20. How to do your laundry on a narrowboat

[@zeconekingleightob3729]

Hi I’m leighton and yes I’m a child but during this time of the world you have made me feel happy and i might do what you have done in the future -leighton

[@jeffebdy]

I won't lie... PTSD and other health problems from working in emergency services often crushes... yet this vlog about doing laundry actually made me chuckle... what a tonic! You sir, are a breath of fresh air (tho your laundry probably ain't!)

[@JohnyComeLately]

"Swooshing thing at the bottom", it's a highly technical term😂👍🏼

[@broadsword6650]

An “agitator”, I believe they are called.

[@rangeofhills]

@@broadsword6650 My wife has one of those. Me.

[@joannapocock6055]

Gosh twin tubs have certainly changed since i had one in the 80s That one is so cute! Enjoyed the video thanx for sharing it with us

[@CruisingTheCut]

Stand by - toilets soon!

[@petesheppard1709]

AHA! A clue, Watson!! A new (5/2023) subscriber from Alabama, USA, I have found your narration and commentary extremely enjoyable; THEN, you pointed out the note on the magazine cover, and my suspicion that you're a media professional was confirmed!

[@CruisingTheCut]

😀😀Thank you

[@EezeeListen]

There'a always going to be washing, so an appropriate machine will make life much easier, especially as you are living aboard permanently. Lovely to see you stepping ashore with no rain in the air - this is a treat for us over in Eire as rain seems to be a daily misery!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Haha, it rained later!

[@FranklinNewhart]

A 20 litre bucket and a plunger is the go to for so many boaters world wide. A nice warm room with a portrable clothes hanger for drying.

[@joebroke76]

In an ironic twist, thanks to your more recent videos with a sponsor, I can now read your article! Looking pretty sharp in that suit!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Fantastic!

[@miguelnieves4913]

Again, a great episode for us to understand a little bit of how you can make it possible to get by with the everyday life on a Canal Narrow Boat.....

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers :-)

[@risasb]

That is a nice little machine; never saw one before.For years I lived in a house truck where the wood stove and kerosene lamps were my domestic tech. If parked I washed clothes in a 5 gallon bucket with a baseball bat. When traveling I would load the bucket and leave it in a stanchion on the tailgate and let road vibration wash and (second bucket) rinse. If I had a canal boat I'd perhaps try the shower and bucket before moving up to a machine. I'm 69 and crochety now so I do have a washing machine but not a dryer and am in the US but never hooked up the hot water; line drying works fine for the clothes and the used eco-soap water goes to the fruit trees.

[@mimilion6072]

Your life sounds Amazing!!!! Absolutely love your van washing machine!! Hehe. I spend time in vans too so might just try that idea!!! Hehe...

[@patriciabrooks5838]

We use a larger version of the twin tub you have on our motor yacht. Very effective it is too even with just cold water depending on the powder used. We leave the washing to soak for an hour before getting into the wash cycle. Spin the clothes then refill the main tub and rinse and then spin again. We find this method gets clothes cleaner and also gets most of the detergent out.

[@anthonywalsh6605]

You probably don't have too many viewers in the Cayman Islands, but your vlogs have got me interested in renting a narrowboat for a UK holiday. It looks to be a very peaceful and relaxing pastime watch the countryside go by at just a few miles per hour!

[@CruisingTheCut]

You may welll be the only one out there - yes, it is very relaxing :-)

[@thesundaycarpenter2514]

I live in Japan and I'll have to say that most people here wash with only cold water. Having no heater isn't a huge problem

[@CruisingTheCut]

It's more of a problem finding a washine machine that will let you do a purely cold wash! (though there are a handful)

[@thetravellingman814]

Loving the vlogs! i am also a full time liveaboard cruising narrowboater ... i used to use a 3kg zanussi washing machine ... with a 3kg compact condensing drier from my Genny (2kw suitcase job) i have now moved that to my motorhome and fitted a 3kw inverter as i have twin alternators and a large bank of 6volt trojan batteries .... with the engine running i am now using a hotpoint 11kg/7kg washer dryer .... best thing i have done on the boat so far ... i can even wash/dry my quilt and pillows in it , so if you are going for a washer , consider a washer /dryer well worth the extra pennies! Regards Rick

[@CruisingTheCut]

Very interested to read that because I've never really seen any good reviews of combined washer/dryers; people seem to slag them off a lot as not being very good. Nice to know they can work!

