Ep22 NARROWBOAT renovation: OFF GRID Plumbing Problems

Off grid plumbing causes us some strife aboard our narrowboat renovation but we’re turning those water problems into wine and taking a very exciting delivery!
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To watch more narrowboat adventures:
Canoeing on the River Trent - • Ep15 BOAT LIFE: The RI...
Narrowboat Transformation (Paint job completed!) - • Ep18 TRANSFORMATION CO...
Your FAQ’s answered (Narrowboat Q&A) - • LIFE ABOARD: Your Ques...
What we do on rainy weekends - • Ep9 NARROWBOAT life: R...
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[@DavidLasoff]

I'm an old nuclear submarine mechanical systems "plumber." Take it from me, with non-standard or idiosyncratic projects, and I've had a few of those, it's always trial and error, pressure-testing, fixing leaks, configuring piping to compensate for gravity and overboard dumps and to take tanks, and everything else into consideration to get your system working and not flooding out your compartments. It's never smooth no matter what until you look backward and say to yourself, "Why didn't I do it this way first?" The answer is, we're just flawed human beings who don't think things through so perfectly. Hats off to you, Vic. You're a real marine systems plumber whether you like the title or not! Feel good about your progress; it's all coming together and soon enough, you'll be serving up hot coffee and tea...I wouldn't do a full English though if I were you!

[@irenedavo3768]

Submarine!

[@cylwik-family-movies]

Holly is so beautiful and unique I can see you making her into a floating green room/studio for interviewing local celebs, bands, chefs etc and showcasing new healthy recipes while teaming up with local TV/Radio. You have the right combination of skills and talent to do that.

[@irenedavo3768]

Do you still watch?

[@cylwik-family-movies]

@@irenedavo3768 look forward to it every week!

[@christinehammell6365]

I'm new to your channel . Binge watching and doing my best to like them all and watching the ads.( assuming you benefit from that ) Absolutely fab. My friend does something similar here in Scotland , Craft Daft on a Raft. Well done , I know its hard work and even harder with a wee baby. Can't quite work out when the wee one is due , maybe even here already . All the best xxx

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

Apparently in Western Australia - Many decades ago in the year.....well, ages and ages ago, when they first tried to bring in “Daylight Savings Time”. They gave the public the opportunity to write in, to comment and share their concerns/opinions for or against the proposed introduction of Daylight Savings Time etc. People wrote in letters saying that the “extra” hour of daylight would cause their curtains to fade faster and that would mean that they would have to change their curtains more often - was the government going to pay for this inconvenience? A large dairy lobby group wrote saying that their cows would become confused by the change. Chickens too apparently would become confused about what was happening and possibly stop laying eggs. Needless to say the government decided that it was easier to just scrap the whole idea, rather than attempt to explain to people that the sun wasn’t changing at all, that we weren’t gaining or losing time - the only difference is that we humans were changing OUR clocks. And to this very day, Western Australia is the only place in Australia not to adopt daylight savings time...bless ‘em. 🤪 🙂🐿🌈❤️

[@vynleshmynle7372]

Nothing like a beautiful sunrise through a ☢️nuclear power plant ☢️in the foreground. Ahhh the great outdoors.

[@firsttankcrews]

Best blog in the UK I have found. Thank for sharing yourselves with us all.

[@hymek7017]

More great progress, well done. Excellent pumped drainage solution, a similar set up to a shower tray. Handy tip for getting large heavy items out of boxes - cut around bottom of box and lift box off item. Much easier than lifting a heavy coffee machine over a box. I'm so looking forward to a coffee from that machine. Also, loving all the incidental train action in your vlogs. Great stuff.

[@paulpaxtop1580]

Half way through a daily binge watch … can’t stop smiling!

[@brushes2917]

You are without doubt my favourite blog......Thank you. I wish I lived closer, I'd love a cappuccino.

