UPDATE: Hi all, thanks for your comments, I love reading them once we release an episode. I usually try and reply to you all individually, however, this time there are a few common questions, so I'm going to address them here. Firstly, the question about blacking the underneath of the boat. We did not black under the boat as it is not prone to rust and will likely scrape off when moored or sometimes wedged or even travelling. We did inspect it though and it is fine. Secondly, the question of 'how much did this type of blacking cost'. In our case we had to take the boat back to the steel to get the adherence that is necessary for effective 2 pack epoxy to stick. There fore we had to pay for the grit blasting and then the labour and the epoxy. We are not going into exact costs as that is between us and the boat yard. So if you are wanting to know because of curiosity, sorry. However, if you need to know because you are pricing this for yourself and want to know that the quotes you are being given are in the right ball park we suggest getting several quotes- that's what we did. We also went on the forums on canal world to check recommendations and prices. And again, thanks for all your comments, Annamarie

As a retired Master Mariner I'm very impressed with you ladies using the correct nautical terms.I love your vlogs you're always so good tempered and smiling and your blogs are so interesting.Fair winds and smooth locking

I can now mark "watching paint dry"off my bucket list. Always a great vid you are great.

Thank you for this video. As a result my boat is currently at Crafted Boats being two-pack blacked. They have been nothing but helpful!

There's nothing like a nice clean bottom when all is said and done.

Very informative. Both of you have wonderful speaking voices and are always so very charming! I am 67 yrs old and, until you came up on suggested videos, I had never heard of narrowboats or the canals (I hate to admit that). I truly love watching your adventures and have been binge watching your channel! We do not have canals in the states so I do the next best thing, I tow a tiny trailer during the summer and travel the state I live in. I do a lot of kayaking since my state, Michigan, is blessed with many many lakes, rivers and the “Great Lakes”. We also have sand dunes, state and national forests, the Picture Rocks and much much more. You should come and visit us sometimes😌.

Absolutely wonderfully informative vblog, Kath's voice over was so professional. Her excitement and interest in the process was so lovely to see. I really did enjoy watching this brilliantly produced video. Many thanks.

Thank you for your excellent work! Great episode. You two(four) stay safe and healthy.

Very informative and lovely to have you back on Sunday, it just has not been the same without you x x

Wow, that's great. I was just wondering about the hull and this answers all of my questions.

Wow - that looks like great fun and your boat is now very smart!

What great craftsmanship we have in the UK....she looking amazing with her new paint job.....thanks for sharing

Love you two ladies. You are very informative, especially to the none boater who just loves narrowboat videos.

I’ve been watching your wonderful videos (and Dave’s) for about a year because I’m planning to live “on the cut”. Tomorrow I start a week’s try-out on a canal boat. I’m sooooo excited!

Very informative and interesting. Lazy Days looks very nice and it is a sign of a wise DIYer to know when to leave the job to the pros.

Very nice to get the hull maintenance done where you were able to actually see it transpiring. Looking forward to seeing you (and cats also) both in more funny and breathtaking episodes of life on the water . Thank you for your time and trouble in documenting these necessary boating tid bits that might be overlooked by other Vlogers.

Very nicely narrated, Kath!

Very nicely videoed and very easy to listen to narration. So nice of you to do this informative video.

I don't have the words for how much I loved this video. Thank you for taking us along and for all the detailed explanations.

Brilliant vlog and very educational.

Looks brilliant ladies all the best to you .

Glad to see you did the grit blasting that should last a long time !!! Looks great!!!

Well you out geeked Jono! Very interesting.. More points for you

That was interesting to see. Thanks for cheering.

Very interesting. I'm getting my boat blacked in December (first time since buying my boat!) I'm glad you could show the difference between the two processes, as i remember your vlog about getting your first boat blacked.

This is an excellent video, you explained the reason for your choice and then a detailed explanation on the actual process including what an anode is and it function. Not being able to stay with the boat is also helpful as that is an added expense that needs to be planed. I like the prison comment for the cats, if boarding costs are like here you should call it a five star resort. As far as costs good call as with so many size variations length and width that would be an extremely long piece of string.

I found that very interesting, thank you.

I enjoyed seeing the whole process.👍🇬🇧

Brilliant, thank you

Gorgeous!

Thank you so very much for a informative blog, worth waiting for. Regards to you.

Looks fantastic 👌

Great informative video guys, we have this booked in for next year but DIY, ours is already blacked with epoxy so should just be a simple overcoat and touch up.

informative. Learn something new everyday

she looks beautiful!

curious how the parts of the boat resting on the blocks got blacked?

Thanks for an interesting and informative video

Lazy Days looks great

Great video! Useful to know other protective options

Great video!

This was very informative! I had only seen bitumen being applied on the other videos I had watched. This 2-pack epoxy option and its in-water coverage expectation of 5+/- years is quite appealing.

Job well done!

