"The Ups and downs of a novice narrowboat owners attempt at management and maintenance of their narrowboat"
We purchased Water Lily in the Summer of 2019 after a history of hiring and share boats. The object is to allow me to do maintenance and then allow the family more 'downtime' at the weekends when we go off grid and escape our everyday lives!
I really enjoy your videos as a fellow boater..that finish came out very impressive may I ask what grit you use as a key with your sander? If you did a 2nd coat…what grit would you use then?
Hi Stuart, thanks so much for watching! I used 120 grit to start with and didn't key before the 2nd coat. I think the quality of the paint is main reason for the finish.. :)
Hello Rob. Thanks for the video. What is the name of the plugs that you plug into the relay sockets on the Cerbo? Looking at buying some to setup by Webasto as my Victron installer did not leave any for me. Cheers.
Hi Joseph, thanks for watching and commenting. Those plugs come with the Cerbo GX so your installer should have left you a plug for each connection on the Cerbo - have a chat with them!. I think I've found some here in case no joy but talk to your installer : www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305122687912?hash=item470ababba8:g:oMYAAOSwkBlk-Jd-&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4MO4I0WiI1KLV2ajEbRfUkMZeFSO1qNEmILBU%2FEWiDjVqADcjw8g1bVMFy20WEW9XkoRScrw4yF5McnZfkUVxPzfGDXATSWaKR761e4RmmpAHJ1q1sKx59jkHJAQThL9bF%2F7ik2vwTc7l3Jevguo77dj8Nxsc8H5lC65guU8D4PcJZhI7HMFDCsgJURuHsyWwca33oMqLFtpueQemvU7czWmaxRextehWmWtDpZU2m%2FcvCGHUn89vue3PI%2BQDIwUrkX5zQBfNJPxVeSJhzvlG3uWVpMz6dgoWAhquM7F43BR%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-jWp9imYw
@@robtheplod looking at selling house next year to purchase one and live abroad. So not yet🤣 but filled me with confidence that I could follow your steps and complete a service myself so thank you! 🤩
Rob, firstly, brilliant vlog, most enjoyable, and the most informative installation especially as you set out your criteria and your installation met those criteria. Perfect. Secondly, because you have given your time and effort and... we should at least take the time to read zll the comments to see if the answers to my questions are there, well they were 😃 ! So I will say thank you again. And let you know my story. Colin and Heather (english born and rasied found ourselves living in usa for about 15 years due to complicated modern families (& grandkids) we have two dogs and are all currently living in Ohio USA. Then we decided living on a canal boat for two - three years seemed like a good idea. So I am here I have just bought a IRIS No.02, a 62ft narrowboat, boatmans cabin, engine room, Gardner 3LW, but without solar, nor any commications (Not for long though smile 😊) anyway thank you again, now I will have to time to look at your vids as I am sure I will like them, because of your eye for detail, your research and planning, is something which I recognise!!. Best Regards Colin. (Bawaiting Heather and the dogs to join me on the cut in the spring. Wooohoooo
Water in the diesel tank usually comes from condensation. The moist air gets in through the vent as the diesel is used and condenses on the cold steel surface, particularly in winter. It then sinks to the bottom of the tank. The diesel bug grows at the interface between the water and the diesel. Keeping tank full of fuel over winter reduces the amount of damp air above the fuel and thus reduces condensation.
As a Yank, help me understand. You are ‘supposed’ to pay a TAX to watch TV, then are you also required to pay for that “Terrestrial” (like a cable co, or satellite hookup)?
Not quite, since 1946 the TV licence has been about. Initially as we only had terrestrial everyone who had a TV by definition also had to have a licence (shops told TV licensing when they sold TV's!). These days you only need a licence to watch/record something being broadcast live by a TV broadcaster such as Sky/ITV/BBC etc or if you use BBC iPlayer app. Unfortunately the narrative given by the BBC is deliberately unclear so there are many people who still pay out of ignorance/fear, despite being able to be legally licence free. You dont have to pay for terrestrial reception as such... its just the licence fee.
@@robtheplod Thanks for taking time to explain. Seems unjust to keep people from news and info like that! Greed all around. I cut cable about 3 years ago (which in a way is similar to licensing fee at about $60/mo for basic stuff). Nothing really good on anymore, mostly without substance, even entertainment value. So, I’m fine with just internet. You guys hang on over there. Most of your leaders are similar to ours, greedy and could care less about the citizens. Cheers
Yes Frogtape is the best when working on boats, it adheres well and will not bake on like other masking tapes in hot weather or if left for a wile, other tapes also leave the glue on things to add to our woes, its also good on glass!
