*SPECIAL* Lifeboat Conversion Ep20: Multi-day sea trials in the Thames Estuary, England [4K]

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

For those of you who've missed earlier episodes, bilge keels or deeper keels are discounted for use due to vulnerability to sea ice. I won't be replying to each comment suggesting them from this point on!

[@willienelsongonzalez4609]

I’d think about placing a second back up line on your “support dinghy”. Last thing you need is the main line to disintegrate or loosen when you least expect it and when you need that dinghy. If you can, might be worth making triangular clip on seats that you can slot on top of the support bars on top. Just means you can have a reasonably stable seating position in the corner or your choice but somewhere you can enjoy on calm days - just a thought. Well done on your progress!

[@JD-gj2rj]

Yfyfyt

[@backachershomestead]

I agree no keel weights. An.old friend built his second catamaran called Quee Queeg 2. It overturned in rough seas in Madagascar it lost one keel.

[@jasonknoxx6271]

A

[@jessewrites3819]

Your based on Canvey Island????

[@bearstorm7587]

Alan may be short, squat and slow, but he's definitely the Danny DeVito of the seas. Congratulations on the sea trials.

[@Mr_Right]

Danny DeOrange...

[@mesofius]

@@Mr_Right DeVito is a surname of a famous actor

[@Mr_Right]

@@mesofius I knew that >8(= )

[@mesofius]

@@Mr_Right I'm not so sure...

[@RobertWiggers]

"..the engine was still there" dude you crack me up every time.

[@mumblbeebee6546]

Yes, that was pleasing :) Although, having recently re-read “Good Omens”, I also wondered whether Alex was seriously considering the reactor having vanished 😎

[@bytesabre]

Dunno how I ended up down this rabbit hole but these lifeboats are apparently surprisingly cute. Definitely would make a more interesting house than a canal barge

[@gjs9871]

A depth finder would be a good add on especially for shallow conditions and gps as well as with some lowrance ones you get a map gps, depth finder and can even set waypoints. You Might also be able to have a speedometer on it too. You should cross drill the top rail so you can rely on it and maybe even use a stronger pipe so it’s a proper railing that you can lean on.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Depth sounder yep - as well as a forward facing ice finder would be good. A speedo - not sure accurate enough for a 0-6 knot range!

[@otm646]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals Your depth sounder can also function as a knot meter. I would look at the in hull options. They can shoot right through the fiberglass bottom. Easy to install and no holes in the boat. Especially when dealing with tides you'll want to know your speed in the water vs true speed (GPS)

[@wideyxyz2271]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals Bucket and knotted rope for speed lol oh and a decent chronograph..

[@SegoMan]

@@otm646 SOG Speed Over Ground

[@annwithaplan9766]

And a rear view mirror. You could see what's behind you, as well as the sky without having to get up and turn around. : )

[@edwardoliver2086]

I am once again voicing my displeasure with the lack of angle grinders in this otherwise entertaining video. If this absence continues to plague your videos then I may be forced to reconsider my subscription and hamper your plan for total dominance.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Noted. Overruled.

[@natehill8069]

Agreed. I think an angle grinder would have enormously sped up the painting.

[@PlasmaOscillations]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals I suggest that perhaps you could install a picture of an angle grinder for artistic aesthetics to adorn the cabin wall. It could be a micro painting. Or not. Cheers.

[@wanderingspider8988]

In my country, for a boy to become a man. A ceremony involving angle grinders and fuel tanks and other secret rites. It is truly great, as is our unconnected low ratio of adult men to adult women.

[@tracygeddes5867]

I had almost given up on reading well thought provoking comments,now I can’t get the image of a grinder out of my head.

[@ejsoder]

Sound proofing the engine is great and you should do your best, but, in my Diesel Motorsailer, which is actually pretty quiet, the engine drone still gets to me after a couple of hours and I have resorted to wearing earplugs which for me makes things quite pleasant. It also cuts out most of that nagging sound from the wif......I mean other crew members too! :) Great vids!

