Category: Engineering

Vlog 29: Internet Explorer

Posted on March 26, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

A question that I’ve had a lot lately is “how do you get the Internet on board a narrowboat in the middle of a canal?” So in this video I explain how I do it for both local WiFi and 3G or 4G access when cruising.

Vlog 27: Pump Up The Volume

Posted on March 11, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

This was going to be an entirely different Vlog but I have a problem with my water pump going off randomly – usually the sign of a leak somewhere in the pipework. But where?

Vlog 25: Changing Rooms

Posted on February 29, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Could this be the end of my watery adventures..? There’s only one way to find out and that’s by watching this episode when Things Are Changing. How very teasing of me.

Vlog 24: Haul Aboard!

Posted on February 25, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

I’ve been shopping. At least, my fingers have shopped online and this video is the haul of stuff I ordered namely things to make me gas safe, gunk, a shower thingummyjig and a map.

Vlog 21: The Gas Man Cometh

Posted on February 9, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

A nasty discovery one day when I went to turn the gas bottle off as I left the boat, finding it leaking ever so slightly which it must have been doing since I installed it three months earlier.

Vlog 19: Socket To ‘Em

Posted on January 26, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

In which I do a canal-oriented shopping “haul” type of Vlog and follow it with a intricate explanation of how to run a mains cable half the length of the boat in order to install more power sockets.

Vlog 18: Fire Starter

Posted on January 18, 2016February 24, 2024 by David Johns

With temperatures currently plummeting in the UK and at least a fortnight’s cold snap predicted with sub zero temperatures coming, it’s time to have a look at the main source of heating on my narrowboat, the Villager Puffin stove.

Vlog 15: Solar Flair

Posted on December 20, 2015May 7, 2024 by David Johns

Once the Spring arrives and I go out continuous cruising on the canals, I will need a way to generate electricity. Ideally this would be done without running the engine. Hence the installation of solar panels. This is the video of that installation.

Vlog 14: Lock Bottom

Posted on December 9, 2015February 24, 2024 by David Johns

Come journey with me down into the depths of an English canal, to a lock at Banbury in Oxfordshire that was emptied for maintenance by the Canal and River Trust. Find out how the locks are maintained and what unusual things have been found at the bottom!

Vlog 13: The Lights Fantastic

Posted on November 30, 2015May 7, 2024 by David Johns

It’s rainy, cold and blowing a gale outside so I made a quick video about five simple things – three of them lightbulbs – that make my life nicer on board my canal boat!