For those of you who've missed earlier episodes, bilge keels or deeper keels are discounted for use due to vulnerability to sea ice. I won't be replying to each comment suggesting them from this point on!
I’d think about placing a second back up line on your “support dinghy”. Last thing you need is the main line to disintegrate or loosen when you least expect it and when you need that dinghy. If you can, might be worth making triangular clip on seats that you can slot on top of the support bars on top. Just means you can have a reasonably stable seating position in the corner or your choice but somewhere you can enjoy on calm days - just a thought. Well done on your progress!
Yes, that was pleasing :) Although, having recently re-read “Good Omens”, I also wondered whether Alex was seriously considering the reactor having vanished 😎
Quirky boating, DIY, and dry British humor? This channel is everything I could want. Just binged this whole series this afternoon and I'm looking forward to more!
Dunno how I ended up down this rabbit hole but these lifeboats are apparently surprisingly cute. Definitely would make a more interesting house than a canal barge
A depth finder would be a good add on especially for shallow conditions and gps as well as with some lowrance ones you get a map gps, depth finder and can even set waypoints. You Might also be able to have a speedometer on it too. You should cross drill the top rail so you can rely on it and maybe even use a stronger pipe so it’s a proper railing that you can lean on.
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Your depth sounder can also function as a knot meter. I would look at the in hull options. They can shoot right through the fiberglass bottom. Easy to install and no holes in the boat. Especially when dealing with tides you'll want to know your speed in the water vs true speed (GPS)
Man... Alex, I am so drunk at the moment but, I am really proud at this appraisal of ALAN within your own prerequisites and the old man despite his doubts which I can see you both respect and are determined to transcend for the sake of your quizzical venture called. ALAN
Nice to see Alan afloat. Re the rolling: Bilge keels you've already rejected due to ice. Good call. Stabilising booms and anti roll "fish” on cables are relatively cheap. Just use hinged aluminium pipe and painted steel fish. Super common on small fishing boats. Watching the roll period Alan is VERY stable. One other item that you could consider is an anti roll U tube tank. They are partly filled with sea water. You have to adjust the amount of water and cross flow tube restriction so that the natural frequency of the tank is the same as the roll period but 180 deg out of phase with Alan's natural roll period. Harder to sort out compared to booms and fishes.
Came here from curiously looking for interiors of life boats for no particular reason, as one does. And I stumbled on you video. And for the life of me I can't believe no one in the comment section has point out how you look like Robert Downey Jr's doppelganger. And here I thought Iron Man was into converting a life boat. Well wishes to you and Alan!
Name a more iconic duo, I'll wait. Thanks Alex for this fantastic episode. Dick was a pleasure to watch and listen to. Onwards with the next chapter of Alan's journey!
Your friend Alan is absolutely right about learning to manover your boat, backing up and figure of eights and they are semi standard tests both for driver and boat and are best practiced in flat clam conditions, a single screw boat will always prop steer at low speed, so to have any control going astern you need to get way on (speed) once going astern keep the rudder straight and only give it tiny corrections to get where you want to go 2 or 3 degrees from centerline. You haven't run then engine flat out of an hour or so, you need to know if it is going to do it.
Sound proofing the engine is great and you should do your best, but, in my Diesel Motorsailer, which is actually pretty quiet, the engine drone still gets to me after a couple of hours and I have resorted to wearing earplugs which for me makes things quite pleasant. It also cuts out most of that nagging sound from the wif......I mean other crew members too! :) Great vids!
@@AlexHibbertOriginals The current state of technology for headphone with noise cancellation is worth looking into, giving you the best of both worlds. I'm currently watching this video with a pair.
@@PlasmaOscillations Fully agree. I have a pair of over-ear Sony headphones and in-ear earphones I use all the time. They were originally purchased for long international flights. They work incredibly well. It is a little strange, however, as I can't hear other people or the stewardess but it feels like I can still hear a little of the plane itself. I think that's more to do with "feeling" the plane and imagining the sound than actually hearing it....
You mentioned sleeping platforms Given adaquite warmth, reinforcement, and willpower, hammocks could be more comfortable (they accommodate somewhat for roll) and space efficient.
My dad (RN 1942-1947) swore by hammocks for comfort warmth and security. He hated bunks. Plus they can be rolled up and stowed out of the way when not in use and take seconds to deploy. So I concur with your suggestion.
@@wideyxyz2271 I concur with your concurrence. I exclusively used a hammock during the hiking and camping period of my life and also found them to be secure and warm. Plus, much easier to roll up and stow in a backpack than a bunk would be. Cheers
Lovely to see your progress Alex and so full of interesting lessons to be learned from all your developments. This is all a great asset to all the other lifeboat projects under way and is very much appreciated. One little comment I must make is for you to get into the habit of ALWAYS tying a secondary safety line to your little tender on a secondary point whilst being towed along at the back of you. We learned the hard way many years ago when some unnoticed chaffing on the line led to our tenders disappearance under passage! We had friends quite recently also lost and never recovered over £8k's worth of dingy, electric outboard and lithium batteries during a coastal passage. They are still fighting their insurance company over a year later that have deemed the issue as their negligence. Keep up the good work my friend, you are a great ambassador for this fraternity. Regards Gavin (Scottish Borders) Electrical engineer currently planning full solar & kite powered craft.