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

I hear you. Headphones for whoever is on the radio is likely to be necessary, for a start.

[@PlasmaOscillations]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals The current state of technology for headphone with noise cancellation is worth looking into, giving you the best of both worlds. I'm currently watching this video with a pair.

[@rexeverything4578]

@@PlasmaOscillations Fully agree. I have a pair of over-ear Sony headphones and in-ear earphones I use all the time. They were originally purchased for long international flights. They work incredibly well. It is a little strange, however, as I can't hear other people or the stewardess but it feels like I can still hear a little of the plane itself. I think that's more to do with "feeling" the plane and imagining the sound than actually hearing it....

[@aprilkoyyen7720]

You mentioned sleeping platforms Given adaquite warmth, reinforcement, and willpower, hammocks could be more comfortable (they accommodate somewhat for roll) and space efficient.

[@wideyxyz2271]

My dad (RN 1942-1947) swore by hammocks for comfort warmth and security. He hated bunks. Plus they can be rolled up and stowed out of the way when not in use and take seconds to deploy. So I concur with your suggestion.

[@PlasmaOscillations]

@@wideyxyz2271 I concur with your concurrence. I exclusively used a hammock during the hiking and camping period of my life and also found them to be secure and warm. Plus, much easier to roll up and stow in a backpack than a bunk would be. Cheers

[@nickg421]

I'm relieved I wasn't the only one to think Apollo interior.

[@Space_Reptile]

Alan finally got wet, and not just from above well done mate !

[@SirLuke226]

Total KZbin domination? I'm in.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Correct answer.

[@stevenjennings197]

Alan, our Orange, squat, overlord.

[@mostly-harmless]

5 minutes of a British person bitching about the rain is fucking quintessential British content. Cool boat though, cheers!

[@DerekLokey-uh5rx]

Quirky boating, DIY, and dry British humor? This channel is everything I could want. Just binged this whole series this afternoon and I'm looking forward to more!

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Cheers Derek

[@nokiot9]

Nah we know your boat belches out bright red smoke from its exhaust 😂 “I paid the full tax”

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

"I paid the full tax". An honourable yet joyless epitaph for a headstone.

[@earthwizz]

If you had another Alan you could have a very capacious catamaran and a lot less roll.

[@SailingSVPipedream]

I had that thought too. If another Alan is beyond budget, then a Proa outrigger would do it. He could use some stainless tube of about 300mm diameter or plastic tube or oil drums welded together ( good excuse to get an angle grinder and welder).

[@ratheskin58]

My (admittedly limited) understanding of boat stability is that concentrating all the ballast in a limited area may not actually be the best option, as this gives a focus for the boat to oscillate around, which could militate against the form stability of a fairly boxy hull-form (sorry Alan!) You have the luxury of a relatively large internal volume compared with a lot of recreational craft of similar length, I wonder if there's any benefit i spreading the ballast bars more widely? Naval architects who understand metacentric heights are welcome to destroy my suggestion. Good to see him afloat!

[@SportSoulLife]

Not a naval architect, but from what i know of calculating stability when loadinc cargo on ships, the most effective way to slow down rolling movements is to out weight higher up. Pretty sure allan is so small though (im sorry Allan) that in order to get the rolling period of allan below any waves, he will be upside down allready. Might iron out some small violent shakes though. (Think an oldschool metronome with the weight low vs with the weight high)

[@fryreartechnology7611]

Wow that opening drone clip at the opening. Little boat big waters. You have done so many awesome things to thing ship.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Kind words

[@chapter4travels]

18" +/- deep lead or concrete keel added to the center bottom of the boat. Suggested by someone with zero firsthand knowledge of boat Architecture, only landside Architecture.

[@videosbruno]

If you can, install a water separator filter assembly with manual pump. Dirty fuel is always a problem w diesels. Cheers.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

There's an inline course filter, and a water separator/fine filter fitted prior to the engine's own filter.

