Good luck Benny and Emily if I was your age by the way I'm 85 golden oldie grand mother I would definitely give it a go especially being mortgage free you have cracked it god bless take care be safe keep sending your vlogs xx
It's uplifting to behold two really good people enjoying an alternative life while avoiding being owned by banks,lenders etc. Good luck going onwards. (the music's good too!)
We bought our boat after losing our jobs after COVID lockdown. I sold my home and made a small profit after having it for just 5 years. So we have enough to buy a refurbished 50year old sail away. We've re built our boat with all recycled materials including our solar set up. We're very lucky to have a ST2 lister so 'dave' will run off the smell of diesel. We also been able to fund out lifestyle with the sale of our vans, which we lived in prior to buying the boat. We've tried to start a business, but it's not doing too well. We too are C C's. We're finding that being up North is cheaper, although there isn't too many services or CC's.
Yes we realised there aren't many services on the Rochdale, have you been on the Leeds and Liverpool much? Is it similar there? The Rochdale is also very hard work! Hope your business picks up! 🙂 Maybe see you on the canals some day 😊
@@BenandEmily we've been on the lower part of the Leeds to Liverpool since July 21, as every time we want to go up the flight the pounds are dry, cars have been thrown in, or it's closed due to low water levels. The services are poor. Services are far better once past top lock near haigh. The scenery is gorgeous too. The yarrow valley is very similar to the Calder valley. Maybe see you soon too. Have a nice time in Wale's
Hello Ben & Emily, purely an opinion here, but the leaves issue seems very common this time of year to many other boaters and a quick shift to reverse and back into drive seems to rectify this for the majority of boaters. The nasty looking oil in weed hatch suggests that you may have become victims of some other careless disposal of a waste oil container by another boater that your prop found and burst, since it was old used black oil. Wouldn't hurt to pull dipstick and check level and colour of oil in both your engine and transmission? Also another subscriber mentioned the stern glandin your footage appeared to be dripping a little too much, and warrants checking tightness of stern gland rope and grease and grease canister? Hope all this helps put your minds at rest. David.🤔🤞
I lived on a 22 foot sailing boat for 2 years and loved every minute of it, even though it was tiny. In comparison, your boat is huge and I can't see that you've given up all that much space compared with a house. As they say, you can only be in one room at a time, so a house is always going to be 95%+ empty all of the time. I'd definitely live on a boat again. It especially makes sense in these times.
I lived in a 27' motorhome for 6 months and did not want to move back into my 2200 sq. ft home. I was soooo happy. I was doing a trip around the country in the motorhome with my daughter, two dogs and two cats. Everyone was happy. Even the cats!!
Hi, Ben and Emily, great video, we are Colin and Heather currently living in Ohio, and soon to be joining you all on the cut. You create very watchable content, you are doing great. The number of folks watching you is testimony to that. Re your engine service you two were brilliant working together. This is what I do, after an old change with a new oil filter, start the engine, let it run for 3-5 mins, it will have circulated the oil throughout the engine , ...... and filled up the oil filter, (on some engines that could be upto a litre of oil ) your oil filter, probably was a about a quarter of a litre , then make sure check and top up the oil level in the engine and check again. Then do the fuel filter. I would also suggest you clean out the bottom of the engine bay of all the water and general gunge...... then you can tell if you have a leak, weather it is oil, or water or diesel or coolant. Nappies are very good at soaking up stuff, and great for keeping the engine bay fluid free. Are you giving the propeller shaft grease gland a turn or two (no more) each day. That could be a cause of a water leak in the engine bay , that said I think it is the overflow of the calorifier blue catch tank, which should be on you list of things you do on a daily basis before using the engine. Namely checking / doing: engine oil , grease gland turn, coolant fluid check, fan belt check tension with fingers . Finally Your black gunge in the weed hatch issue, just a thought, someone could have thrown a plastic oil canister full of OLD USED OIL, that you hit with propeller.... that would have given you the symptoms. Ben to save you putting you hand/arm through all that gunge, I suggest using a small can you could have scooped a load of it out of the weed hatch and then used a nappie to soak up the last of the stuff remaining on the surface of the water. Just my thoughts. very best regards Colin and Heathet.
Looks like there are no regs / qualifications on the operational functions for these boats. Completely voluntary? The canals appear crowded, with that many boats it’s surprising that it’s not more polluted.
Llangollen bottom lock is so much nicer after the repair last year, wider and so. I love you are doing this canal, it´s one of my favourites as a viewer.
This is a really big help for me and my partner. At the moment we are saving up and looking at ways to live without the long lasting debts. But we both long canal boats a lot and looking at the possibility of buying one. You both have been a great help. Also I love your cat super cute 🥰. It’s been really nice to see a couple living together on a boat and just seeing what it’s like living on one. Thank you so much 😊
Emily you are a very clear speaker and getting better all the time. You’re engaging and positive and good with the camera, which is a natural talent. Since you had the filter off your engine and also opened the tap, I’d definitely have a look under the engine to see that nothing is coming out of those places. Check the engine oil level. I also wonder if the mechanic disturbed an oil seal on the output shaft, and oil could be running along the shaft to the prop.
That was my first thought, but then it couldn't explain the intermittent loss of drive. Hopefully it was just leaves or some sunken mass of twine that fouled the prop, and cleared itself, otherwise I would be worried about the woodruff key that locks the propeller to the shaft. Any large amount of clogging around prop can cause it to become ineffective at driving the boat, so let's hope it was that. Anyway great video informing us of the costs of constant cruising.
@@chrisyarnold6205 Actually it could lead to overheating and so reduced power as everything expands (check your oil level guys) ... also all those leaves could be clogging the water intake for the engine cooling which again would lead to overheating and the motor not feeling well. Anyway their vids are a month behind so I'm sure it's all sorted by now
Gland nut should drop every minute...When needs blacking again check the prop shaft that it is not too worn... Make sure you bilge pump is ok and working.................................Robbie
That stuff in your weed hatch reminded me of an Oil slick and the rainbow patters in the water confirmed it for me! The water in the Llangollen suplies Hurlesdon Reservoir and so Shropshire with drinking water, OOPS! My Wife, my cousen her husband and I had our very first canal holiday on the Llangollen.We picked our boat up from Anglo Welsh at Bunbury Locks. and folowed the Llangollen as far as Grindley Brook Staircase Locks before turning around and returning. If you are enjoying the Llangollen now, just wait untill you get passed Grindley Brook, Its such a beautiful canal and only two locks all the way to Llangollen.
great tube as always . i am getting on a bit and you are the only countryside i see , so thanks for that. as an old mechanic if its as you say leaves on the prop, i would think one, or more , has got under a seal on the prop and could be oil or grease getting out into the water. if it has cleared i would still check all grease points and oil levels to make sure they are ok. luv you.