That's a really nice boat you've got there! I can't imagine a more robust vessel than the one you chose, it makes for a very good starting point. How strange that some viewers are hostile to a man working to get his boat just how he wants it, it would be difficult to imagine a more positive thing than what you're doing! I shall have to spend some time watching your earlier videos in order to discover what you've done and the reason that you're doing it. Lifeboats have come a long way since the days of open boats and yours looks to be quite sophisticated.
I did a fair bit of research on sound insulation when rebuilding an old land rover 101 a few years back, as in the cab you sit right beside the engine. Foam will help a bit with reflected sound but if you want to reduce noise transmission you really need a layer of the most dense material possible. I went for thin lead 'foil' in the engine cover but there are other options like rubber sheets with high density mineral 'fillers'.
Hi. Yes, Alan needs plenty of ballast to help against lateral rolling. It is designed to self-right after a capsize, so needs lots of ballast low down in the keel. This will also help against rolling and make Alan sit better in the water. The downside is that it will make Alan even slower and possibly harder to control, or not as responsive. Alan was designed to keep people alive, in open seas, until help arrived, not as a pleasure cruiser. Alan is a great craft though, and I can't wait to see your adventures in him.
Thank you for acknowledging my provocative attempt at humor on the last one. Cheers. I'll bring you some pastries next time I'm in London. ;) You should ship him off to do sea trials in the Caribbean during hurricane season. Haha
One thing you might wish to consider is adding a small deck to be taken inside or stowed topside .. something you could stand flatfooted on .. just outside the side doors. Maybe even a permanent deck off the stern to give you some extra footing, etc. Enjoying the build process .. really cute boat.
Awesome project, I’ve enjoyed watching it come along. You asked for suggestions, so I’ve got one. You might get a hair better fuel consumption by routing the engine intake through the cover to let it suck colder air
Having only recently discovered, and subsequently caught up through a solid binge watching session on all activities thus far, I can only say how disappointed I am to now have to wait in line for the next update. Liked and subbed.
Hammocks have a great advantage in cold climates as they can be slung high up in the cabin where the warm air collects. If you choose to use them, be sure to stretch them very taut (RN style), not in a slack, dangling sling configuration (as seen in the movies), which will result in sleep-apnea, backache and stiffness as well as muscle fatigue.
Thanks alot for this video. I have often wondered about those cute little boats, even to the point of looking to buy one. After living most of my life on my sailboats, perhaps one of those little fellows will be in my future. I find life at six knots to be more than adequate for happiness.
Great video. Couple ideas: some type of bow thruster - thinking on a hinge to drop into water as needed. Second steering wheel and throttle mounted high (no need for foot). GPS guided autopilot (when in open seas it is really point A to point B). In general, it needs more brackets.
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Mine has one of the old style drive motors connected to the wheel by a belt with a control module that just holds a compass bearing. I'm not sure if they still sell them new but maybe a second hand one would be cheap and be good enough?
I attempted to buy a lifeboat about 15 years ago… I failed find one for sale… glad to see someone else was more successful… I wanted to do the Loop in America.
I know what you mean about the first time you fly a drone off the boat and out over the water, it made for some nice shots though. There are generally four or five Thames barges where I am moored so you have to watch out for the tall masts rather than the usual trees.
Awesome boat and idea. I think roll with that boat will be a problem in its life, even if you ballast it and try to adjust. That being said, what an awesome idea for a low cost boat for adventure. Not surprised people convert these to houseboats.
Very cool, I like it! I would fabricate two retractable outriggers that could be lowered and locked into place to help sooth the roll in choppy waters.
excellent job you are doing. love to see thing get a new life. a thought on the anchor mounting if you have not done so already. as there are two metal brackets on the bow just above waterline, you might fabricate a mount there. and perhaps a small grate to stand on when handling the anchor. safe journeys.
I’ve been interested in these rescue boats for the last couple of months and I came across your channel and I have to say for the links of your presentation I actually stayed the entire time which is not typical of me on TH-cam unless I’m extremely interested in the Content, great job, great presentation very interesting topic
All went swimmingly as I would expect ... it was built to save lives in the worst of conditions after all and while you have a specific job in mind for Alan .. I'm looking at a live aboard pipe dream for him or one like this ... the change I would make is to add more visibility especially from the helm .. I would want to see where I was going better ... other than that ... it's a great little craft ..!
Observations and suggestions (both can be, and likely will be ignored) Ascetics: 17:05 not the worst, then we see the worst (glad I had not eaten yet today) Steering: while (almost) completely unfeasible a steerable shroud would solve a lot of issues Rolling: stabiliser vanes below the waterline 1/3rd back from the bow at 45 deg from the horizontal would help and likely not add to the draught. EGT sensor: would be useful in monitoring the health and performance of the engine and turbo if fitted at the end of the exhaust headers.
At anchor could use a "flopper stopper" to reduce rolling. There are some commercial ones, and numerous designs for diy. I built mine myself, a plywood square weighted on one side with reclaimed lead flashing and covered in grp to stiffen and waterproof it. The idea is as the boat rocks one way the unweighted side of the board rises allowing it to slip down through the water easily, then as the boat rocks the other way the board is pulled horizontal offering considerable resistance to the roll. Having it on one side of the boat working in one direction ensures each direction has a different resonant frequency to help prevent that resonant build up of rolling that has everything crash to the floor. Of course it's no use under way, but makes things easier when anchored somewhere. I think some fishing boats have towed things on booms out the side to alleviate rolling, but not sure how that could be adapted to a life boat in ice.