[@bartmacaluso]

Man... Alex, I am so drunk at the moment but, I am really proud at this appraisal of ALAN within your own prerequisites and the old man despite his doubts which I can see you both respect and are determined to transcend for the sake of your quizzical venture called. ALAN

[@scotte2815]

At first glance I thought, "Huh! BOB seems a more apropos name. Wonder why I didn't think this earlier?"

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Edmund Blackadder got there first.

[@scotte2815]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals story of my life LOL.

[@speedmachine69]

Adjust the nozzle on the engine air intake away from the prop shaft, the shaft being the lowest point, should you get water in that bilge the rotating shaft will flick water into the intake killing the engine. Best of luck.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Interesting - was angled that way by the service mechanic!

[@natehill8069]

Presumably the pilot's position will have a 5-pt harness to hold them in place in actual weather. Can you route the engine cooling water to produce a tea-water warmer?

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

I love how you combine the vital and the banal.

[@user-ib5mx8ro4k]

You need welding skills. Screws and bolts will all loosen from vibration. At least loc tite the bolts.

[@michaelyoung7261]

Congrats Alan, you’re almost on your way!! You look great on the water, ya dinky little boat. 🥰 Very nice flying on that drone, I’m quite impressed.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Cheers

[@gmoney7000]

11-2-2022 Congratulation, that's ( they ) are the best made boat in the world .

[@benr6906]

Replace the front hatch with a glass or plexi glass one

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

The entire hatch? It would need to be hyper-reinforced to not compromise strength. And would lack insultation.

[@christyrrell9762]

That's "Tasmanian Liquid Sunshine" coming in drops, all the way from "Straya".

[@jackfntwist]

Thank you for acknowledging my provocative attempt at humor on the last one. Cheers. I'll bring you some pastries next time I'm in London. ;) You should ship him off to do sea trials in the Caribbean during hurricane season. Haha

[@hopkinskennemer6396]

Awesome project, I’ve enjoyed watching it come along. You asked for suggestions, so I’ve got one. You might get a hair better fuel consumption by routing the engine intake through the cover to let it suck colder air

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Indeed - ports for air cooling hoses you might be able to see in the driving console insulation.

[@henryramirez5582]

I have a great idea and design for improving this boat it will keep her from turning over in a tide or big waves 🌊 I’m serious about the idea

[@valkyrierescues7861]

We’re aiming for no less than total KZbin domination hahaha literally the only sentence that forced me to click the subscribe button 😂😂😂😂😂

[@andy_rb]

I did a fair bit of research on sound insulation when rebuilding an old land rover 101 a few years back, as in the cab you sit right beside the engine. Foam will help a bit with reflected sound but if you want to reduce noise transmission you really need a layer of the most dense material possible. I went for thin lead 'foil' in the engine cover but there are other options like rubber sheets with high density mineral 'fillers'.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Thanks Andrew - interesting. There's certainly a lot to read about the minutiae of sound reduction in its many forms.

[@mesofius]

I like that your lifeboat has a lifeboat. But the pretentious uppity accent is getting a bit annoying after awhile, it's like you're doing a nonstop comedy stand-up

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Another person called it a monotone. I guess I've perfected the uppity comedy monotone!

[@c.a.mcdivitt9722]

Cool! And I loved the footage of Red Sands. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the coolest-looking WWII relics still in existence.

[@afterburner94]

Name a more iconic duo, I'll wait. Thanks Alex for this fantastic episode. Dick was a pleasure to watch and listen to. Onwards with the next chapter of Alan's journey!

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Dick is a champ indeed.

[@AdmV0rl0n]

Awesome boat and idea. I think roll with that boat will be a problem in its life, even if you ballast it and try to adjust. That being said, what an awesome idea for a low cost boat for adventure. Not surprised people convert these to houseboats.

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

Just happened across this vid rather randomly yet not sure of the mission.