[@mikegyver6265]

Over seas my laundry solution was a 20L pail and a plunger on a broom handle. Make a hole in the lid of the bucket for the handle, stuff in the clothes some soap and toss the lid on. Stand on the bucket and use the plunger for an agitator (or swooshie thingy lol) like churning butter. Worked pretty well.

[@greenpedal370]

I had one of those little washing machines. It was fantastic and lasted for years despite sitting out in the elements.

[@leestanley5837]

Great news! Really enjoying the vlogs.

[@memikell]

Hint for pulling wire---- use a strong vacuum cleaner (Hoover?) the hose type. open where you want the wire to be and open where the wire starts, vacuum a light string through, attach a heaver cord, pull it through, then attach the wire to the heavy cord and pull the wire. works almost every time.

[@CruisingTheCut]

That's a neat trick! Yes, Hoover ;-)

[@karlanke]

FYI the drain "high loop" on the side of the washer is to prevent backups from the sink drain going into the machine - since you're just draining out the side of the boat, you could remove that for the extra couple of inches of space on the side.

[@myderek1950]

Hi there is a laundry in Hyde,n ear Stockport. A supermarket is only a short walk from that laundry as well. Do enjoy watching you on KZbin

[@cricketthoffman9499]

I have a Panda Twin Tub and a Panda Bonnet Dryer. I had them in the Army and the nearly dry uniforms came out of the washer’s spin tub and onto the ironing board. We were the best pressed in the unit. Flash forward and the apartment raised the price of the laundry. I was back to the Panda. I fill it with a bucket. I can do two sheets and a pillow case. I can do what would be a half load of another washer. I moved to a condo and it has a washer and dryer in the bathroom. The piece of junk big washer broke down and it was Panda to the rescue. Even after the big washer was fixed I still use the Panda to spin bathing suits dry. Now what is a bonnet dryer? It resembles a woman’s hair dryer from the 50s. A blower at the bottom and a tent around the rack you hang your clothes on. A gentle way to dry your clothes. Now days that gets used in the winter to warm my PJs. The beauty of the dryer is it folds up tiny and stores in a cupboard. I will never let go of my Panda.

[@eekee6034]

I love your enthusiasm in these early vlogs, David! :D

[@CruisingTheCut]

Not like the jaded old weary cynic I am now! 😂

[@eekee6034]

@@CruisingTheCut Ah, you're not that jaded! 😂

[@deltavee2]

7:10 A compliment about the bow if I may. In this shot during the credits, your boat in the middle distance looks rather like the front of a locomotive and a rather handsome one at that with the high-mounted light and the tasteful trim lower down. That's a nice bit of kit you have there David.

[@versatec1]

I bought mine second hand ...worth every penny👍

[@klyonsden]

Something to mention. I have the little washing tub/spinner similar to yours. For large clothing (EX: bed linens) I use the shower floor filled with water, and have the washing wand plunger. Between the 2, I can wash anything in the RV.

[@ivechang6720]

Great job. Getting a twin tub is useful for us ladies because it's not rough on our delicate (not on my nails they aren't!💅😭) unmentionables which many of us hand wash anyways. 👍😁

[@ShabbyShambles]

Looking forward to the next article, brilliant read keep up the good work.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks Heather!

[@thebeardedartisan]

Loving these vlogs, found you last week and I'm hooked. You crack me up, great mix of humour and information. Keep up the good work/pleasure. 👍👍

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you!

[@rameshkandadai]

And there was me thinking you just slung your smalls in a net bag and towed them just behind the prop lol ==I like that idea!! LOL. Seriously nice informative vlog.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Like the sailors of old, put it in a basket and tow it behind the ship :-)

[@pihoihoi]

I can tell you from experience it sadly does not work that way. Towing your dirty smalls behind the prop makes them even more grubbier alas :(

[@mitchellminer9597]

I do find these "technical" vids especially interesting. For what it's worth, that cold-fill business seems to be a UK thing. I haven't heard of it here in the USA, but I haven't shopped lately. It should be possible to build a washing tub atop the diesel engine. When running, the cooling water could heat it, and the vibration agitate it. Maybe. I loved the blurb at the end.

