I take the first steps towards refurbishing Twiggy! #AD Try Readly; with my link you get 2 months free which can be cancelled at any time: www.readly.com/cruisingthecut If you have enjoyed the video, a tip can be left via www.ko-fi.com/davidjohns or www.patreon.com/CruisingTheCut Get my FREE monthly newsletter! www.cruisingthecut.co.uk/newsletter and see the archive at www.cruisingthecut.co.uk/newsletter-archive Contact Me via X / Twitter: twitter.com/CruisingTheCut Instagram: instagram.com/CruisingTheCut Facebook: facebook.com/CruisingTheCut Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the UA-cam music library
As someone that was a marine rigger/outfitter and marine mechanic, do yourself a favor strip as much of the old wiring out as you can! You will thank yourself in the long run. Get the fuse block and charge controller out of the damn bilge! I have no idea who thought that was a good idea... You may have plenty of room behind the panel on the forward side of the helm station for the wiring and switch panel. Make the panel hinge down for easy access to the backside. Then you have only two large gauge wires to run down to the batteries. Don't forget to make a service loop for all the wiring that is mounted to the panel. If you can run sheathed pairs of wires to your loads over two separate wires. Yes it will cost a bit more BUT it will be neater and cleaner install. You can lable the sheath as to what it powers behind the panel. I agree the butane cooktop is a smart way to go over the batteries, inverter and induction cook top. How much butane can you buy for the cost of the batteries, inverter and induction cook top? If you were living on it fulltime, then maybe but for the way you seem to be planning to use her it doesn't make sense to me. For the Vee berth infill wood slats would be the way I would go. It's simple, light and easy to replace. I've seen them made so the look kinda like a "dog bone" so they breath and are easier to remove and stow. I would make recommendations but I don't know if you have the same access to products I have here in the States.
I wonder if using a white piece of paper wouldn’t be a better way to see there is a leak and whether or not it’s coming from the canal - white paper will certainly show if the water is dirty and even if it not wet when it’s checked, it will show the signs if it has gotten wet
I fully recommend removing all extraneous wiring. Ghost wires or abandoned circuits are a great way to cause electrical issues and possibly even a fire. It looks like they kept adding stuff and just cramming more in. You definitely want to start over. I wish I lived near the marina! I would love to get my hands in there.
Yup, I'm in the same camp as you. Yank them out and start fresh. Color code them so you don't just have a bunch of red and black wires. It's so much easier because then you know what's what.
Rumour has it that there'll be an episode where David, to his absolute chock and horror, finds a dead fly in the bucket of water, which he accidentally forgot to empty out in the previous episode. He'll be so distressed by this, that he'll have a sit-down. Where he drinks a cup of tea and eat TWO cheese sandwitches. With tomatoes.
To fill in the V-berth, I would get a set of used bed slats that are connected with tape (see Ikea Luroy) and cut them to fit the hole or create such slats from whatever wood or plywood you have knocking about and add the tape. The tape is important because it keeps the slats in the right shape and allows you to roll them and store a relatively small roll in one of the cubbies under the berth when not in use, which will be most of the time.
@@CruisingTheCut Thanks! It will not be as sturdy as a solid board and wouldn't fare well if someone stands or jumps on it, but that's not a big concern given the height of the cabin! Good enough for sitting or sleeping on it though and much easier to store. Don't forget to add some stop blocks or dowels that will keep the first and last slat in place so they don't move or fall.
I am 65 years old and I left England when I was 11 and have never returned, but I have to say your videos make me homesick. I remember living in Lilly Lane, Bamfurlong, but what I remember most watching your videos was the canal that ran underneath Lilly Lane. It had an old gun emplacement just next to the bridge. I guess to guard against the Nazi hoard invading via canal. I ponder now in my dottage where the hell that canal went. I remember it also had an aquaduct that ran over I believe it was another waterway, a stream. The aqueduct was made out of steel, of course, and by now, it has been replaced or renewed several times. I love watching your videos David, your a very down to earth very pleasant guy who makes it easy to watch your channel, I am also very happy you have sponsors now, I keep meaning to investigate that magazine site, I think it might suit me well. I just love the yellow Twiggy your right. it needs a bit of work, but it's still lovely. Best of all, you're back on the water and living in a fixed abode. I said you'd be back and would miss the water. This small boat gives you the best of both worlds. Please keep up the videos they are very enjoyable.
You could use ikea bed slats held together with webbing for the infill. They could be easily removed stacked on top of each other and occupy minimal space in the bench seat cupboards. 😊
Since canal water is green, would it be a good idea to use a different colour food colouring, eg blue or orange. You will know for sure then if it's canal water or not. Keep up the vids, really enjoying them, Rich
@@gwrdriver1660 - I think the green spot on the towel was a dead giveaway. Don't know how much water was in that well or how much green coloring he used. That's definitely *_A_* source of the leak but perhaps not the only one. I'd patch and try the test again.
Talking of propane on board, my 26 foot wooden sailing boat carried diesel for the inboard, petrol for the outboard, parafin for the stove and meths to light it! A veritable floating bomb!