[@cdm7steve]

hmmm think i would have gone with a float switch pump on the Gray water so no one forgets to empty the sump bottle but hay ho it is what it is and its coming along nicely... hope the fancy machine doesn't just do coffee i just like tea ;)

[@hagerty268]

100 % agree same as shower sump system

[@mohahahahahh9]

The boat is looking brilliant congratulations! Just on learning to use the coffee machine - a tip from a former barista/roaster - if you use a local coffee roasters they will often throw in training as part of a new wholesale contract. Plus the coffee is often better, fresher, and you have the ability to tailor your order quantities depending on your requirements. Making good coffee is really straight forward, just make sure you learn you to properly 'dial in' your coffee machine and grinder so you get the best out of every shot. I'm sure you have one, but if you haven't get a water filter for the coffee machine, limescale kills them. Unsolicited opinions are really annoying but we learned some of these things the hard way with our coffee shop, keep up the good work :).

[@irenedavo3768]

Wow!

[@michaelbundy3867]

You could also call this channel , "Trainspotting". Looking good.

[@measureoncecutthreetimes8677]

But then they would need to do a 'Colin' and shout out "Traaaiinn!!" LOL And Hi to the Foxes.

[@mjallenuk]

Really pleased that you found Keri and Dan ... old friends of ours who really do some nice work on Lyra. Fab video as always. Always disappointed that there's not two in a row! Looking forward to sampling your wares someday hopefully soon!

[@mrp1925]

Avon Skin So Soft moisturiser is an excellent midge/bug repellent. Also smells nicer and half the price of proprietary bug repellents.

[@darrielj1]

Holly is coming along nicely! Do you have a cafe launch date in mind?

[@weeoutdoorfamily2022]

Great video as always guys - I’m watching them all in a haphazard order. For future reference - if you use an adhesive/sealant called sikaflex then there is no need for fixing holes in the roof of your boat (potential water leak points) We have extensively tested this stuff on solar panels for our various campervans and we haven’t lost any - even at 70mph on the motorway. Keep up the lovely content .

[@orchidhouse297]

Fish and Fizz on Fridays. We've done that most Fridays for the last twenty years. Cheers, kids.

[@stecosgrove3779]

You've got a lot to celebrate! Keep going, nearly there. Think about ordering a crate of fizz 😜

[@Leonard_Smith]

Sunrise over the cooling towers....very contemporary! Nice video both.

[@firsttankcrews]

Holly's colour scheme is so attractive. Brilliant choice as she stand out from the other boats. Well done indeed!

[@TheByard]

Those that sit and do nothing, never make mistakes. As my father often said. Is the good ship Rose going to be left alone for any length of time, as your expensive stuff will need to be strongly bolted down and a security system installed. Wow that coffee machine is a beast and a half. I drove a brand new Fiat truck fitted out as a kitchen, together with a fridge truck and Bedford TK kitchen. The journey was from Pinewood Studios in Bucks to the Valley of The Kings on the Nile in Egypt, to serve breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner on 007 film The Spy Who Loved Me. But even they didn't have a coffee machine like yours.

[@NoahTheFacts]

If at some point in the future, if you decide to replace that grey water pump system, a submersible cavity pump can pump anything including small food solids that go down the drain. A cheaper alternative is a laundry sink pump, these vortex pumps can generally pump a button without clogging. You can also get complete solutions called remote drain pumps, which are one of these clog resistant pumps in a container with a float switch. Search for remote grey water pump for boat/RV or 12V shower sump pumps.

[@owencarlstrand1945]

Brilliant project and you deserve all luck with it. I have a question, given that Cafes use a lot of water, how do you make sure you don’t run out at an inconvenient moment and if you do how do you refill if you are not at a water point?

[@mikecobb2466]

so nice to see a lovely young couple starting a new business and being so well organised and enthusiastic.

[@lisakessler5749]

Awww she is looking so pretty...I can't wait💕

[@rotinkerbell]

you're back!!! Hoorah xxx It makes my week seeing your sonsie faces.

[@ramseybarber8312]

Victor when you cut MDF board you should seal the raw edge with unibond glue or at least paint the edge because when it gets wet { and it will }, it will expand and distort and eventually ROT. Cheers

[@NarrowboatPreciousJet]

Awesome can’t wait for you guys to make me a coffee 😊😊👍

[@realamerican6101]

Jolly Holly let's go on the narrow flow drinking Joe !