[@dirkdiggler4860]

I want one! Thats awesome 👌

[@donaldslider8650]

I've I've always though of getting one of these boats and fitting it with a mast and sails and putting a keel kinda like the Dutch racing barges are made. With a retractable keel on each side . Seems like they have a lot of room to work with

[@jonathan5354]

Yeah a new video of Alan

[@TheLoxxxton]

At last a decent length Alan show!! 👌

[@MegaAfonsoBernardino]

You should keep harnesses on the seats for bad weather. when operating ELBs you are not suposed to to be free from harness. to avoid injuries when rolling as well as using helmets to avoid smashing your head. i bet the pilot seat isnt great for visibily and easily fogs up i would recomend also a (night vision if posible) camera on the bow.

[@chrispeterson73]

Also some Rain-X "anti-fog" for interior, and Rain-X "rain repellent" on the outside of the windshield might be helpful. So happy I stumbled upon your brilliant channel! So cool that Alan's adventures have only just begun. 🥮🫖😎👍

[@paxwallacejazz]

Checkout wave rover hull wings they markedly reduce rolling.

[@jackfntwist]

p.s. My takeaways are that Alan looks so cute at night.... Like a little, orange.... No forget it.

[@ejames6431]

I really like this life boat. It seems safe and comfy.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

The brewing of copious mugs of tea brings to my mind the need for a pee tube for the helmsman.

[@Steve-Cross]

Hi. Yes, Alan needs plenty of ballast to help against lateral rolling. It is designed to self-right after a capsize, so needs lots of ballast low down in the keel. This will also help against rolling and make Alan sit better in the water. The downside is that it will make Alan even slower and possibly harder to control, or not as responsive. Alan was designed to keep people alive, in open seas, until help arrived, not as a pleasure cruiser. Alan is a great craft though, and I can't wait to see your adventures in him.

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

A 4 foot wooden deck off the stern sure would give you more room, especially for fishing

[@lancer2204]

Observations and suggestions (both can be, and likely will be ignored) Ascetics: 17:05 not the worst, then we see the worst (glad I had not eaten yet today) Steering: while (almost) completely unfeasible a steerable shroud would solve a lot of issues Rolling: stabiliser vanes below the waterline 1/3rd back from the bow at 45 deg from the horizontal would help and likely not add to the draught. EGT sensor: would be useful in monitoring the health and performance of the engine and turbo if fitted at the end of the exhaust headers.

[@djkillachris]

Remote servo steering! Make it a Drone, and drive from the cabin top

[@makatron]

I gotta admit that once I saw the "bar" written up in the wall I thought of the beverage kind, and not the "oh crap hold on" kind.

[@boanil7948]

you need a wiper for the skippers window. Don't wanna get caught blinded in ruff weather and having to drive open hatch

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

We do.

[@evangatehouse5650]

Nice to see Alan afloat. Re the rolling: Bilge keels you've already rejected due to ice. Good call. Stabilising booms and anti roll "fish” on cables are relatively cheap. Just use hinged aluminium pipe and painted steel fish. Super common on small fishing boats. Watching the roll period Alan is VERY stable. One other item that you could consider is an anti roll U tube tank. They are partly filled with sea water. You have to adjust the amount of water and cross flow tube restriction so that the natural frequency of the tank is the same as the roll period but 180 deg out of phase with Alan's natural roll period. Harder to sort out compared to booms and fishes.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Thanks. I'll investigate. The nuances of boat roll etc are more complex than first realised.

[@myparadiseonbantayanisland9030]

Maybe a small set of outriggers/oma's will stabilize the rolling and provide a net or deck area to both sides. Any consideration for solar panels? What is the ultimate purpose/use?

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Have a scan through the episodes - quite a few on both those topics :)

[@thecatslivehere]

excellent job you are doing. love to see thing get a new life. a thought on the anchor mounting if you have not done so already. as there are two metal brackets on the bow just above waterline, you might fabricate a mount there. and perhaps a small grate to stand on when handling the anchor. safe journeys.

[@RonsardMoolman]

Great vids buddy, Im not even an ocean man and I absolutely enjoy these vids of yours. Kind regards from South Africa.

[@gilesgander155]

i'm outraged, don't know why, even my eye brows are bristling ....