I don't know much about boats, even though I've been drafted by friends to redo their wiring, I just bought an induction "burner" for $8 USD. I also religiously solder every connection in a boat harness (that involves a lot of prayer). 40 years later, all are still working. One thing bothers me a bit, running unprotected wires behind carpet, wood, etc. can result in shorts/fire. My bother can show you pictures of his (not a boat) car.
I can’t tell you how much I look forward to your posts. It’s a very sad life I lead these days 😂Seriously though, this is by far the best and most informative channel on UA-cam on canals.
Love it! You’re so sweet, allowing us to watch you squeeze water from a towel, and watch you cut some wires. I was admiring to soles of your boots when you told me not to get excited…. Bright blue or red food dye would be easier to identify than green - and perhaps if you check it sooner it is less likely to have had a chance to diffuse through the wet towel - assuming the dye came through. Just a thought. 😁
There's a more expensive solution too, plumbers flouroescent dye, but food colouring works cheaply and well and your right red would be more visible.....
Love the fact that your nice robust padlock holds shut a hasp and staple with two lovely cross head screws ready to undo in case you forget the key 😂 Maybe invest in a couple of security screws or you can get hold of a replacement hasp and staple with a hinge that will hide all the screw heads when shut [but they may be a little large for where they are sited.]
Oh! Your friends from Ship Happens worked to refit that fiberglass fishing boat. They'd probably have good advice on how to work with wood and fiberglass. That boat turned out great. Now we just all hope Serenda does as well.
David does DIY - I love it! So satisfying watching you strip out the extraneous wires, ill-fitting wood, and visual clutter. Can't wait for the next episode!
It made me very happy that David found a compromise with a land based house and a cheaper alternative to a narrow boat on the water.......he's never been quite the same without his narrow boat 🚢 Twiggy allows for a land based home and a canal boat.....
I travel and just camp out of my car. I have that little butane cooker, and it has done me well over the years. I built a box with a pull out tray, with the cooker on it. Great for making tea, soup, and using a (small) skillet for making a hot breakfast. That, with your little sink, and a portable supply of water, is all you are going to need, to have a great galley on Twiggy! And yes.... that behemoth of a table should go. The V-berths are just fine. Looking forward to what might be behind the panel. 😊
I am really looking forward to seeing how this project unfolds. You've given me the impression you may have thought at the beginning that there is not really a lot of work needed to get it up to scratch, but as you have investigated you've realised there is actually quite a lot of work needed after all. Keep up the good work, thanks for sharing
Gotta thing about resale - not having an infill piece would hurt that. I would still get a small lithium battery system for lighting & a fridge. Or do what I did in my van, wire it so you can bring on of those portable solar generators and also plug in a portable solar panel. Also, look into King Starboard or similar (HDPE plastic IRC) instead of wood. Can be fashioned like wood but a whole lot better in a marine environment. Plus you don't need to finish it.
Thank you once again David! I'm thrilled to see that someone else is as easily distracted as me 😂 My only problem is, once I removed headlining, installed solar panels and replaced most of the 12v wiring, I found myself often too tired to do anything. This week, I've been formally diagnosed with ME/CFS, so that explains a lot. Especially why I'm living on a half renovated boat! Still, that's just something to deal with now. Your vlogs will undoubtedly continue to be entertaining, and I'm sure that over the course of time, I'll be getting bits of inspiration along the way. Can't wait for the next installment!
I signed up for Readly the first time you spoke about it because I thought it would be interesting to have a chance to browse narrowboat magazines. Never saw a narrowboat magazine for sale here in Arizona…so not much to loose by giving Readly app a trial…well…glad I did! Love reading about the canals and boaters and the history and even enjoy the ads! So staying with it and tho I usually read on my iPads, I also have the app on my phone…which was great last week when I was stuck waiting for an hour for an appointment! I said several times that hour…thanks Dave ☺️
The little stove burner thing is all I use, It's great because I can take it to the back yard or to the van or the truck or in the house when power is down or just for a day trip on the canoe. This little burner is one of the best things I have and in winter It provides heat, Then when you look at cost you can't lose with this
Mask over the splash deck so that any rain falling on the splash deck runs overboard to test if any water is coming in from the canal. You could just cut some slats to fill in for the double bed and stow them away easily.
I've tried to do that (you can just see a bit of white plastic over the edge of it) but it's an awkward shape. I'll have a proper go next time I'm over.
I love the way you have a plan of what you want to do and then you find something else to do/investigate and then something else and then .... I'm totally the same.
He sounds just like me I start doing something and in the process come across something else that needs doing, and after a while, I am so removed from the first thing I started.
I do that all the time I start one job around the house see something else that needs doing and start that and then something else, I think it's old age that does it.......
As for the interior darker gray coloring, and wish to swap out for a lighter gray coloring, keep in mind they chose a darker gray to help hide dirt and oil markings onto it... With a lighter gray you will notice it more easily... But it's your personal preference call...