[@t.diddle7998]

Google Maps is going to be your new best friend in the nomadic off-grid life. With some planning, a backpack, a bicycle, and some bus fare, you'll have a full array of goods and services at your disposal. Bike baskets are also great, but if using buses, make sure they will fit the bus rack beforehand. As an example, I searched Northampton and found five coin laundry locations. Not sure how close to the canal they are, but I'm an the US and know nothing about the area, so I couldn't easily find the canal on the map.

[@karenfay4545]

There is the option of stuffing it all in a mesh bag and dragging it behind the boat. LOL 😂😂

[@kjaques1]

Ha ha yeah try that on the river Don. Youre clothes would come out like tarmac! lmao.

[@danamckenzie2709]

I never wash my clothes in hot water always cold. If something is particularly dirty it gets a pre soak in hot water with some detergent but that is not a regular thing. In fact most people I know here in Australia use cold water. Also would like to say I just stumbled upon your vlog, really enjoying it!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you! By "hot" I mean a 40C programme, not really super hot. Cheers

[@lblampmanjr]

I'm a retired American living in the Philippines. I'm enjoying your vlog immensely as I've long hand a "thing" for narrowboats (and canal boats in general). As Dana McKenzie said in her comment, she's using cold water and here in the Philippines most houses don't even have a water heater, the houses are only plumbed for cold water. Cold water works fine, there's really no need to heat it at all, which saves a lot on energy costs and makes things simpler. It's also the method that offshore cruising sailboats use, and they're the ultimate "off-griders".

[@CruisingTheCut]

If I had a machine aboard I would use cold wash only to save power. But hot (warm) when on a shoreline.

[@amritavaroy2778]

First of all, I apologize for being so late to literally 'bump onto' your channel. But it's good for me. Being a citizen of Kolkata, India, the idea of narrowboating in the canals is simply fascinating. I've been watching your vlogs for the last couple of days and frankly speaking I seem to have got addicted to it. Thanks to you. About you doing laundry on board, I can suggest you a way out (of course I know it's too late and maybe you've already done so... but please do keep in mind that I haven't gone through all your vlogs yet). You're using a twin tub semi-automatic washing machine which is too small to hold your jeans properly. You can consider a top loading fully automatic washing machine of at least 6.2 kg capacity with two separate water inlets - hot and cold (LG has got few models and maybe others like Samsung, Whirlpool also do). These machines have dryers too. The big convenience is that you can have hot wash without draining your batteries as these machines do not have a heater in them.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hi. Unfortunately, such machines are not available in the UK (else I'd have got one!). All UK machines these days are cold fill only and rely on the machine to heat the water. I have since purchased a top loading machine that I will be reviewing in an upcoming video (still cold fill only!)

[@amritavaroy2778]

@@CruisingTheCut Thanks for your prompt reply. It's really sad to know that such machines are not available there. It could have made your life a little more easy and comfortable. Happy cruising. It just occurred to mind you can still have a hot wash with a single inlet machine. Just use a hot cold water mixer (the one you use in your shower) in lieu of a simple tap where you plug in the water inlet hose of the machine. Turning the knobs you can have a range of temperature for washing - from fiery hot to icy cold.

[@stephenmason4709]

I have now watched the first 20 vlogs and feel that I must view them all if only to see how many have the Vespers incidental music.

[@CruisingTheCut]

You're in for a long watch then! 😀

[@michaelpilling9659]

Rub a dub dub, David and his tub. Super video. You always seem to be able to come up with a solution to all your problems. Bravo.

[@tim040]

Magic, funny and informative keep it coming

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks Tim!

[@PhilPage227]

I love your ukulele, one of my many passions.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Alas mine is gathering dust

[@michaeljones1475]

Just like mine, bought it around 5 years ago, learnt how to strum Sloop John B and didn't touch it after that, as the cold long winter days are approaching here in Tallinn Estonia, I may start playing it again. BTW love your blogs, sadly no canals in Estonia.

[@anthonymccabe7800]

Just found your excellent vlog, enjoy your clear, well modulated speaking voice, (shows your TV experience) and entertaining daily accounts of life on the cut. My wife and I have hired on several occasions many years ago, but ill health has precluded any further excursions unfortunately. We live in Sweden and are fortunate to have the Göta kanal within easy driving distance though it admittedly isn't *narrowboating' it's a connection with canals and has its own, unique attraction. Looking forward to perusing all of your earlier productions and wish you all the very best. Anthony McCabe.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you for tuning in and your kind words. What a shame you can no longer get out on the water. Hope the videos act as some kind of surrogate! Cheers

[@shadesofbluee]

It's a little late now, but personally I would have made a water heater coil for the stove pipe and with some minor plumbing work flooded the whole boat.