Ladies... absolutely fascinating, watched a several others ( including his nibs ) do theirs on other vlogs. Would not be so cheeky to ask the cost, just interested in the process and the epoxy benefits. If it gives you 5 to 7 years its something I will consider for my Dutch barge when her time comes for reblacking. All these things really do give a valuable source of information. Thank you again for a really informative vlog.

It looks lovely. And so nice that you did it correct. May it last even longer than advertised. I'm sure Alice gave you quite a story when she got back on the boat.

Crafted Boats did ours, too. They're very good. Great choice!

Well done video. Very informative. Happy Holidays Ladies 😊

Educational, thank you.

Great job very well explained I hope your blacking job lasts as long as they say. It also looks like you have found a decant boatyard to get the job done and are looking after you very well. Now your back on the water I hope the floods and heavy rain have not caused you any trouble if you keep out the rivers you should be fine, good luck.

Hi, I came here from David Johns vlog (since he is probably on his way to New Zealand, as I write this). I particularly like this video about your experience with blacking your boat. As you know, David is so cheap that he did his himself, and I'm sure many viewers liked seeing other options. I also think your explanation about the anodes was better than I had heard previously. Thanks, Phil K. Indianapolis USA

The boatyard you chose was a good one. I do admire professional people who do a great job. Two pack is a preferred option to bitumen I agree. I wish to make a suggestion that you may or may not have or you may or may not know about. At the bow of your boat inside where you descend into the boat via steps and at the rear of the boat where you ascend steps to leave the boat. What I am referring to is free air flow from front to back under your floor to allow trapped moisture escape. If you find both ends are closed in then there cannot be any air flow. On our boat we had the front open but the back closed so I opened up the back lid on the floor and drilled air holes in the lift lid inspection hole under the rear steps ( hidden not seen ) I thought it was a good idea and was happy to complete the project on our boat.

I’ve seen David doing his blacking, this way seems a lot easier and better and less messy (for you two ladies), I think you should drop him the hint, especially if it doesn’t need doing for about seven years. Thank you for coming back on a Sunday, I’ve missed you. 😚

The "Two o' Hearts" are back on The Cut! Hurrah! Huzzah!

Cool!! Looks like a great way to travel. Thanks, Mark in Milwaukee Wisconsin USA

Your boat looks great now, smart choice, protection for 5-6 years against 2-3 years with bitumen I think we should not hesitate

Very interesting, thanks for the video. 👍👍👍😎

2 pack epoxy - sounds like a rap artist to me !! 😎😃😄

Looks great guy's 👍🏼 might do that next on my boat.... but I've got few years as she was blacked in May 😉🤞🏻👍🏼

I think that's a good call. I did my pontoon boat in 2 pack, it's in salt water so it comes out every so often to clean the barnacles but has not needed a repaint in 4 + years.

Great video really enjoy your channel.

excellent prep work . fingers crossed the two pack will last . I remember using some black waterproofing water based coating for the underground brickwork of my cellar .From memory I think it was a dunlop product .it was a dark brown liquid which dried pitch black like bitumen .

I appreciate where the logic of 2 pack comes from. Please do a video when you eventually ascend the Cheshire locks from Wheelock to kidsgrove this used to be my home stretch as it were. Why because every top gate hinge projects into the path of the boat when exiting, that gives you 30 plus paint scrapers to look out for any one of which takes you down to bare metal. I used to take the boat annually to keep on top of this.

Looks much faster than the other way and looks a better job

Will miss your back garden on the back fender 😂😂😜 the boat is looking great

Iv'e always known it as 2 part epoxy (as opposed to 2 pack) but maybe thats just a difference between Canada and the UK. But doubling the time between blackings sure seems like the way to go. Im sure Lazy Days will be proud to show off her shiny new black coat.

interesting and informative

I'd love to see Anna design a really cool logo to replace the " Lazy Days " currently on her. You can do it Anna!! Great video, thank you.

so interesting.

Very interesting. Looks great :)

Nice video

As a mechanic on the coast I think you made the right decision.

its going to look nice when that boat is done

Great video as usual but did wonder how they did the bits on the bottom where it was resting on the sleepers.

Wow. I’m impressed. Lazy Days looks so proud with her new bottom😂❤️

Very interesting video Ladies.

You cannot beat a classic Film Noir on a wet Sunday morning and thankfully not too many eye rolling juvenile jokes in the Comments section either ! Well done.

Minimal List has a video with bitumen blacking, worth checking out as well! The bottom is not usually blacked as it would scrub off very fast and the steel plate is very thick.

You ladies are an inspiration. Many women would be intimidated by owning and maintaining a live aboard boat, yet you handle it in stride and with class. One question though, I don’t think you have ever said how you both met. Annamarie, I know you are from New South Wales AU. And Kath is from England. So, how?

Hiya. You were off the boat for 4 days? The pub's going to miss you, then. Lazy Days looks great! All the best to you.