5:52 one of my first cabin cruisers had a nice foldable v-berth table. That way it made it small half size while up for table and would increase in size if you needed, and then full size to insert for bed conversion. 👍🤠 For a later cruiser the tables has a storage location behind the seat and it could store / slide in there!
Lol, shades of when I was working on my old boat. Wound up rewiring the entire thing. Such a pleasure to work on stuff like that, make it your own. Cheers David
There are so many great ideas for your boat. I think that learning to use fiberglass would provide you with the most flexibility and least costly options. A gel coat finish might match the existing colors and will be highly resistant to the water. What a great project!
OMG David!! Open ventilated batteries in the living space, what about the gases💥. Please have a look at the BSS before finally deciding on what you will do. A great little boat and you are doing the right thing by stripping out and starting with a blank canvas, errr boat 👍.
And yes this can of worms is officially open. Now the fun really begins, Too bad I live in the states I would love to help on this little project. I do like this little boat you have there. It has so much potential.
Consider batons/slats for the infill. (Fairly strong to take humans) when in position, staple a ribbon to them all so they automatically make the correct shape and you get them in order etc - it’s how caravan beds used to work when there was a centre cupboard and the batons/slats would pull out from the centre cupboard) They wouldn’t be heavy, you could always bring them when you’re specifically going to the boat to sleep.
@@CruisingTheCuthave little dowels for the first slat and last slat so they stay in position when moving on the bed, otherwise they can move and fall through when moving around on the bed. Check out some caravans and you’ll see them quite often
How about some simple curtains to cover the space under the sink and the cook area while thinking about a longer-term solution? Also, love that you call this boat by its name, when that never seemed to be the case with your narrow boat. Cheers!
If you suspect your car windscreen seal is leaking, one way to test is to soak the outside edge of the seal with soapy water, and blow from the inside of the car with a blast of compressed air - if there are leaks, bubbles will appear at the point of the leak. Maybe you could use a variation of this to check for your leak? I know you would need a source of compressed air, but maybe you could borrow one or hire one? Least it would help preserve the green dye market! Good luck with this!
Another great episode, your idea for the stove was Mt thoughts too, keep it simple ..and the fridge ,cuterally was a good plan , nice and organized! a great watch .. looking forward to the next episode.
Just double up the outer sides of the v-berth, so that they come up to the height of the table/connecting insert when it's in position. The lip in the fibreglass is too shallow to put in a thinner insert, which would not carry the weight of the person on the mattress. You can use the insert as a template to cut a new one also, just cut it in a size and form that fills the entire space for the insert. If you going to build a new table, just split the old insert lengthwise and mount it on hinges so that it points downward while not in use. If you put up the bed, just fold up both halves so that they can meet in the center and can be locked together and somewhat supported. That way you can keep the table leg and it's mounting point on the floor for a new table. 😉👍🛥 Thanks for sharing your plans! 👍👍👍
This brings back memories! For our small secondary boat (Overnighter) we chucked everything and replaced with the minimum, it works brilliantly! We have no table, gas cooker like yours, no fridge, Porta-Potty,10W solar and small battery for inside light and DVD player/radio, and the "V" berth. Water container for drinking water and showers when we get home. Back to the slow, simple relaxing life-style, isn't that what life on the water is all about?
Water coming off of oxidized gelcoat can pick up coloring. Rain running down the boat, into the splashwell, and then into the boat can pick up lots of stuff.
I would have scooped some canal into the white bin to check the colour. Just to answer one question. But i think the 'outside bilge pan' is leaking. Another area for DIY
In our new house in the basement we have several items that we call "look mom what i did in shop today! New week we get to learn about sandpaper! " items. One should not get splinters from the toilet roll holder.
Love it, just love it. So glad you are back on the wee boat getting to grips with things. Can’t wait for the next vlog. Take care and hope your wee leak gets sorted soon.
Well done Captain David. Consider getting your boat up to your liking is essentially a work in progress. One project at a time. Stay safe and enjoy your cruising ⛵. 👍🏾😃
Good to see you on the boat! From my experience with electronics in cars, campers and boats definitely get rid of any old wiring you can, it will save a lot of heartaches in the future. Looking forward to the rehab.
How about cutting a new 'table' in half lengthwise and hinging each half to one of the berths? Should you ever want a solid platform for the center cushions just lift the 2 pieces up and insert a support post of some type to hold them up.
I used green food colouring in plaster of Paris mouldings for a project and was astonished that it faded in just a few weeks. A permanent fix dye would be better, but may cause… staining…
Argh, those cruel cliffhangers! Anyhoo, may I suggest that instead of light grey carpeting, maybe something in a warmer colour? Egg shell white, tan, perhaps forgoing a carpet and use some reclaimed wood? It would lighten up the space a lot.
Cooking / kettle - maybe a simple army surplus kit with meths burner. Safer fuel. Some come with an array of nesting pots & pans, including non-stick. Trangia (Swedish Army) is a good brand but lots of cheaper copies.