Few life improvers for a sea: nmea like system with a GPS, magnetic compass and underwater speed sensor. This would give you heading over ground vs magnetic heading and speed over ground vs water speed. Also think about maybe a navtex (get storm warnings and weather forecasts), ais reciever (get warned before you get hit by a huge boat in the middle in the ocean) and maybe autopilot (explains itself), steering remote (steer while sitting on the deck) and some emergency equipment (inflatable lifeboat for your lifeboat and some *pyrotechnic* flares). Btw love your vids.
I just ran across your Wonderful videoI have been a boater for over 50 years on San Francisco Bay would have been a great test for your mighty vessel as it is one of the most dangerous bays in the world Carry on young man Your planning and forethought is what built Western civilization I have had many boats up to 50' actually but at my age I'm holding on to the best boat I've ever had which is an albin Deluxe Built-in Sweden yes she is designed to roll she is seekindly And designed should she hit a big wave to roll a bit over and then snap right back hall to what you have I have subscribed to your channel and will follow your progress And you are doing it the right way and blessings to your wonderful friend your mentor because hes bringing the old knowledge to you which must be carried on Blessings to you and yours from Merlin Oregon only 2 hours drive to the coast of Oregon where my albin 25 is sitting in her birth cheers
I've I've always though of getting one of these boats and fitting it with a mast and sails and putting a keel kinda like the Dutch racing barges are made. With a retractable keel on each side . Seems like they have a lot of room to work with
You need 2 outriggers with suspension. To reduce roll. You could do active noise cancelling to reduce engine noise. A mic inside the box and laptop plugged into speakers.
You might consider shifting part of the forward ballist aft about 2 ft to raise the bow entrance profile and shed aside some of the waves instead of riding the profile of the wave full length. I think the bow should be up some maybe 5 degrees if you could you would have a very stable ride I would have moved people around to balance if we were using it for a rescue. God Bless you with safety and comfort Brother!😎❤️🖖🏼🇺🇸
My (admittedly limited) understanding of boat stability is that concentrating all the ballast in a limited area may not actually be the best option, as this gives a focus for the boat to oscillate around, which could militate against the form stability of a fairly boxy hull-form (sorry Alan!) You have the luxury of a relatively large internal volume compared with a lot of recreational craft of similar length, I wonder if there's any benefit i spreading the ballast bars more widely? Naval architects who understand metacentric heights are welcome to destroy my suggestion. Good to see him afloat!
Not a naval architect, but from what i know of calculating stability when loadinc cargo on ships, the most effective way to slow down rolling movements is to out weight higher up. Pretty sure allan is so small though (im sorry Allan) that in order to get the rolling period of allan below any waves, he will be upside down allready. Might iron out some small violent shakes though. (Think an oldschool metronome with the weight low vs with the weight high)
I think these are a great base for a modified boat, solve ventilation (those things are quiet moist inside if used) and you are pretty much sorted out. But I think you know what you are doing!
Don't forget when running auxiliary tank[s] that the return line needs to return to the feed tank. If the return line goes back to the contaminated tank well then it's lost. The plumbing and switching for that can be quite complex in an emergency and is a system likely to confuse when needed most esp if it is manually operated. Also gal strapped together like that does corrode if it gets wet. I know because I drive trucks for a major steel company and all galvanized steel product has to be tarped if raining and some suppliers won't allow you to leave their facility even in the middle of a heatwave without the load being tarped. It's a very serious thing in the steel transport and distribution industry. Customers go crazy if their gal products get wet and many won't accept it. It gets white rust, where the zinc starts to convert to zinc oxide, exposing the base metal which then rusts rapidly - and that's just rainwater. Same electrolysis as dissimilar metals, but in this instance zinc and mild steel - each piece acting as a battery plate.
Congrats on successfull sea trial! Just an idea but I think you should make same kind of simple crane or winch system on aft to load/unload batteries and other stuff more easily. Good luck and have fun.
Me encanta la idea de convertir un bote salvavidas en un bote de recreo,siempre me han llamado la atención estes botes,me parece una fortaleza flotante,mucha suerte,saludos desde Galicia
@@AlexHibbertOriginals The company who make them (I think in Norway) came to visit once and showed us a video where they pontooned a lagoon, filled it with crude oil and plonked one of these rescue boats in the middle of all the oil. They then set the oil alight and let it burn until the oil was gone. The boat was completely black, but a fire boat sprayed it with water and there wasn't a blemish on it. I think the internal temperature had gone up about five degrees that's all. Impressive.
A few years ago I saw a couple of guys on TH-cam that had taken one of these and converted it over to solar with minimal Resto modification and still kept the fuel back up motor
I noticed a knife sitting loose on the bench. Maybe some magnetic stripping could give you a place to put loose tools when they need to be left out for access
Love it, id extend the keel 1 foot, by matching the width of the existing keel and making a 1 foot through bolted on extension out of solid steel, that would make her track alot more, and the ballast problem would be solved, you could then lengthen the rudder around a foot too and fix the steering issue.. haha i love this build, thats what id do if i was building it, id even remove the rear doghouse and lower the rear cabin deck past the rounded corners to add a a rear deck and add a mast and boom with a mainsail and a furling jib haha..
