4 Years Off Grid Living on a Boat | Restoring and Converting an Ex-Navy Tugboat

4 Years Off Grid Living on a Boat | Restoring and Converting an Ex-Navy Tugboat | Engine Start

Рет қаралды 92,890

Жыл бұрын

Join us on a captivating journey as we document our four-year adventure of living off-grid on a restored ex-Navy tugboat. Our KZfaq channel takes you through the entire process of converting the vessel into a fully functional off-grid home. From restoring the hull to overhauling the engine, we'll show you all the ups and downs of boat restoration and living aboard.
Throughout the videos, we share our experiences of living off-grid on a boat and provide insights into the unique challenges and rewards of this lifestyle. We'll offer helpful tips and tricks for managing small spaces, dealing with power and water supply, and navigating life at sea.
In this particular video, we'll take you through all the steps to switch on the engine and get it running smoothly. We understand that this can be a daunting task for new boat owners, and we hope our video can provide some guidance and support.
So whether you're a seasoned sailor or just curious about off-grid living, we invite you to follow our journey and learn about the joys and challenges of living on a restored ex-Navy tugboat.
If you enjoy our videos, please consider supporting our channel's production by making a donation. Your support will help us cover the cost of equipment and production expenses, allowing us to continue sharing our journey of off-grid living and boat restoration with you. Thank you for your consideration.

Пікірлер: 102

@pawsnazzy01 Жыл бұрын

I was a chief engineer on YTM 547 in the late 70's, boy that brought back memories, When I first arrived to the boat the tool box was empty and the bilges were full , What a mess. I had to use my personal tools to work on the boat. I ordered a doughnut and we pumped the bilges dry and started cleaning. We found most all of the tools and after washing everything down the bilges got a nice coat of white paint, it made it brighter and was very to follow and oil leak so we could fix it. Go to work and might not get back home for 3 or 4 days, a very busy port, we had a shipyard, a weapons station, a sub base and surface ship to attend too, lots of hours to work. It was a lot of fun.

@sethbarnes7608 Жыл бұрын

Some narrative about the vessel, engine, and what he's doing and why would be good. This fellow keeps a very neat and clean engine room, the sign of a good engineer

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks Seth! I appriciate your comment. Check out our other video; in the menantime we are working on a new one. Stay tuned and subscribe!

@aaronerskine3401 Жыл бұрын

I find it fascinating. everyone talking trash about camera angle should volunteer to come film and narrate the startup for him.

@sethbarnes7608 Жыл бұрын

I'd go film this guys boat in a heartbeat

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks Aaron!

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks Seth!!!

@asullivan4047 4 ай бұрын

Nothing wrong with the camera angles.😉.

@kendallevans4079 7 күн бұрын

The only one complaining here is you

@asullivan4047 4 ай бұрын

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Viewing this presentation from the comfort zone of my computer room. Along the " Space Coast " 🚀 of Florida🐊🐊. On occasion I watch the tug boats escorting vessels at Port Canaveral. Relaxing way to spend a morning. Wishing viewers & tug boat crew's A safe/healthy/prosperous (2024) 🌈🎉💵🌞😉.

@mikecimerian6913 Жыл бұрын

The sound. At 37 ... better than a techno band. All the sound cycles are timed together.

@tonyamenta335 4 ай бұрын

So this boat came out before the term “turn key ready”? lol Super cool! Thanks for sharing.

@gjmdzcastricum Жыл бұрын

Nice to see that the engine is a Stork Werkspoor diesel, made in Amsterdam .

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks Gert-jan!

@vettebecker1 Жыл бұрын

Love the whole idea, awesome video

@martinjames9250 Жыл бұрын

Excellent! 👍 What a machine! What an undertaking.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks Martin, stay tooned for more videos!

@bubbapate5740 Жыл бұрын

Would be much better if you put your camera on a bulkhead somewhere so we could actully see what you are doing on the engine.

@henkoosterhof5947 Жыл бұрын

I am a bit puzzled. From forward to reverse i did not hear the engine reverse. So its the tagometer that shows it. Because larger stork or werkspoor(swd) were reversible. And even later swd became (stork wartsilla diesel) but this is dutch heritage. 👍👍 For you to keep it going. The way you treat it your kids can use it or make a bundle selling it.

@superape339 Жыл бұрын

Nice engine, hope to see more of this tug.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

we have a new video out! check it out!

@markjarvis7637 Жыл бұрын

No wonder they had the engineer and the oilers, so much to keep up with

@justsomebloke6784 Жыл бұрын

That was so engrossing to watch, cheers for that. Subbed.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@advancedusvsystems6255 Жыл бұрын

I think you will find it helpful to have large aminated tags or labels at each location that numbers where they are in the sequence. A smaller tag or label to give a reminder (for start, 30sec) or (30 S.A.E oil). Then in an emergency at sea you can do the procedure more quickly.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Good idea, appriciate your advice. Thanks

@advancedusvsystems6255 Жыл бұрын

Not sure what lockout/tagout controls there are, but that boat needs something....

