Author: David Johns

Vlog 331: Hull’s Angel

Posted on April 30, 2024August 5, 2024 by David Johns

This time, I’m looking at the question of what do you do if you want a custom-designed boat to live on but don’t have the budget to buy a new-build?

Vlog 330: Going Dutch

Posted on April 20, 2024 by David Johns

Although I’ve been past several Dutch barges on the canals and rivers in my time, I’d never done a video about what they’re like until now. And this is a very nice one indeed…

Vlog 329: Carpet Diem

Posted on April 10, 2024April 10, 2024 by David Johns

As part of the ongoing refurbishment of my cabin cruiser “Twiggy”, I have ripped the carpet out of the front cabin, as you will see in this video. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs, as they say.

Vlog 328: The steepest lock flight!

Posted on April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 by David Johns

Opened in 1774, the Bingley 5-Rise lock flight is the steepest in Britain and still going strong today. The Canal & River Trust held a media day to celebrate this milestone and I went along.

Vlog 327: The Stream in the Sky

Posted on March 24, 2024March 26, 2024 by David Johns

At 220 years old, the world-famous Pontcysyllte aqueduct in north Wales is doing very well for its age but it does need a lot of care and maintenance. Every 20 years it’s drained of water for a full inspection and I’ve been along to see what the Canal & River Trust’s engineers have found this time around.

Vlog 326: Spaghetti Hoops

Posted on March 17, 2024 by David Johns

This is a follow-on from the previous video where I began to strip out the carpeting and wiring from my boat refurbishment project, named Twiggy.

Vlog 325: Wire in the hole!

Posted on March 8, 2024March 8, 2024 by David Johns

I take the first steps towards refurbishing Twiggy!

Vlog 324: Dreamboats!

Posted on February 25, 2024February 25, 2024 by David Johns

Join me on detailed tours through three brand new luxury liveaboard narrowboats, one widebeam, two cabin cruisers and a narrowboat for hire, all at the BoatLife show 2024!

Why buy a canal boat?

Posted on February 23, 2024February 23, 2024 by David Johns

What is the attraction of a canal boat and the lifestyle? It’s a combination of things. There’s the simple tranquility of the canals; ignoring for a moment any interruptions by

A quick history of the canals