You need to re-orient that air intake for the turbo to draw its air from as high as possible. If the boat does begin to take on water having the engine still function until the very very last can and will save your life. This has been the case for me once a long time ago and I'm here to write about it. Our current boat has the air intake even higher again than the one that filled up years ago. If you're concerned about dust ingress and have it pointing down so as not to collect falling solids, then simply add a U bend to the end as well as pointing it up high. My 2c, ignore at your potential peril. :-)
At risk of the enormous peril you oddly-happily predict, it's important to take into account that if flooding, Alan will behave very differently to a non-foam-filled boat. The turbo intake was set at this position by a specialist mechanic during servicing this year.
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Your specialist mechanic obviously didn't see the boat afloat. Take one look at the outside and measure the current under-loaded water line and you'll find that it's already below that, so the amount of foam is irrelevant it will be even lower. Give yourself the best chance of survival and put it up high where it belongs! This is a boat! :-D Even if it was 1cm above the flooded water line that would not be good because it would be gulping salt water intermittently as little inside waves sloshed in. Another thing to do is put a filter on there, the filter with water in it does not flow well, but the highest most dry part still flows air okay - this limits the salt water ingress and keeps the engine turning. Trust me. Your "specialist" mechanic clearly has no real world worst case survival skills. And where you're going, you may very well need them.
Presumably the pilot's position will have a 5-pt harness to hold them in place in actual weather. Can you route the engine cooling water to produce a tea-water warmer?
Id.love to get into boating. A hobby my father shared with my when i was much younger and he was a proper sailor, ran tender as a kid.at the local YC and was a Gunners mate on a USCG cutter. He was a Phila Fireman for 32 and even served as a pilot on the the Franklin, one.of the citys fireboats
![Lifeboat Conversion Ep21: First improvements following sea trials [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LGHuvXGjV6M/mqdefault.jpg)
![Lifeboat Conversion Ep21: First improvements following sea trials [4K]](/img/tr.png)
![Alan the lifeboat heads north LEG 3: Grimsby (Humber) aiming for Newcastle via Scarborough.Ep93 [4K]](/img/n.gif)
For those of you who've missed earlier episodes, bilge keels or deeper keels are discounted for use due to vulnerability to sea ice. I won't be replying to each comment suggesting them from this point on!
I’d think about placing a second back up line on your “support dinghy”. Last thing you need is the main line to disintegrate or loosen when you least expect it and when you need that dinghy. If you can, might be worth making triangular clip on seats that you can slot on top of the support bars on top. Just means you can have a reasonably stable seating position in the corner or your choice but somewhere you can enjoy on calm days - just a thought. Well done on your progress!
Yfyfyt
I agree no keel weights. An.old friend built his second catamaran called Quee Queeg 2. It overturned in rough seas in Madagascar it lost one keel.
A
Your based on Canvey Island????
"..the engine was still there" dude you crack me up every time.
Yes, that was pleasing :) Although, having recently re-read “Good Omens”, I also wondered whether Alex was seriously considering the reactor having vanished 😎
Alan may be short, squat and slow, but he's definitely the Danny DeVito of the seas. Congratulations on the sea trials.
Danny DeOrange...
@@Mr_Right DeVito is a surname of a famous actor
@@mesofius I knew that >8(= )
@@Mr_Right I'm not so sure...
Quirky boating, DIY, and dry British humor? This channel is everything I could want. Just binged this whole series this afternoon and I'm looking forward to more!
Cheers Derek
Alan finally got wet, and not just from above
well done mate !
I'm relieved I wasn't the only one to think Apollo interior.
Dunno how I ended up down this rabbit hole but these lifeboats are apparently surprisingly cute. Definitely would make a more interesting house than a canal barge
A depth finder would be a good add on especially for shallow conditions and gps as well as with some lowrance ones you get a map gps, depth finder and can even set waypoints. You Might also be able to have a speedometer on it too. You should cross drill the top rail so you can rely on it and maybe even use a stronger pipe so it’s a proper railing that you can lean on.
Depth sounder yep - as well as a forward facing ice finder would be good. A speedo - not sure accurate enough for a 0-6 knot range!
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Your depth sounder can also function as a knot meter. I would look at the in hull options. They can shoot right through the fiberglass bottom. Easy to install and no holes in the boat.
Especially when dealing with tides you'll want to know your speed in the water vs true speed (GPS)
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Bucket and knotted rope for speed lol oh and a decent chronograph..
@@otm646 SOG
Speed
Over
Ground
And a rear view mirror. You could see what's behind you, as well as the sky without having to get up and turn around. : )
Wow that opening drone clip at the opening. Little boat big waters. You have done so many awesome things to thing ship.
Kind words
Man... Alex, I am so drunk at the moment but, I am really proud at this appraisal of ALAN within your own prerequisites and the old man despite his doubts which I can see you both respect and are determined to transcend for the sake of your quizzical venture called. ALAN
Nice to see Alan afloat. Re the rolling: Bilge keels you've already rejected due to ice. Good call. Stabilising booms and anti roll "fish” on cables are relatively cheap. Just use hinged aluminium pipe and painted steel fish. Super common on small fishing boats. Watching the roll period Alan is VERY stable. One other item that you could consider is an anti roll U tube tank. They are partly filled with sea water. You have to adjust the amount of water and cross flow tube restriction so that the natural frequency of the tank is the same as the roll period but 180 deg out of phase with Alan's natural roll period. Harder to sort out compared to booms and fishes.