Ah....my favourite narrow boaters! Super episode guys and helpful for my retirement plans, thank you. Your music is constantly on Benny and keeps me calm and happy. Saturday is now the best day of the week.
You guys work so hard as a team. And how far you come. You ate totally self sufficient. Love to watch Alan going in and out for a wander .thank you both for a great Vlog much love
Just found you guys on here! Love your vlogs. Living a vicarious narrow boat life through you! All power to you, love the way you just get on with things! Hope that black stuff didn't ruin the propeller. I realize you have to learn a lot of the way with narrow boats, but nothing is impossible!! All good wishes to you both and Alan of course! 🐈
I have been watch your vlogs, and love the interaction between you all. Great to see real people being real. and so laid back at times. Its been a nice to see the change in time over the time you've been on-line.
Brilliance vlog guys! So interesting ans grounded. Emily you are so dry and have a great sense of humour ( I laughed at the your explanation re. The engine and sludge?) Lovely couple not out to be someone your not , just loving a happy, simple but interesting life. Good for you both! Really enjoy your videos thanks again xx
I am always fascinated by your episodes & the photography that seems so simple with quick scenes. The collection is always a superb production. Thanks so much for this segment of the Llangollen canal: It is beautiful.
Your adventures together are super special, thanks so much for taking the time to edit your filmings and share them! Alan is having the time of her life😺Keep em coming you guys xx
Thanks for the living cost breakdown. Absolutely love Alan. Glad your crisis solved. You are so talented Bennie, as are you Em. Thanks for a great vlog!
I am amazed at how some people make their money and you two are proof of that. All I can say is well done, fantastic, you deserve it for being ingenious.
@@Dirt-Diggler ah yes, why didn't I think of the oil coming from the gland. 👍. My experience is many years on large water pumps and working on gland packing changes. Boating experience is about 7 holidays 😀.......... When turning the greaser by hand ideally you'll want to turn it a few turns every few days and feel some resistance then do an extra half turn. I'll say 2 or 3 turns in total. The 2 nuts on the packing gland will need tightening up slightly first though. Nip the nuts up and then give them an extra half or full turn. The nuts on the picking gland should be tight enough to only let 1 or 2 drops per minute through when the propeller shaft is running. With the nuts applying the correct pressure on the packing gland that should be enough to reduce water coming in and stop that grease going out into the weed hatch. If the nuts can't be tightened any more it'll probably need packing replacing. The packing is like square waxy rope. Maybe 4 or 5 correctly cut and positioned with the join at 1/3 spacing around the shaft. Leave packing replacing to an expert as you don't want them all coming out and water pouring in, although a temporary long term fix could be too add an extra 1 or 2 sections of gland packing on top of what's already in there if those nuts are already fully tightened. But it'll be best to get a competent DIYer to have a look. Or do some research first 👍
Hi we believe we drove through some spilled bitumen, as it was bitumen in the weed hatch. I'm not sure how oil from our engine could get into our weed hatch? Our engine is fine, but thanks for your concern 😊
Lovely to see you, Emily, Benny and Allan. Great vlog and love the music. Benny, those leaves don't go to waste, they become leaf mould which nourish the earth 😘 xxxxx
I don’t know if any one has said yet..it’s the autumn leaves. When it does that take revs off and then reverse. When I see loads of leaves I go through in neautral. Enjoy
Hi Just watched your vlog which we enjoyed we are heading back down the Llangollen good to meet you in the basin hope to see you again David and Ruth nb life's Too Short
Loving the vlogs, very chilled and well shot. With the oil on water issue, keep some eco friendly washing up liquid near the engine bay, not just in the galley. Having worked extensively around water, on lock gates etc. the occasional oil spill would happen. A quick squirt of wash liquid into the oil slick will make it dissipate and break down the molecular bond. I used to squirt it out in big s patterns to hit bigger ones. A squirt in your weed hatch would have gotten rid any oil before Benny put his arm in. At least now his strumming must be well 'slick'. 💪😂
Hi guys, great video as usual. As andyangus said before, get a pack of vet long disposable gloves for prop cleaning. They come up to your armpit but are a bit flimsy, so I put a heavy duty, disposable work glove over the top on your hand.
We had the same thing in the autumn with our boat. Nothing in weed hatch but we lost power. It was just leaves. Swift bit of reverse and it fixed it. Had to do this loads
Only found this channel a couple of days ago , watching in random order and really enjoying your boat life , lovely couple and great to watch whilst the other half watches her soaps 😊
I have just watched you three for the first time today. And Hebden Bridge, a lot of my relatives worked at the mills there. Most of my relatives live very close. I was born in Todmorden. Thanks for taking me home. I live in New Brunswick Canada.
So enjoying your escapades. Well done for taking the plunge so early in your lives. I'm 70 and just about to take to the network. Learning so much watching your adventures. Q? What guide book do you use... the book I see you refer to shows so much of what's where etc? Thank you and good luck.
Great Vlog, so much variety in the content. Love the masks that Benny made. Alan walking on the towpath is so cute. Hope the engine problem is sorted. I was thinking it was an oil leak, but hopefully just the leaves. Thanks for sharing. 🙏😊🤗 Kathy
In looking at my ancient Nicholson guide, your first night on the Llangollen appears to be within a few hundred feet of where we spent our first night on a narrowboat way back in 1981. It was to turn into a long love affair with the canals of the UK and France. Looking forward to more of the Llangollen.