[@johnkinnane547]

G'day David I love your terminology like"The Spin Thingy" in the bottom of the machine..........Agitator! Great David John PS there are a few things you don't realise when living on a narrow boat.

[@mentaldavethefirst]

If you are ever on the Chester branch of the Shropshire Union Canal there is a laundrette on Charles Street, Hoole. Its less than half a mile from the Canal towpath

[@mimilion6072]

Thanks for all the good advice. I've finally found my narrowboat and should be moving in at the weekend!!! These practical advice vlogs are very important, as real life stuff for living on one. Wonder if you could do a vlog on lighting a multi fuel stove ? As I've never lit one before and no idea how. I will be using smokeless coal. Seems basic all these things but vital to know when actually living on one !!! Ps... it was just as i heard you say in a vlog before.... when you walk on a boat... and you Immediately. .. Just KNOW ... it's Your Boat !!!!!

[@CruisingTheCut]

Congratulations! I have already done such a vlog; can't recall the number offhand but it was one of my early ones.

[@mimilion6072]

@@CruisingTheCut Brilliant !!! I will take a look !!!

[@Thefurrie8879]

I love your video s so much

[@matthewoliver6655]

Can you do more fire side chats, please? I am sure there is not a lot of edits to be done for this and a lot of video work like the regular stuff. I work at home in a boring job and these keep me going Thx

[@juliephelps2026]

Hey - I didn't realize it was you writing the articles for Canal Boat! Well done - I enjoy your articles as newbie boater - all very honest, and makes me smile. When are you going to get a composting toilet to test out, by the way?

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes, that me, one and the same. Glad you like them. I've no plans to replace my cassette loo, besides those composting things are quite costly.

[@0HARE]

Thanks for another great video. It was very informative. Best Of Luck

[@grandma_1887]

I have that same washer and I love it.

[@TheOrangeAngle]

For future binge watchers: There is a video related to the article in CanalBoat about Cruising The Cut - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r36ue4Vro5magtk

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cheers. It's not really related to any Canal Boat article but yes that video is about me.

[@danielsmith7105]

Great series, have been watching them in sequence tonight. As for a machine...Being a geek, id be using a regular machine by disabling the heating element, putting a resistor in place of temperature sensor and running hot water myself to machines water inlet. More messing about than most would like though lol

[@CruisingTheCut]

I know some people have done similar things but that's way beyond my simple brain. Cheers.

[@anonatimberlake8189]

You don't need to fiddle with it. Put it on the coldest setting and add a couple of kettles of hot water as it fills. The thermostat will clock that its at temperature, and not operate the heater.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Bit hit and miss, that method. You can't reliably say the heater won't come on!

[@deejayimm]

Here in the US, we definitely have washing machines that run on cold only, and only the fanciest machines have heaters.

[@sharonhendrie9910]

I believe the Aylesbury Canal Society had a list of laundrettes also the UK waterways guide. Not sure. Research needed.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Indeed they do!

[@mickd6942]

And there was me thinking you just slung your smalls in a net bag and towed them just behind the prop lol

[@contrafax]

I do like your vlog, I am moving right along. First to #20. :)

[@derekjohnson3038]

Another winner

[@malcolmbullock4297]

Hi, great video. As a sailor I'm really enjoying this canal lark - it's our post sailing plan! Couple of thoughts on washing machines. We have a domestic 5kg unit aboard. It's a top loader and therefore is easier to fin into a tight cupboard and access from there top. I've found that yes it does draw a lot from our inverter/batteries when heating the water but this is fairly quick and then the power consumption is fairly minimal. I can't recall what it uses but I don't allow more than 100ah draw from our 24v AGM bank. I prefer to have either the genset on, or to be motoring (150ah/24v alternator) when the water heating is going on but I'm happy to run the rest from the batteries. One thought on drying with all that lovely heat you have aboard, we found a small clothes maiden/rack that stores down the side of the washing machine. My wife hangs the clothes on that to dry which is free :) our biggest surprise is the amount of water consumed, we have a watermaker but you may want to consider that if it's relevant. One question for you which you may not want to answer, do you script your videos or is it just down to experience that your video narratives are so good? Thanks

[@CruisingTheCut]

I script the voiceover bits but pieces to camera are off the cuff. Don't need a water maker as there are sufficient water points along the cut! Glad you liked the video :-) cheers

[@MrFQL]

Ellesmere on the Llangollen Canal has a nice launderette, or the did three years ago when we cruised through there, and a boat-up Tesco as well.

