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May 17, 2025
Very Nearly About Sailing – Page 3
Just About Sailing July 2018 – Putting the old windows back in, every silver cloud has a lining
I only really took the old windows (portlights) out because I needed to paint the outside - and fill in the old holes. However, as we all know, there is no such thing as doing one job on a boat. Every job is always accompanied by at least 5 more. Plus I ...
Just About Sailing August 2018 – Checking for leaks in the rain, stern anchor locker, new water tank
Well it rained off and on for ages whilst I was fitting the windows. Then nothing for weeks. But today it is pouring, so I am checking for leaks before I finalise the gluing of the headlining. I have also found a spot for a stern anchor chain locker. And ...
Just About Sailing September 2018 – Making and Installing a new Holding Tank, Pt 1
This is the first of a two part project. I decided to make a holding tank from glass fibre covered plywood. Partly because of cost, but also to make sure I can get the exact shape and fit that I want. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Just About Sailing October 2018 – Southampton Boat Show, New Habitent, Fun with Flags
I thought I would get a new video up quickly as a bit of a break from the DIY ones. The Southampton Boat Show is always worth a visit and the weather was wonderful. I bought Serenity a present; a lovely new Habitent. I don't really need it right now, bu...
Just About Sailing October 2 2018 – Hatch Removal, Refurbishment and Refitting
We will just take it as read that any comments to this video will start with, "...a blindfolded drunk giraffe on a rollercoaster could have done that better..." Anyway despite the mistakes, the boat is now waterproof when it rains for the first time ever....
Just About Sailing November 2018 – Slow Progresss and Filling in more holes in the Hull
Just managed to almost get this video into November. Things are trickling along quite slowly at the moment. But every step in the right direction is a step in the right direction. Here are a couple of links I mention in the video: Sailing Hunk of Junk htt...
Just About Sailing December 2018 – Christmas Special Musical Extravaganza
So here we go again. Back by popular request... well back by request... well back. So what can I say. At least you know that once you have watched this - there won't be another one for a whole year. Merry Christmas
Just About Sailing January 2019 – So what happened in the second half of 2018 then?
This video is a lot of talking to the camera to cover what went wrong in the second half of 2018. Boat projects really did grind to a near halt. I have included this video just for completeness to chronicle some of the things that happen when real life get...
Just About Sailing January 2 2019 – Starting the galley refit and Nautical word fun
I wanted to get another video out in January as soon as possible. Lots of boxes full of fun DIY projects have arrived. First job is to rip out the old galley. And because my daughter enjoyed the 'fun with flags' episode so much, I thought we could have som...
Just About Sailing January 3 2019 – Galley refit continued, Origo stove, sink and fridge
This is the first fit of all the new galley bits into the boat - Origo Stove, Bearmach 32 Litre Fridge and Romesco Sink. Everything is still temporary as this was a 'proof of concept' exercise. Also, I need to figure out where the ducting for the air blown...
Just About Sailing February 2019 – Installing a Chinese Diesel Heater, Pt 1 Where to put it
This is the first part of the installation of a Chinese Diesel Heater. It became clear that there wasn't an obvious place to mount the heater in a small sailboat. I have a look at three different options all with advantages and disadvantages. So which one ...
Just About Sailing March 2019 – Installing a Chinese Diesel Heater, Pt 2 Fitting it and switching on
This video covers the actual fitting of all the bits and the initial start-up. There is nothing too complicated here - but do comment if you have ideas that might be useful for other people. I haven't done a full test yet - in fact I haven't read the inst...
Just About Sailing April 2019 – Installing a Chinese Diesel Heater, Pt 3 Full operational test run
I needed to do a full operational test run, so I thought I would video it. Not the most interesting video you will ever see, but hopefully useful if you are thinking of installing one of these units. I was particularly interested in the current draw (amps...
Just About Sailing May 2019 – Going backwards in order to move forwards
Just occasionally you need to take a step backwards and slow things down in order to get where you want faster. No, I know that doesn't make any sense - I guess you'll just have to watch the video. Check out Sail Life here https://www.youtube.com/user/mad...
Just About Sailing June 2019 – A moving experience with my boat
As discussed last time; Serenity is moving to be near to me so that I can (hopefully) get back into the swing of getting her voyage ready. Lots of 'flying' in this one - shiny! Link to HJ Logistics website as mentioned in the video is https://www.hjlogist...
Just About Sailing June 2 2019 – Clearing out the boat and preparation for the real work
I thought I would get another short video out in June. This is just the basic preparation of Serenity to make it as easy as possible to get started on the real work. Also a bit of a test of my new 'energy regime'.
Just About Sailing July 2019 – DIY Holding Tank Pt 2 – I have a new apprentice
This is one of those 'proud dad' videos. My daughter has now graduated as a Master in Marine Biology after spending the last six months counting sharks in Mexico. She volunteered to help with Serenity's refurbishment. Here's what happened. Pt 1 of the Hol...
Just About Sailing August 2019 – re-varnishing everything, stage one – removing the old varnish
This is a job I have been putting off for ages. Stripping back all the varnished areas back to bare wood and re-varnishing. To make it fair we have split the work 50:50; I am doing all the external wood and my daughter is just doing the bits inside the boa...