Thanks. I'll investigate. The nuances of boat roll etc are more complex than first realised.
Came here from curiously looking for interiors of life boats for no particular reason, as one does. And I stumbled on you video. And for the life of me I can't believe no one in the comment section has point out how you look like Robert Downey Jr's doppelganger. And here I thought Iron Man was into converting a life boat. Well wishes to you and Alan!
You're certainly not the first!
Total TH-cam domination? I'm in.
Correct answer.
Alan, our Orange, squat, overlord.
Name a more iconic duo, I'll wait. Thanks Alex for this fantastic episode. Dick was a pleasure to watch and listen to. Onwards with the next chapter of Alan's journey!
Dick is a champ indeed.
Your friend Alan is absolutely right about learning to manover your boat, backing up and figure of eights and they are semi standard tests both for driver and boat and are best practiced in flat clam conditions, a single screw boat will always prop steer at low speed, so to have any control going astern you need to get way on (speed) once going astern keep the rudder straight and only give it tiny corrections to get where you want to go 2 or 3 degrees from centerline. You haven't run then engine flat out of an hour or so, you need to know if it is going to do it.
Sound proofing the engine is great and you should do your best, but, in my Diesel Motorsailer, which is actually pretty quiet, the engine drone still gets to me after a couple of hours and I have resorted to wearing earplugs which for me makes things quite pleasant. It also cuts out most of that nagging sound from the wif......I mean other crew members too! :) Great vids!
I hear you. Headphones for whoever is on the radio is likely to be necessary, for a start.
@@AlexHibbertOriginals The current state of technology for headphone with noise cancellation is worth looking into, giving you the best of both worlds. I'm currently watching this video with a pair.
@@PlasmaOscillations Fully agree. I have a pair of over-ear Sony headphones and in-ear earphones I use all the time. They were originally purchased for long international flights. They work incredibly well. It is a little strange, however, as I can't hear other people or the stewardess but it feels like I can still hear a little of the plane itself. I think that's more to do with "feeling" the plane and imagining the sound than actually hearing it....
You mentioned sleeping platforms
Given adaquite warmth, reinforcement, and willpower, hammocks could be more comfortable (they accommodate somewhat for roll) and space efficient.
My dad (RN 1942-1947) swore by hammocks for comfort warmth and security. He hated bunks. Plus they can be rolled up and stowed out of the way when not in use and take seconds to deploy. So I concur with your suggestion.
@@wideyxyz2271 I concur with your concurrence. I exclusively used a hammock during the hiking and camping period of my life and also found them to be secure and warm. Plus, much easier to roll up and stow in a backpack than a bunk would be. Cheers
i'm not sure why this was in my feed, nor why I watched it, but in order to take part, I am unadulteratedly outraged. Well done.
Cheers
Love the way you describe Allen as it is apart of a family but for sure I agree that Allen is my big brother that I look upon to. Thank you Mate
Congrats Alan, you’re almost on your way!! You look great on the water, ya dinky little boat. 🥰
Very nice flying on that drone, I’m quite impressed.
Cheers
Cool! And I loved the footage of Red Sands. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the coolest-looking WWII relics still in existence.
I've been seeing these lifeboats on TH-cam for a while now. They look like they'd be great as a houseboat, much like people convert a bus to a RV.
Only some of them have standing room the whole way along inside.
Lovely to see your progress Alex and so full of interesting lessons to be learned from all your developments. This is all a great asset to all the other lifeboat projects under way and is very much appreciated. One little comment I must make is for you to get into the habit of ALWAYS tying a secondary safety line to your little tender on a secondary point whilst being towed along at the back of you. We learned the hard way many years ago when some unnoticed chaffing on the line led to our tenders disappearance under passage! We had friends quite recently also lost and never recovered over £8k's worth of dingy, electric outboard and lithium batteries during a coastal passage. They are still fighting their insurance company over a year later that have deemed the issue as their negligence. Keep up the good work my friend, you are a great ambassador for this fraternity. Regards Gavin (Scottish Borders) Electrical engineer currently planning full solar & kite powered craft.
Noted!
Two years before the mast by R H D Jr was a story that every one needs to know about before going to Sea for some reason , this remindes of the Alan
You got the most reliable engine on the planet high quality
I really like this life boat. It seems safe and comfy.
That's a really nice boat you've got there!
I can't imagine a more robust vessel than the one you chose, it makes for a very good starting point.
How strange that some viewers are hostile to a man working to get his boat just how he wants it, it would be difficult to imagine a more positive thing than what you're doing!
I shall have to spend some time watching your earlier videos in order to discover what you've done and the reason that you're doing it.
Lifeboats have come a long way since the days of open boats and yours looks to be quite sophisticated.
The brewing of copious mugs of tea brings to my mind the need for a pee tube for the helmsman.
I did a fair bit of research on sound insulation when rebuilding an old land rover 101 a few years back, as in the cab you sit right beside the engine. Foam will help a bit with reflected sound but if you want to reduce noise transmission you really need a layer of the most dense material possible. I went for thin lead 'foil' in the engine cover but there are other options like rubber sheets with high density mineral 'fillers'.
Thanks Andrew - interesting. There's certainly a lot to read about the minutiae of sound reduction in its many forms.