[@CruisingTheCut]

A boat-up Tesco sounds ideal!

[@spencerwilton8876]

Most cold fill washers will work quite happily connected to the hot supply. The heater may still operate but for a much shorter period. You could use a couple of valves so you can switch between hot and cold fill. Start the machine and let it fill with hot, then after ten minutes or so switch the valve over so you are not then wasting hot water for rinsing etc. It will save hammer on your batteries and inverter. Or as you say use shore power!

[@CruisingTheCut]

The trouble is, I wouldn't know when the right amount of hot and cold had been added to give the correct temp, so the machine's heater would still try to come on which would break my inverter and batteries. I could buy a machine that does a cold wash and still fill it with warm that way may be. But I'm thinking just a shoreline and a regular set up would be easier!

[@spencerwilton8876]

+CruisingTheCut I agree it's probably the most cost effective solution, if not the most convenient. It might be worth investing in a washer dryer rather than a straight washer, nothing worse than washing everywhere taking days to dry! Bear in mind washer dryers are no where near as effective at drying as stand alone dryers though- I rented a flat with an Indeset one (cheap and nasty) and after two hours drying stuff just came out scalding hot but still steaming with water...

[@CruisingTheCut]

Mmm, I've never really heard anyone have a good word to say about their drying capabilities so I wonder whether it's worth the money?

[@davidcollishaw2771]

I'd go the generator route, either a 230v 6.5kw power take off on the engine or a whispa gen with a demand circuit. It is something I am looking at, maybe using fork lift batteries to deal with the high loads or a washer, combi oven and mini dishwasher set up just do what they used to do at sea and chuck it overboard in a net, you might even catch tea. save your whites for the launderette though

[@offthegridwithbert924]

Here in Australia almost all washing machines on the market that are top load have hot and cold connections, and you can still get hot and cold fittings on some front loaders. The other way to delete the annoying internal water heating is to open the machine up and disconnect the element, then use a hot/cold mixing valve on your inlet so you can switch between hot/cold manually.

[@SoldiersDad]

I find that living on a narrow boat is very much like the half year that we spend living in our camper. The washing machine is something I would like to have.

[@MichaelsMustang]

It is true Australian machines all wash in cold water but your water would be quite a lot colder than ours so likely most are designed for warmer water hence your very informative reason why running the machine needs to be well planned. Many of our larger motor homes here have generators and I am wondering by the price if they are in fact diesel ones ? The marina once a fortnight has many advantages and that does sound like a very good option. That writer in the magazine must be good if you praised him so much !!! Thank you for including all this day to day life on a narrow boat we all need to wash use the loo etc so very informative to people considering the life.

[@susancheveralllong7694]

It is better to use cold water fill because the action of water warming. Help activate the washing Powder and it is simply a far better wash. Also prolongs the fabric in your clothes.

[@tomkemp9465]

FYI, Morrison’s in Royal Leamington Spa has a laundrette. This is just across the road from the canal.

[@gordslater]

Just a thought on washing machine heater power - electronics guy thinking aloud here - I wonder if a zero-crossing triac circuit could be fitted inside the machine between the mains-side of the internal supply to the heater element (and *only* the heater element, not the whole machine) and the element itself. This would work similar to a lamp dimmer, but MUCH heavier duty. The heater would take a lot longer to heat the water, but would reduce the average power draw on the AC proportionately. I'm not sure how the inverter would react to the choppy waveform though - so beware the brave soul that decides to try this. WARNING: this is NOT a DIY suggestion, it needs good familiarity with mains circuits and power electronics as well as white goods repair/servicing, as well as an appreciation of boat inverter capabilities. Stay safe, if this works it would be pretty advanced stuff.

[@thersaholycow]

Our washers here in the states use hot water, they don't heat the water. We also have LP water heaters.

[@ka1133]

I'm surprise as other commenters about the heaters in washers. In fact, in the forty years I've done most of my laundry using cold water. The laundry detergents are formulated for cold water washing to save on energy costs.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Cold water in yes but absolutely unheated by the machine? I didn't think 40 years ago they had cold wash programmes.