Can i ask where you moor your boat? We have just purchased a 57 ft colcraft. A lot of marina have rules on what you can do work wise. How have you found it so far? Regards bob
Hi Bob, we moor at Tattenhall near Chester. Most marinas have restrictions in place about what you can and cant do at your berth, but many have areas you can move to in the marina to carry out noisy/dirty jobs...
If you get one at the door you could also annoy them by saying you're not interested in BBC, but can they recommend Sky packages and would a dish fit on that wall? Take up their time with the best Netflix options.... they are on commission so will soon make an exit! it annoys them greatly as it reminds them they are just door to door salespeople like Avon ladies!
A good tip going up wide locks with only one boat; only operate the paddle the same side as the boat is. The incoming water bounces off the opposite wall so holds your boat into the side. It doesn't always work, as all locks vary but I find the wide GU locks work well with only one paddle and it doesn't take that much longer to fill the lock. Don't let boaters waiting to come down,open both paddles as your boat will be jostled all over the place bouncing off the lock walls, as it rises.
That rubbish crimp tool needs to serve only one purpose only..that's to cut machine screws to length. For electric connections use a proper decent ratchet type crimp tool!!
Great video and help for my service just one tip on the fuel filter use a plastics bottle with the top cut off all the fuel runs into the bottle and the filter will drop to the bottom when off, keep doing the videos
I bought a 12v suction pump from Amazon. It takes MOST of the oil out but it's always worth taking the drain plug out as well, to make sure every drop of oil is drained out. Plus it makes less mess in the engine bilge. Take special care of the dipstick as they are about £50 each!!. PRM say run the engine out of gear for 15 minutes prior to draining the oil out. I like your method of checking the oil level...very handy tip!!
Another nice install. Changing to lithium batteries in the camper trailer has been great and given us a lot more usable power. That has lead us to changing the AGMs we had powering our home to lithium as well. Yes they cost more but it is 100% worth the cost. 👍 🤓
Your doing a nice neat job on that install. If the Victron Multiplus gets noisy and starts to vibrate, I found the front cover on the units are poorly fitted. If you can get it in, a small rubber strip between the screws of the front cover and the main body of the inverter may fix some of the noise. The more power you put through them the louder the vibration's. Victron tells its clients it's normal for a low frequency inverter to make a hum and vibrate. It's not normal. It's bad construction that is the cause of it. Go have a look at this Video (OFF - Grid ? Why Choose a Deye Inverter to Power your Home ?) and you will see what I am talking about. Going to have a look at some of you other videos now 😉 ✌👍
@@robtheplod Your welcome. I see a lot of inverters not sure if the 12v unit makes the noise the 48v units do. But if it does then that fix may work for you as well.
Thank you very much for posting. Do you not put some new oil in the filter prior fitting it on? I have seen other videos where people have ( Bit tricky with a filter fitted in horizontally) done so. Does it make any differance?
Hi, yes sorry i didn't really film that bit but yes, always smear some oil around the ring before installing the new filter (oil or fuel). It helps make a good contact and i suspect get it off again the next time! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch, its very much appreciated! Rob
Hi Will, nice to hear from you.. nah, too many oil leaks currently... maybe in the future, now i just wanna cruise!! moving to just outside Chester this week can't wait!!!!
Nice job there... never thought of using magnets for fitting solar panels. Actually makes sense and saves all the dreaded drilling of holes in the roof. Wish I could borrow you to do my electical work on my boat, as I am completely rubbish! haha : )
Only things I would add here is the industry uses Paxolin as a construction medium for electrical switchgear, it's water/moisture/fire/heat resistant, it can be drilled, cut and meets all approvals for intended use, ply really doesn't! and I would ensure there is a fused/MCB protective device on all your control circuits, an unfused 400A bus supply will make short work of destroying your control wiring if a fault develops.
That's good to know people are making their own decisions here. I keep hearing about those who still think its the law to have a licence if you even have a TV..... (not been the case since the internet arrived and gave us catch up ability).
I'm glad someone else was reluctant to drill lots of holes in the roof. Magnets weren't available when my Solar was installed so the panels are fixed with Sikaflex. Great Video! Regards Geoff
Turning a sofa into a bed is very quick and easy, however the long and hard part is the placing of bed sheets and blankets, I do like your floor, I think it was a good choice.
Thanks for the reply! The sofa's only used occasionally for a bed so thats not a big problem. Thanks for the comment on the floor... we think so too... i've now got to do the rest of the boat in it - not looking forward as the rooms are small and odd shapes! Rob
HI Rob and Heather. Hoping to see you in one of your adventures on the cut. Fingers crossed we will be able to find our new home. Take care guys and all the very best.