[@YnseSchaap]

Alex Hibbert : We're going for total KZbin domination Simon Whistler : Hold my beer 😁

[@rickycoon4857]

Always informative and hilarious😂

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Easy on there

[@vykintassimutis]

Nice job :) reminds me and my boat goes only 6 knots burns 1l diesel per hour :)

[@davidorth4906]

Suggestion...put SR-71 Spy plane food in the lifeboat. It's an aluminum toothpaste tube with an orange feeding tube. But, you get beef stew, apple cobbler, and vegetable medley...in paste form.

[@godsangryhands4499]

The Only thing I'm !!!OUTRAGED!!! about is that I do not have an Alan.... or in my case The Orange Pill boat. Or Pillboat of Survival.. or Survival Pill or something like that.. lol. I've looked at.other builds.... and of all of them .. with my skills I Could complete most things on this build....So far..... I like the ease of cruising.. so I've been looking at cabin cruisers.. but Alan boats now have even.More.of.my attention....

[@felixcat9318]

That's a really nice boat you've got there! I can't imagine a more robust vessel than the one you chose, it makes for a very good starting point. How strange that some viewers are hostile to a man working to get his boat just how he wants it, it would be difficult to imagine a more positive thing than what you're doing! I shall have to spend some time watching your earlier videos in order to discover what you've done and the reason that you're doing it. Lifeboats have come a long way since the days of open boats and yours looks to be quite sophisticated.

[@andysaunders3708]

Alan is very nifty. Where can they be purchased? Yes, I know I could Google it, but you seemed to have someone who sold you a vessel that was near-new. What's a ballpark figure for a halfway decent example? Thanks, Andy.

[@ManxAndy]

Hooray…….Alan does what he was designed for, love it…….👍🇮🇲👌💪

[@lear60man]

Boats should have womens name if you are going with a person name IMHO. Suggest a Flying Tigers mouth on the front with some black duct taped bricks on the side with a sign saying 'Not Drugs!'.

[@robertphillips6296]

Approved Lifeboat converted for Artic Navigation.

[@willemh3319]

wonderfull this big orange monster between theed and clean white yaghts🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@garymcgregor3882]

No bow rails...anchor launch retrieve very dangerous..no ladder to get.back on boat if you fall in...

[@davidorth4906]

I love stupid, insane, And Safe Ideas on the internet. Perfect...10/10.

[@davidrumbelow]

Perhaps you should make your own diesel from plastic waste. I have seen a number of U tube videos on making plastic waste into diesel.

[@tomas5255]

Total KZbin domination you say? Simon Whistler enters chat...

[@youknowme8578]

A modern day "Noah's ark". Good little boat, you just forget to give us the "toot toot" to hear from Allen. Nice video and a welcome sight to "sea".😜

[@Juan-wj3vk]

(angry tone) Outrageouse! You sea trailed a life boat! That's audacios and utterly cool. Now there is an american doing the same on KZbin and I am so angry at how entertaining it is to watch. how dare you sir. I suppose now you will have a fun and prosperous KZbin career captaining this unique vessel around.

[@monsterhighbites5090]

I haven't read every comment but having No keel be harsh,, but is an inflatable ring to stablize and walk on possible? Tug looking Zodiac you could let air out via the engine air intake in dangerous conditions even blow it back up with exhaust quickly

[@ronpirie]

Do I see Timothy Spalls barge in the background 5.00 mark

[@jaykellett2327]

I'm thinking you should put some big black spots on it, and rename it "Lady Bug".

[@WalksInCamera]

Cool project. Like a big floating carrot! Love it :-)

[@thekingsilverado3266]

As a life long sailor I know thee biggest rule that exists to traveling the 7 seas. Never have a watercraft that difficult to work on period. In rough seas you R done and over with Davy Jones personal new guest. Never have a boat with supports and bulks heads & other crap in the way of critical service areas. End of story.

[@dagby1303]

Enjoyed your vid greatly. I plan to invest in a enclosed lifeboat such as Allen, I live in the Galveston, Texas area and have retirement plans to live on one and enjoy my years left. 🤣 call me mad..