It's always so interesting, seeing what you guys are up to! The photography is particularly nice in this one. Since I live under a very large tree, I am inspired now and I know what I need to do- have begun gathering up what's left in the yard and planning my full-body jumpsuit, hoping it comes out as splendid as your masks, Benny! ❤ All of my best to Alan. 😸
When I'm travelling autumn/winter time, once leaves start falling, I get into the habit of putting engine in reverse every so often to clear leaves from the prop as they can be a problem if it builds up too much (sitting in locks are the worst). Not sure about the oil/diesel problem you had though. Washing up liquid can help to disperse it. Another lovely video, take care & stay safe x
Just came across your vlog. I got home after a lovely amazing week on a narrow boat with friends along the canal in North Wales following the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct and Chirk Aquaduct. You are a lovely talented couple, take care.
Those masks are epic Benny , you've certainly found your new calling ! Hope the boat is happily tugging along , love being apart of your travels . say hello to Alan for me , Ta!
Another great vid. It's very interesting to see the cost breakdowns. It goes to show that you don't get something for nothing in this world; no matter how hard we may wish otherwise! In the mid eighties, I was happily owned by Alan's absolute and complete doppelganger; mannerisms, appearance, the whole box and dice. Her name back then was 'Tiss', or 'Ts', derived from tortoise shell. Not very imaginative but she seemed to approve! She's long gone from that life now but I'm happy she's found you two for this one.
I lived on a58 ft narrowboat [solo] for about 5 years and loved every minute of it. About your problem with your engine .Don't worry. My mooring was in Chirk marina so the Llangollen canal was basically my home. Leaves on this canal are a pest,but if every so often if you feel as if your engine is losing power put the engine in reverse and rev the engine.This throws the leaves off in the same way as it drags them on. The black will be something that some idiotic boater has thrown in the water and your leafy prop has picked up. I now live in St Martins which you will be passing shortly unless you already have. I hope that I have put your minds at rest. Good luck.
Greetings from Middle Earth (New Zealand) !!…you guys (Allan included) are definitely my “go to” vlog Always had canals in my blood…maybe cus I was born in Canal street Congleton !! Did manage to cruise the Midi one time Keep those wonderful vids happening. Jon
The Black stuff Was Diesel or oil in the water though i am not sure where it came from maybe somebody had a leak on their boat and seeing you had just serviced your engine check and make shore it was not your oil leaking ???? then the leaves where very bad in the locks so that might be why it cleared after you got away from the locks, but hope the rest of the time on you trip in to Wales was ok no trouble Great scenery along the canal plus going over the viaduct is a thing to remember it is also a special trip to walk down to the river Dee and then look up at the viaduct. plus lots of history there in Llanggollen Have fun stay safe take care of Allan. Ed 40 S of Vegas XXXX
Hi you two, this is my first time on your Blog and it looks great. Well from here it does anyway, must be beautiful in the summer but bloody freezing in the winter. But very cozy when the fire is going yes I do envy you both. Can you stop at the pubs while your cruising? Your music goes with your narrow boat very nice. See you next week and thanks 🙏 Jon 🇦🇺😘
A bit late to the party as they say. I spent most of my childhood holidays on the canals, both on cruisers with outboards, and a narrowboat with a BMC 1500 diesel. It would be my guess that what you got wrapped round your prop at lock 1 was maybe some bitumous or tar sheeting of some kind, and the prop partially chopped it up leaving bits of tar in the water. Just a tip for the future, a few drops of washing up liquid into the water will disperse stuff like that in a jiffy. I had to do that after spilling a cup full of fuel oil into the water when refuelling a ship and the bunker overflowed. You make such a lovely couple 🥰🥰🥰
Love you 😍 guys so much. Would love to have seen more of the gig. Have been trying to get my head round the black gunk in the weed hatch but can't think of anything. Take care, be safe xx
Fantastic vlog. Nice to see the road from littleborough to todd to hebden , used to live there 30 years ago. Keep the vlogs coming, canal life in the countryside seems timeless.
Thanks for the great info guys, I'm saving for my first boat at the moment going to try n get 30k for 40 to 45ft so about bang on what you said. Aiming for this time next year to start boat shopping:)
Sometimes when engines lose power, its worth checking for signs of overheating... I'm not sure how your engine is cooled, but it might be worth checking that there is no leaves blocking the water intake.. (Always check water coolant levels when the engine is cold, otherwise you may scold yourselves with hot gushing water !! Good luck.... I'm a new subscriber that really enjoys your content.. Thanks
Thank you for your video about the cost of narrow boat life. It is very informative. It's good to see a cat can be happy living on a narrow boat. If I win the lotto I will get a boat and live on it permanently with my cat. Wishing you all the very best.
I always wondered where the veggies with the eyes came from lol 😂. They are extremely cute. I think the bitumen black that you do on the bottom of your Boat is really meant to be done with the bitumen being heated up in buckets on a brazier before being painted on. A neat little trick for you on your guitar is using WD40 to clean and lubricate the strings and it lengthens their life. The stuff that was in your weed hatch was probably bitumen that the workers were using on the woods in the lock or a mixture of some sort ?. Love the Videos ❤
What another feel good video!!! Perhaps you have been told but when cruising in autumn and there are plenty of leaves etc on the surface, in my opinion is around every 20 - 30min always put the prop in to reverse for a short time, try forward again, if the same thing happens again repeat. Try again if it’s still a problem then it’s the weed hatch. Fallen leaves are not a waste Benny, it’s natures way of returning nurturant to the soil. However a handful for other purposes it’s going to create a problem
Thanks for the insight into living on a narrowboat. I would love to live on a boat but suffer from motion sickness, so I have to just dream of the life. I do have a fishing kayak but have to take sickness pills before I can go out to sea on it.
Really informative & fact filled video on the topic of 'how much' and the costs of buying, running & the maintenance living in your narrowboat home ... I am really taken with your video episodes that are so interesting and very much the real deal 'as it's happening' such as the incident with the 'engine and propeller' along the way, & with many other episodes where you always take the time to add interesting facts or details about the places you visit ... The video logs you produce of your independent life living on the canals presents very addictive viewing. 👍🙂
Hi If you have a bilge pump that might have switched on and pumped oily water over the side that also would account for oil on the water and in your inspection hatch, as i noticed the stern gland is leaking badly. Cheers
Thanks Ramsey 🙂 our bilge pump sits in a container so it only puts out water from the stern gland so no oil would get in. We're still confused what it was as it wasn't like oil more like thick tar or bitumen. So odd! It seems to have cleared now and all working fine 😊
I love the masks! You’re so creative. I hope you get your engine problems sorted soon, the black gung is worrying! I loved this vlog, Alan is absolutely amazing, so cool and calm. Lots of love. xxxx
Benny "That is right wrong" I really like that way of saying something is really wrong. I will have to say that too to describe something wrong. Always enjoy your videos, I'm watching them second time around hahahaha And little Alan peeking out or your front boat, so cute.
