Engine Cooling Overhaul Part 2. New hoses and valves are installed Lifeboat Conversion Ep60 [4K] 

To save yourself from stabbing yourself again with the screwdriver invest in a good nutdriver set or at least one that is the correct size/length for the hose clamps. you get far better clamping force with a nutdriver vs a screwdriver. Just my 2 cents from a marine engineer.

To continue to be able to count in decimal rather than base 9, it might be a good idea to fit plastic guards onto the sharp tails of the jubilee clips. A jubilee clips' little known secondary function is to draw a blood sacrifice from cold fingers in an emergency. Otherwise, trying to change the alternator could turn into a Saw mini-series.

I was just going to recommend 1/4 hex head. That's the most common worm clamp size in the USA. BUT The first comment already recommend it. They make it much easier, faster and safer. With that many hose clamps I wouldn't leave anywhere with out several

An Englishman who doesn’t enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee? God lord, we are living in mad times, mad times indeed! Cheers from N.Y.

I vote for the foil tape for the blackouts. I’m not sure you’ll get good enough coverage to block the light with the paint without a lot of coats and the tape will be easier to patch if you damage it out in the wild.

I agree with others. Foil tape. If you do use paint, be careful of the type. Some solvents can really mess with that kind of plastic. Also, the only possible concern I saw was the copper tube you cut off. I'm sure you gave it a lot of extra overlap, but without any kind of barb, that joint is prone to leaks and slipping.

the insulation on the doors really makes it look like the inside of a space station

Soapy water on that exhaust work to check for leaks. Yes, it passed the "smell test", but small leaks can slowly fill the interior without much smell, but still lead to headaches etc.

Another wonderful and heartwarming tale from the annals of Alan. Bliss.

Who said us men should keep our mutual joy of rubber quiet ?.. bravo Alex.

Just FYI, there is a right angle crimping tool for your clamps it's Oetiker Part# 14100498 which has the added benefits of both being compound action (easier) AND the jaws stop at the proper distance from each other so that you don't compromise the clamp by over-tightening them.

Spiral wrap used on heavy equipment hydraulic hoses is a great way to protect against chaffing of you hoses.

Loved this week's installation as usual. Just adding a comment for the algorithm!

Use radiator backing or a roll of laminate wood underfloor insulating. It's opaque, insulated, and if you get the sliver backed stuff it will reflect light and heat back into Alan.

Foil tape for the blackout covers. If it starts to peel you can easily replace it unlike the paint. It will also reflect heat as opposed to absorbing it which will cause the tape on the magnetic strips to fail. I worked third shift for a long time and I can't fall asleep in a room with lights on. I covered my windows with thick black plastic bags used for keeping large photo sensitive plates for industrial printing and some duct tape. They worked great at first but you could feel the heat radiating off of them. It actually was quite unpleasant to touch till eventually they melted the glue off the gorilla tape and fell off the windows. I made a change to aluminum foil that can be found in any kitchen. It reflected the sunlight and never got hot to the touch so the tape never gave way. It also had the added effect of hundreds of tiny pinholes that looked like stars in the night sky. Granted I don't in the arctic circle and the outside temperature wasn't below zero when I had the black bags taped to the inside of the windows either. So maybe they covers won't generate enough heat to melt the glue. I think further testing would be needed to figure it out. Either way you choose I'm curious what you pick and how it will hold up under conditions since this is one thing I'm very passionate about.

I forgot about you for over a year, good to see you’re still going strong

While I could listen to you read yellow pages (bearing in mind they are today a lot thinner than in my youth) & ever so slightly off-topic, I noticed at the front of your Alans plucky lil throbbing power plant an extra pully attachment. Surely you could add a do-hicky as our self-imploding American cousins call it to run an additional power-generating source for dark & cloudy/Snow days using belts and pullies yadayada. I may be having a senior moment & you have covered this in an older ep. That said thy Engine is looking grand there lad. keep up the entertaining toil :-)

g Greatest number/variety of coolant hoses I have ever seen on an internal combustion engine.

