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
This year, I picked up a simple mechanical rope winch as a backup for our boat’s anchor windlass. With 30 meters of heavy chain and a 44-pound anchor, retrieving everything by hand is tough if the motor or gearbox fails. I figured I could hook the winch at the stern and pull from the bow … 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 diagnose and repair my faulty RV 12VDC freshwater pump. Turns out the microswitch, part of the water pump’s pressure switch assembly, was intermittent. A new inexpensive microswitch solved the problem. Installation was straightforward, only requiring unscrewing 4 screws to access and replace.
In this video, you will see how I put together my cables for my off-grid systems in the RV and especially on the boat. I’m crimping some common sizes today, 2/0 gauge and 6 gauge, using my new hydraulic crimper that makes a nice clean hex crimp. It’s fast and does a really solid job. … Read more
Werewolf (Tundra Labs in Green Bay, Wisconsin) sent me their VFLEX gadget to test. It’s a small USB-C adapter that lets you program the output voltage to power devices, like, say, for example, 12V gear common in RVs and boats. Fair Disclosure: I received a free review sample of the product The starter kit included … 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
In this video, I troubleshoot and repair a faulty oil-filled space heater. The power light was on, but no heating was taking place. Turns out a thermostat switch (125V 16A 90C) had arced internally and was no longer functioning. The repair was an easy switch replacement requiring minimal tools. I like this little heater because … Read more
In this video, I take a look at an interesting thermal imaging gadget from GOYOJO. The G210 thermal monocular detects different levels of heat and displays them as a visual image on an internal screen or phone app screen. A photograph or video recording can be taken and stored on 16GB of internal memory. There … 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 inexpensively prolong the life of Anne’s expensive Sony wireless earbuds by replacing the batteries using a kit I found on Amazon. The process is a bit fiddly, but with some patience, it worked, saving a great deal of money versus a new pair. Product Links: Replacement Battery Kit Amazon USA Amazon … 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