Just About Sailing September 2019 – DIY Holding Tank Pt3 – Thru hull & Seacock install
This video went on a bit longer than anticipated, but so did the install process. First a bit of an update, then a detailed look at fitting the new Forespar Series 93 2" combined thru-hull and seacock for the holding tank waste outlet. This is how I did i...
Just About Sailing September 2 2019 – Enjoyable, Achievable & Connected Boat DIY, done slowly
A few odd jobs in this episode; Lucy finishing off the 'mock' Holding Tank, me finally gluing up the rest of the headlining, plus fixing a broken TV - but is there anything worth watching? The moral of this short video is that anyone can fix anything and a...
Just About Sailing September 3 2019 – A very quick look at the Southampton Boat Show 2019
I prepared this time! I actually wrote out a specific list of things I wanted to find out at the boat show related to forthcoming projects. I questioned a few technical experts from different companies and received a lot of valuable information. And saw th...
Just About Sailing October 2019 – fixing a foot long crack in the hull of my boat
This video covers the structural repair of a rather large crack/split/gash in the hull of Serenity. It happened two years ago just before I took her out of the water...and it was 100% my fault. Still, who doesn't like the chance for a bit of extra fibregla...
Just About Sailing October 2 2019 – Washboard, mast, and (nearly) finishing the hull repair
I had resigned myself to not being able to finish the hull repair because of the constant rain and decreasing temperature. But then the jetstream moved a bit and the forecast was for 3 or 4 days of dry weather with reasonable (for epoxy) temperatures. Shou...
Just About Sailing November 2019 – Chinese Diesel Heater, Any good for condensation? Pt 1 Theory
This is a long one with lots of talking and lots of theory. DISCLAIMER Read the following description to see if you really want to know this stuff. And if you do already know it then you probably won't get much from this video, so go straight on to part 2....
Just About Sailing December 2019 – Chinese Diesel Heater, Any good for condensation? Pt 2 Practice
This is a direct follow-on from the previous video which covered the theory behind why and when we get condensation. In this one I do do two experiments in the boat; One with the heater air being re-circulated in the cabin, another with the air being taken...
Just About Sailing December 2 2019 – Diesel Heater water trap, solar fan, early Christmas presents
Getting a few jobs done before the end of the year. Fitting the water trap on the Chinese diesel heater exhaust. Water trap works fine; but problems with the heatproof tape. Washboards are now ready for epoxy and varnish. New solar powered ventilator fan....
Just About Sailing – Christmas Musical Extravaganza 2019
Here it is, the annual Christmas Musical Extravaganza Special. Best watched with decent earphones or powerful earplugs. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Just About Sailing January 2020 – Plans for the year plus new fridge power requirements
A few people have asked how my plans have changed over the last 18 months or so as things have slowed down because of health. Well here is the revised plan - which even at the current slow speed all looks doable this year.
Just About Sailing February 2020 – Coating the Washboards with Epoxy and Varnish
Lots of people have suggested that I should try a combination of clear epoxy and varnish on the washboards. Epoxy is very waterproof and hard-wearing, but not very resistant to UV, hence the need to coat it with varnish. Lots of help from my daughter who w...
Just About Sailing March 2020 – Making a DIY plastic (HDPE) water tank, Pt 1 – Is it even possible?
This the the first of three videos. In this one I want to see if it is even possible to make a DIY water tank out of HDPE to fit the 'odd' shape under the salon bench. Big learning curve. I know that people fix plastic parts on cars, or their garbage bin ...
Just About Sailing April 2020 – Making a DIY plastic water tank, Pt2 Construction & first Leak Test
Part 1 checked whether this was even feasible as a DIY project. This part covers the main construction up to the point of doing the first leak test. Not a 100% success, but definitely not a (complete) failure. And not yet a finished project.
Just About Sailing – Question: Can you Fit a Double Bass on a Small Sailboat? Answer: Yes, Sort of
This video doesn't really fit anywhere sensible on this channel, or anywhere else really. Maybe it's the current Lockdown and the lack of the possibility of a decent haircut that made me do it. I can only apologise. But I have managed to solve a problem an...
Just About Sailing May 2020 – The one where my apprentice (daughter) does all the work
Lucy, my daughter, is doing more and more of the labour intensive work. And getting very good at it. Progress is still slow, but it is all in the right direction. She is as keen as I am to get Serenity back in the water - particularly now she has completed...
Just About Sailing June 2020 – Overcoming my fear of woodwork by making a bridge for a Double Bass
Yep. Absolutely nothing to do with sailing at all. But I have a lot of woodworking coming up with the forthcoming galley refit. I normally try to avoid woodwork whenever I can. I've never been comfortable with it. But, this project came up and I had little...
Just About Sailing July 2020 – Varnishing, and more varnishing
This is NOT a how to do it DIY varnishing video. It is just a video of how my daughter and I tackled the task we had been putting off for so long. I tried out single-pack, two-pack, satin-finish and a hybrid (varnish plus oil). To be honest, I am pleased w...