[@measureoncecutthreetimes8677]

So exciting to see that water bubbling through. That means yet another problem resolved and another step on your way to your floating cafe. The coffee machine has arrived! Oh my, that will look so nice when you get the stainless steel benchtops fitted. WooHoo!! Jo, you are just so lucky to have your own personal gondolier, does he sing to you as he pushes your "gondola" along the river? LOL I see glimpses of "Holly" through your shots and I just can't get over how good she looks. She is going to catch eyes all along the Cut. What a great job all of you did on her.

[@grahamlewis6062]

Hey folks. The rough days help you see the great days better! You really getting on there well now. When you look back you won’t believe what you e both accomplished. So many of us waiting to celebrate with you both 😄👏👏

[@Smokeysbandit]

Great one guys, Well worth waiting for. The end product is so close now. Just love you guys stay safe.

[@chrisallen1965]

Nice to see someone who can pour a bottle properly.......

[@jakasbaba9697]

Great video, guys! It's a pleasure to see how everything is coming together. Well done both & keep up the good work! :D - Eva

[@stevepursglove1224]

Trials and tribulations of fitting out a narrow boat, hey. Nothing is straight forward is it. Still you have mastered it. Holly is starting to take shape. Congratulations to both of you, the fruits of all your hard work will be worth it all. Steve

[@JMS98989]

Loving this ❤️ can’t wait for it all to be up and running 🍩🥤🧃☕️

[@claremaidofthewave251]

Putting the water in the pipes is like adding blood to the body, crucial and leaky 🤣. Luck and Cava to you 🍾🥂x

[@170166]

Awesome! A coffee machine at last, exciting times. Props to Vic for thinking that gravity problem through, the result didn't need to look pretty just workable. Big thumbs up.

[@stewal6835]

Great solution to the plumbing issue: you don't want to have skin fittings too close to the waterline particularly if the boat draft will vary with the number of customers. A simple water sensing switch at the top of your tank could either trigger an alarm or the pump. Looking forward to visiting!

[@sheryld1957]

It is really coming along..not sure who is more ready, you guys or us! Congratulations on everything you've done so far!

[@JB-F10-M5]

Holy boat cafe and a chicken nugget salad wrap makes for a very pleasant lunch time 😊

[@nobodyfromnowhere6932]

way to go Vic...plumbing is absolutely a pain to deal with...leaks will drive you mad

[@gusgus2539]

Thank you

[@janecox4173]

Cava is the answer to everything x

[@spencehh]

Another enjoyable vlog. Always sad when it ends. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@kellinigh2398]

You folks work hard!

[@rosemary5531]

It's so good to see you both have such positive attitudes......even when the plumbing doesn't go well! You seem to bounce back and your smiles soon return. I wish you both well. I'm following you with interest and can't wait for ''opening day''!! Good luck! Are you allowed to tip your washing up water...........and bath water come to that.......... into the canal? I wouldn't have thought the Canal ''Masters'' would agree to that!!

[@mungmungie]

Looks like it has been a good week for you. Great progress! I can just smell the espresso.....

[@mylifeandwhatitbrings9972]

Tomorrow is always a better day. Cava does seem to help also.

[@thedogfather5445]

Great to follow you guys and I love what you've done so far with Holly. With regard to the drainage problem, did you not consider just putting another skin fitting lower down the hull side but above the water level?

[@ramseybarber8312]

Hi I agree with you they will beforever emptying that container {if they remember to} or it will oerflow.

[@grumpyclark]

Grandma Vic lol 🙂

[@andywake6735]

Is it a requirement to have a bottle trap (U-bend) beneath sinks if they're discharging into the canal? U bends are generally there to stop smells form the sewer backtracking up the pipe. If so would that solve your height issue?

[@sriadi11]

It’s about to get ramifications galore. Great Job👍

[@lionelmarytravels6003]

Coming along nicely. I’ll have a latte please.