Hiya I've been thinking could somebody have done a oil change and not having a proper container used a plastic bag and thrown it in the canal and you've driven over it getting it all over propeller.Have you pumped the oil out of the locker.Also I thought the vegetables were fridge magnets. I liked the masks
Yeah we're really not sure! It seemed much thicker than oil, more like bitumen so maybe someone dumped that in! 😬 not sure we could have pumped it out as it was in the weed hatch and would forever be pumping out the canal water. It seems to have all cleared from there now and is running fine 😀 Thanks so much for watching!
It is likely that some boater changed their engine oil and somehow the container ended up in the canal, which then got caught in your prop. You should have informed Canal Trust of this pollution, after all this is supplying people's drinking water. You are our number 1 vloggers , thank you both.
What a great couple you are,loved your video,such a lovely life,I hope the boat continues to give you joy,your so very lucky. Good luck for the future guys.From from B & J south coast.PS Going to get some of your Vegetables from ETSY👍👍
And l used to grumble about half hour trip to play at the folk group!but it was always worth it .Thanks for the mobile economics lecture .l ran out of time to go boating again .but still have a horse /music/artwork etc .Had to restrain myself from shouting out “it’s the leaves” ha ha 👍
Always interesting to hear these practical side points - after all, much as we loathe it, without money we don't get anything done these days. I must say the prices you were talking for the costs of boats are vastly lower than what I have seen browsing the for sale ads from various marinas. Sadly, the fake boom brought on by covid means that if you want a decent condition big boat (57' +) then six figure numbers appear to be norm ... in which case you might as well buy a house as that is an appreciating rather than depreciating asset. We can but hope the market comes to its senses as those who leapt onto water for the mental health/burnout recovery decide that they are ready for another round of the rat race and sell up.
I wonder if you drove over one of those oil soaks that the CRT put into the canals for mopping up leaks. They are like big sausages aren’t they. Maybe one got so heavy it sank and your prop caught it? We bought our boat in 2020. I think we got a good bargain. They’ve really gone up in price now. Thanks for the video xxx
Hello Ben, Emily and Alan 🐾🐾Great, nail biting moments in your video 😅loved the masks Ben made and I’m in awe of what you do for a living Emily- you’re clearly both very talented . Let’s not forget the carved pumpkins Emily’s cousin did, quite incredible 😃really enjoy looking forward to your videos, even watch the ads 🤣🤗🤗 enjoy your week ahead xx🌸🌺
Before readiing this I'd like to say how much I'm enjoying your v-logs, you both seem to be genuine people 👍😊 So did the problem get resolved? It wasn't leaves around the prop and it wasn't something you motored through, it's a mechanical failure from your boat. These things happen. Was it the reduction/transfer box draining out the packing gland, a failed bearing? That would explain the loss of drive while still having a reasonable sounding engine. Heat in the gearing would give you some of the problems you've got.
This is the way. That’s where I’d start. Regardless of which problem, the packing gland is leaking the contents of the bilge/sump into the canal. We keep some oil soak pads made of goose down to skim any oil (ours or someone else’s) out of the water.
Hi Chris, our bilge pump is in a container so no oil can get in there to get pumped out. We would never pump oil into the canal. We have a built in tray under our engine to contain any oil( which is minimal) its mainly water under the engine from when the calorifior was pumping out water 🙂
Hi Steve, thanks so much :D So glad you're enjoying our vlogs! Yes the problem is resolved it was just something weird that we went through, i think it was some bitumen or tar that had been dumped in the canal. The mixture of that and a LOT of leaves just gunked up the prop and made the engine struggle so much. We've had no problems since...just the leaves still! 😄
Good luck Benny and Emily if I was your age by the way I'm 85 golden oldie grand mother I would definitely give it a go especially being mortgage free you have cracked it god bless take care be safe keep sending your vlogs xx
I totally agree.
Thank you so much Gloria 🥰
It's uplifting to behold two really good people enjoying an alternative life while avoiding being owned by banks,lenders etc. Good luck going onwards. (the music's good too!)
We bought our boat after losing our jobs after COVID lockdown. I sold my home and made a small profit after having it for just 5 years. So we have enough to buy a refurbished 50year old sail away. We've re built our boat with all recycled materials including our solar set up. We're very lucky to have a ST2 lister so 'dave' will run off the smell of diesel. We also been able to fund out lifestyle with the sale of our vans, which we lived in prior to buying the boat. We've tried to start a business, but it's not doing too well. We too are C C's. We're finding that being up North is cheaper, although there isn't too many services or CC's.
Yes we realised there aren't many services on the Rochdale, have you been on the Leeds and Liverpool much? Is it similar there? The Rochdale is also very hard work! Hope your business picks up! 🙂 Maybe see you on the canals some day 😊
@@BenandEmily we've been on the lower part of the Leeds to Liverpool since July 21, as every time we want to go up the flight the pounds are dry, cars have been thrown in, or it's closed due to low water levels. The services are poor. Services are far better once past top lock near haigh. The scenery is gorgeous too. The yarrow valley is very similar to the Calder valley. Maybe see you soon too. Have a nice time in Wale's
The selby canal is very nice also maybe look into naburn at York, the Ouse is a big river but the area is so so nice
Hello Ben & Emily, purely an opinion here, but the leaves issue seems very common this time of year to many other boaters and a quick shift to reverse and back into drive seems to rectify this for the majority of boaters. The nasty looking oil in weed hatch suggests that you may have become victims of some other careless disposal of a waste oil container by another boater that your prop found and burst, since it was old used black oil. Wouldn't hurt to pull dipstick and check level and colour of oil in both your engine and transmission? Also another subscriber mentioned the stern glandin your footage appeared to be dripping a little too much, and warrants checking tightness of stern gland rope and grease and grease canister? Hope all this helps put your minds at rest. David.🤔🤞
Possibly the best presentation of the costs involved in living on the canals.
