Nicola
This video is a nice mix of the mini-documentary style pieces you said you wanted to make this year (Ep. 238) and the vlogs you graced us with in your first several years. Thanks very much!
11:23 Spider enters the boat. The game is afoot!