[@SailingSVPipedream]

Great idea with the tank to figure out fuel consumption. I might swipe that idea as it really is time I got accurate figures.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Patent pending.

[@protonneutron9046]

I wonder if you could put a ~3/8" thick x ~2" wide stainless steel piece running from the nose the and the length of the bottom to protect in case you scrape a bit in one of those shallows?

[@chrisoakey9841]

You need 2 outriggers with suspension. To reduce roll. You could do active noise cancelling to reduce engine noise. A mic inside the box and laptop plugged into speakers.

[@JamesYoung61]

Your friend Alan is absolutely right about learning to manover your boat, backing up and figure of eights and they are semi standard tests both for driver and boat and are best practiced in flat clam conditions, a single screw boat will always prop steer at low speed, so to have any control going astern you need to get way on (speed) once going astern keep the rudder straight and only give it tiny corrections to get where you want to go 2 or 3 degrees from centerline. You haven't run then engine flat out of an hour or so, you need to know if it is going to do it.

[@jeffreymorris4827]

"White Spirit" was the name of my ABBA cover band in high school

[@nuthenry2]

would adding outriggers help with the roll?

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

The issue is they are susceptible to sea ice.

[@nuthenry2]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals i was thinking something like a side skirt which you can Shimmy across with outrigger that can fold up

[@wickedcabinboy]

@@AlexHibbertOriginals - You've mentioned sea ice several times. May I ask what your plan for Alan is? Clearly it involves sea ice, presumably insulation as well.

[@blsulllvan5785]

How long will it be before you circumnavigate the globe? You could probably do it in around 10 years or so.

[@w0l__]

3:06 Am I the only one intrigued by your next door neighbour named 'Teresa May'?

[@kwdoug]

Please use proper American, I cannot understand your Engrish

[@purpleom9649]

He rolls like a stoned teenager and thats on a mill pond, that needs sorting, if not you will be swimming in vomit when out at sea..............or worse

[@riekstc]

Congrats on successfull sea trial! Just an idea but I think you should make same kind of simple crane or winch system on aft to load/unload batteries and other stuff more easily. Good luck and have fun.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

That would waste the free physical training!

[@elitedavidhorne8494]

Loving the detail you've put in this video

[@majormanfredrex]

Hammocks have a great advantage in cold climates as they can be slung high up in the cabin where the warm air collects. If you choose to use them, be sure to stretch them very taut (RN style), not in a slack, dangling sling configuration (as seen in the movies), which will result in sleep-apnea, backache and stiffness as well as muscle fatigue.

[@AlexHibbertOriginals]

Good tip. I've never got on well with hammocks. Maybe this is why.

[@geoffreylotz3661]

I hope you don't mind vomiting, unless you stick to rivers and estuaries like this.

[@FunnyAnimals-1957]

I was thinking a just in case outboard motor set up if 1 engine an outboard mount on the stern and the spare engine inside the boat a just in case engine to get you back to shore or someplace for repairs on the main engine

[@keithb6717]

All hoses should have two hose clamps at every connection. This is standard practice.

[@jamest.5001]

Maybe a larger prop will make it more efficient! Move more water or possibly a different prop design .

[@Damonneeds1469]

Good video thanks. You look like Robert Downey Jr's brother

[@McCarthyisms]

Few life improvers for a sea: nmea like system with a GPS, magnetic compass and underwater speed sensor. This would give you heading over ground vs magnetic heading and speed over ground vs water speed. Also think about maybe a navtex (get storm warnings and weather forecasts), ais reciever (get warned before you get hit by a huge boat in the middle in the ocean) and maybe autopilot (explains itself), steering remote (steer while sitting on the deck) and some emergency equipment (inflatable lifeboat for your lifeboat and some *pyrotechnic* flares). Btw love your vids.

[@ClipperDays]

Alex already mentioned AIS. If you buy it for him he will send you his prototype t-shirt. I believe Alan already has a magnetic compass.