In this video, I disassemble our 8-year-old SideShift bow thruster motor to clean corrosion out and replace a worn-out seal. I recently noticed that when spinning the prop, one side squeaked. It looks like some water had worked its way past the old dried-out seal and was beginning to corrode things inside. This older 12V … Read more
In this video, I pull apart our Maxwell model RC10 anchor windlass for a good cleaning and re-lubrication. Since we bought the boat three years ago, the anchor has worked well, and I have done a yearly clean and regrease of the top section of the windlass. This spring, I decided to change the gear … Read more
Another summer boating season of cruising the BC coast of Canada is on the horizon. First, we have to prep our 1976 34-foot trawler, Vestri, for the upcoming launch. We keep it on the hard at a boatyard in Lund, BC, so that makes it easy to do maintenance and upgrades each spring. In this … Read more
In this video, I check out the Topdon TC004 Mini thermal imaging camera. It’s a compact, budget-friendly option. I’ve used their Tornado 30000 battery charger before and love it. I have also tested other thermal imagers on the boat to spot hot spots in wiring, monitor the diesel engine, and more. They are super handy … Read more
In this video, I demonstrate my new hydraulic wire crimper. I needed to buy a new crimper because my old one couldn’t crimp the 4/0 lugs needed for a new off-grid power system project I’m working on. I chose one from a company called AMZCNC. It came with a large selection of dies, ranging from … Read more
Today I’m checking out this handy KAIWEETS articulating borescope camera, great for peeking into tight spots on the RV or boat. It’s got a 5-inch screen, a 5+ foot flexible cable with a camera tip you can bend and twist using the big red dial (it folds right back on itself for 360 views), bright … Read more
Took advantage of a gorgeous mid-January day, sunny, dry, and not too chilly, to finally replace the cracked shower skylight on the RV roof. The old one developed a large crack (probably from a tree branch), and the plastic started to craze badly. Wasn’t thrilled with that dark-tinted model anyway. This new white one feels … Read more
In this video, I dive into the Vtoman X7, a budget-friendly combo jump starter and air compressor that packs a punch for under $100. In the past, I purchased the pricier NOCO GB150 booster and Vair 450p-RV compressor. But I thought it was worth a look at a more inexpensive solution. Fair Disclosure: Product was sent to me … Read more
I do some routine maintenance on our 120HP Ford Lehman diesel engine aboard our 1976 CHB trawler. Every 50 -100 hours, the oil in the Simms injection pump needs to be changed. In the video, I demonstrate how I complete the task in tight confines and share a few tips I’ve learned. Related Links: Boat … Read more
In this video, I show the origin of a diesel fuel puddle I recently observed in our engine bilge. The engine is a 1976 marinized Ford Lehman 120HP diesel with a Simms fuel injection pump. After a few hours runtime, I’d see a little puddle of diesel fuel in the center of the bilge. The … Read more
We’ve been hard at work in the boatyard getting our boat ready for launch, which we had to delay by a week to tackle some key projects. I polished and waxed the hull for a protective shine, and the bottom paint was touched up, plus a hidden issue under the keel was repaired. The teak … Read more
The 2025 summer boating season is on the horizon! We’ve returned to our boat after another enjoyable winter of RVing, and we’re excited to switch to boating again. In this video, we look at how it survived the winter in storage. Also, I will go through some of the tasks ahead of us this next … Read more
This video shows dashcam footage from my trip into Blythe, California, from some free dispersed camping land near Ehrenberg, Arizona. I needed to head to Standage Tire and Auto for replacement trailer tires. The existing tires were due for a change, and a fast leak in one hastened that happening. Luckily, my TPMS alerted me … Read more
Recently, I tackled some routine maintenance on my trailer. I started by jacking up one wheel with a 20-ton bottle jack under the U-clamps—something I’ve done for years without issues, even though RV makers suggest using the I-beam frame. I took off one wheel at a time, cleaned them up, and pulled the brake drums … Read more
Today, I continued maintenance on my nearly 14-year-old Cougar RV, tackling some cracked decals that have been slowly deteriorating. Over time, I’ve removed several of these swooshes using elbow grease, mineral spirits, Goo Gone, isopropyl alcohol, plastic razors, and a heat gun set to a gentle setting to soften the vinyl without damaging the fiberglass. … Read more