#86 - We bought a VAN!!!!

[@egalegal1666]

I have a Wish Request More footage with our Superhero Jack 🤣

[@SailingMelody]

Yes more soon we promise

[@VAdu56]

Bravo !!!!! Painted on BOTH sides...well done, they won't warp...!! your wooden surrounds are very cute! well done ! the music is great Violin, guitar, banjo ! superb your white models as templates, it's going pil hair as we say in France...!! it's nice to see you happy with this new Van that Jack likes so much, you make us live a good moment of joy by looking at you...!! Thanks ; Vincent of Bretagne !

[@bbroomlea]

Loving the lightbulb rant 🤣

[@Parknest]

Andy has just taken Cardboard Aided Design (CAD) to the next level. That stuff is perfect for templating.

[@SailingMelody]

It’s great stuff isn’t it :)

[@MrButtonpresser]

Brilliant episode.

[@nealeburgess6756]

Love the van. Glad you picked a quiet looking van, nobody will ever notise you in that!

[@tdk1246]

Been watching your channel from the beginning. Don't ever lose your humbleness and modesty - it's what makes your channel special. I've lost interest in other sailing channel once they become rockstars. It's just not the same any more.

[@SailingMelody]

Ohhhhh I tried to be a rockstar back in my younger days. I could play guitar ok but never had the rockstar looks and frankly I’d rather have a cup of tea and a good book than a line of coke and party all night so I guess that says it all 😂😂😂😂

[@undergroundupholstery]

Sailing project Atticus and sailing good bad ugly are the only big channels I continue to watch. Very humble.

[@nautichunt84]

@@undergroundupholstery have a look at sailing into freedome and free range sailing, they are down to earth aussie's and they are still humble. You guys are doing a fantastic job and i agree that your personalities make your videos great

[@undergroundupholstery]

@@nautichunt84 ah yess. Good call. I do stop by free range occasionally. They have good stuff to. I hope the hit the open water soon!

[@nautichunt84]

@@undergroundupholstery we will be starting our adventure in a couple of months but our video's will probably flop 🤣

[@kranzonguam]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Great idea, using the foam board! Take good care!

[@hotcoffee5542]

Nice.

[@SailingMelody]

Thanks 🙏

[@mrfarmer532]

Love the van camping 🏕

[@spacedustsupertramp]

Brilliant!! Love seeing all the PROGRESS!!!

[@Jeffrose_]

You have a lovely family. You're all beautiful and I love your videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@SailingMelody]

Thank you that’s so lovely 😊

[@healingvibrations7845]

@@SailingMelody hi andy,,jack and melissa,omg!! m.v melody is coming on so well following the year of hard graft aboard that you have been putting in and it's really showing in how amazing the boat now looks. jack,,so excited about the van life aka he is living for adventure supported by his loving parents - he sure is keeping the tempo and energy flowing - he is at his young age so keen to explore,learn,, experience new things and it's precious seeing a well mannered and amazing young boy embrace life and live it to its fullest - you have nurtured and guided Jack into the polite,well spoken,, adventure hungry hard working boy he is today and all credit to you for your fantastic parenting skills. jack,, i am sure you are dreaming of a van conversion into a motorhome until m.v melody becomes home melissa,, perhaps if jack would be interested in a time consuming hobby some genealogy,,doubt that jack would care to learn cross stitch,,crochet so,, perhaps card making if he gets bored especially on the many wet days of the year. perhaps some suitable mandala art or even stencilling as a boredom staver off something to do in wet climes

[@jfbaze2001]

Thanks for introducing me to Robson Carver, love the song “End of the Day.”

[@ThoughtfulWander]

Lol love this episode!! Keep being honest Melody crew!! Be safe!! 👍👍👌👌👏👏

[@ThoughtfulWander]

Nice job on those hatch templates, Andy!! 👍👍👌👌👏👏

[@justinlinnane8043]

the wood panelling in the salon turned out superbly !!

[@rexmyers991]

Absolutely Brilliant - the concept of a foam mock-up. A man of many talents.

[@Dreamtimesail]

Getting the van was a great idea. We split our time between our ketch and van and really enjoy both. Cheers!

[@tom080955]

Captain Jack wants to sleep in the van, he sleeps in the van! You guys are awesome and love y’all. From White Rock BC Canada…cheers all….happy St Pats Day!

[@waynecummins9713]

Boat is coming along nicely 👌 😎 Hampshire 🇬🇧

[@ianmcdonald6598]

That mahogany or sapele might make some very attractive trim surrounds to the ports and windows when cut down to the smaller width / thickness and steamed in a plastic drainpipe; then bending to shape on a small board jig and allowed to cool and mitred ends glued when fitting them with epoxy.looking forward to your eventual launch day, no doubt it will go well !

[@paulurmson4844]

Always amazed with your ingenuity

[@brianmardon7123]

I !!Love !! and !! Admire !! you Guy's.

[@craigkirby2983]

Living the dream, jack's a lucky lad having you 2 as parents 👏👏👏

[@alanlorrimer-riley2941]

Love it! I am totally awestruck by the brilliance of the work you're doing. Can't wait to have a catch-up - and say 'Hi!' to the van.

[@SailingMelody]

Hi Alan!!! Yea definitely. Another lunch out at Petes Eats is on the cards I feel :)

[@alanlorrimer-riley2941]

@@SailingMelody I will leave it to you to suggest a couple of dates. I think I might have seen your van around recently. It is quite distinctive. 😀

[@SailingMelody]

@@alanlorrimer-riley2941 very likely. I’ll ring you in the next few days :)

[@kharakim]

Apart from creating an attractive, seaworthy boat, my greatest pleasure is watching your family life teach Jack to be a thoughtful, kind, competent, and responsible future citizen.

[@japersjolly8763]

hopefully not a 'citizen', but an independent free thinker.

[@kharakim]

@@japersjolly8763 Oxford English Dictionary: Citizen-"An inhabitant of a city or town; esp. one possessing civic rights, as a freeman etc.; a town-dweller." Ideally, a citizen is one who deliberates on matters related to the commonweal and is legally authorized to act in such matters by voting and other forms of participation. Citizenhood does not limit one's "independent free thinking," but it does entail rights and responsibilities as a member of a family, community, city, state, and nation.

[@Kathleensailorgirl]

This was such a great episode, the van is such a great addition.Andy the foam markup for the hatches and port windows is an amazing idea. It’s wonderful to see that you are all feeling well. Love you all 🤗🥰⛵️⛵️⛵️⛵️

[@SailingMelody]

Thanks Kathleen. I’ve spent extraordinary amounts of my life obsessively pursuing stupid hobbies like building radio controlled airplanes and model making and finally I can say it was all worth it 😂😂😂😂

[@jeanhawken4482]

Brave warriors. You will do well at sea. .

[@SailingMelody]

Hahah thanks

[@jimalexander1896]

Good job on the hatches....Van should be fun!.. Cheers!

[@RCAVDH]

You guys rock, much respect!

[@SailingMelody]

Thank you :)

[@sailingprojectparrot]

Amazing trip home, and van 🥰 please show us more of the inside living part sometime 😅💕

[@SailingMelody]

We will but at some point I’ll do a strip out and re-fit. I won’t devote a huge amount of time to it but some of the things about the interior have been done really badly so I want to make a nicer job of it

[@allenseeallendo5844]

Normally I would say this is a lot of projects for a few people but you guys have been killing it. Keep up the good work!

[@alexstubbins6298]

I got van envy. Very nice 👌

[@billathighwoods4289]

Really moving ahead. Amazing job folks

[@FranklinNewhart]

Cool paint job on that van. Today I went and bought myself a new vehicle too. I got myself a 2006 Nissan X-Trail

[@gvjones74]

You don't do think by halves! Wish I had your courage.

[@anthonymessina2834]

I can't remember if Sika-flex is silicone or urethane. Just because they're not compatible and will peel right off from each other. Silicone will not adhere to urethane and vice-versa. But I'm sure you know all about that stuff. You guys are doing an absolutely amazing job on this boat!!!

[@randysantiago5274]

God Bless Your Family....Sending love from Philippines 🇵🇭

[@MrAlubenco]

Congratulations!!!

[@MassimilianoPaoletti73]

Good job guys...I have a camper and in Italy we say "Have good miles"

[@mwatkins2464]

I love your new van!!! I need one like it to go camping and fishing. Take care guys and always great to see capt Jack keeping y’all on track!!! 🙏❤️

[@MarcelEling]

Nice to see you all at the boat again. And sure it is a nice van👍

[@rjr-yp9uj]

Just spray that foam board trim with some teak spray paint and you are done!!! Not much traffic on that road you parked on.

[@glenparker6866]

Love woke comment. We're on same page👍🍻

[@rogerbeau8813]

Wow it s look perfect, real Nice.

[@koningbolo4700]

16:32 I like the Dizzle Dazzle paint scheme... very battle ship nautical...

[@billreid6374]

Very clever

[@bryanb1259]

Awesome

[@judewilliams9345]

Well done you lovely family. You are all so talented and hard working. Big hugs to each of you 💖

[@bobuncle8704]

Like the van. It’s a good steppingstone to moving aboard Melody

[@popsyann]

Using the foam to mock-up the hatches delivers a very nice result. Smart and well done!

[@SailingMelody]

Yeah I love working with foam board

[@francoisprotat9342]

If you hadn't given notice that a van was parked on the side of the road, I would never have noticed it. Its "remains of various paints thrown on the fly" type camouflage makes it completely invisible. I love this van. As for Mélody, I admire her sense of detail and the progress of the work. I saw the summary video yesterday since the purchase, in fact I have the impression that you only kept a few screws and that you managed to completely rebuild this boat! Respect and admiration.

[@SailingMelody]

Thanks We’ve kept a surprising amount actuslly Hill - good just needed patching up Mast - good Boom - good Engine - good Interior - mostly good. Wiring - mostly good Heating system - not yet assessed Old instruments - being replaced

[@pagegreer5081]

Sounds Like a solid plan to me hope everyone ones better

[@SailingMelody]

Yeah it just means we can start downsizing now and make the chance to boat life a bit less dramatic

[@nickwebster1473]

Great video!

[@freddavis5648]

What a wonderful adventure you guys are on building you dreams a privilege to watch

[@davidhakes3884]

The Van is very useful for hauling needed materials and you probably dropped a house or apt? Good thinking. Cheers.

[@macdaddy507]

Looks like mahogany to me Andy,So glad your all on your legs. Stowaway Mac

[@SailingMelody]

Thanks Mac. Yes I’m on my Legs but only barely to be honest and only for short bursts. Still get exhausted so quickly

[@JP-lz3vk]

Having lived in North Wales for a few years, I recognized exactly where you were sleeping...and the drive back through Llanberis brought back memories.

[@charlesyoung1044]

Congrats folks, I'm the same...Just me tho.. Van life and liveaboard, sprinter van and steel BR 36 offshore..living the dream...you know it makes sense

[@SailingMelody]

It really does :)

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

Jack looked pretty squished in that van middle seat. Hopefully you get away in it for some trips in amongst working on Melody.

[@SailingMelody]

hahaha no there’s tons of room. we were squishing in to get us all on the camera

[@peterallen143]

Love the van

[@williamrandall1415]

Well done

[@SailingMelody]

Thank you x

[@trevhedges]

Cheers guys

[@SailingMelody]

Cheers Trev hope you’re well will have a proper catch up soon buddy

[@trevhedges]

@@SailingMelody hey i bite the bullet and went to the dentist, Your turn Andy.. cheers guys.. I believe your doing an interview soon with breaking waves news.. tell him Trev said g’day! His a good mate of mine.. well the whole group actually..

[@macdaddy507]

They look great on the ipad

[@thomascooley2749]

2:19 lol haha it's funny cause it's true Unions and all

[@brianbevington8777]

really super discrete van !! hehehe , long time since i have driven trough snowdonia mountains,... friendly greetings, brian

[@SailingMelody]

Hi. Brian :) it’s just a lovely area isn’t it

[@markperrins9485]

Loved that film guys. The boat has a real cosy look to it now doesn’t it. Starting to look like a home from home with all the panelling going in. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing it with us all.

[@SailingMelody]

Thank you :)

[@oldsharkie3786]

IMHO...painting the panels is the way to go. Less labor intensive, easy to repair if damaged and no unsightly wrinkles. Cheaper too.

[@mustafanxusani795]

Hello family, i see you have fully recovered and am ecstatic and can't wait for the next episode. Great to see capt. Jack in his familiar environment. I can see that the work is moving forward can't wait to see y'll take off and I'm anxiously looking to that.

[@SailingMelody]

Hi and thanks. We’re not 100% recovered still. All still a bit low energy and I am still having terrible coining fits and get breathless and tight chested and exhausted with minimal exertion. But we’re definitely better than we were! Thank you for your support

[@mustafanxusani795]

@@SailingMelody I'm so sorry to assume y'll are okay but my prayers are with you all and thanks again for letting me know. But I'm certain y'll will recover from this terrible sickness. God bless.

[@kathrynaston6841]

The vinyl on the panel would add both insulation and some sound adsorption as well as being easy to wipe clean. I think it’s going to look great. Another idea would be to use a textured Formica glueing it to the ply then running the router along the edge.

[@SailingMelody]

Lots of options to consider eh :)

[@yellowstonenaturerc8518]

OMG ... Welcome back Mellissa and Jack. ... The "Van" (land yacht) is amazing ... just think of all the new adventures you can have exploring on both 'Land and sea' What an adventure you guys are taking us on ... I love it! ... now about the last Ep 68 ... Sorry I was teasing you about going on Holiday Mellissa and Jack. The truth is Andy was completely lost with out you and continued to mope around complaining about nothing being "square and awkward shapes .. (Andy you did good) but as I watched this episode at about 3:28 I realized just how fast Mellissa works good filming! ... Jack I know you will have so much fun in that van. Take care everyone and be happy. 😄From your friend in Cody, Wyoming

[@SailingMelody]

Hahahah don’t stress we knew you were kidding 😂😂😂😂 we’re not easily offended snowflakes anyway 😜

[@ianroyston1065]

Come on team man up and have a night under the stars…..

[@grahamhilton3110]

Glad your all feeling well 👍 great looking camper van, we have a VW T6.1 and love the adventures. On Anglesey as I write this 😎👍

[@SailingMelody]

Ohhhh nice! It’s cold on Angleseay at the moment eh!!

[@grahamhilton3110]

@@SailingMelody it wasn’t to bad, and only one day of rain

[@davidjma7226]

Nice wheels! A bit cold and bleak for me.....Great work on the hatches and portlights too. A lap joint or mortice should do the job. Sitting by the pool with a cold one....cheers from this old yachtie from Muscat, Oman.

[@SailingMelody]

I’ve started making them in timber and I’m doing some simple mitres but I will be adding some polished brass “bow” inlays across each of the mitre joints as an inflated biscuit

[@harrisonandrew]

Ah! The whiskers have gone. I was scratching my head trying to work out what was different about Andy. The penny dropped about 5 mins in. 👍

[@SailingMelody]

Yeah I kinda dropped the ball on shaving when I was really poorly

[@PMMM9]

The hatch trim is going to be beautiful. More van trips please.

[@SailingMelody]

Hey Jeff. I’m sure there will be more yes. We don’t want to turn into a van life channel, but the channel is a vlog Of how we as a family are making our ambition to move onto the boat and sail around the world into a reality, so the van is definitely going to play a big part in that strategy

[@peterleyland4793]

enjoy your descrete van , I will keep an eye out for it as I journey to and fro Dinas boatyard.

[@SailingMelody]

Hahahah yeah :)

[@st_nicholas]

you can tell all the insulating and walls are working because the audio inside gets better every episode!

[@SailingMelody]

Makes a huge difference doesn’t it :)

[@phillipmetcalf9404]

Very nice video. I know there must be a story about the van paint job, would love it. Jack, it been a while since your boatyard tour. I would love to see another video. I always enjoy your video and that warmer weather is approaching it would a great time for an update from your perspective. Best wishes to you . Ps. Love the foam board trim models. Great idea.

[@SailingMelody]

Yes we have no clue about how the van got that scheme. I’m just hoping those vinyl stickers aren’t all coming up rust holes 😂😂😂

[@phillipmetcalf9404]

@@SailingMelody Maybe it was someone’s idea for an urban stealth camouflage for urban camping?

[@gregbolitho9775]

Like the van, paint jobs a bit lairy, I wont miss you lot in a crowd! Nice 1! Like the painted cieling, more light, although I still like the wood paneling. Thanks m8s, you and yours stay safe and well.

[@AnthonyFlores-vq9ji]

"Andy, don't go off on a rant!..." I love it. ..But let him go off on a rant. He's not wrong. :)

[@bigunone]

Congrats on the new van I am sure you'll have the heater sorted out in no time. Oddly enough most people don't realize you can survive at night without heat with the right sleeping equipment especially +35* F wait till it gets a balmy 0*F or -17 C. or colder!

[@SailingMelody]

I’ve slept at 4000m in -30 degrees on

[@bigunone]

@@SailingMelody Usually when a European tells me they are at X number of meters up a mountain, I go look it up and have a laugh, as I live at 6,500 feet, 4,000m is 13,123 feet, I have spent more than few nights in Western Co at that altitude, I think the coldest was around -5 at night when the power went out in the rv park oddly enough MH furnaces don't work without electricity. It was the one night my hairy cat decided to crawl under the covers with me! Great video as always, I'm sure the van will serve the purpose you bought it for.

[@mannyperez9188]

Brilliant episode! Comedy, great craftsmanship, great ending and that van! Please tell me its wrapped! 😆

[@SailingMelody]

Hey man!!!! It’s actually a white van with grey and blue vinyl stickers yeah. Looks cool in my opinion lol. Hope you guys are all good :)

[@larrylittleton8702]

"Sleep in the wind and the rain" (while Jack sleeps like a baby!)

[@annadaurie2435]

I totally enjoy your videos. Great team work.

[@kevinmartin3859]

Loved the van certainly won't miss it on the road like the woke bulb was funny the plastic hatch and window moulds were great enjoy life

[@SailingMelody]

Thanks :)

[@luisgcasiquet]

Congrats for the van!!! Are you keeping the discreet look of it?

[@duffman825]

amazing job on those foam templates!

[@SailingMelody]

I love modelmaking generally, I’ve don’t it for years making model planes and boats and replica film props etc

[@VirtanenDK]

Andy have you seen the wood grain "wrap" you can get. It's super cheap. I saw the guy's from "yacht solutions" do it on a gally, and it looked so good. If you want to see, i will post a link. You are all doing so good 👍🏼 I wish you all the best, and spring is on the way, so soon you will enjoy long days and great weather 😀 ps the hatch you made in foam, looks so nice, well done Andy....see you soon

[@SailingMelody]

I have seen that yeah. I covered my i tire old premier drum kit in it :) it’s great. But for the boat I want everything to be honest. If it looks like wood, it is wood. If it looks like tiles they’re real tiles and if it looks like shiny stainless it is shiny stainless 😂. Not like my drum kit which looks like they’re custom wallnut shells when actually they’re plywood from the 1970’s 😂

[@arthurverheijen6682]

Again a great episode, I see them since a few weeks. Great respect for what you do, and how you do it. I am a (just) retired Dutch boatbuilder, often refits done and I apreciate the way you work on this boat. I am sure it will be a succes!

[@billathighwoods4289]

Suggestion: for your panels Landau foam, can be sanded before vinyl. It’s available in England

[@SailingMelody]

Thanks I’ll look into it :)

[@SteveRitchie0]

Hi guys, love the channel. I am sure that layby you camped in is exactly the same one I had a flat tyre and had to wait for a mechanic to cut off the locking wheel bolt as the special key broke! Is it may be a couple of miles from Capel Cruig going towards Snowdon ? Keep up the good work Steve R

[@andrewrobertson972]

Woke bulbs! Hilarious! :D

[@SailingMelody]

I should point out that firstly that remark was a joke about peoples proclivity to be offended by everything these days. I am personally a huge advocate for inclusivity and for awareness of peoples life choices, identity, background and experiences and the need to accommodate and be aware of that. My quip about the word “woke” was a reflection on the fact that the word no longer, for me at least, conjures up an awareness of the need for equality but it has become associated with being offended by the slightest little thing. The words doesn’t mean what it meant 5 years ago. No offence was intended and if anything I’m cynically remarking on the fact that the word is now a short hand for “I have the right to be offended by anything I chose to” which massively distracts from the excellent meaning it originally had.

[@andrewrobertson972]

Yep, that's pretty much along the lines of what I had assumed. I was sitting there with my morning coffee, cackling away when you let it slip out, and Melissa was like... Andy...

[@patric001eede4]

quick tip... HDPE strips (same plastic as cutting-boards are made of) and glue/screw those to the steel and mount the wood to the HDPE.. Makes a perfect, stable, spacer between the steel and wood.. Steel should of course be epoxied before and some sikaflex is recommended between the steel and HDPE just to prevent condensation and/or moisture buildup.

[@seaneatwell4188]

woke bulbs, that made me laugh Andy. keep up the great work guys, looking forward to the next vlog.

[@delukxy]

Vinyl bathroom emulsion for the panels. Durable and in an infinite variety of colours. Quick to put on with a small roller. I had to put my volume up to max for this episode. Last episode was fine.

[@codylanceholley]

You’re right, you’re gonna get some comments! Go woke go broke!! Right on! Speak your mind live your life and sail on! Love your channel!

[@bjbrown6884]

Having been a sailor I don't believe the woke folk would make it out at sea. Mother nature will laugh when you shake your fist!

[@davidbarrett7424]

We need more of Andy's comedy rants please! :-)

[@SailingMelody]

Hmm maybe. I got a lot of stick for that one

[@justinfufun5483]

So there was a good reason for cutting such big chunk out of the transom... drive the van in. Oh no I mean So there is a good reason for such a big garage in the back of the van... drive Melody in. Van is cool. Big gig rig.

[@SailingMelody]

That’s a brilliant idea :)

[@k8tepinkerton565]

Super excited for you guys. Which boatyard are you in... wanted to send a wee thing for Jack if that is ok?

[@SailingMelody]

Hiya. We’re in Holyhead Marina. That’s really kind of you thank you. Holyhead Marina Ltd Newry Beach, Holyhead Isle of Anglesey LL65 1YA