419. Bench testing the VETUS & Degreasing the bilge

Today is a big day engine wise. Then I just turn my attention to the engine bay
#diy #engine #boatlife

[@nathanberry4339]

Honestly mate I don't know where you get the energy from , being a single dad owning and restoring and maintaining one narrowboat and then having soooo much energy and enthusiasm to restore another one , maximum respect

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I find class a narcotics help!! Nah not for me - I’m loving it mate - that’s where the rangers comes from. I bloody love doing this and am glad you lot seem to too

[@nathanberry4339]

@@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt mate I'd love to restore a narrowboat but I'd have two dogs living on the boat and with work it would be quite an undertaking plus I know I'd just get bored and give up after a week 🤣 I think I'd be happier with basic DIY and painting that's partly why I have so much respect for people taking the time to restore them and get them back on the water though I will be selling my house to buy a narrowboat at some point but given I just had a valuation at 20k less than I paid for it I might hold off until next year

[@praisebewibble]

Good job on the engine bay. Impressed 👍

[@dexterfitben]

Nice to see the ditry face and hands - keeps you honest son

[@rubberdc]

I honestly do not know how you keep your motivation up James, You are an absolute magnificent inspiration for anyone new to watching your vids .How you know what to do each time is incredible . You have such knowledge .

[@liamstockton9923]

The best thing you can do to help with the effectiveness of your mask to shave you face completely. Seriously. Those masks make a better seal when they are against bare skin. That's something I learned in the military. Our gas masks didn't work for those that weren't cleanly shaven.

[@richardwall2692]

Seconded!

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Wow ok then - haven’t shaved in a while !!

[@richardwall2692]

@@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt I've done similar jobs in cramped spaces in submarines - you could wear a space suit and still come out filthy!

[@versatec1]

Man that is good welding....👍

[@Subgunman]

Great progress and looking good! What gets to me is that whoever built that boat did not put the money or effort to treat and paint all of the steel in that engine bay. It would last far longer and make rehab a lot easier for future owners.

[@MsVanorak]

fresh water mussels - protected species because 100ish years ago they were nearly hunted to extinction in the uk because very, very occasionally they make a pink pearl. there are some downstream from my dad's agricultural ground and the water is monitored for agricultural chemicals. but i have seen them on lots of youtubers boats so numbers must be recovering but they are youngsters. they will grow slowly to be as big as a saucer.

[@suecox2308]

The little engine that could! Yay!! That engine bay is looking terrific. Well done James

[@Elle-kr8od]

Glad to see you're trying to protect your skin, eyes and lungs. Wish I knew of some better coverage. You probably needed a scraping and a degreasing yourself at your parents..You're a heck of a hard worker James!

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I washed my hair 3 times and was still coming out brown

[@RetroBytesUK]

It was amazing to see the engine start up. Given just 2 weeks ago it was submerged in water and battery acid.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Yeah it’s mad isn’t it

[@darrennorman1108]

Great video bro can't believe engine started first turn after seeing it flooded in water that was amazing all the best daz norman

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

@@darrennorman1108 Ralph had no doubts - I’m like you though mate and still amazed !!

[@Tass...]

Nice progress James. AKA Racoon face 🦝

[@Sterlingsabre28]

James before painting the section under the stern gland please at least take a 2lb hammer and give the bottom plate a bloody good bray with it. Believe me you will be amazed what rust you are leaving behind it will take minutes to do. Even bray underneath the bottom of the boat it will get it off please believe me. Been there done it save yourself lots of time.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Yeah others have said I’ll try that today

[@Sterlingsabre28]

@@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt it works very well try on your bottom plate of the hull rust scale flys off in chunks.

[@markdoble736]

When we did our bilge beneath the engine and stern gland, like you, we removed all loose rust, scraped it clear of all further debris, degreased it with similar products to the one you've used then, when dry, painted the entire area with three coats of Hammerite direct to rust white paint. We mounted the bilge pump inside a plastic washing up bowl beneath the stern gland and covered the bowl with a stainless steel mesh to prevent any grease from contaminating the drip water or pump. Three years later, it's still all spotlessly clean and nice and white, with no evidence of any recurring rust breaking through. Makes carrying out maintenance down there a much more pleasant experience.