[@larryjeram-croft1692]

He's completely missed the solution that most people use (including us). Rig a hose from a hot tap to the soap drawer. When you turn on the machine pour hot water in the drawer (we often bung in a kettle as well). That way the heater never needs to come on and you get a good hot wash as well - works a treat.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Fair point, you could do that. What a pain though to mess about with hoses! And you'd have to make sure that the water is sufficiently warm as to ensure the heater doesn't feel the need to boost it for whichever program you've selected.

[@larryjeram-croft1692]

Actually is not a pain at all. We do it either when the water heater (Eberspacher) has been on or the engine has run for a while. Our machine is next to the sink and I have a hose that slips over the mixer tap. We set the machine on a 30 deg wash and the water is always somewhere hotter than that. It takes a minute to do on start up. I know of loads of people who do this not just us and it means we can run the machine whenever we want. Its a thousand times less a pain that those horrid platic twin tubs which I have also used.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I agree on the twin-tub, I'm going to replace mine with a proper machine but one that does a true cold wash so I don't have to consider hot water solutions at all.

[@rachaelsanders5518]

It would be quite interesting to set up a combined hot/cold connection by adjusting flows or even setup a thermostatic thereby making a ‘warm fill’ and send that into the so called cold fill connection. Could then disconnect the heater internally so it couldn’t kill your battery. If I get a narrowboat I will experiment. I’m sure it’s possible to arrange something without spending zillions of cash! BTW I was an engineer/scientist.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes, it's been done by some boaters

[@MalawisLilleKanal]

I'd think a thermostatic mixer valve would come in handy. I would assume one of those can be set to about 40 degrees and relieve the washers internal heater.

[@hotpointrocksnot2122]

Just to let you know, most washing machines can be plumbed up to hot water, there's just the risk or ruining your nice dark clothes. This means if plumbed up to hot water you could select a cold wash cycle and actually have it run a wash at around 40 - 50 degrees :)

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thanks. I'd have to fit a thermostatic tap in the pipe I think because the water from my hot tank is very variable in temp depending what I've been doing!

[@harveysmith100]

Have a look a something called a TMV. (thermostatic mixer valve) Hot in, cold in, a preset temperature out, my memory says it is 38 degrees but I may be out by a few degrees.out. Any questions please ask

[@versatec1]

I didn't go into technical detail but yes it will work with a bit of over riding know how you nay sayer..I did it to my washing machine in my motor home...failing that select cold and fill up with hot via the boiler

[@stuartmerelie2]

I have a fully automatic system that washes irons and puts it all back in the drawer. Although I think the dinners out for her cost more than a new machine every month...

[@CruisingTheCut]

It sounds like you're treading into dangerous territory there...

[@scask]

I also am cheap (ref. ep12), so a few years ago wondered if you could fill the drum half way with hot tap water (I use the bowl in the sink) & hay presto it works a treat even my wife thinks this is a good idea, added benefit of reducing wash cycle time!

[@CruisingTheCut]

On my new washing machine (see much more recent video) I tried that and the first thing the machine did was drain any water out!!

[@theShamrockShepherdWagon]

No hot water needed, cold water gets absolutely everything out. (apparently, I'm the cheapest yet)

[@antmorrow1]

Also a big thing to consider with a washing machine, is the water consumption. We have just purchased a washing machine for our boat, 45L per 45min wash is fantastic and max 1.8 KW max(1800watts) we know the drain is going to be large but with a bank of 6 125amps and 1KW solar + Gen and engin charge manager we think it will do fine.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes, I think that lot should see you alright! Out of interest, what make and model of machine is it?

[@antmorrow1]

Its the Zanussi ZWC 1300W, the older version. they have some download fact sheet on the main site for more info.

[@ChrisOHenning]

Thank you for the insight. Great video. And now that you are aboard for almost 6 month, could you present your expense? It may be more representative for year, but who wants to wait? You had your time in a marina, you had to heat and you had "repairs". This could be scaled up.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I will be doing a costs video but not yet. I've only been aboard of four months. It won't scale for a year because in winter I'm using lots of coal but not going anywhere much, which will be the opposite in summer. So, I'll do a "winter costs" video sometime in April.

[@tahinde]

Amazon also has a hand operated laundry machine that uses no electricity to really save electricity and get a workout.