I lived on a 22 foot sailing boat for 2 years and loved every minute of it, even though it was tiny. In comparison, your boat is huge and I can't see that you've given up all that much space compared with a house. As they say, you can only be in one room at a time, so a house is always going to be 95%+ empty all of the time. I'd definitely live on a boat again. It especially makes sense in these times.
Liar
I lived in a 27' motorhome for 6 months and did not want to move back into my 2200 sq. ft home. I was soooo happy. I was doing a trip around the country in the motorhome with my daughter, two dogs and two cats. Everyone was happy. Even the cats!!
Hi, Ben and Emily, great video, we are Colin and Heather currently living in Ohio, and soon to be joining you all on the cut. You create very watchable content, you are doing great. The number of folks watching you is testimony to that.
Re your engine service you two were brilliant working together.
This is what I do, after an old change with a new oil filter, start the engine, let it run for 3-5 mins, it will have circulated the oil throughout the engine , ...... and filled up the oil filter, (on some engines that could be upto a litre of oil ) your oil filter, probably was a about a quarter of a litre , then make sure check and top up the oil level in the engine and check again. Then do the fuel filter.
I would also suggest you clean out the bottom of the engine bay of all the water and general gunge...... then you can tell if you have a leak, weather it is oil, or water or diesel or coolant.
Nappies are very good at soaking up stuff, and great for keeping the engine bay fluid free.
Are you giving the propeller shaft grease gland a turn or two (no more) each day. That could be a cause of a water leak in the engine bay , that said I think it is the overflow of the calorifier blue catch tank, which should be on you list of things you do on a daily basis before using the engine. Namely checking / doing: engine oil , grease gland turn, coolant fluid check, fan belt check tension with fingers .
Finally Your black gunge in the weed hatch issue, just a thought, someone could have thrown a plastic oil canister full of OLD USED OIL, that you hit with propeller.... that would have given you the symptoms.
Ben to save you putting you hand/arm through all that gunge, I suggest using a small can you could have scooped a load of it out of the weed hatch and then used a nappie to soak up the last of the stuff remaining on the surface of the water.
Just my thoughts. very best regards Colin and Heathet.
Looks like there are no regs / qualifications on the operational functions for these boats. Completely voluntary?
The canals appear crowded, with that many boats it’s surprising that it’s not more polluted.
Llangollen bottom lock is so much nicer after the repair last year, wider and so. I love you are doing this canal, it´s one of my favourites as a viewer.
You are much more in touch with nature and have more freedom with this lifestyle. I like it.
This is a really big help for me and my partner. At the moment we are saving up and looking at ways to live without the long lasting debts. But we both long canal boats a lot and looking at the possibility of buying one. You both have been a great help. Also I love your cat super cute 🥰. It’s been really nice to see a couple living together on a boat and just seeing what it’s like living on one. Thank you so much 😊
Emily you are a very clear speaker and getting better all the time. You’re engaging and positive and good with the camera, which is a natural talent. Since you had the filter off your engine and also opened the tap, I’d definitely have a look under the engine to see that nothing is coming out of those places. Check the engine oil level. I also wonder if the mechanic disturbed an oil seal on the output shaft, and oil could be running along the shaft to the prop.
That was my first thought, but then it couldn't explain the intermittent loss of drive.
Hopefully it was just leaves or some sunken mass of twine that fouled the prop, and cleared itself, otherwise I would be worried about the woodruff key that locks the propeller to the shaft. Any large amount of clogging around prop can cause it to become ineffective at driving the boat, so let's hope it was that.
Anyway great video informing us of the costs of constant cruising.
@@chrisyarnold6205 Actually it could lead to overheating and so reduced power as everything expands (check your oil level guys) ... also all those leaves could be clogging the water intake for the engine cooling which again would lead to overheating and the motor not feeling well. Anyway their vids are a month behind so I'm sure it's all sorted by now
Gland nut should drop every minute...When needs blacking again check the prop shaft that it is not too worn... Make sure you bilge pump is ok and working.................................Robbie
That stuff in your weed hatch reminded me of an Oil slick and the rainbow patters in the water confirmed it for me! The water in the Llangollen suplies Hurlesdon Reservoir and so Shropshire with drinking water, OOPS! My Wife, my cousen her husband and I had our very first canal holiday on the Llangollen.We picked our boat up from Anglo Welsh at Bunbury Locks. and folowed the Llangollen as far as Grindley Brook Staircase Locks before turning around and returning. If you are enjoying the Llangollen now, just wait untill you get passed Grindley Brook, Its such a beautiful canal and only two locks all the way to Llangollen.
I’ve just found you in the last couple of days. Im binge watching backwards. Brilliant videos. You’re naturals. And Alan is a joy to watch.
great tube as always . i am getting on a bit and you are the only countryside i see , so thanks for that. as an old mechanic if its as you say leaves on the prop, i would think one, or more , has got under a seal on the prop and could be oil or grease getting out into the water. if it has cleared i would still check all grease points and oil levels to make sure they are ok. luv you.
Ah....my favourite narrow boaters! Super episode guys and helpful for my retirement plans, thank you. Your music is constantly on Benny and keeps me calm and happy.
Saturday is now the best day of the week.
Big like 👍👍👍
Wow! wonderful sharing friend.
Great upload 💐💐💐
You guys work so hard as a team. And how far you come. You ate totally self sufficient. Love to watch Alan going in and out for a wander .thank you both for a great Vlog much love
great to see young people doing what they want to do and doing it with a balanced attitude,,,,hope they are still doing it in 20 years from now,,,,
Just found you guys on here! Love your vlogs. Living a vicarious narrow boat life through you! All power to you, love the way you just get on with things! Hope that black stuff didn't ruin the propeller. I realize you have to learn a lot of the way with narrow boats, but nothing is impossible!! All good wishes to you both and Alan of course! 🐈
Very informative...ty. Going back to when I last hired a boat for a weeks holiday, the cost was £40 for the week between 4 of us...happy days
I have been watch your vlogs, and love the interaction between you all. Great to see real people being real. and so laid back at times. Its been a nice to see the change in time over the time you've been on-line.
Hi guys, welcome to Cymru. A bit of a mystery with the prop situation, hope it is sorted for you. Keep on chugging
You are marvelously productive, competent and charming.
Love this channel.
Thank you!