[@HollyTheCafeBoat]

Hi Lionel! Just wanted to say a massive thanks for the PayPal gift, you really didn't have to but we do appreciate it :-D We've set up a Patreon page now so that we can at least give something back to people like yourself who have helped us out. Hope you're having a nice weekend xx

[@irenedavo3768]

@Holly - The Cafe Boat watching March 2021

[@didnot6961]

Things are taking shape well done 👍 guys, great video keep them coming 🇬🇧🇵🇦👍

[@craigsteele8912]

I agree with Steve. A float switch is a 'must'. Disaster waiting to happen otherwise. I can see you two becoming Coffee Snobs! My eldest son is. Has to be the correct brand of bean. Tamping pressure of grounds has to be just so, milk temp has to be perfect. What a performance! 'Superior' is the brand of bean he uses here in NZ. Not sure if that is available in England. Great vid. Take care.

[@bencooper6284]

You’re going to be rushed off your feet when you eventually start trading and we all turn up

[@malcolmjames1866]

Well done, Guys!

[@MikeWilliams-yp9kl]

Have you thought of the food waste bits clogging the pump? Will it overflow if you are so rushed off your feet with customers that you don't notice it FULL? Great video .

[@claremaidofthewave251]

Mike Williams I was thinking the same🧐

[@HorshamSteve]

Me too, wouldn’t it be advisable to fit a small grease trap that can be periodically cleaned out? Actually I thought that might be a mandatory requirement for a commercial kitchen? It would serve as a grease trap, and also a settling pit to stop solids going in the pump.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

You could also just have cut the box sides down - opening like the petals of a flower - and voila 🙂🐿🌈❤️

[@jasondeeley797]

Looking good, one bacon butty coming soon to a narrow boat near. You, Jason from Stoke on Trent 🤓

[@scottphillips7108]

Bada bing bada boom... [Gave me a laugh... Normally a New York slang thingy...] Nicely done champs...

[@paulayala4816]

I was always wondering if you had to deal with the midges along the canals. I've heard a lot about them from some Scottish KZbinrs. Lately here in CA we have had a real problem with what people are calling ankle biters, tiny little mosquitos which attack only below the knees. The bites leave big welts on your ankles and calves, they itch like hell and seem to last for weeks. Being that it is summer/fall everyone is in shorts, including myself, and yeah the welts itch.

[@irenedavo3768]

Ouch!

[@lesleysilverstone2868]

Well she's coming along nicely....soon it will "give us a cuppa, love". What's the latest scoop on the windows? I wondered if you could use some bendy sheet metal?? but then there is always the edges. Love and hugs.

[@MrFroglips69]

You're almost there, if you don't go bonkers first. LOL

[@TheBiblue]

Nice too see u. . Great vlogs. Thanks

[@albertpartridge6716]

hiya flower nearly there another month or so i would say, might take a while to get the certificates with the covid lark going on but once you get all ship shape anchors away, take care keep well keep safe.

[@IN_THIS_DAY_AND_AGE]

Jo, love your accent. Burnley or Blackburn? Holly is coming along nicely. Thanks for the great vlogs.

[@nicothechihuahua3167]

Blackburn

[@yeoldfart8762]

A day late and a dollar short..... plumbing!! Lots of valves so you can turn on one section at a time. Also a pressure test with compressed air saves some water clean up. But that’s all in the past for you. Seems like more steps in the project are coming together.

[@espenboholm1112]

new clear sunrise :)

[@richardearth2848]

Looking good guys. The waste water does always seem a pain on a boat. I mean if you had a bowl in the sink you could just chuck it overboard instead of pumping it out!! Does worry me how much goes into the canal. Are u planning of using any eco washing up liquid?

[@charlesdorey4343]

Pink sky in the morning, sailors take warning.

[@mcauleyrj]

Great progress. Are you going to put a leak detector under the sink in case your retention tank overflows?

[@Edsbar]

I think you should invite all the BoatTubers for an opening party event then they'll all feature you on their channels.

[@eamonnflanagan4180]

Why can you not just drill another hole through the boat, as its above the waterline?