[@stuart99299]

Clarke X-Pro CAT164 Air Needle Scaler & Hammer Chisel

[@TheDaf95xf]

Good morning young James on a bigger boat crossing the Irish Sea 🌊 from Belfast to Heysham lol 😆 Fantastic seeing that engine jumping into life with the the first turn 👍🏻 There’s a lot of work in that engine bay for you 🤔 Getting it right before the engine goes in is paramount m8 as access afterwards as you say nearly impossible ☹️ Glad you’re wearing some PPE 👍🏻

[@Bee-ih5uy]

Maybe "Lucky Duck" should be your boat's name, lol....to have that engine working is amazing! Happy for you!

[@christinegibbins6105]

Great moment to see the engine start, onward. Thanks James, take care.

[@kevinmartin3859]

Nice to the engine start that is a saving

[@maxinew4703]

Absolutly loving these daily vlogs, can not wait to see the end result. X

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Me too

[@richardfelton4292]

Great video!

[@stevearchtoe7039]

Nice job bro.

[@versatec1]

I bought a full face respirator on Amazon £40....Seems to work..I was using it for black mold treatment.

[@ruaidhrikathygill8833]

YEAH!!! The engine works. 🎉🎈🥳 You are doing a great job in the engine bay. You must be exhausted. Take care. 😊🤗 Kathy

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I’m sleeping so well !! In bed at midnight and awake at 7

[@ruaidhrikathygill8833]

@@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt That’s great James. All this hard work will have a wonderful outcome. 😴😊🤗 Kathy

[@andyb6492]

Do the channels that support the engine bay covers plates have drainage holes on the outside of the boat? Make sure they are clear. This should safe the engine bay getting flooded when raining. Cracking work James looking good.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I’ve been clearing them out today !! Great minds……

[@vickieragle4130]

The weather looked perfect for your tasks! Cheers!

[@darrenraymond5334]

your doing a great job ,love watching it thank you.

[@ruthscott5166]

Congrats on the engine, that's major.

[@stuart99299]

you've opened a can of worms there. Good job your motivated and a grafter....

[@rubberdc]

you look like you have been down the mines !

[@Matthias9319]

You should get a hammer and give those rust spots a good bang, On Dutch ships we often use a needle hammer on air to get rid of a lot rust.

[@Sterlingsabre28]

Totally agree that’s exactly what I commented last night.

[@Matthias9319]

@@Sterlingsabre28 Yes that is actually what he should have started with before scraping and wire brushing, but he live and learn.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Really ? Just smash it to pieces ? Ok will give that a try today

[@Matthias9319]

@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt I'm but my English isn't sufficient to explain it correctly but i will give it a try, yes just hit those rust spots and hit it the rust out that is stuck. You can get rid of rust with a pointy hammer and a hammer and a steel chisel just put the chisel on the rustspot en give the chisel a bang with the hammer. Believe me only scraping and brushing will make the rust flat but you won't get rid of it. And to add to that i hate being a prick and telling you what to do it is only advice ;)

[@skywardview]

What a great day of progress!!! Keep going. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Thanks

[@1nauticat]

hi James,been mentioned elsewhere but might be easier to extend the skin tank fitting before the engine is refitted due to access,it looks like its too short,Im in the next marina to where you had yours from ,was a shame to see it standing for so long so good job ,cheers

[@1258-Eckhart]

James, your boats have entered my dreams! I dreamt that you had fitted the Vetus into Sloe Patrol (with a toroidal propellor for increased thrust, yes, I dream such stuff) and were using Project 58 as a butty, towing it behind Sloe Patrol. Strange dream, because it isn't an idea I have ever had.

[@markphillips2076]

James, The hose fitting on the bottom of the starboard skin tank looks a bit short. Are you going to get some tube welded on there so you can attach a cooling hose?

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Yeah was thinking that too

[@stuart99299]

have you heard of a needle gun for removing rust and slag. Also they sell a reciprocating cordless saw in Aldi which you can get scraper blades for. Amazing for scraping wall paper and carpet up etc.