Another very enjoyable episode. Love the mind changing but also the getting down to the bare bones. Pity no one with a similar boat has popped up with pics of it in the original state. Gd luck with it all. C&Lx
David, nice to see works getting underway... As for your table / bed dilemma here's my solution.... use wooden lats (4"x 1") for the infill. They will be plenty strong enough when needed and will store away easily when not in use. On our last boat we had a very similar table set up, I used a round wooden board as the table top - it was a board that was intended as a sink infill for a round sink (the sort of thing that means you can use the sink space as a chopping board area when not in use).
I would have to agree with you that whomsoever did the wiring and woodwork was not the best at DIY, but they tried and that should count for something. Your description of Readly piqued my interest and it actually sounded like something i would like and they have a fantastic selection of top magazines, so i did sign up through your link. Good luck with all the future refurbishing and I do hope there are no major problems. Honestly, I miss the narrowboat (we don't have them here in the USA) but I do enjoy your channel and am looking forward to what lays ahead for you and Twiggy.
Im currently refurbishing an oldish (1964 model) caravan atm. The previous owner gutted it almost completely so i have a blank canvas to work with. Ive found a lot of my cabinetry at second hand shops, modifying old book cases and such to suit the space and purpose. Its so much fun making it your own. I can honestly say ive been building cubby houses for over 50 years. Lolol
I'm delighted for you that you've come to a place of acceptance that the lithium battery and induction hob is unnecessary. Great idea for living aboard and with space for reasonable amounts of solar, but not the most practical solution for your boat, and nothing wrong with those portable gas stoves for occasional use, especially for your culinary preferences! If you want aesthetics there's a swish one that all the foodie influencers are using at the moment😂😂
I need a boat...living in the mountains of rural Portugal makes this hard so I have to live vicariously through you!! All the best from @HowardsPortugal
I agree with your thoughts on the cooking situation. Given the value of the boat, if you were to add any kind of larger capacity battery system I'd lean towards a packaged solution like Ecoflow as it can easily be removed from the boat if you sell it. That's it - you just need a sponsorship deal with a manufacturer of those type of units !
I take the first steps towards refurbishing Twiggy!
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Theme music: "Vespers" by Topher Mohr and Alex Alena, from the UA-cam music library
As someone that was a marine rigger/outfitter and marine mechanic, do yourself a favor strip as much of the old wiring out as you can! You will thank yourself in the long run.
Get the fuse block and charge controller out of the damn bilge! I have no idea who thought that was a good idea...
You may have plenty of room behind the panel on the forward side of the helm station for the wiring and switch panel. Make the panel hinge down for easy access to the backside. Then you have only two large gauge wires to run down to the batteries. Don't forget to make a service loop for all the wiring that is mounted to the panel.
If you can run sheathed pairs of wires to your loads over two separate wires. Yes it will cost a bit more BUT it will be neater and cleaner install. You can lable the sheath as to what it powers behind the panel.
I agree the butane cooktop is a smart way to go over the batteries, inverter and induction cook top. How much butane can you buy for the cost of the batteries, inverter and induction cook top? If you were living on it fulltime, then maybe but for the way you seem to be planning to use her it doesn't make sense to me.
For the Vee berth infill wood slats would be the way I would go. It's simple, light and easy to replace. I've seen them made so the look kinda like a "dog bone" so they breath and are easier to remove and stow.
I would make recommendations but I don't know if you have the same access to products I have here in the States.
"Hey, you sass that hoopy David? There's a frood who really knows where his towel is." With a nod to the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Canal' (sort of!)
I wonder if using a white piece of paper wouldn’t be a better way to see there is a leak and whether or not it’s coming from the canal - white paper will certainly show if the water is dirty and even if it not wet when it’s checked, it will show the signs if it has gotten wet
out of all your viewers surely you would think a electrician would say, David were are u, I will sort that for u.
@@krissfemmpaws1029can't u help him
I fully recommend removing all extraneous wiring. Ghost wires or abandoned circuits are a great way to cause electrical issues and possibly even a fire. It looks like they kept adding stuff and just cramming more in. You definitely want to start over. I wish I lived near the marina! I would love to get my hands in there.
Haha wait til you see the next episode ;-)
Couldn't agree more about redoing the electrical system.
Yup, I'm in the same camp as you. Yank them out and start fresh. Color code them so you don't just have a bunch of red and black wires. It's so much easier because then you know what's what.
Well that took the wind out of my sails! Was about to complain about the lack of Microplus 600 action, then an episode comes out of the blue, hoorah!!
@@quarlow1215use the ABYC color code chart
“Dave squeezes out a towel” are my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE episodes.😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣
The sequel "Dave squeezes a trace of green dye out of a Towel" is a smasher
Rumour has it that there'll be an episode where David, to his absolute chock and horror, finds a dead fly in the bucket of water, which he accidentally forgot to empty out in the previous episode. He'll be so distressed by this, that he'll have a sit-down. Where he drinks a cup of tea and eat TWO cheese sandwitches. With tomatoes.
I just love David he is a charming fellow who is very pleasant to watch and listen to.
Enough content for a separate channel …
To fill in the V-berth, I would get a set of used bed slats that are connected with tape (see Ikea Luroy) and cut them to fit the hole or create such slats from whatever wood or plywood you have knocking about and add the tape.