@jp34604 Жыл бұрын

Look these 2 must have items up in the rain forest ... ASIN‎ B08HV3MPFD ASIN B0002YWCC8 Good luck 👍 .

@thesandero2454 Жыл бұрын

That is an old Werkspoor engine,a Dutch comany who used to make heavy industry engines and trains. They made most of the commuter trains used here in The Netherlands and only recently the last ones where put out of service after over 50 years of service. Fantastic engine and a fantastic tug. Is the tug also build in The Netherlands?? In that day and era we were known for building 1st class tugs

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment! Yes, the tug was built in Den Helder. Check out last video, it's about the history of the tug. Stay tuned for others coming soon!

@thesandero2454 Жыл бұрын

@@Explovessel I just stumbled across your video for the first time,so haven't seen another yet but i will in the future since i just subbed your channel👍

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks for following! Here it is about the history, enjoy! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iqh6lKt725q2j30.html

@keigger1 Жыл бұрын

What a beautiful piece of machinery you have there sir! And you're doing a great job working on it, I want to make you a tool belt for all your oil cans lol, we'll you can't say the parts that need to be oiled aren't oiled! I'm subbing to your channel, I want to follow the progress on this👍

@Anne6621 Жыл бұрын

so freaking cool !!!

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thank you! Stay tuned, another video coming soon!

@johnkelly7264 Жыл бұрын

Love it!. SOOO much work. Subbed here!

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks John!

@robertengster5643 Жыл бұрын

You need to put her out for hire.. She's well kept make some great money with her working.

@genechronister7085 Жыл бұрын

Nice vid!

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks Gene, keep watching for new videos!

@proprietary1 Жыл бұрын

Labor intensive, but cool as hell! Beautiful vessel

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thank you!!!

@kevincrosby1760 Жыл бұрын

I'd like to see some subtitles or captions so that I can more readily determine what I am looking at. Please show us the rest of the boat, preferably with some narration so that we know what we are looking at, what it does, why it is the way it is, and what it took for you to get it that way. I didn't see anything which I didn't understand, but I have a bit of background on servicing older machinery. It might be easier to break things down by systems. For instance call a video "Electrical" and show the SP connections, generators, switchgear/breakers, batteries, cabling, receptacles, etc. and tell/show us what you had to do to make everything work. FWIW, when greasing the rockers I'd personally wipe the excess grease of the zirks when done, and then wipe then again with a clean rag before greasing. Dust sticks to grease, and hitting a dirty fitting will just introduce the dust straight into the bushings. Ditto for setting the pump assembly on the walkway while filling the oil can.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the advice Kevin; we'll do it!

@SuperJlonergan Жыл бұрын

get a tour video up asap ....first vid and thousands of views a day keep the momentum going

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Sure, we will do it asap. Thanks for watching!

@peterdenbreejen9838 Жыл бұрын

Great to here an old Dutch engine running again without a Turbo. Means real HP. But I don't know where you got the name Waukesha from but it is a Werkspoor built in Amsterdam. What this has to do with the yellow Cat paint I have no knowledge. In my time they where green. Anyhow, good luck with her as they say, you break this engine you'r not a proper engineer. Take that from a fellow Dutchman been an engineer for more then 60 years.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment! (BTW we never said that, was a reder commet) .Check our other video about his history! Thanks Peter! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iqh6lKt725q2j30.html

@Janboot Жыл бұрын

My father workt at werkspoor for 40+ years There is a werkspoor museum in amsterdam

@theodorebormet1780 Жыл бұрын

looks like it would be hard to maintain the engine and pilot at the same time just oiling the valvetrain looks like a project

@chriswilson8757 10 ай бұрын

No wonder they say it took Four Engineers to run that system when at war or work ? Excellent condition you obviously have worked very hard to restore this old girl no disrespect ,for History !

@nobleroman1133 Жыл бұрын

And some year we may actually get underway 😂 Spend the money and hire an assistant engineer ,,,,,,, I've seen diesel motors for locomotives that haven't ran for years cold start easier ,,,,, but I get it this is a boat , and it's clear that this guy could use a second set of hands with this . Interesting to see once the vertigo went away 😜

@irisheye100 Жыл бұрын

Tell us about the boat a little of its history and location Thanks

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Hey William, a video about the history is coming soon, stay tuned!

