Videos – Page 3 – Cruising The Cut

Vlog 391: Bilge Water

Posted on February 22, 2026 by David Johns

After interminable weeks of rain, I thought I’d better pop over to my project boat, Twiggy, and just see how it’s surviving at the boatyard. Also managed to do a tiny bit of work.

Vlog 390: List Off

Posted on February 11, 2026February 11, 2026 by David Johns

It is nearly Valentine’s Day after all and I’ve had the narrowboat for a year so what better way to celebrate than pondering all the things I love (and some I love rather less) about narrowboat Gentian!

Vlog 389: Utter BSS

Posted on February 1, 2026 by David Johns

Every four years, inland waterways craft are required to undergo a Boat Safety Scheme examination and my narrowboat was due for its test. Join me as I prepare for this, watch as the test is done, and see what the outcome was.

Vlog 388: Task Master

Posted on January 21, 2026 by David Johns

Settle down with a cuppa and a pack of biscuits because this one is a long, waffly one where I go over the many assorted DIY projects I would like to address on narrowboat Gentian in the coming months (and years!) – plus I ask for your suggestions on several of them.

A man leans into the end of a large iron cylinder, using an angle-grinder to cut away at small metal tubes inside.

Vlog 387: Hot Stuff

Posted on January 10, 2026January 10, 2026 by David Johns

In 2025, over a period of some months, two steam narrowboats, called Tixall and Emily Anne, had their boilers removed and their pipes taken out for replacement. This is the story of that epic job!

Vlog 386: Happy New Year

Posted on January 1, 2026December 31, 2025 by David Johns

Happy New Year! This is a quick “fireside chat” (with no fire to speak of) just updating you on what’s likely to be in store here in 2026. Cheers!

Vlog 385: Festive Fun at Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2025December 25, 2025 by David Johns

For Christmas Day, what could be finer than bringing my canal wife and canal mistress together for a lovely spot of lunch aboard the narrowboat, eh? So I did.

Vlog 384B: Homeward Bound

Posted on December 17, 2025December 17, 2025 by David Johns

On a sunny day in July, I embarked upon the final leg of my marathon journey from Lincoln to the East Midlands, bringing narrowboat Gentian to its permanent mooring “home” (from which I will now undertake weekend cruises). It was another glorious day, and busy on the canals too as we headed towards summer holiday season. Yes, this was filmed mid-July!

Vlog 384A: The light at the start of the tunnel

Posted on December 10, 2025 by David Johns

On the final weekend of my long journey bringing narrowboat Gentian from Lincoln to the Midlands, I enjoyed hot sunshine and lots of other boaters saying hello. It was so hot in fact that I ended up having to moor in the shade to keep cool.

Vlog 383B: On the Brink

Posted on November 30, 2025 by David Johns

It was mid-July and as I journed further along the North Oxford canal in my tiny narrowboat, the heavens opened as if it were already autumn, bringing much-needed replenishment to the low water levels on the canals.

Canal Life