The tape is important because it keeps the slats in the right shape and allows you to roll them and store a relatively small roll in one of the cubbies under the berth when not in use, which will be most of the time.
I like that plan!
@@CruisingTheCut Thanks!
It will not be as sturdy as a solid board and wouldn't fare well if someone stands or jumps on it, but that's not a big concern given the height of the cabin! Good enough for sitting or sleeping on it though and much easier to store.
Don't forget to add some stop blocks or dowels that will keep the first and last slat in place so they don't move or fall.
Or small tray top.
@@CruisingTheCut Plus, it allows some ventilation to the underside of the mattress, which helps avoid mould.
@@susansurles3776Small tray top will replace the big table but not solve the bed problem.
I am 65 years old and I left England when I was 11 and have never returned, but I have to say your videos make me homesick. I remember living in Lilly Lane, Bamfurlong, but what I remember most watching your videos was the canal that ran underneath Lilly Lane. It had an old gun emplacement just next to the bridge. I guess to guard against the Nazi hoard invading via canal. I ponder now in my dottage where the hell that canal went. I remember it also had an aquaduct that ran over I believe it was another waterway, a stream. The aqueduct was made out of steel, of course, and by now, it has been replaced or renewed several times. I love watching your videos David, your a very down to earth very pleasant guy who makes it easy to watch your channel, I am also very happy you have sponsors now, I keep meaning to investigate that magazine site, I think it might suit me well. I just love the yellow Twiggy your right. it needs a bit of work, but it's still lovely. Best of all, you're back on the water and living in a fixed abode. I said you'd be back and would miss the water. This small boat gives you the best of both worlds. Please keep up the videos they are very enjoyable.
You could use ikea bed slats held together with webbing for the infill. They could be easily removed stacked on top of each other and occupy minimal space in the bench seat cupboards. 😊
Never thought I'd be so excited to find out if there is green water somewhere. 😊
Me neither!
Since canal water is green, would it be a good idea to use a different colour food colouring, eg blue or orange. You will know for sure then if it's canal water or not.
Keep up the vids, really enjoying them, Rich
@@gwrdriver1660 Blood colours water well
@@gwrdriver1660 - I think the green spot on the towel was a dead giveaway. Don't know how much water was in that well or how much green coloring he used. That's definitely *_A_* source of the leak but perhaps not the only one. I'd patch and try the test again.
Talking of propane on board, my 26 foot wooden sailing boat carried diesel for the inboard, petrol for the outboard, parafin for the stove and meths to light it! A veritable floating bomb!
Yep, those extractor fans in the engine bay and connected to the bilge are the way to go even in the cabin also........
Just remember "K.I.S.S."? Yes, let the refurb begin.
I don't know much about boats, even though I've been drafted by friends to redo their wiring, I just bought an induction "burner" for $8 USD. I also religiously solder every connection in a boat harness (that involves a lot of prayer). 40 years later, all are still working. One thing bothers me a bit, running unprotected wires behind carpet, wood, etc. can result in shorts/fire. My bother can show you pictures of his (not a boat) car.
I can’t tell you how much I look forward to your posts. It’s a very sad life I lead these days 😂Seriously though, this is by far the best and most informative channel on UA-cam on canals.
Blimey, the rest must be terrible in that case!! 🤣🤣
@@CruisingTheCut don’t put yourself down. Honestly speaking, you’re by far the best 🥰
@@CruisingTheCut
Well, yes, they are.
But still.
Love it! You’re so sweet, allowing us to watch you squeeze water from a towel, and watch you cut some wires. I was admiring to soles of your boots when you told me not to get excited…. Bright blue or red food dye would be easier to identify than green - and perhaps if you check it sooner it is less likely to have had a chance to diffuse through the wet towel - assuming the dye came through. Just a thought. 😁
Yes, I definitely needed to check it sooner. Oops
Yeah, I averted my eyes from the 'arse', but the shoes really drew me in!
Was going to recommend the hiking shoes, but i think they, and not David, are a bit too short. Looks Good for grip
There's a more expensive solution too, plumbers flouroescent dye, but food colouring works cheaply and well and your right red would be more visible.....
Love the fact that your nice robust padlock holds shut a hasp and staple with two lovely cross head screws ready to undo in case you forget the key 😂 Maybe invest in a couple of security screws or you can get hold of a replacement hasp and staple with a hinge that will hide all the screw heads when shut [but they may be a little large for where they are sited.]
There's no real security on a boat you can cut open in a minute with a battery powered saw 🤷🏻
Oh David with all this talk of all food and drink no mention of the beloved Cheese sandwich 😁
Thanks! For being you with no snide remarks toward fellow boaters.
Thank you! I don't know what that was a reference to but cheers for the donation! 😀
I love your sunny little cruiser, I'd love one to go day/weekend trips
I believe ol twiggy is in for quite the refit! 👍
Oh! Your friends from Ship Happens worked to refit that fiberglass fishing boat. They'd probably have good advice on how to work with wood and fiberglass. That boat turned out great. Now we just all hope Serenda does as well.