[@bigunone]

Interesting that you can only buy a washer that runs off mains as you call it. I could have a sworn there used to be a company that made a 12v front loader, but after searching I can't seem to find any except homemade. After watching you push wire from one end of the boat to the other (FYI as an electrician I can tell you it is easier to pull than push wire) I was surprised that there seems to be no way to get into the space below your deck. To me this seems to be an over site on the builders part, as there is all that space that could be used for storage and the running of utilities. Enjoying the videos as you can tell I started at the first and am working my way to the present. I have full timed as it is called over here in RVs for years and I find it interesting how boat people get around the same problems I have faced over the years. Charlie

[@CruisingTheCut]

It is easier to pull, yes, but you have to be able to reach the wire to pull it!! So I pulled once I'd pushed it through enough to be able to grab the other end from the other side. Narrowboats are, it seems to me, designed entirely by idiots who don't ever live on them or work on them. There is TERRIBLE access to everything. Yes, the deck is covered in flooring with no hatches to get to anything. My boat is actually one of the better ones because the 12V lighting cabling is behind ceiling panels that can be unscrewed and in narrowboat terms that's a luxury!!

[@boherrmannsen8219]

+CruisingTheCut a 4th option for a full size washer would be to connect it to hot water and disable the GW heater in it

[@boherrmannsen8219]

and by disable i mean simply disconnect the L(live) wire from the heating element. replacing the thermistor (thermometer thingy) with a resistor.... mjeeeh... not needed... unless the damn machine pull an error code of some sorts due to it detects not heating up the water

[@CruisingTheCut]

All too complex for my limited brain. I'd probably electrocute myself and set the boat on fire and this would be a Bad Thing.

[@Danny_Boel]

3:51 I got one like that, they're a disaster, so back to the laundrette I went 🤣

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yeah, I bought a proper machine, see my later video

[@minshullj]

I like how you must have had to ask permission to film your exchange with the marina and then doing a voiceover the laments the cost to use their machines.

[@rud]

:D thought the same thing.

[@keithlillis7962]

I'm really enjoying your vlogs and am seriously thinking about buying a narrow boat. I have a question re your electricity supply: Do you have 240V 13A AC wiring in your narrow boat, or 12V AC or DC?

[@CruisingTheCut]

Yes, 230V AC and 12V DC. This is typical of most narrowboats. See my recent (ish) video about boat electrics.

[@keithlillis7962]

@@CruisingTheCut Many thanks for your prompt reply and yes, I have since watched your vid on boat electrics - very helpful. Many years ago, a girlfriend of mine owned a narrow boat moored at Paddington, London. The area was run-down in those days, but I really enjoyed staying on the boat. As your vlogs amply show, there is a lot to learn before buying, but I am certainly getting the bug. Best wishes, Keith

[@thegingerllama1074]

There is a laundrette in downham market Norfolk there is a river there were a lot of boats moor sometimes

[@karlheinzvansteen5748]

another off the grid option, a 5 gal bucket and a toilet plunger.

[@jengaryadventurers4603]

What we did for 5 years off-grid in RV.

[@TalenGryphon]

Honestly I'd be tempted to open a washer like that up, disconnect the internal heater, and plumb in a hot water bypass from the boat's main water heater

[@CruisingTheCut]

Many boaters do exactly that!

[@cyberi4a]

Interesting viewing as I've never heard of cold water going into a washer and the machine heating it. I would have no issues using those little portable machines, I've a few youtube vids on them and they seems very usable as an alternative to a full size washer.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I am fascinated by how many comments I'm getting from people who say washing machines that heat water are an alien concept because not heating seems to me to be very weird!

[@cyberi4a]

Here in the states we have hot and cold water connected to our washing machines, so it's already hot going in.

[@CruisingTheCut]

It used to be like that here but now it's very, very hard to find anything other than a machine with cold in only.

[@DeepPastry]

Ebac makes an Intelligent Hot Fill line of machines. Otherwise it might be worth splitting that 240v input into two 120v lines like the US does, and getting a US machine. US washing machines are 120v. Yes indeed, every single US home uses a single phase 240v electrical input. We just split it into two separate 120v legs; take the positive side of the sine wave to get the A leg, and then take the negative side for a B leg. For our dryers we take the Aleg, the B leg, and a shared neutral to get the 240v back.