Awesome video's guy's !!! What a great lifestyle you's have ... Thanks for the video's , we Canadians love this stuff :-)
Brilliance vlog guys! So interesting ans grounded. Emily you are so dry and have a great sense of humour ( I laughed at the your explanation re. The engine and sludge?) Lovely couple not out to be someone your not , just loving a happy, simple but interesting life. Good for you both! Really enjoy your videos thanks again xx
Loads of detail that most of us would not consider ... nicely done 😎
I am always fascinated by your episodes & the photography that seems so simple with quick scenes. The collection is always a superb production. Thanks so much for this segment of the Llangollen canal: It is beautiful.
Your adventures together are super special, thanks so much for taking the time to edit your filmings and share them! Alan is having the time of her life😺Keep em coming you guys xx
Thanks for the living cost breakdown. Absolutely love Alan. Glad your crisis solved. You are so talented Bennie, as are you Em. Thanks for a great vlog!
Sounds like a lovely way of life surrounded by nature all the time may be a small boat but if it feels like home that's all you need
I am amazed at how some people make their money and you two are proof of that. All I can say is well done, fantastic, you deserve it for being ingenious.
Looks like you have it sorted. Totally agree with you on the leaves and lock tar.
Black stuff was oil. Also, the stern gland seemed to be letting in more water than what's ideal. 1 or 2 drops per minute.
Thanks for the video 👍❤️
Agreed 100% oil and that engine is a ticking time bomb. I would get that checked out sooner than later.
Came on to say the same, the gland was dripping faster than it should, i recon that black sludge was the packing grease 👍
@@Dirt-Diggler ah yes, why didn't I think of the oil coming from the gland. 👍.
My experience is many years on large water pumps and working on gland packing changes. Boating experience is about 7 holidays 😀..........
When turning the greaser by hand ideally you'll want to turn it a few turns every few days and feel some resistance then do an extra half turn. I'll say 2 or 3 turns in total. The 2 nuts on the packing gland will need tightening up slightly first though. Nip the nuts up and then give them an extra half or full turn.
The nuts on the picking gland should be tight enough to only let 1 or 2 drops per minute through when the propeller shaft is running.
With the nuts applying the correct pressure on the packing gland that should be enough to reduce water coming in and stop that grease going out into the weed hatch.
If the nuts can't be tightened any more it'll probably need packing replacing. The packing is like square waxy rope. Maybe 4 or 5 correctly cut and positioned with the join at 1/3 spacing around the shaft.
Leave packing replacing to an expert as you don't want them all coming out and water pouring in, although a temporary long term fix could be too add an extra 1 or 2 sections of gland packing on top of what's already in there if those nuts are already fully tightened. But it'll be best to get a competent DIYer to have a look.
Or do some research first 👍
Hi we believe we drove through some spilled bitumen, as it was bitumen in the weed hatch. I'm not sure how oil from our engine could get into our weed hatch? Our engine is fine, but thanks for your concern 😊
@@BenandEmily check the drops from the gland though. 1 or 2 drops a minute is ideal. 👍
17:00 I think that black oil is leaking from other boats, which your propeller collected and sprayed into the propeller shaft, it's not yours.
Lovely to see you, Emily, Benny and Allan. Great vlog and love the music. Benny, those leaves don't go to waste, they become leaf mould which nourish the earth 😘 xxxxx
Thanks so much for watching and so glad you are enjoying them 😊 Yes I know about leaves and compost I was just being silly❤️ 😊
I don’t know if any one has said yet..it’s the autumn leaves. When it does that take revs off and then reverse. When I see loads of leaves I go through in neautral. Enjoy
Finally someone who actually has something helpful to say!
Thank you, I trawled through so many contents trying to find an answer
Hi Just watched your vlog which we enjoyed we are heading back down the Llangollen good to meet you in the basin hope to see you again
David and Ruth nb life's Too Short
Loving the vlogs, very chilled and well shot. With the oil on water issue, keep some eco friendly washing up liquid near the engine bay, not just in the galley. Having worked extensively around water, on lock gates etc. the occasional oil spill would happen. A quick squirt of wash liquid into the oil slick will make it dissipate and break down the molecular bond. I used to squirt it out in big s patterns to hit bigger ones. A squirt in your weed hatch would have gotten rid any oil before Benny put his arm in. At least now his strumming must be well 'slick'. 💪😂
Hi guys, great video as usual. As andyangus said before, get a pack of vet long disposable gloves for prop cleaning. They come up to your armpit but are a bit flimsy, so I put a heavy duty, disposable work glove over the top on your hand.
We had the same thing in the autumn with our boat. Nothing in weed hatch but we lost power. It was just leaves. Swift bit of reverse and it fixed it. Had to do this loads
Beautiful pictures well put together with a wonderful vibe. Its like a big warm hug. Thank you so much. Cheers
Love the channel! It is growing fast! Glad I found it.. Your Feline and I share the same name 😊Best regards from USA!
Only found this channel a couple of days ago , watching in random order and really enjoying your boat life , lovely couple and great to watch whilst the other half watches her soaps 😊
I have never met a fantasy vegetable green Grocers before. Love your vlogs. Chris
😄
I have just watched you three for the first time today.
And Hebden Bridge, a lot of my relatives worked at the mills there.
Most of my relatives live very close.
I was born in Todmorden.
Thanks for taking me home. I live in New Brunswick Canada.
Well done kids! Free @ last......much respect from Cali!....👏🏻🥂👏🏻
So enjoying your escapades. Well done for taking the plunge so early in your lives. I'm 70 and just about to take to the network. Learning so much watching your adventures. Q? What guide book do you use... the book I see you refer to shows so much of what's where etc? Thank you and good luck.
Great Vlog, so much variety in the content. Love the masks that Benny made. Alan walking on the towpath is so cute. Hope the engine problem is sorted. I was thinking it was an oil leak, but hopefully just the leaves. Thanks for sharing. 🙏😊🤗 Kathy
Thanks for watching 😊
In looking at my ancient Nicholson guide, your first night on the Llangollen appears to be within a few hundred feet of where we spent our first night on a narrowboat way back in 1981. It was to turn into a long love affair with the canals of the UK and France. Looking forward to more of the Llangollen.