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

William, new video about the history is out now! Enjoy

@theodorebormet1780 Жыл бұрын

looks like more than a one man operation

@lawrenceluckey5984 Жыл бұрын

Who is your oiler and engineer while you are under way

@howardbeer5214 Жыл бұрын

Engine start ?????? It did not show that at all

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Howard check here: studio.kzfaq.infoIMMsB3t6TWM

@billi996 Жыл бұрын

Didn’t look like the grease gun was working, why did you hide the oiling process, what were you filling those bottles up with oil for, you put ear protection on after the noise had damaged your ears, a little explanation would be good, Other than that, great vid 👍

@kevincrosby1760 Жыл бұрын

Tight bushings rarely require much grease. Older engines frequently only have pressure oiling for internals such as the crank, conn rods, pistons, etc. The rest of the engine depends on forced-drip oiling, individual oil drip cups, grease cups, and regular manual application of oil and grease at the appropriate locations. As far as hearing protection goes, a lot can be determined about the condition of an engine by how it sounds when it first starts, before heat and oil pressure starts removing slack from systems and masking the sound.

@billi996 Жыл бұрын

@@kevincrosby1760 👍

@robertengster5643 Жыл бұрын

Might you have small exhaust leak in engine room?

@chuckthomas8176 Жыл бұрын

Please stop with chest camera 🎉🎉🎉🎉

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

I appreciate your advice!

@timexironman100m Жыл бұрын

That's a lot of work to start up the engine each time ?

@brucemckelvy9920 Жыл бұрын

This would have been a lot better had you edited out the shots of your sneakers that did not show what you were doing and maybe aimed the camera at the check list you were following so we could see it. Just posting a video without editing or eplanation will not attract subscribers. Not meant to be critical, just helpful if you want to grow a channel.

@apistosig4173 Жыл бұрын

Fuckin' Awesome!!! am so jealous ;-) - but - me thinks you need a bigger oil can!

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Yes, we need a bigger one ;)

@robertordewald8678 Жыл бұрын

My biggest complaint about this video is your constant speaking/chattering over the sounds of the vessel! Talk talk talk all you do is just chatter but not saying a single thing! For me this video would have been so much better if you had explained what you were doing and shared with us your thoughts what and why you did each thing. I grew up on Long Island in New York and love the sea. I'd like to learn more. I love machines and mechanical things so to just explain to yourself and talk to us just like you were talking to a friend would be so beneficial and would keep me on every one of your videos! That's my thought or opinion. Thank you for listening have a good day. Best regards, Bob from Virginia USA

@ejoldman Жыл бұрын

Camera off target, hat's happening?

@stevedunford7632 Жыл бұрын

What was the point of a video with engine start in the title then after all the oiling suddenly the engine was running without showing the actual start.

@Guust_Flater Жыл бұрын

All the labels are in Dutch.

@jimprice1959 Жыл бұрын

I didn't see you start it.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Jim check this out: kzfaq.infoIMMsB3t6TWM?feature=share longer version coming soon

@NUTTER8291 Жыл бұрын

Sorry fella but you need to RE film this and place the camera where we can see what you were doing !! And view if BEFORE posting !! I was TRULY looking forward to this !! .what a sad waste of time watching

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

check this out in the meantime kzfaq.infoIMMsB3t6TWM?feature=share

@Uts9000 Жыл бұрын

living off the grid seems like a lot of work for little reward

@edgarboyd1539 Жыл бұрын

Be nice to see what you are doing. Not liking at the floor or legs

@johnbaggus9966 Жыл бұрын

Like watching paint dry

@peterjansen7854 Жыл бұрын

Gloves ha ha😆😅😄

@normanboyes4983 Жыл бұрын

Looks as though this could have been an interspersing video, good subject matter and great story potential, however I bailed out at 17.58 once the bottle of oil was picked up because it gave the impression this was going to be a looped video of more of the same. All without description, context and story. Please do the subject matter justice. 😀👍

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

Is not looped, watch the rest of it ;). Chech the other video about the history of the tug

@robertmoore254 Жыл бұрын

I'm sorry, to me this is like owning a swimming pool. you want one and when you get it, you find out you spend more time maintaining it than you do using and enjoying it.

@breakthroughmadeinusa9184 Жыл бұрын

My advice, my friend, get a sailboat!!!

@wilfredprins9718 Жыл бұрын

and miss the sound of that beautiful diesel... never

@jdwold1118 Жыл бұрын

Would love to see what you was doing instead of watching different parts of the engine or your feet and painted pants.

@Explovessel Жыл бұрын

I thought my feet and pants were cool 😎 Check here: studio.kzfaq.infoIMMsB3t6TWM

@chuckthomas8176 Жыл бұрын

If I may give a suggestion.. don't use the chest camera ..😢 it makes the audience want to puke . Sea sickness 😷 and video sickness is real . Plus I don't want to see the close of a clove and PMs being done on an engine