[@spencerwilton5831]

DeepPastry The voltage of the machine is irrelevant. If you have the voltage you then double the number of amps required to do the same job, so there is no net gain. It would require another inverter when afloat, and I don't think it's even possible to achieve 110 volts here from the mains without a bulky portable transformer- homes have only two wires in, a line and neutral, so I cannot see how these can be split. The reason European washing machines draw more power is because they heat water internally but use only a cold fill. This is more economical than heating remotely, storing water, heating the pipes to the machine etc. On a boat the better solution might be to use a mixing valve to fill the machine with wash temperature water, negating the use to use the machines internal heater which is responsible for the vast majority of power used by such a machine.

[@syntaxis5584]

you can't split 240v into 120v unless it's two-phase, US is 120v single-phase so you can use 2 single-phase 120v to get 240v two-phase you can't get 120v from 240v single-phase without a step-down transformer.

[@youpeoplearecrazy374]

If you need to find a laundrette, do a Google search. Google: laundrette near (city, town or village)

[@versatec1]

No ..you just pull the two wires of the heating element ...job done 😊👍

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hmm, well maybe I'll have a cautious peer inside when I get my machine!

[@spencerwilton8876]

+CruisingTheCut won't work. The washer controller won't move on until the water has reached the required temperature. With the heater disabled this would never happen...

[@shavedape777]

Now it would be interesting to see how you put off doing laundry. As in, what do you do when you should be doing laundry?

[@CruisingTheCut]

Erm, I do the laundry.

[@adambennett8190]

It might already have been said somewhere here, there's too much to read through, but just because it is called a cold feed it doesn't mean you have to feed only cold water in it. You could rig up a switchable feed (a reversed Y connector) where you manually change over (close the hot feed and open the cold one) once it has filled up for the wash. It may take a bit more thinking about but should be achievable.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Hi. Yes, you could but then you've got the bother of mucking about with it during the wash cycle. Also, if you don't get the temp warm enough, the machine's still going to try to switch on its heater and ruin the batteries. All a bit of a bother.

[@adambennett8190]

Yes I know it's a pain but it would be a solution of a kind although I am one of those people that would get distracted and end rinsing with hot water lol.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Haha, yes exactly!!

[@Pallethands]

Been watching your channel for two years now. Even though I am thousands of miles away, I have now subscribed to Canal Boat mostly to read your articles. Although I do find the other bits in the magazine quite interesting as well.

[@CruisingTheCut]

Thank you. Yes, the magazine is a good read throughout, I think.

[@for.tax.reasons]

Expensive laundromat at the marina, my soul left my body

[@LawF250]

Here in the US, our washing machines fill with hot and/or cold water.

[@hardwilli]

My new one is made of Brazilian mahogany.

[@MsVanorak]

I think most front loaders do in the UK now too but they have a heater element to keep the water at a constant temperature.

[@CruisingTheCut]

No, 99% of UK machines are cold fill only, with the heating element in the machine warming the water as required from cold.

[@JasperJanssen]

What the hell, the machine at 2:05 looks to be our old one! But we only threw it out this year, and this vlog purports to be from 2016! The mystery deepens...

[@Micky-et4wp]

you are lucky you can get to use the facilities in the marina, I have been in my marina for 3 years now and i think there must be a waiting list to be able to use the washing machines, I have never seen them not in use even at 2 in the morning they are all going. PS I read your article in canalboat magazine, very good, you just need to find a canal by the sea to get that sea view now.

[@CruisingTheCut]

I think it's quieter here over winter; I suspect things would be much more difficult when the weather's nicer and more people turn up to use their boats. Didn't Tim and Pru do a piece about a canal that goes down to Chichester, maybe I should move there :-)

[@brettjohnson6807]

In my experience in America at least, Laundromats (laundrettes) tend to be in the shadier parts of town (the bad part of town) where I live there are three within three miles of my house and I live in the land of tumble dryers.

[@HuginMunin]

I know this is tremendously old, but where I live there's a large student population and a lot of apartments. Laundromats therefore are more associated with student life, young renters, urban living, etc, not shadiness.

[@ASCIITerminal]

Looks like there's a market niche for a small, automatic washing machine that does a warm fill!

[@michaeljones1475]

Mr Dyson might do it along with electric powered narrow boats!!!!!!!!

[@ancientmariner7473]

Buy some edible underwear. That way you save on laundry bills and food bills!

[@wmobberley4416]

Hmmm. I don't buy Fairy (Proctor and Gamble - never mind why.) Is there an alternative, eco-friendly product?

[@CruisingTheCut]

There are things like Ecover and various other similar ones

[@raysmith6891]

W Mobberley brexit comments perhaps?