It's always so interesting, seeing what you guys are up to! The photography is particularly nice in this one. Since I live under a very large tree, I am inspired now and I know what I need to do- have begun gathering up what's left in the yard and planning my full-body jumpsuit, hoping it comes out as splendid as your masks, Benny! ❤ All of my best to Alan. 😸
When I'm travelling autumn/winter time, once leaves start falling, I get into the habit of putting engine in reverse every so often to clear leaves from the prop as they can be a problem if it builds up too much (sitting in locks are the worst).
Not sure about the oil/diesel problem you had though. Washing up liquid can help to disperse it.
Another lovely video, take care & stay safe x
Just came across your vlog. I got home after a lovely amazing week on a narrow boat with friends along the canal in North Wales following the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct and Chirk Aquaduct. You are a lovely talented couple, take care.
Learn more of maintenance checks. Should have checked your gear oil. Great video. Very much enjoyed. From Indiana USA
Those masks are epic Benny , you've certainly found your new calling ! Hope the boat is happily tugging along , love being apart of your travels . say hello to Alan for me , Ta!
Another great vid. It's very interesting to see the cost breakdowns. It goes to show that you don't get something for nothing in this world; no matter how hard we may wish otherwise!
In the mid eighties, I was happily owned by Alan's absolute and complete doppelganger; mannerisms, appearance, the whole box and dice. Her name back then was 'Tiss', or 'Ts', derived from tortoise shell. Not very imaginative but she seemed to approve! She's long gone from that life now but I'm happy she's found you two for this one.
I lived on a58 ft narrowboat [solo] for about 5 years and loved every minute of it. About your problem with your engine .Don't worry. My mooring was in Chirk marina so the Llangollen canal was basically my home. Leaves on this canal are a pest,but if every so often if you feel as if your engine is losing power put the engine in reverse and rev the engine.This throws the leaves off in the same way as it drags them on. The black will be something that some idiotic boater has thrown in the water and your leafy prop has picked up. I now live in St Martins which you will be passing shortly unless you already have. I hope that I have put your minds at rest. Good luck.
Greetings from Middle Earth (New Zealand) !!…you guys (Allan included) are definitely my “go to” vlog
Always had canals in my blood…maybe cus I was born in Canal street Congleton !! Did manage to cruise the Midi one time
Keep those wonderful vids happening. Jon
Great vlog you two, those pumpkins were brilliant you have a very talented family and of course you both are to 👍🙏
There is somehow a beautiful symmetry about turning down a cottage with damp problems… and then ending up with a narrowboat ?
Quite possibly hehe
The Black stuff Was Diesel or oil in the water though i am not sure where it came from maybe somebody had a leak on their boat and seeing you had just serviced your engine check and make shore it was not your oil leaking ???? then the leaves where very bad in the locks so that might be why it cleared after you got away from the locks, but hope the rest of the time on you trip in to Wales was ok no trouble Great scenery along the canal plus going over the viaduct is a thing to remember it is also a special trip to walk down to the river Dee and then look up at the viaduct. plus lots of history there in Llanggollen Have fun stay safe take care of Allan. Ed 40 S of Vegas XXXX
Hi you two, this is my first time on your Blog and it looks great. Well from here it does anyway, must be beautiful in the summer but bloody freezing in the winter. But very cozy when the fire is going yes I do envy you both. Can you stop at the pubs while your cruising? Your music goes with your narrow boat very nice. See you next week and thanks 🙏 Jon 🇦🇺😘
A bit late to the party as they say. I spent most of my childhood holidays on the canals, both on cruisers with outboards, and a narrowboat with a BMC 1500 diesel. It would be my guess that what you got wrapped round your prop at lock 1 was maybe some bitumous or tar sheeting of some kind, and the prop partially chopped it up leaving bits of tar in the water. Just a tip for the future, a few drops of washing up liquid into the water will disperse stuff like that in a jiffy. I had to do that after spilling a cup full of fuel oil into the water when refuelling a ship and the bunker overflowed.
You make such a lovely couple 🥰🥰🥰
Your little vegetables are really cute. Keep up the good work and have fun.
Ben and Emily, I enjoy you vids. Happy New year best wishes for 2024
Love you 😍 guys so much. Would love to have seen more of the gig. Have been trying to get my head round the black gunk in the weed hatch but can't think of anything. Take care, be safe xx
Fantastic vlog. Nice to see the road from littleborough to todd to hebden , used to live there 30 years ago. Keep the vlogs coming, canal life in the countryside seems timeless.
I love the scenery and how you live on your boat. I live in the desert in Arizona so I love the green trees, canal ect. Thank you for sharing
Thanks for the great info guys, I'm saving for my first boat at the moment going to try n get 30k for 40 to 45ft so about bang on what you said. Aiming for this time next year to start boat shopping:)
Sometimes when engines lose power, its worth checking for signs of overheating... I'm not sure how your engine is cooled, but it might be worth checking that there is no leaves blocking the water intake.. (Always check water coolant levels when the engine is cold, otherwise you may scold yourselves with hot gushing water !! Good luck.... I'm a new subscriber that really enjoys your content.. Thanks
Heat exchanger - canal water goes through a tube containing tube(s) from the engine instead of a radiator.
Emily and Ben and Ms. Allen you girls are the best! thsnks for sharing your wonderful life! Great answers for the questons.
Perhaps your best yet and I wanted to hug you both. I've been with you awhile. Thank you.
Sending coffee your way soon
You will love Llangollen..as a kid there, horses pulled the boats....see the falls there, stay safe.
Thank you for your video about the cost of narrow boat life. It is very informative. It's good to see a cat can be happy living on a narrow boat. If I win the lotto I will get a boat and live on it permanently with my cat.
Wishing you all the very best.
I always wondered where the veggies with the eyes came from lol 😂.
They are extremely cute.
I think the bitumen black that you do on the bottom of your Boat is really meant to be done with the bitumen being heated up in buckets on a brazier before being painted on.
A neat little trick for you on your guitar is using WD40 to clean and lubricate the strings and it lengthens their life.
The stuff that was in your weed hatch was probably bitumen that the workers were using on the woods in the lock or a mixture of some sort ?.
Love the Videos ❤
What another feel good video!!!
Perhaps you have been told but when cruising in autumn and there are plenty of leaves etc on the surface, in my opinion is around every 20 - 30min always put the prop in to reverse for a short time, try forward again, if the same thing happens again repeat. Try again if it’s still a problem then it’s the weed hatch.