Hi. Yes, Alan needs plenty of ballast to help against lateral rolling. It is designed to self-right after a capsize, so needs lots of ballast low down in the keel. This will also help against rolling and make Alan sit better in the water. The downside is that it will make Alan even slower and possibly harder to control, or not as responsive. Alan was designed to keep people alive, in open seas, until help arrived, not as a pleasure cruiser. Alan is a great craft though, and I can't wait to see your adventures in him.
Thank you for acknowledging my provocative attempt at humor on the last one. Cheers. I'll bring you some pastries next time I'm in London. ;) You should ship him off to do sea trials in the Caribbean during hurricane season. Haha
I don't care what people say negatively about Alan, I like Alan lol perfect size for just about anything
One thing you might wish to consider is adding a small deck to be taken inside or stowed topside .. something you could stand flatfooted on .. just outside the side doors. Maybe even a permanent deck off the stern to give you some extra footing, etc. Enjoying the build process .. really cute boat.
Thanks - standby for a stern deck!
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Awesome! lol 🙂
Awesome project, I’ve enjoyed watching it come along. You asked for suggestions, so I’ve got one. You might get a hair better fuel consumption by routing the engine intake through the cover to let it suck colder air
Indeed - ports for air cooling hoses you might be able to see in the driving console insulation.
Great vids buddy, Im not even an ocean man and I absolutely enjoy these vids of yours. Kind regards from South Africa.
Just found this series. Glad to see Alan getting touchups.
Having only recently discovered, and subsequently caught up through a solid binge watching session on all activities thus far, I can only say how disappointed I am to now have to wait in line for the next update. Liked and subbed.
Cheers Chris
Hammocks have a great advantage in cold climates as they can be slung high up in the cabin where the warm air collects.
If you choose to use them, be sure to stretch them very taut (RN style), not in a slack, dangling sling configuration (as seen in the movies), which will result in sleep-apnea, backache and stiffness as well as muscle fatigue.
Good tip. I've never got on well with hammocks. Maybe this is why.
11-2-2022 Congratulation, that's ( they ) are the best made boat in the world .
So I've been completely addicted to watching these videos ever since episode 1. Great job amazing
Cheers Daniel
Thanks alot for this video. I have often wondered about those cute little boats, even to the point of looking to buy one. After living most of my life on my sailboats, perhaps one of those little fellows will be in my future. I find life at six knots to be more than adequate for happiness.
Great video. Couple ideas: some type of bow thruster - thinking on a hinge to drop into water as needed. Second steering wheel and throttle mounted high (no need for foot). GPS guided autopilot (when in open seas it is really point A to point B). In general, it needs more brackets.
Autopilot, sure. Just a funding issue.
Bow-trusters are likely overkill for the amount of tight manoeuvres Alan's is called upon to perform.
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Mine has one of the old style drive motors connected to the wheel by a belt with a control module that just holds a compass bearing. I'm not sure if they still sell them new but maybe a second hand one would be cheap and be good enough?
I attempted to buy a lifeboat about 15 years ago… I failed find one for sale… glad to see someone else was more successful… I wanted to do the Loop in America.
They seem to be available in very specific locations and then, only sporadically.
As far as blogs. vlogs n sea dogs go, very enjoyable humorous vid. nice one!
You are amazing. Still learning every day....... Happy trails dear. Peace Love and Hope. Stay safe have a great day. Cheers....❤💙💛
Cheers
Great idea with the tank to figure out fuel consumption. I might swipe that idea as it really is time I got accurate figures.
Patent pending.
I know what you mean about the first time you fly a drone off the boat and out over the water, it made for some nice shots though. There are generally four or five Thames barges where I am moored so you have to watch out for the tall masts rather than the usual trees.
A modern day "Noah's ark". Good little boat, you just forget to give us the "toot toot" to hear from Allen. Nice video and a welcome sight to "sea".😜
Awesome boat and idea. I think roll with that boat will be a problem in its life, even if you ballast it and try to adjust. That being said, what an awesome idea for a low cost boat for adventure. Not surprised people convert these to houseboats.
Loving the detail you've put in this video
I can clearly hear the wind. Nice. Oh, and you were saying... something.
Hooray…….Alan does what he was designed for, love it…….👍🇮🇲👌💪
If you can, install a water separator filter assembly with manual pump. Dirty fuel is always a problem w diesels. Cheers.
There's an inline course filter, and a water separator/fine filter fitted prior to the engine's own filter.
At last a decent length Alan show!! 👌
Very cool, I like it! I would fabricate two retractable outriggers that could be lowered and locked into place to help sooth the roll in choppy waters.
Nah we know your boat belches out bright red smoke from its exhaust 😂 “I paid the full tax”
"I paid the full tax". An honourable yet joyless epitaph for a headstone.
I support your plan for dominance by purchasing some merch. While unfortunately located in the Colonies I so enjoy seeing your progress.
Good man.
excellent job you are doing. love to see thing get a new life. a thought on the anchor mounting if you have not done so already. as there are two metal brackets on the bow just above waterline, you might fabricate a mount there. and perhaps a small grate to stand on when handling the anchor. safe journeys.
I clicked on this by accident and am very pleasantly surprised and want to go to the start.
Cheers!
I'm so happy to see you in the water! Hope you're having an amazing experience! I'm looking forward to see you traveling soon.
Cheers!