[@DoItWithPaulie]

Nice. Lump looks good. Always amazing that they go when they are stored so poorly

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

Doing so well. I marvel at your guts doing this on yourself by yourself. I’d not have a clue. Great news with the engine too. Best wishes

[@brianbrian760]

M3 make excellent masks for all kinds of Jobs loved the blog loved watched it twice in case I missed something😂😂 Big thumbs up like usual

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Top man

[@marinussnijder7941]

Hello James, its always a hassel with these face masks. We use these paper/ cloth thingies. Main thing is that they fit snuggly around mouth and nose other wise your goggles fog up. With a lot of dust replace them regularly, they clog up and breathing becomes more difficult. Big plus today the engine purs like a 🐱 🤘 With your attention to detail this enginebay is going to look very smart👍

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

That’s the prob - just doesn’t fit properly

[@marinussnijder7941]

If you use a rubberized sealed mask a beard can cause leaks aswel (gasmask armee training 😭😂)

[@sheilajoseph9953]

Hi James, more good work achieved. Great engine started . You could do with an all in one jumpsuit like forensics wear. Hope you find something to suit task in hand. 😊

[@ebujvt65]

Put degreaser on sides and lay plastic wrap on it. You can make a paste of it with something

[@alhill975]

get yourself a sundstrom SR100, have used that type for over 10 years, can be used for particulate and fumes, depending on the filters you put in, then keep the mask and change the filter cartridges now and then, keep up the good work pal

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid

[@stevenmorris551]

Trend Airshield pro face mask, not cheap £220 but great kit !!

[@forresteralex]

The first fire is always the best with a submerged engine can you leave a link to the boat yard your at James when you get a sec great news keep up the great work

[@catherine3902]

This is amazing! Such a lot of hard work. Sadly, I havent any ideas about better protection but hope you are okay. Great sounds from the engine- you will be delighted 😊. Take care and keep safe 😊

[@njrmodelling]

I don’t know if you have looked into it or not but where I work offshore we use Aquasteel a lot on rusty steel before painting. It forms a polymer layer when it converts the rust. We also typically don’t degrease before applying it, just remove flakey paint, light rub down and slap it on. Don’t know how it compares to Vactan price wise

[@robmoss3501]

Trend fall face mask minimum ffp3. Costs about £40

[@phenogen8125]

You have left a lot of scale on the base; (under prop shaft)merely polished; a common amateur fault; no substitute for a chipping hammer, nail gun or shotblast. Get the yard to appraise and advise; they are on hand after all.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I’ll use a hammer today mate on it

[@clivekibbler4578]

good job well done

[@Transit_Biker]

The two things I can suggest work really well for me. A 3M 6000 series elastomeric face mask ($26 USD) with 7093c filter cartridges ($15 usd). The 6000 series has 3 sizes & more flexible, so I’d suspect it would fit better. Then for eyes I’d recommend just some basic clear swim goggles that can fit over the half face mask on the bridge of the nose. The filter cartridges are approximately $15 USD each, but they last about 30 days before you need to replace them. I use this combination when cleaning out the bird nests and working in boiler rooms and it seems like the best protection for the money. The elastomeric half face masks are pretty sturdy and they can last for years if properly taken care of. If that is not in the budget, I can recommend getting a 3M P95 box of 10 ($35 usd) & the goggles. The P95’s aren’t as study as the half facemask/cartridge combo but it’s less expensive per pack. Most swim goggles are actually made out of polycarbonate because they have to stay in shape underwater with the pressure difference so they actually can be used for low-grade protection. I am not sure what prices will be for these items in the UK, but I really do hope that you can find some middle ground between practicality and budget. The mask/goggle one piece unit you were wearing is good but has some practicality flaws as you’ve experienced. Really enjoying the more frequent videos by the way. 👍

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

That’s good info thanks for that - I’ll have a proper look at some better kit. Swimming goggles is a good call - it looks like I’m still wearing eye liner

[@peterboydell251]

JSP Power mask is brilliant but at £250 it is pricey. No remote battery pack nor air hoses to get in the way. . I used to use the eclipse you have but eventually persuaded myself that the expense was outweighed by the benefits.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Wow ok - can’t put a price on health though

[@alanjohn6355]

Possible you may need to look at an all in one face mask like the ones paint sprayers use, down side is they can be pricey, saw a vlog about a guy raptor spraying his van and he was advised a mask, but it was £125.0 but fitted like a fireman's mask, worth looking at maybe.