Fallen leaves are not a waste Benny, it’s natures way of returning nurturant to the soil. However a handful for other purposes it’s going to create a problem
PERHAPS use one of the nappies to soak up the black slime, and check if it comes back?
Thanks for the insight into living on a narrowboat. I would love to live on a boat but suffer from motion sickness, so I have to just dream of the life. I do have a fishing kayak but have to take sickness pills before I can go out to sea on it.
Hi, why don't you put a link to your mini-vegetable-shop on your YT- channel? Cheers from Vienna/Austria
Really informative & fact filled video on the topic of 'how much' and the costs of buying, running & the maintenance living in your narrowboat home ...
I am really taken with your video episodes that are so interesting and very much the real deal 'as it's happening' such as the incident with the 'engine and propeller' along the way, & with many other episodes where you always take the time to add interesting facts or details about the places you visit ...
The video logs you produce of your independent life living on the canals presents very addictive viewing. 👍🙂
Hi If you have a bilge pump that might have switched on and pumped oily water over the side that also would account for oil on the water and in your inspection hatch, as i noticed the stern gland is leaking badly. Cheers
Thanks Ramsey 🙂 our bilge pump sits in a container so it only puts out water from the stern gland so no oil would get in. We're still confused what it was as it wasn't like oil more like thick tar or bitumen. So odd! It seems to have cleared now and all working fine 😊
well done on the welsh pronunciation. i think im gonna need some sort of anthropomorphic vegetable for the tiller pin.
I love the masks! You’re so creative. I hope you get your engine problems sorted soon, the black gung is worrying! I loved this vlog, Alan is absolutely amazing, so cool and calm. Lots of love. xxxx
Benny "That is right wrong" I really like that way of saying something is really wrong. I will have to say that too to describe something wrong. Always enjoy your videos, I'm watching them second time around hahahaha And little Alan peeking out or your front boat, so cute.
The Musketeers, Sir Ben , Lady Emily, Shere kham Alan and Moses. The quest aloam. Cheers. xxx
Thanks for sharing your great experience from south Korea.
Great music throughout your vlog. Enjoyed watching.
That’s gold mine for sure mask making I am sure that can be developed or evolved amazing 🤩 music is great as well
Hiya I've been thinking could somebody have done a oil change and not having a proper container used a plastic bag and thrown it in the canal and you've driven over it getting it all over propeller.Have you pumped the oil out of the locker.Also I thought the vegetables were fridge magnets. I liked the masks
Yeah we're really not sure! It seemed much thicker than oil, more like bitumen so maybe someone dumped that in! 😬 not sure we could have pumped it out as it was in the weed hatch and would forever be pumping out the canal water. It seems to have all cleared from there now and is running fine 😀 Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks for the intimate details. Lifestyle hacked!
Totally different to my normal subscribes, thanks for the uploads, love it.
Thanks so much for watching 😊
It is likely that some boater changed their engine oil and somehow the container ended up in the canal, which then got caught in your prop. You should have informed Canal Trust of this pollution, after all this is supplying people's drinking water. You are our number 1 vloggers , thank you both.
What a great couple you are,loved your video,such a lovely life,I hope the boat continues to give you joy,your so very lucky. Good luck for the future guys.From from B & J south coast.PS Going to get some of your Vegetables from ETSY👍👍
Alan, seems such a patient soul, very calming.
And l used to grumble about half hour trip to play at the folk group!but it was always worth it .Thanks for the mobile economics lecture .l ran out of time to go boating again .but still have a horse /music/artwork etc .Had to restrain myself from shouting out “it’s the leaves” ha ha 👍
Always interesting to hear these practical side points - after all, much as we loathe it, without money we don't get anything done these days. I must say the prices you were talking for the costs of boats are vastly lower than what I have seen browsing the for sale ads from various marinas. Sadly, the fake boom brought on by covid means that if you want a decent condition big boat (57' +) then six figure numbers appear to be norm ... in which case you might as well buy a house as that is an appreciating rather than depreciating asset. We can but hope the market comes to its senses as those who leapt onto water for the mental health/burnout recovery decide that they are ready for another round of the rat race and sell up.
I wonder if you drove over one of those oil soaks that the CRT put into the canals for mopping up leaks. They are like big sausages aren’t they. Maybe one got so heavy it sank and your prop caught it? We bought our boat in 2020. I think we got a good bargain. They’ve really gone up in price now. Thanks for the video xxx
Hello Ben, Emily and Alan 🐾🐾Great, nail biting moments in your video 😅loved the masks Ben made and I’m in awe of what you do for a living Emily- you’re clearly both very talented . Let’s not forget the carved pumpkins Emily’s cousin did, quite incredible 😃really enjoy looking forward to your videos, even watch the ads 🤣🤗🤗 enjoy your week ahead xx🌸🌺
Thank you so much, so glad you're enjoying the videos 😊
Thanks you bloody marvellous souls. Benny you are looking so cool in your colourful, stylish clothes. Love the colours. 😊 thanks xx
Before readiing this I'd like to say how much I'm enjoying your v-logs, you both seem to be genuine people 👍😊
So did the problem get resolved? It wasn't leaves around the prop and it wasn't something you motored through, it's a mechanical failure from your boat. These things happen. Was it the reduction/transfer box draining out the packing gland, a failed bearing? That would explain the loss of drive while still having a reasonable sounding engine. Heat in the gearing would give you some of the problems you've got.
This is the way. That’s where I’d start. Regardless of which problem, the packing gland is leaking the contents of the bilge/sump into the canal. We keep some oil soak pads made of goose down to skim any oil (ours or someone else’s) out of the water.
Hi Chris, our bilge pump is in a container so no oil can get in there to get pumped out. We would never pump oil into the canal. We have a built in tray under our engine to contain any oil( which is minimal) its mainly water under the engine from when the calorifior was pumping out water 🙂
Hi Steve,
thanks so much :D So glad you're enjoying our vlogs! Yes the problem is resolved it was just something weird that we went through, i think it was some bitumen or tar that had been dumped in the canal. The mixture of that and a LOT of leaves just gunked up the prop and made the engine struggle so much. We've had no problems since...just the leaves still! 😄