Category: Engineering

Vlog 260: Power Ranger

Posted on March 11, 2022February 24, 2024 by David Johns

A sit-down chat about how the new 540W solar panel helped over winter, and mention of the lead carbon batteries I installed in summer 2019.

Vlog 252: Reg Prescott

Posted on November 18, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Boat life is much like owning a house inasmuch as there’s always something to be fixed or maintained or tarted up. Here’s a compilation of minor things I did around the boat over the last few months, including fixes after the boat failed its four-yearly Boat Safety Scheme examination.

Vlog 251: The Bright Side of Life

Posted on November 3, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

This is a long video indeed. It covers the complete installation and configuration of an additional 540W solar panel along with two new Epever Tracer MPPT solar charge controllers and all the wiring etc.

Vlog 244: Electric Dreams

Posted on July 13, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

At the end of May 2021, I attended a narrowboat trials day arranged by boat builder Ortomarine. Starting on the River Severn and going up the Droitwich canals, eight boats using a variety of power plants would have their fuel, efficiency and any solar input measured and compared. This video summarises what happened and the results.

Vlog 241: A Night on the Tiles

Posted on May 17, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Partly because of a leak and partly because I never liked the tiles anyway, I have refurbished my shower cubicle with shower panels, stuck over the old tiles. This is the tale of how I did it.

Vlog 239: Cratch of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2021February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Some footage filmed from summer-winter last year that I have now compiled, about the new cratch board and cratch cover I had made.

Vlog 237: Just nod if you can hear me

Posted on December 10, 2020February 24, 2024 by David Johns

I did a video about this very early on when I got the boat but I’ve changed the components since then so here’s the updated version.

224. At last! Painting the boat roof

Posted on August 24, 2020February 24, 2024 by David Johns

A few weeks ago, I sanded down and touched up a load of rusty spots on my narrowboat’s roof but I didn’t then have the chance to finish the job and overcoat the whole thing in its entirety. I was also unsure what paint to use. Now, at last, I have had a few days of decent weather and got the whole thing done.

Vlog 215: Up on the Roof

Posted on May 28, 2020February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Over recent months I have noticed a number of unsightly rusty spots erupting on the boat’s roof. Some, I assume, are from bits of grit rubbing through the paint as I’ve walked over it; for others I have no idea as to their origins. All needed tidying up and the rust stopped in its tracks though so in this video I show you my initial attempts, which fall short of a full repaint.

Vlog 212: Serenity

Posted on April 28, 2020February 24, 2024 by David Johns

A little thing like a global pandemic and lockdown is not going to prevent further boat videos on this channel so I present the first in what may become a

Canal Life