[@TheFoolishboy9]

Was thinking the same, there will be issues with the drain pump blocking with food debris.

[@spencerwilton5831]

eamonn flanagan there are minimum height requirements above the waterline for drains through the hull. You can't always meet the guidelines if you have a deep sink, so a pump overcomes this. It's usual to install a gulper pump as used for showers- they can handle small debris etc without blocking.

[@dannyvancauwenberghe]

A siphon has not been used for any sink, which will cause odor problems later on. Normally you use a siphon for each sink. (Google translated)

[@martinheslip376]

Couldn't you have drilled another outlet hole lower down and connected to that......stay safe.....xx

[@cameronm138]

Spotted this within one minute of uploading 😂

[@-TheRealThing-]

Damn you, I was quick on the draw & I was beat 🤣

[@SongOfEire]

Hurrah!!!!!

[@truckubuddy]

Question: The health inspector won’t be upset that your waste water is going into the canal?

[@jaspergrumfuttock]

Enjoying the series thank you, but I don't understand your plumbing logic. Perhaps a lower skin fitting as suggested by The Dog Father or perhaps a small saniflow? Stay safe, regards

[@mrchairman08]

@3:39-3:40, When Morning Gilds The Skies

[@stevenbushnick7745]

Jo, what kind of computer do you use and also what editing software.

[@Chris-be1fo]

I’m surprised you would be allowed to release grey water into the canal?

[@gillywild]

No. Lower the skin fitting. A sump could work but not like that & it's unnecessarily complicated. Just drill a new hole.

[@spacepodstudio]

Hi Jo! What is the font called at 14:08, you found it then?

[@Bicyclehub]

I find Vic funnier when he's really miserable.

[@TheFoolishboy9]

I'm not sure if you read the comments, but is there anyway that you could have all your cooking electric instead of gas?.It will save you a lot of problems.

[@RobbbM1]

Check out James Hoffman for tips on how to make good espresso :)

[@jillipepper5353]

Sunrise on the nuclear plant towers🤣😂🤣😂 .in the US , after the hurricane they had a couple weeks ago, resulting vicious mosquitoes have drained cows and other animals of blood and killed or greatly weakened them. WTAF , that blew me away, beware of the midges. 🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟 You May need to recruit a spider army. 🕷🕸 Holly is looking good, moving forward everyday, water test was funny for me, you not so much. So if the sludge and crumbs and in particular, fats from the sinks......won’t they all settle in the bottom of the jug and make a stinky fat berg? Just playing devils advocate.🥰🙋🏼 Good luck with everything. 👍🏻

[@lockguy2652]

sunrise over a nuclear plant?

[@bigKDL]

That is 100% the wrong pump for that job when it fails quite soon replace it with a diaphragm pump or even better drill a hole for a new skin fitting at the right height and never have a problem remember get it right now because later you will be letting customers down when you have to close to fix things that you should have got right before you start trading

[@pocketchange1951]

👍👌🇨🇦❤,,,

[@tonyredknap2576]

The fact

[@mikesmith2401]

Hi my wonderful children I am not sure what the plumbing problem was, ? was it ruining the paint work if you had to drill another hole because the old one was to high. Or as there was three sinks you did not want to drill three holes ? Or three sinks exiting out of one hole and the pump would not push out all the water at that height of the old hole ? But then you could have drilled a lower hole and have all the pipes leading to the one hole, Joanna.has some spare paint. I hope you not shout at an old man but I was in catering and i bet you a packet of Jelly Baby's Love hearts and a jammie dodger that you will change that plumbing . Lol my Children 😘🥱 bed time.

[@hmarc417]

To gravity not being an issue,,,,, """ YET """... """ You will know, when gravity really sets in though, there are definite signs when you enter the matalic age. Silver hair, Gold teeth and Lead bottom. "" To Gravity YEAH,,, not ,,, Stay young as long as you can. Life is to short..and I will take a "" grande latte breve steamer french vanilla and white choc 110*F not sure what that would be C...

[@9ColorZebra]

Too many commercials, had to stop.

[@grahamlewis6062]

Helps the funds for them !!!