I’ve been interested in these rescue boats for the last couple of months and I came across your channel and I have to say for the links of your presentation I actually stayed the entire time which is not typical of me on TH-cam unless I’m extremely interested in the Content, great job, great presentation very interesting topic
I'll pass the compliment along to Alan
All went swimmingly as I would expect ... it was built to save lives in the worst of conditions after all and while you have a specific job in mind for Alan .. I'm looking at a live aboard pipe dream for him or one like this ... the change I would make is to add more visibility especially from the helm .. I would want to see where I was going better ... other than that ... it's a great little craft ..!
Observations and suggestions (both can be, and likely will be ignored)
Ascetics: 17:05 not the worst, then we see the worst (glad I had not eaten yet today)
Steering: while (almost) completely unfeasible a steerable shroud would solve a lot of issues
Rolling: stabiliser vanes below the waterline 1/3rd back from the bow at 45 deg from the horizontal would help and likely not add to the draught.
EGT sensor: would be useful in monitoring the health and performance of the engine and turbo if fitted at the end of the exhaust headers.
U did well going astern, I've 4 times the rudder as u and even mine doesn't like answering the helm astern. Happy float day Alan 👍✌
Thanks!
Radio system is a necessary feature.
Excellent job mate 🤘
At anchor could use a "flopper stopper" to reduce rolling. There are some commercial ones, and numerous designs for diy. I built mine myself, a plywood square weighted on one side with reclaimed lead flashing and covered in grp to stiffen and waterproof it. The idea is as the boat rocks one way the unweighted side of the board rises allowing it to slip down through the water easily, then as the boat rocks the other way the board is pulled horizontal offering considerable resistance to the roll. Having it on one side of the boat working in one direction ensures each direction has a different resonant frequency to help prevent that resonant build up of rolling that has everything crash to the floor.
Of course it's no use under way, but makes things easier when anchored somewhere. I think some fishing boats have towed things on booms out the side to alleviate rolling, but not sure how that could be adapted to a life boat in ice.
Few life improvers for a sea: nmea like system with a GPS, magnetic compass and underwater speed sensor. This would give you heading over ground vs magnetic heading and speed over ground vs water speed. Also think about maybe a navtex (get storm warnings and weather forecasts), ais reciever (get warned before you get hit by a huge boat in the middle in the ocean) and maybe autopilot (explains itself), steering remote (steer while sitting on the deck) and some emergency equipment (inflatable lifeboat for your lifeboat and some *pyrotechnic* flares). Btw love your vids.
Alex already mentioned AIS. If you buy it for him he will send you his prototype t-shirt. I believe Alan already has a magnetic compass.
I just ran across your Wonderful videoI have been a boater for over 50 years on San Francisco Bay would have been a great test for your mighty vessel as it is one of the most dangerous bays in the world Carry on young man Your planning and forethought is what built Western civilization I have had many boats up to 50' actually but at my age I'm holding on to the best boat I've ever had which is an albin Deluxe Built-in Sweden yes she is designed to roll she is seekindly And designed should she hit a big wave to roll a bit over and then snap right back hall to what you have I have subscribed to your channel and will follow your progress And you are doing it the right way and blessings to your wonderful friend your mentor because hes bringing the old knowledge to you which must be carried on Blessings to you and yours from Merlin Oregon only 2 hours drive to the coast of Oregon where my albin 25 is sitting in her birth cheers
Cheers!
Alan looks great. Less is more. Also interesting as an alternative to a narrow boat.
I've I've always though of getting one of these boats and fitting it with a mast and sails and putting a keel kinda like the Dutch racing barges are made. With a retractable keel on each side . Seems like they have a lot of room to work with
You need 2 outriggers with suspension. To reduce roll.
You could do active noise cancelling to reduce engine noise. A mic inside the box and laptop plugged into speakers.
You might consider shifting part of the forward ballist aft about 2 ft to raise the bow entrance profile and shed aside some of the waves instead of riding the profile of the wave full length. I think the bow should be up some maybe 5 degrees if you could you would have a very stable ride I would have moved people around to balance if we were using it for a rescue. God Bless you with safety and comfort Brother!😎❤️🖖🏼🇺🇸
Congrats on the sea trial!! Can’t wait to see where Alan takes you!!
Cheers
I think it's nice, that you called tools on board same name as the boat
My (admittedly limited) understanding of boat stability is that concentrating all the ballast in a limited area may not actually be the best option, as this gives a focus for the boat to oscillate around, which could militate against the form stability of a fairly boxy hull-form (sorry Alan!) You have the luxury of a relatively large internal volume compared with a lot of recreational craft of similar length, I wonder if there's any benefit i spreading the ballast bars more widely? Naval architects who understand metacentric heights are welcome to destroy my suggestion. Good to see him afloat!
Not a naval architect, but from what i know of calculating stability when loadinc cargo on ships, the most effective way to slow down rolling movements is to out weight higher up.
Pretty sure allan is so small though (im sorry Allan) that in order to get the rolling period of allan below any waves, he will be upside down allready. Might iron out some small violent shakes though. (Think an oldschool metronome with the weight low vs with the weight high)
I think these are a great base for a modified boat, solve ventilation (those things are quiet moist inside if used) and you are pretty much sorted out. But I think you know what you are doing!
Cheers
Don't forget when running auxiliary tank[s] that the return line needs to return to the feed tank. If the return line goes back to the contaminated tank well then it's lost. The plumbing and switching for that can be quite complex in an emergency and is a system likely to confuse when needed most esp if it is manually operated.