I can't believe someone would design an engine like this. I was stressed just seeing you trying to make everything work

Foil on the inside so when you have them in place it will help reflect light about, you could spray black then cover with foil for belt and braces

Your videos are always equally informative as they are entertaining. On occasion, I get my wife to watch them with me. Her favorite part... is your short monotone "bye" at the end. She chuckles every time.

@12:20 - "It was an impulse purchase from the famously idiosyncratic central aisle of a budget supermarket. Some of you may know." Aldi for the win! I swear that 75% of my most useful tools were sourced there...

For the blackout windows, spray the lexan first with the black paint so it looks nice, then put the foil tape on to reflect heat from the sun, or you could just do the paint so that the sun heats up the life raft more.

Mechanical artistry

Kudos on the sparky grindy shots, obv the highlight of the vid 😁 👍

Look into band-it clamps, works on any size hose and it’s one size fit all design keeps down on parts your need to carry for on the spot repairs.

For the o clips you can get some Knipex 10 99 i220 pliers. They are front and side crimping pliers for the clips.

5:50 , I have found success using some sandpaper wrapped around the barb to get a better hose fit

Hi Alex I am sure your screwdriver or wrist has a torque setting to ensure all the clips are secure however from experience I have done the final turns on hose clips using a small socket set - do not get near to over tightening but just try a little nip up all round for consistent torque which you will “feel” much better with the socket …..

Knipex 10 90 i220 side and end crimping tool for those hose clamps.

looking good! and use foil for blackout!

Absolutely fantastic engine upgrades 🙏

I hope those ball valves (3:20) & (3:47) never freeze, I used those for garden irrigation along with some plastic ones. A frost or two and the metal ones burst (just a clean break between the female threaded part and the valve body, left side press fit @ 5:01) but the plastic ones did not. Maybe yours are better quality.

Cooling system looks great. I wish you were able to install the y valves, and have a radiator down in the bilge - lots of free heat from that coolant loop just going into the ocean.

Spot on mate congratulations from Aotearoa New Zealand

I’m glad you got that mini socket wrench. I think it’s one of the more underrated multitasking tools. Especially if it accepts normal drill driver bits. You can even use it in a pinch to drill hole with quick change drill bits. And if you use it with a drill bit extender and/or right angle adapter you can apply torque almost anywhere. I’ve broken two though, so if you start to rely on it, maybe buy a spare when on sale. I like the solution for the blackout screens. Very clever. Foil tape would be my choice. Because it’s shiny and nice to look at, and might be useful for reflecting Alan’s radiance when not blocking sunlight. You can also get polycarbonate printed if you want one side to have unnecessary but cool diagrams or information or beautiful pictures of you and Alan together.

You do very nice work! I always enjoy your channel and your science.

Ah! The joy of refitting. Keep it up Alex👍👍👍🤙👊😉

The work isn't to get water from one place to another. The work is to prevent water from going where it isn't wanted

Awesome your still plugging along!

Was that Top Gear or Grand Tour on your tablet? Either way, great choice to have on in the background. And I'm extremely impressed that you were able to secure all those hoses, in all those weird angles, with only _one_ case of spilled blood.

There are a number of companies that will fabricate bespoke silicone hoses of any diameter, changing diameter and shape. That would save you a considerable number of joints and duplicate for spares.

thank you

Cool looking Scania at 17:00 (I'm American so I never get to see Scanias)

Impressive. Congrats

I know your probably know this but a hex driver will provide more torque on you threaded hose clamps. Even more if you use a 1/4” drive ratchet and a wobble joint and an extension

After you run the engine for a few hours I would recommend re tightening the cooling system

Hi Alex, ive just found your you tube channel ive been watching all of your clips for the past few days, but thought i would just leave a comment everything you have been doing has sparked my imagination, i worked offshore for over 15 very long years and have been in and out of this type of lifeboat many times, any way i digress i wanted to ask you about the exhaust and weather it would be useful to have a copper pipe heat exchanger wrapped around the exhaust for hot water or radiator and i know you have secured the solar panels but would they fit the hull better at an angle like a chevron im not sure if you had these comments before so please consign them to the bin if so cheers

Lovely job 👌

Nice work!