Sail Life have done every type of repair one can imagine, very interesting vlogs.
You can get trays with legs in nice patterns instead
David does DIY - I love it! So satisfying watching you strip out the extraneous wires, ill-fitting wood, and visual clutter. Can't wait for the next episode!
I agree totally. David is a wonderful fellow, and his videos are just so beautiful, and he's a lovely guy to watch.
I wait with baited breath for the next sojourn into Twiggy renovation.....
Now that's what I call a nail-biting cliffhanger!
It will be much nicer with a lighter grey carpet. This little boat is going to be very cute. It is already cute but it will be even better.
It made me very happy that David found a compromise with a land based house and a cheaper alternative to a narrow boat on the water.......he's never been quite the same without his narrow boat 🚢 Twiggy allows for a land based home and a canal boat.....
I travel and just camp out of my car. I have that little butane cooker, and it has done me well over the years. I built a box with a pull out tray, with the cooker on it. Great for making tea, soup, and using a (small) skillet for making a hot breakfast. That, with your little sink, and a portable supply of water, is all you are going to need, to have a great galley on Twiggy!
And yes.... that behemoth of a table should go. The V-berths are just fine. Looking forward to what might be behind the panel. 😊
Coming soon!
I am really looking forward to seeing how this project unfolds.
You've given me the impression you may have thought at the beginning that there is not really a lot of work needed to get it up to scratch, but as you have investigated you've realised there is actually quite a lot of work needed after all.
Keep up the good work, thanks for sharing
Cheers, nah, it's mostly cosmetic. If I actually pulled my finger out and got on with it, it wouldn't take long.
Gotta thing about resale - not having an infill piece would hurt that. I would still get a small lithium battery system for lighting & a fridge. Or do what I did in my van, wire it so you can bring on of those portable solar generators and also plug in a portable solar panel.
Also, look into King Starboard or similar (HDPE plastic IRC) instead of wood. Can be fashioned like wood but a whole lot better in a marine environment. Plus you don't need to finish it.
I think I will get a small lithium battery, yes. Just better value than a traditional type.
Thank you once again David!
I'm thrilled to see that someone else is as easily distracted as me 😂
My only problem is, once I removed headlining, installed solar panels and replaced most of the 12v wiring, I found myself often too tired to do anything.
This week, I've been formally diagnosed with ME/CFS, so that explains a lot. Especially why I'm living on a half renovated boat!
Still, that's just something to deal with now. Your vlogs will undoubtedly continue to be entertaining, and I'm sure that over the course of time, I'll be getting bits of inspiration along the way.
Can't wait for the next installment!
I signed up for Readly the first time you spoke about it because I thought it would be interesting to have a chance to browse narrowboat magazines. Never saw a narrowboat magazine for sale here in Arizona…so not much to loose by giving Readly app a trial…well…glad I did! Love reading about the canals and boaters and the history and even enjoy the ads! So staying with it and tho I usually read on my iPads, I also have the app on my phone…which was great last week when I was stuck waiting for an hour for an appointment! I said several times that hour…thanks Dave ☺️
Superb!
Nice to know there is another fan watching from AZ. 😎
Thanks for the Readly promotion. I signed up to get Practical Boat Owner which rarely appears in the Oz newsagents these days.
The little stove burner thing is all I use, It's great because I can take it to the back yard or to the van or the truck or in the house when power is down or just for a day trip on the canoe. This little burner is one of the best things I have and in winter It provides heat, Then when you look at cost you can't lose with this
Spot on iv got 2 on mine there all you need.
Consider the food coloring is water soluable, so, the more water that leakes in, the lighter the green.😊
Something special with DIY. You start with a small idea and finally you end up with a project ...
It doesn't matter if your towel is soggy, as long as you know where it is :) Looking forward to seeing how the refurb plays out.
I've always found canal water to be surprisingly clear and even washed my boat with it once
Mask over the splash deck so that any rain falling on the splash deck runs overboard to test if any water is coming in from the canal. You could just cut some slats to fill in for the double bed and stow them away easily.
I've tried to do that (you can just see a bit of white plastic over the edge of it) but it's an awkward shape. I'll have a proper go next time I'm over.
I love the way you have a plan of what you want to do and then you find something else to do/investigate and then something else and then .... I'm totally the same.
He sounds just like me I start doing something and in the process come across something else that needs doing, and after a while, I am so removed from the first thing I started.
I do that all the time I start one job around the house see something else that needs doing and start that and then something else, I think it's old age that does it.......
It's Vandemonium afloat. Looking forward to see where is reno adventure goes. Carry on.
I sometimes think David is very lonely in Vandamonium, he looks more happy on the water surrounded by other boaters
Yes! The DIY Twiggy series has begun!
As for the interior darker gray coloring, and wish to swap out for a lighter gray coloring, keep in mind they chose a darker gray to help hide dirt and oil markings onto it... With a lighter gray you will notice it more easily... But it's your personal preference call...
I think it definitely needs to be lighter and I'd hope not to get dirt and oil on the sides of the cabin!