Also gal strapped together like that does corrode if it gets wet. I know because I drive trucks for a major steel company and all galvanized steel product has to be tarped if raining and some suppliers won't allow you to leave their facility even in the middle of a heatwave without the load being tarped. It's a very serious thing in the steel transport and distribution industry. Customers go crazy if their gal products get wet and many won't accept it.
It gets white rust, where the zinc starts to convert to zinc oxide, exposing the base metal which then rusts rapidly - and that's just rainwater. Same electrolysis as dissimilar metals, but in this instance zinc and mild steel - each piece acting as a battery plate.
Yeah a new video of Alan
I love stupid, insane, And Safe Ideas on the internet. Perfect...10/10.
Congrats on successfull sea trial! Just an idea but I think you should make same kind of simple crane or winch system on aft to load/unload batteries and other stuff more easily. Good luck and have fun.
That would waste the free physical training!
Me encanta la idea de convertir un bote salvavidas en un bote de recreo,siempre me han llamado la atención estes botes,me parece una fortaleza flotante,mucha suerte,saludos desde Galicia
That's "Tasmanian Liquid Sunshine" coming in drops, all the way from "Straya".
Wish you all the best with your project but from past experience I think you will find that it makes a nice canal boat.
Alan gets itchy skegs if constrained to canals.
for the handrails coming loose,
mark and dimple the pipe where the set screws make contact. then use thread locker on the set screws.
A likely solution
@@AlexHibbertOriginals i used to work in a factory. This is what we'd do for stubborn pullies that liked to walk off their motor shafts😅
Totally awesome to see the updates :)
Alan's had better safety testing than the clotshot! Enjoying the series.
Wasn't expecting that indeed.
Cool project. Like a big floating carrot! Love it :-)
Take a look at Lemsteraak and their lee boards also make your own carbon fibre mast and a dipping lug sail.
Recommend looking at Avon RHIB tunnel hull design to assist with stability. Pvc pipe could be added to mimic the design process.
Will have a look
I used to work at the factory that made the glass fibre for those, in Hindley, Wigan.
I hope you paid extra attention to your work that particular day Alan was laid up.
@@AlexHibbertOriginals The company who make them (I think in Norway) came to visit once and showed us a video where they pontooned a lagoon, filled it with crude oil and plonked one of these rescue boats in the middle of all the oil. They then set the oil alight and let it burn until the oil was gone. The boat was completely black, but a fire boat sprayed it with water and there wasn't a blemish on it. I think the internal temperature had gone up about five degrees that's all. Impressive.
A few years ago I saw a couple of guys on TH-cam that had taken one of these and converted it over to solar with minimal Resto modification and still kept the fuel back up motor
How did they tow the acre or so of solar panels you'd need to power a 25' boat electrically?
I noticed a knife sitting loose on the bench. Maybe some magnetic stripping could give you a place to put loose tools when they need to be left out for access
I like this idea
Love it, id extend the keel 1 foot, by matching the width of the existing keel and making a 1 foot through bolted on extension out of solid steel, that would make her track alot more, and the ballast problem would be solved, you could then lengthen the rudder around a foot too and fix the steering issue.. haha i love this build, thats what id do if i was building it, id even remove the rear doghouse and lower the rear cabin deck past the rounded corners to add a a rear deck and add a mast and boom with a mainsail and a furling jib haha..
You'll enjoy two projects for this winter.
You need to re-orient that air intake for the turbo to draw its air from as high as possible. If the boat does begin to take on water having the engine still function until the very very last can and will save your life. This has been the case for me once a long time ago and I'm here to write about it. Our current boat has the air intake even higher again than the one that filled up years ago. If you're concerned about dust ingress and have it pointing down so as not to collect falling solids, then simply add a U bend to the end as well as pointing it up high. My 2c, ignore at your potential peril. :-)
At risk of the enormous peril you oddly-happily predict, it's important to take into account that if flooding, Alan will behave very differently to a non-foam-filled boat. The turbo intake was set at this position by a specialist mechanic during servicing this year.
@@AlexHibbertOriginals Your specialist mechanic obviously didn't see the boat afloat. Take one look at the outside and measure the current under-loaded water line and you'll find that it's already below that, so the amount of foam is irrelevant it will be even lower. Give yourself the best chance of survival and put it up high where it belongs! This is a boat! :-D Even if it was 1cm above the flooded water line that would not be good because it would be gulping salt water intermittently as little inside waves sloshed in. Another thing to do is put a filter on there, the filter with water in it does not flow well, but the highest most dry part still flows air okay - this limits the salt water ingress and keeps the engine turning. Trust me. Your "specialist" mechanic clearly has no real world worst case survival skills. And where you're going, you may very well need them.
I'll certainly take this up with him.
Alan is a tank, with the top hatch.
Presumably the pilot's position will have a 5-pt harness to hold them in place in actual weather.
Can you route the engine cooling water to produce a tea-water warmer?
I love how you combine the vital and the banal.
Awesome video thanks for sharing it ,,looks like all the hard work paid off
Absolutely amazing!
Cheers
Id.love to get into boating. A hobby my father shared with my when i was much younger and he was a proper sailor, ran tender as a kid.at the local YC and was a Gunners mate on a USCG cutter. He was a Phila Fireman for 32 and even served as a pilot on the the Franklin, one.of the citys fireboats
I want one! Thats awesome 👌