Hi Ladies! Lovely to see Lazy Day's hull is in such good condition, and she looks good with the new coating, ...???? xxx

Hi both very interesting and informative regarding the blacking of a narrowboat of the 2 part epoxy coating as for the bottom plate don’t black it because it just rubs off.one question you put new anodes on front and stern but not in the middle as normally you would put some there.take care but the boat looks very good 😀👍

Interesting how wildly different two yards will work.... We had our boat grit blasted and 2K blacked a couple of weeks ago. She was out for two weeks, (partly as the yard we used doesn't have a covered hardstanding, so the process is weather dependant, partly as we elected to also have the base plate done), however, biggest difference was that two coats were applied by hand. I expected it to be sprayed to be honest, but the guy applying it said the 2K is very hard wearing on the spray equipment, and also felt hand painting resulted in a thicker coat, and a more thorough job. We have not seen any issue of the blacking turning grey either, looks decidedly black ! It may be interesting to compare notes in a few years to see how the wear compares between the two ;)

Thanks for this and covering the difference between epoxy and bitumen. It was also a nice touch for Annamarie to black the ends of her hair to match Lazy Days. Have you any plans to repaint Lazy Days above the waterline this winter?

Interesting details on rudder; the tab and loop on top, and the step looking things each side - am guessing those have something somehow to do with water flow path since I can't imagine diving off the stern to swim in the 1 to 2 meter deep canal and using them as boarding steps to return to dive again.

The engine compartment would be a great place for epoxy too. With water, mud, diesel and oil, it corrodes in the corners. I assume they did the propeller hatch area also?

I think you said and showed that the steel showed to be in a good state after the grit blasting, so it would seem the previous coating was well applied after all. but theres nothing like knowing for sure.

How do the decide where the anodes will go? Is it a carefully worked out formula, or is it a case of 'as long as they're underwater, they're fine'? Another Sunday of seeing your lovely smiles! Brilliant! :-)

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing! When it comes to major maintenance projects, I'm a firm believer in doing it right the first time and spending the extra money to make sure it's done right. Even If I have to scrimp, save, and patch for a bit, until I can afford to get something done right. Oops I should've read the above. You answered my question about the bottom plate already. Again, Thanks for the video, I've been enjoying them. LOL on the comment about having to put the cats in prison. Sadie (my border collie) and Midnight (her Tomcat henchman in crime) would not be amused!

First time watching your experiences and true that next year we will be shot blasting our 57 foot narrow boat that we built ( that's welding 27 feet extension and full cabin and fitting her out ourselves) lol been cruising 5 years on her now blacked twice I must say the 3 pack is greatl stuff but I find it's too brittle and once chipped it comes off in sheets, but that's what's happened with some boats we know I'm a believer in 5 coats of red oxide then rhytek bitumen at least 4 coats it's just more durable we find that's all but enjoy yourselves and anyone wanting a price 500 pounds for shot blasting up ours near Doncaster 👍

When applied I noticed severe rust blooming probably due to the damp atmosphere in the dock when we had ours done a couple of years ago and an area of about 2/3 hours worth of blasting was coated before moving on when completed a second coat two pac was applied all over.

This was very instructive and detailed - thank you so much. One thing I've been wrapping my brains around ... How did they treat the area where the boat lay on the chucks, surface in contact with the wood, and which couldn't be sprayed? Or could it?

Interesting girl's 🇬🇧 I've seen That other chap clean & paint his. I think he's a friend of yours 🙏👍 Happy canaling from Michigan 🇺🇸

That was really interesting! She looks stunning after all the work. I’m guessing that must have been quite expensive if it was there for 5 days?

two pack we say tow part in the usa lol it still looks great nice and clean

Very interesting thanks girls

Very interesting, Cruising the Cut hand painted his, now I understand why. Why does the rudder have a hole in it? Looks great, thanks for sharing.😎

What about underneath the boat where it was resting on the chocks?

Lazy Days looks very smart. Black is so flattering. Lol. Hope the cats made it safely out of prison and back home. Hugs👍🇨🇦❤️😎

Very interesting and informative video. I believe they use chilled iron particles as the blast media as opposed to sand. The use of sand has been prohibited for several years as the silica released during the process is potentially harmful to your health. I have been considering selling my classic motorcycles and purchasing a narrow boat. It looks so idyllic and peaceful when you are onboard. I have a bit of a connection to the canals as the Cromford canal runs past the bottom of my garden, unfortunately this section is not navigable. The Cromford canal (at the moment) stops at the Langley Mill basin where it becomes the Erewash canal. There is a section of the canal at Cromford itself, but this is separated from joining the main canal by the disused Butterley tunnel. The Cromford Canal Society is hoping to restore the canal to its former glory. It would be fantastic to see narrowboats going past my garden again!

How do they doo the under part that is resting on the blocks

I've never watched anyone have their bottom blacked before! :-O