He could compromise with a mid gray?
5:52 one of my first cabin cruisers had a nice foldable v-berth table. That way it made it small half size while up for table and would increase in size if you needed, and then full size to insert for bed conversion. 👍🤠 For a later cruiser the tables has a storage location behind the seat and it could store / slide in there!
Lol, shades of when I was working on my old boat. Wound up rewiring the entire thing. Such a pleasure to work on stuff like that, make it your own. Cheers David
There are so many great ideas for your boat. I think that learning to use fiberglass would provide you with the most flexibility and least costly options. A gel coat finish might match the existing colors and will be highly resistant to the water. What a great project!
I'm definitely going to be doing some fibreglassing
David you are so entertaining! I just love listening to you talk. ✌️❤
Thank you!
David definately has a commentators way with words and a sophoritic voice......
Compare a like amount of water from the canal with towel water.
I don't know why I didn't think of that!!!!
OMG David!! Open ventilated batteries in the living space, what about the gases💥.
Please have a look at the BSS before finally deciding on what you will do.
A great little boat and you are doing the right thing by stripping out and starting with a blank canvas, errr boat 👍.
As there was a 12V switch marked "TV", I suspect the random plug on a a wire was the power adapter cable for it.
And yes this can of worms is officially open. Now the fun really begins, Too bad I live in the states I would love to help on this little project. I do like this little boat you have there. It has so much potential.
Lots of work but I look forward to more.
Consider batons/slats for the infill. (Fairly strong to take humans) when in position, staple a ribbon to them all so they automatically make the correct shape and you get them in order etc - it’s how caravan beds used to work when there was a centre cupboard and the batons/slats would pull out from the centre cupboard)
They wouldn’t be heavy, you could always bring them when you’re specifically going to the boat to sleep.
I will do that!
@@CruisingTheCuthave little dowels for the first slat and last slat so they stay in position when moving on the bed, otherwise they can move and fall through when moving around on the bed.
Check out some caravans and you’ll see them quite often
Hah I suggested the same thing!
@@YaaLFHgreat minds and all that… lol
How about some simple curtains to cover the space under the sink and the cook area while thinking about a longer-term solution? Also, love that you call this boat by its name, when that never seemed to be the case with your narrow boat. Cheers!
Oh you are so brave Dave...I'd be too old to think about it so it's great to watch you do all the work.
If you suspect your car windscreen seal is leaking, one way to test is to soak the outside edge of the seal with soapy water, and blow from the inside of the car with a blast of compressed air - if there are leaks, bubbles will appear at the point of the leak. Maybe you could use a variation of this to check for your leak? I know you would need a source of compressed air, but maybe you could borrow one or hire one? Least it would help preserve the green dye market! Good luck with this!
Another great episode, your idea for the stove was Mt thoughts too, keep it simple ..and the fridge ,cuterally was a good plan , nice and organized! a great watch .. looking forward to the next episode.
Looking forward to more of these, David! An exciting project to be getting to grips with!
More to come!
Another cliffhanger! Awesome! Thanks David.
Hi David!
... a glorious circle of wondefulness indeed!
Getting to watch a new boat with new exciting diy projects while sipping a hot cuppa. Life is good.
Just double up the outer sides of the v-berth, so that they come up to the height of the table/connecting insert when it's in position. The lip in the fibreglass is too shallow to put in a thinner insert, which would not carry the weight of the person on the mattress. You can use the insert as a template to cut a new one also, just cut it in a size and form that fills the entire space for the insert. If you going to build a new table, just split the old insert lengthwise and mount it on hinges so that it points downward while not in use. If you put up the bed, just fold up both halves so that they can meet in the center and can be locked together and somewhat supported. That way you can keep the table leg and it's mounting point on the floor for a new table.
😉👍🛥
Thanks for sharing your plans!
👍👍👍
Cheers
Thank you for another video, David!
My pleasure!
This brings back memories! For our small secondary boat (Overnighter) we chucked everything and replaced with the minimum, it works brilliantly! We have no table, gas cooker like yours, no fridge, Porta-Potty,10W solar and small battery for inside light and DVD player/radio, and the "V" berth. Water container for drinking water and showers when we get home. Back to the slow, simple relaxing life-style, isn't that what life on the water is all about?
What you could do also is cut the table you have down to your liking and re finish or paint it since it already has the built in stand holder.
I'm thrilled by all of.this. Crack on!
Water coming off of oxidized gelcoat can pick up coloring. Rain running down the boat, into the splashwell, and then into the boat can pick up lots of stuff.
I would have scooped some canal into the white bin to check the colour. Just to answer one question. But i think the 'outside bilge pan' is leaking. Another area for DIY
Brilliant. Your boat will be transformed by the time you are finished. Be like brand new.
The batteries under the sink is a unique feature!
I never thought cutting wires and removing rusty screws could be so exiting! Gasping for more!
David and his DIY is always thrilling. 👏👏👍😀
It will be good to see you do this project as I have to do something very similar to a boat I rescued from being scrapped
Love the whopping great fancy padlock on the hatch cover - secured with two accessible Philips screws!