I don't envy you with all of those ridiculous pipe and hose gauge changes! You're going to have to carry a variety of spare hose sizes.

Foil tape is best. You’re guaranteed a good result. Paint will require many layers to get it good and is much less durable.

Support to copper pipe should be mounted to engine assembly, vibrates as a single unit, never do right angle bends, would have been better as one lenght of rubber pile, also use hose clips that have a rolled edge, I think wurth do them, but there are a couple of different makers, keep things simple.

For the clips with no access from the top i use dull long rich snips.

Such Quality planning and work

You always double clamp hoses in a marine application. I haven’t seen you do it once. Very important.

Progress.

AMAZINGNES!!!

Alan may? like to have his anodes painted maybe yellow so that you can identify them easily for maintenance with their install date on them ????

Oh, Alex, please, PLEASE don't use a flat screwdriver for your hose clamps! Buy the right-sized socket screwdrivers, i.e. 5/16" Nut Driver. You can also get drill drivers. It'll save you headaches and stitches!!

once Alan has had a bit of heat through his pipes it might be worth checking the clips gain. Im sure you already know that I just wanted to comment and could only think of this. ☺ 2x👍

a nut driver ir even ratchet and socket works much better on your jubalee clamps. and they don't usualy draw blood.

Do you have an option for a darker thermal tape that could have better thermal absorption? Seems like the tape is the safer option, but something that can take in any sun's rays to heat the ship in the chilly waters sounds like some energy savings in the long run.

im still suprised you dont have a small fluid radiator inside the boat that you can engage via the valves to use engine heat to heat the cabin, but im sure you know what you are doing w/ the cooling system more than i do Edit: the blackout sheets would be better w/ foil tape as it pulls double duty: it insulates and blocks the light (shiny side inwards so you get the insulation) and paint hates polycarb and would flake and come off

The copper rings used on the valves will give you problems because of galvanic corrosion between the metal's

Always 2 clamps on hoses that can sink your boat😉🫡

Definitely WAAAY too late, but a nut driver is much better for the application of tightening jubilee clips!

Very competent work, only surpassed by the storytelling :)

There's a movie called The Fountain, Hugh Jackman is the star. He is totally your doppelganger. Check it out.

A drop off gasoline on a rubber hose allows it to slide like a headed pig on ice-skates. It dries and fuses to the metal . Think motorcycle handlebar grips

Couldn't you just glue the blackout fabric to the plastic?

arent you worried, that, by removing the heater you run the risk of your coolant getting very cold (and then anything bad that might lead from that) if Alan's Engine goes out for a day or two?

I assume you "burped" the system to ensure all air pockets were gone?

Hi, following you I feel I have start by justify any Alan commitment so I guess I’m what you would call a sticker and hat level fan (although in defence my streamline body modelled on years of McDonald’s and commuting) has meant a lack of confidence in your T-shirt! Sizes! Anyway to make up I thought I’d collect delve into your literary masterpieces as audio books, but alas can’t find you on audible… I can already heard your refusal to pay commission to large corporates, but my hopes were raised by you mentioning Amazon.. anyway good luck with Alan .. Ambo

👍👍👍👍

A4's for immersion

hi, i was trying to find this video using my smart tv (im not logged in so there is no suscribed feed) and i noticed that it was really hard to find using keywords like "a boat named alan" or "engine overhaul". Some youtubers add keywords in the description of the video (usually a horrible block of #somethin#somethinElse#somethingVerySimilar), maybe it could help with the search priority or whatever? just a thought but i guess it couldn't hurt to try

From good authority you say, hmmm hmmm

Do you need to purge the system of air?

Don’t get you magnetic tape near your compass ….. sorry old man cation …..

Thus, from a professional's point of view, hoses and connections look dangerous and the risk of leakage is considerably high