[@mandycoleman1394]

Hope Colin’s ok . Thought you were trying some new kind of foundation on your face James ! lol my mistake! Another great video! Stayed awake to watch it ! Night night x

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Looks like I’m still wearing eye liner though x

[@mandycoleman1394]

@@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt 😂

[@TheArmchairracer]

Hi James. You don't know me. Can you please ask Sean about the boxes and stuff he left behind. Aqua Mike (boater) his friend has asked me to ask you. Cheers Dave

[@sarkybugger5009]

Bonus with the engine, James. I thought the Black and White Minstrels had reformed, after seeing your face. Not sure if that sort of thing is allowed these days. 😁 All the best.

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Err no I don’t think it is

[@williamburgess4732]

Things are looking good, wondering if you checked the gland packing around the prop shaft.

[@vadmal5210]

A few things about a facemask; #1 the military gas mask is among the better, maybe there are surplus to buy? #2 your beard make it impossible to get the mask tight and not leaking (the masks used by the fire brigade is set under overpressure to prevent in-leaks, but the cost is at least £1000+) #3 when using a mask, any kind, you increase the so called dead space. Dead space is the volume from your lungs up to your lips, about 0.3 L. With a mask attached you have to add the volume from your lips to outside the mask, another 0.3 L. That means that you have to take larger breath all time using a mask. That, in turn, means that is even more important to get a tight mask. Otherwise you would as well just use a simple face mask as you already do.

[@dannyvancauwenberghe]

Please ad a second alternator to your engine it makes the electrics so easy, a separated starter batterie with a smallalternator, and a big alternator for the batterie bank

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Yeah maybe - or a split charger

[@EeeDee1]

A powered air purifying respirator is the way to go but $$$

[@phillipneale6422]

Hi James, where do you get the energy from ? Are you painting the engine the same colour as the alternator or back to the original Venus orange ?

[@dennisrecla3974]

The Engine compartment is looking good.. Wow! great the VETUS 42 is sounding good, I am surprised how quiet it is without the muffler unit. Do you have to flush out the side tanks to get any rust flakes and such out of them. Is there a filter that goes on those coolant lines to keep rust out of the engine?

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I’m not sure about flushing out the skin tanks - good question - I’ll ask

[@martinworrall5888]

All you need to do now to protect your lungs is to give up smoking haha.😂

[@garry9999]

Couldn't you have asked the sandblaster fella to do it for you

[@digofthedump]

sandblasting the rust off? or they use glass powder now as it's neutral medium? gl

[@timhewitt1976]

3m versaflo.... seen lots of people use them but they're not cheap

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I’ve seen

[@_Tiamat_.]

💜💙💚

[@karldubhe8619]

What are the tanks on the side of the engine bay for? Are they void spaces? Seems a bit of a waste if so. Good to see your engine is running.

[@markphillips2076]

They're part of the cooling system for the engine. The engine coolant runs through them and exchanges heat with the canal water outside the boat.

[@karldubhe8619]

@@markphillips2076 Cool, thanks. :)

[@pocketchange1951]

👍👌❤️🇨🇦,

[@theglaswegian1967]

why wouldn't you work on the engine bay as soon as the engine came out

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

I pretty much did

[@theglaswegian1967]

i really like watching your channel but boy you really go arse about face when you do stuff

[@TheNarrowboatThatJamesBuilt]

Really ? How so ?

[@Sterlingsabre28]

Toolstation JSP Force8 Mask With P3 PressToCheck Filters Product code: 80177 And normal googles don’t steam up or full face visor. Dust mask 100% brilliant got one myself. Enjoying the project Chris

[@TheSuperAverageGuys]

Second this, very good fit and the press to check system means you know you have a good seal. They do the force10 as well if you want a full face mask and different filters if you need something for fumes / vapours. Enjoying the new project, you are powering through the jobs.

[@Sterlingsabre28]

@@TheSuperAverageGuys spot on no regrets buying mine