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
Last season, our Highfield dinghy developed small pinholes, causing slow leaks, especially in a section on the davits. Previous glue kits from marine stores didn’t hold up, so I tried this pricier two-part system with a hardener. Seamax two-part patch kit for PVC inflatables. I mixed it as instructed, cleaned and sanded the surface, applied … Read more
Anne and I are continuing to prepare our 1976 CHB trawler for summer cruising. Part two shows you my work at the boat’s bow: cleaning and rewiring the Side Shift bow thruster for a new LiFePO battery bank and power washing the forward bilge and anchor locker drain passage. Anne is making headway removing the … 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
In this video, I reattached our trailer’s plastic underbelly and provided some tips and tricks for keeping it attached. I pulled most of it off a little while ago to repair some cracked tanks, clean/lube my electric waste valves, and inspect the plumbing and wiring. I cut the Coroplast material into several sections to make … Read more
This video is a quick tip about a lubricant I use on my Drainmaster electric waste valves and rubber seals. The product is called MolyKote 111 from Dupont and is a food-grade lubricant. It is a thick, non-flowing, grease-like lubricant that provides low volatility, low vapor pressure, wide service temperature range, and water resistance. Related … Read more
I use West Systems’ G/Flex 655 thickened epoxy to repair hairline cracks in my RV waste tanks. This product is ideal because it doesn’t drip, has a low odor, and retains some flexibility. First, I roughened it with a sanding stone on my Dremel tool and cleaned the tank surface really well. Then, I applied … Read more
In this video, I will detail how I replaced my non-working black tank sprayer nozzle. