One week to build our HOUSE BOAT 😮 tight deadlines means tensions run high | this tiny life

[@thistinylife]

Can you believe how long it is taking us to build the wall?! Thanks for watching this week's episode, if you haven't already, please do hit subscribe and we'll hopefully have some more walls up for you next time 😂

[@cliffhalse1326]

It’s just like watching Frank Spencer n Betty 😅😅😅

[@thistinylife]

what a great review, i'll keep an eye out for a beret

[@BarryFitzgeraldofficial]

You guys are doing ace. In years to come you will be regaling stories on the first Great Wall build of Artichoke

[@anneliesjoss]

A great bridge to play Pooh sticks, Gabby! I grew up on the North Sea coast in Belgium, and the waves coming on the beach always calm me too…..

[@adriansamuel4575]

Bless you two....lol You need to be building a square frame first, then drop a central stud in the middle, then drop your horizontal noggins in after. Stand the wall up and plum up and fix into position 👍

[@thistinylife]

This sounds like the best idea yet. We were considering building it on the floor first but we were half way through struggling with the original method when we thought of it .... And we couldn't bare giving in 😂 We'll try this for the next four!! Thank you 🙏

[@philbrooke-little7082]

@@thistinylife the problem with building on the floor is the interesting shape of the side of the boat though you could make a template of it which there are simple techniques for doing.

[@adriansamuel4575]

I understand stand what Phil Brook is commenting below but the easiest way for you to achieve the side of the boat is putting you off lol You know where the outside wall finishes correct, measure the shortest distance which will be at the top because of the sloped roof, place a timber your using on the floor and on the roof, measure the distance in mm between the two and cut to size, I would knock off 2 mm so when you stand up it won't be too tight a fit. So that's your first cut that will be 100%. Do the same for the other side but remember to - 2mm just remember your roof won't be flat so you will end up with a different measurement but that's ok... so wood on the floor and the roof, measure and cut 👍 So you now got your hight cut to size and that will be 100% correct. Now measuring from the window wall to the outside edge of where you want your wall to finish, cut to size, then do the same for the bottom.... bottom peace will be longer. Get to that later lol Now lay everything out on the floor into a square frame, now measure from floor to ceiling for your total height, arrange your timber to correct height -2mm, screw together bottom and outside edge together, screw the top peace to outside edge. Now your inside edge screw to top first, now take a measurement from the top and fix bottom peace to the same distance, you should have a square frame and a longer section at the bottom, that's phase two lol Now find the centre of your square mark top and bottom now cut a 3rd upright, fix to your centre marks now drop in your horizontal noggins centre of your wall and stagger them to make easy fixing. Now stand the wall up and put into position and level best you can, you may have to move your stove to the centre of your boat as it will put the boat out of level lol sorry, I know you hate moving that lump lol Level the wall best you can and make temporary fixing to floor and ceiling. No you can see whats left to infill, now you need to make a second frame repeating the process, peace of timber on the wall and measure the distance cut cut everything to size, lay the wall on the floor again and fix together. To help keep things square drill two holes in your set square and fix to your frame if needed guys. I would be using 2"×3" in the real world but I know space is at a premium on a narrow boat lol I hope this helps and you master these walls 👍

[@moffatt43]

One of the most valuable pieces of DIY advice I can give is that you buy yourself a Laser Level,it will need to be a Tripod mount type because obviously the floor on the Boat isn’t always going to be Level,the tripod type are fitted with a artificial horizontal level so even if the boat isn’t your level’s will be in line horizontally and vertically,they project a Solid red line on whatever planes( levels you want ) so you can see the horizontal and vertical in front of your eyes on the surfaces you will be affixing too. The other DIY Tool which is invaluable is a nail gun,you can use screws but drill a pilot hole with a wood drill bit so the timber doesn’t split and you then drill a hole a few MM bigger ( size of the head just a few MM deep) This will hide the screw head as you fill the countersunk with a mixture of Pva glue and sawdust. Boats are extremely tricky so don’t be put off building your own Walls and dividing walls,the angles can be different and measurements don’t always add up,just remember that you can always cut and take away but adding is not going to happen,it’s better to have a bit more than not enough. Measure twice and cut once but in reality on boats it’s measure from every conceivable direction and check your angles,a lot of the time we will use a mock up Wall which is made from polystyrene sheets ( the thickness of the walls or dividers you will be fitting ). It’s easy to cut and get the contours that you want and then use it as a Jig ,when you are finished you can then use the polystyrene to fill in the cavity and use it for insulation,soldering irons can be bought with a attachment for cutting the polystyrene and you can get portable ones that use Gas rather than electric cables. Love the videos and you can do this 😁👍. It’s all a learning curve and the rewards and results will all be yours at the end,if you are having a tough day,go for a walk,try not to do any work while you are tetchy. You’ll be Fine ❤

[@thistinylife]

Thanks so much Leonard for all the advice here - really appreciate it. The meausuring from every conceivable angle is so true...! We'll look into a laser level too - thanks for the support and kind words 🙏

[@moffatt43]

@@thistinylife No problem with the advice,anything I can do to help with the build. I noticed on one of your other videos where you had a Leak after Heavy rain that your Mushroom vent was leaking in water…. You should really seal anything like that with Sikoflex on the flange ( it’s marine grade sealant rather than just household type) and you might want to get a taller mushroom vent ( it has been found in extremely heavy torrential rain that the rain bounces up off the roof and flange and makes its way up and over the top of the vent pipe ( customers think it’s the flange leaking when in fact it’s water/rain bouncing into the vent under the mushroom lip/top ). I saw that someone had given you some good advice about double screw on your cladding and a little extra tip is when you use screws on cladding is a little bit of sikoflex white on the screw will stop the screw from ever rusting ( you are going to get a bit of moisture from condensation etc and it helps stop the screw from rusting and then being a pain to remove one day ) it also helps prevent squeaky timber cladding movement when you are cruising around and in fact moored ( Your Boat has a bit of flex in it and as sikoflex is rubber type sealant and it is adhesive as well it stops timbers that are joined with screws from squeaking ( like a miniature shock absorber ). Tell Hubby that when you use a sealant gun tube to flatten the end of the tube to a oval shape and put a tiny V cut in the tube ( it won’t be as messy and you get a nice finish), you can find various videos on KZbin regarding the technique and application of sealant and with sikoflex you don’t need a lot. A wooden stick is the best way to get a good clean finish. The Build looks great 👍 Hopefully the nose piercing is not as sore as it was ( hubby was a bit Nawty using your alcohol cleansing stuff )…. I hope you gave him a good rollicking off Camera Lol 😂….Cheeky Sod. Don’t forget that you can get free veg and potatoes from the edges of farmers fields…..My Dad was a forager and if it could be eaten he would think nothing about not letting food go to waste, he would happily knock on peoples doors and ask if he could pick apples,pears etc out of people’s Gardens. Love the videos and think you are a marvellous couple,Tilly is a real cutie 🥰.

[@stephenpyner4156]

Well done for getting as far as you did guys, what i would of done was use a sheet of plywood or hardboard cut to size and shape to use as a template for cutting all your studwork if the height is the same throughout your boat so you could of cut all the wood in one go making it faster to put up

[@thistinylife]

Sadly there's no guarantee anything is the same size in a narrowboat. Everything is handmade so there are subtle variations throughout the hull. Often a bulkhead will fit in one space but not another!

[@peterwebb1972]

Hi, I am not one given to commenting but...drilling, let the drill do the work, don't push it, lift it out, still running during the drill to clear the flutes of the drill and stop binding. Moving in, a must, buy a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm. The risks of fire are more during the build than later. Find a local boat safety inspector and build a relationship, ask for some pre inspection visits, most will offer advice. Get a copy of the boat safety guidance before tackling the stove. There are many regs in this area and putting them right after could prove costly. We wary, moving onto a boat with no certificate may not be legal, check it out. Don't worry about the walls being flimsy when the two skins are on they will be OK they will also be braced by kitchen units, wash basin, shower cubical, etc. You may find gaps appearing in the summer as the steel expands more that wood. Good luck with your venture. I may comment again!

[@thistinylife]

Hey Peter - thanks so much for commenting. We do know a BSS guy actually who came last year for our original boat, not a bad shout! Good thinking with the monoxide alarm too, will do. We gave in to all the comments today about the flimsy stud and upgraded to some thicker wood - although really appreciate your comment about them being adequate once pinned in with eveything else!! Please do comment again if we make more errors you can help us with 😂

[@rfenwick]

So well done, you two... stick at it! Don't be disheartened, you will get there 🎉

[@thistinylife]

Fingers crossed! Thank you Robin… It doesn’t matter how long it takes… As long as you enjoy the journey 🙂

[@donnaburske1925]

I would have given up and hollered for help by now! Such great perseverance.

[@thistinylife]

We'd love to have hollered for help 😅 patience was wearing thin but as long as we get there in the end, it's worth it! 🙌

[@sallysmith155]

I have just started watching your videos from the start.i am really enjoying it.have a good week both of you 😊

[@thistinylife]

Hey Sally! Welcome aboard! Thank you for checking out our channel 🙂🙂 You have a great week too! x

[@chevyimp5857]

Jeopardy central..the suspense.. good luck!!

[@thistinylife]

Thank you!!

[@chrisknowles7443]

Thoroughly enjoying watching this very tough build, such patience, jolly well done!!!! A. Chris xxx

[@thistinylife]

😊

[@garywilliams5675]

I’m afraid the has to be a minimum of 2”x 2” (50mm x 50mm) myself I always use 3”x 2” to build a stud wall. It would only take one slip, drunken or otherwise, try and stop the fall against your wall, you can guess the rest😱 Please keep up the good work.👍

[@thistinylife]

Thanks Gary - from what we've researched and spoken to boaters about, the stud walls in a boat don't need to be as thick as those in a house as they're carrying a lot less weight! We have gone and upgraded the wood today though to be slightly thicker - thank you 🙌

[@usenye0dikut]

I like to look at a wonky wall not as 'needing to be fixed' but rather as 'having some charm' :P I always love watching your content! keep up the amazing work and best of luck with the remaining days :D

[@thistinylife]

Haha this is a great attitude 😅 One we definitely share... thank you 😊

[@apollolang3399]

Drill into the wood a little then reverse the drill to clear the bit of wood that will stop the drill sticking or snapping

[@thistinylife]

Thank you 🙏

[@paulturner7837]

I’m amazed you haven’t completely lost your cool with how frustrating it’s been for you both. I hope you get enough done so you can do the basics and keep warm when you have to move in. I’ve got everything crossed for you both 👍

[@thistinylife]

Thanks so much Paul 🙏 Little by little we'll get there!

[@garym518]

I don’t know if this helps but all the bulkheads on our boat are made from a single board 20mm thick works fine traditional stud wall use up too much length from the precious internal space

[@thistinylife]

Thanks Gary - this was our thought with using thinner wood or the stud when it then als has cladding on the outside of both sides! But, we have gone a bit thicker with the stud walls now! We've gone stud rather than straight ply partitions because we're having switches on the walls so the wires have to run inside them

[@anniemac3075]

You'll get there in the end, you're trying so hard & things will come together eventually. I couldn't see on the video but that helicopter sounded like a Chinook, lifesaver in many ways, fabulous piece of kit. Keep battling on x 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@thistinylife]

Yes it was a Chinook! Photography out the window wasn't the best 😂 Thanks so much Annie 🙏

[@mishkawp8200]

Wow, so much to do and so little time. Well done for keeping focussed and not panicking!!

[@thistinylife]

Thank you! It will all work out eventually haha!

[@rebeccadanaher1065]

Having been through the process myself I would say one/twoish. Everything on a boat takes twice as long, you are doing a great job.

[@thistinylife]

If only we were even that quick 😅 thank you ✨

[@chevyimp5857]

Twice?? I admire your skill level... Took me at least four time what I estimated

[@alanglass8161]

Could you not have hung a plumb line down from the ceiling to get the upright correct?

[@thistinylife]

Sadly doesn't work on a boat! She doesn't lay level in the water 💦 but thank you!!

[@modestadventurers]

You finished the floor. You can do the stud wall 🤗

[@thistinylife]

Thank you! That bit of encouragement and positivity means so much 🙌

[@lacyoflittlerobincottage1403]

Followup help: If you're interested here's a guy that knows how to 'fit out' a narrow boat. He's currently doing on now. Have a look at his video's ~ www.youtube.com/@nogunwales9406

[@thistinylife]

Oh awesome thank you!

[@michaeltucker5752]

Hey guys..my guess was zero wall built😂 To create a straight line from the ceiling to the floor using very simple tools, use an eyelet screw or nail with a flat head, screw or nail into ceiling , do not nail all the way into ceiling, you are going to attach a string to the eyelet screw or nail, drop string all the way to the floor, shorten string to be about 1 inch(20 centimeters) off the floor, tie a weight to the floor end of string( a large bolt or a couple of bolt washers works great) make sure string is now weighted and suspended from ceiling and not moving and you now have a straight line from the ceiling to the floor. Make sure boat is steady and not rocking…this is a technique the Romans and Egyptians used for building..

[@thistinylife]

Hey Michael, appreciate the tip but sadly this isn't possible to do on a boat. She very rarely lies flat in the water, the bow is designed to be higher than the stern plus where we stand affects the weight distribution... It makes using plumb lines and spirit levels impossible

[@sheilajoseph9953]

I love your enthusiasm.

[@thistinylife]

Thanks for the encouragement Sheila 🙏

[@Nonkers-R32]

Love the content guys and seeing you learn on the job... as long as you don't move about the hull too much, you've got a level datum you can measure from.... the floor, use a digital level (app for iPhone & Android) so if the floor is -5° port to starboard your upright should also be -5° port to starboard, then do the same for bow and stern.

[@thistinylife]

This sounds like a sensible option, we'll give it a try thank you 🙌

[@philbrooke-little7082]

@@thistinylife this really doesn’t work on a narrowboat they wobble far too much and digital levels really aren’t good enough.

[@stevecam724]

Don't procrastinate, it'll slow you down 😁😁 We are fitting out a timber cabin and are having the same sorts of obstacles. I figure out an easier way only when I've finished a task haha!

[@thistinylife]

It's always the way isn't it!! Glad it's not just us 😂 Hope the cabin is going well!!

[@trevorsbarkingmadchannel4501]

How about boarding a wall right across the boat and then cut a doorway out ? 😂. You’re doing well. Slowly and surely. You know a damn site more on diy than I do. Well done. Best wishes

[@thistinylife]

Haha perfect - our kind of DIY that 😂 Thank you though - bit by bit we'll get there!!

[@robtheplod]

Hi both, enjoying the vids thanks... one point - you mention this will be a green solar boat so I'm guessing you'll fill the roof with panels? Have you got the solar wiring in prep as it wont be neat or easy later... sure you have it in hand but just thought I'd mention it.... Rob

[@thistinylife]

Hey Rob - Yep we're having six panels along the roof so sadly not much space for a roof garden! We had an electrician come and do the first fix and he's ran the wires for the panels already :) Coming back to finish the electrics in a couple of weeks! Thank you 🙏

[@Redf322]

Use heavier wood. If you cut the wood a bit long you can jam it in place while you fix it.😊

[@thistinylife]

Thank you ✨

[@mmoshier08]

Good luck❤

[@thistinylife]

Thank you 🙏

[@Vivienlewis]

I hope you have put a lot of insulation i

[@jaybug564]

Hope it works out and you get everything done in time!

[@thistinylife]

Thank you Jay ✨

[@peterwebb1972]

PS I am not sure were the 1972 comes from. I am a lot older than that!

[@Livingthedream76-c9b]

Loving the videos, just can't work put why you don't use a spirit level to put the walls up lol wpuld save so much time, or am I missing something lol

[@thistinylife]

Sadly can't use a spirit level on a boat. They're never sitting level in the water

[@lacyoflittlerobincottage1403]

I'm not sure about building a wall with 1x1 inch boards. Do you guys not know that 2x4's are the standard board for framing up a wall? The first time one of you leans on that wall, it will be a floor not a wall.😂🚪 If nothing else you two are very amusing, but not carpenters.😂 Love to poor Tilly 😘🐶🐾

[@thistinylife]

Thank you I think 😂😂 it feels quite sturdy and was the same that the narrowboat that James built used! We're having a think 🤔🤔

[@lacyoflittlerobincottage1403]

@@thistinylife Sorry, but James building techniques aren't what we would call 'secure'. It might save an inch or two here and there but in the end it won't last. Whatever you both decide to do, just remember if you want it to last and be secure, do it right the first time or you might have to do it over again. 😁

[@Vivienlewis]

Measure twice, cut once. Put the fire in so you will always have heat

[@stephens9566]

That wood for the stubs is to thin to hang a door on need more bracing, little hint drill a small hole first then drill bigger drill.

[@thistinylife]

This one isn't having a door on it... but that being said, we have listened to the mass of comments on here telling us it was too flimsy and upgraded the wood today! Thank you 🙏

[@philbrooke-little7082]

Why stud rather than ply? It takes up more space, longer to build etc. Do you remember Pythagoras from school? That can be handy for making / checking right angles. If you need a hand with anything and if there is space by 207 I can come back and help gladly but I understand you probably prefer to do it all yourselves.

[@thistinylife]

Thank you Phil!! We're going to plough on but will give you a shout if we get really stuck, thank you 🙏 we've got switches on these walls hence the stud rather than partition!

[@adriansamuel4575]

Il be honest you need to be using 1"x1"timber ideally, your just going to end up with a floppy wall with what material your using guys.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

Imagine what a difference a nail/pin gun could have made to building up the stud walls 🙂

[@A-Nobody]

How are you eventually going to deal with the Recreational Craft Directive (RCR). I've heard it's a bit of a nightmare.

[@thistinylife]

It only applies if we plan to sell within 5 years of owning the boat, after that the requirements for resale switch to the standard BSS 🙂

[@colin125gwr]

2 walls was my guess it will be amazing when you finish it

[@thistinylife]

Thank you, can't wait for that day 😅

[@graywake2226]

Try something like these to help square off your walls. Right Angle Carpenter Woodworking Square L-Shaped Corner Clamping

[@thistinylife]

Thank you, the clamp looks realy handy built in! We did buy a new set square with an edge on it today which has made a world of difference!

[@vamboroolz1612]

If you guys were close to me, I would jump over and give you a hand. At least show you the best ways to do the fit out. Unfortunately, I am up in Scotland so not ideal. Best to you both.

[@thistinylife]

That's real kind of you! We'll get there in the end 😂 Thank you 🙏

[@Dore60]

👍

[@stevecam724]

1 stud wall lol!

[@tsteel1650]

I think you're stud walls should be a little bit. Thicker. If Gabby sneezes. She will blow the wall down.😮.

[@Glyn001]

👍👍👍

[@alandaly5570]

Buy yourself a Ryobi second fix nail gun . Makes life easier

[@thistinylife]

If we had an endless budget...

[@thornbird6768]

That wood doesn't look adequate and rather thin , sorry chaps .

[@thistinylife]

It feels sturdy when it's up, we've gone with the same size stud that the narrowboat that James built used.... Going to ponder over replacing them!

[@malcolmone1]

measure twice ,cut once ,you was drilling at a angle, then trying to go vertical ,no wonder drill bits where breaking , i am probably a bit far away to help ,,no car, i love your new saw

[@thistinylife]

Thank you..... will work on our drill angles!!

[@nopenope6286]

3 walls

[@thistinylife]

Love this optimism....if only 😅

[@ladyfb2]

2 walls

[@92RedRevolver]

2 stud walls.

[@92RedRevolver]

Huh, I thought I wasn't being generous either.

[@thistinylife]

Haha oh dear 😂

[@jmac5755]

3

[@thistinylife]

If only 😂

[@danhollifield]

Argh... I hate to "back-seat drive" someone's efforts to learn a new skill. That said, if you're not adverse to an old farmer from the US offering advice; make yourself an "artificial corner" template out of two bits of scrap wall paneling and a 1x1" like you're using for your battens. One piece bow/stern-facing and the other port/starboard-facing, fastened to the 1x1 as an upright--like a corner of two walls coming together, I mean. With that, if you accept your floor as the only "true-level" reference, all you have to worry about is cutting your uprights to the correct height for the curve in the ceiling. I know that's 1300's tech, but farmers on this side of the pond have been using something similar to raise pole-barns on uneven ground since the 1600's. I'm probably several days late and a few pounds short on this tip, but I felt I needed to try to help as best I could from 3000 miles away. --Dan

[@thistinylife]

Dan, thanks so much! Appreciate your help from thousands of miles away! That would make it a lot easier - we've been using a single ply sheet to measure one way, and then the other - and it obviously moves by the time you've switched to measure the other angle so this could make it a dream! Thank you 🙌

[@nickevans1698]

2 walls 🤔🤷🏼‍♂️but your using the wrong size timber🤦‍♂️

[@thistinylife]

If only that were right 😂 We chose it as saw another KZbinr with a good DIY rep had used it! But...we've given in and thank everyone on here and got some sturdier stud today!

[@iansturnbull]

I think you need to give some advanced warning to the new owners that you may be running a bit late, better they know in advance, rather than the last min. Unless they are watching these videos and they will see for themselves. Letting them know now will de stress you a bit. But as people have suggested, the battening you are using for the stud work looks too flimsy. Perhaps you can give a shout-out for help from people that live near where your boats are moored. I know you are strapped for cash, but just paying a carpenter or builder a single-day wage would get all the walls up. I love your energy and enthusiasm. Wishing you all the best over the next few days.

[@thistinylife]

Thanks Ian. We've actually gone and replaced the wood now for 1" by 1" - so the wall came down for the third time today - but we got it up so much quicker and it feels sturdy sturdy! Learning as we go, but we're getting there 🙂

[@iansturnbull]

@@thistinylife One tip, I see that Jack keeps having drill bits and hole cutters fall out of the drill chuck. With most modern drills you need to hand tighten the chuck as tight as you can, then back it off a fraction until you feel it click, this then locks the chuck in place. It really is just a slight rotation back. Once finished you can undo the check as normal.

[@stephenhughes4943]

As an engineer and as a reasonably good DIYer this is painful.