I have to say I really enjoy the sound quality in all you videos.
Thank you! I try to take my time with it.
In our new house in the basement we have several items that we call "look mom what i did in shop today! New week we get to learn about sandpaper! " items. One should not get splinters from the toilet roll holder.
you're quite right. keep it cheap and cheerful that's all you need for a day out.
LOL one of the funnest episodes you have posted, many chuckles!
David in his element so enjoy your renovation
Wow.. leaving us in a cliffhanger David... this is quite the undertaking.. best of luck to ya!
Love it, just love it. So glad you are back on the wee boat getting to grips with things. Can’t wait for the next vlog. Take care and hope your wee leak gets sorted soon.
Yes! Thank you!
Well done Captain David. Consider getting your boat up to your liking is essentially a work in progress. One project at a time. Stay safe and enjoy your cruising ⛵. 👍🏾😃
Thank you very much indeed! Very much a work in progress hahahaha
Nice to see you again.
It's like an adventure of discovery.
So exciting :)
What lies behind the steering box! Find out in the next action packed episode, coming to a screen near you!😃
Good to see you on the boat! From my experience with electronics in cars, campers and boats definitely get rid of any old wiring you can, it will save a lot of heartaches in the future. Looking forward to the rehab.
And label everything ...
How about cutting a new 'table' in half lengthwise and hinging each half to one of the berths?
Should you ever want a solid platform for the center cushions just lift the 2 pieces up and insert a support post of some type to hold them up.
I'm watching you remove bits and holding my breath in case a hole appears in Twiggy's hull. 😊
Don't say that!!
Good choice to get rid of the table and keep the camp stove.
I used green food colouring in plaster of Paris mouldings for a project and was astonished that it faded in just a few weeks. A permanent fix dye would be better, but may cause… staining…
Argh, those cruel cliffhangers!
Anyhoo, may I suggest that instead of light grey carpeting, maybe something in a warmer colour? Egg shell white, tan, perhaps forgoing a carpet and use some reclaimed wood? It would lighten up the space a lot.
Cheers, yes I'm pondering options...
18:00 What a lovely moonrise!!!!
Any chance of the towel getting its own channel?
Great idea!
Now that cracked me up!
Cooking / kettle - maybe a simple army surplus kit with meths burner. Safer fuel. Some come with an array of nesting pots & pans, including non-stick. Trangia (Swedish Army) is a good brand but lots of cheaper copies.
Another very enjoyable episode. Love the mind changing but also the getting down to the bare bones. Pity no one with a similar boat has popped up with pics of it in the original state.
Gd luck with it all. C&Lx
David, nice to see works getting underway... As for your table / bed dilemma here's my solution.... use wooden lats (4"x 1") for the infill. They will be plenty strong enough when needed and will store away easily when not in use. On our last boat we had a very similar table set up, I used a round wooden board as the table top - it was a board that was intended as a sink infill for a round sink (the sort of thing that means you can use the sink space as a chopping board area when not in use).
👍😀
I would have to agree with you that whomsoever did the wiring and woodwork was not the best at DIY, but they tried and that should count for something. Your description of Readly piqued my interest and it actually sounded like something i would like and they have a fantastic selection of top magazines, so i did sign up through your link. Good luck with all the future refurbishing and I do hope there are no major problems. Honestly, I miss the narrowboat (we don't have them here in the USA) but I do enjoy your channel and am looking forward to what lays ahead for you and Twiggy.
Excellent! Thanks
Never before have I enjoyed an advert so much!
Great vlog if surprises on the little boat….can’t wait for episode 2
Well done and you will fix Twiggy
What is the footprint of a cheese sandwich, a cuppa and a G&T? There's your new table. Expecting company? Double it.
Im currently refurbishing an oldish (1964 model) caravan atm. The previous owner gutted it almost completely so i have a blank canvas to work with.
Ive found a lot of my cabinetry at second hand shops, modifying old book cases and such to suit the space and purpose.
Its so much fun making it your own.
I can honestly say ive been building cubby houses for over 50 years. Lolol
Totally agree, keep it simple and then you can change your mind later if you wish.
I adore the gentlemanly thrills on offer.
Thanks David, thrilling as always, can't wait to see what's behind the varnished plywood and great arse shot.
I'm delighted for you that you've come to a place of acceptance that the lithium battery and induction hob is unnecessary. Great idea for living aboard and with space for reasonable amounts of solar, but not the most practical solution for your boat, and nothing wrong with those portable gas stoves for occasional use, especially for your culinary preferences!
If you want aesthetics there's a swish one that all the foodie influencers are using at the moment😂😂
I need a boat...living in the mountains of rural Portugal makes this hard so I have to live vicariously through you!!
All the best from @HowardsPortugal
Thank you!
I agree with your thoughts on the cooking situation. Given the value of the boat, if you were to add any kind of larger capacity battery system I'd lean towards a packaged solution like Ecoflow as it can easily be removed from the boat if you sell it. That's it - you just need a sponsorship deal with a manufacturer of those type of units !
I'm not a fan of those things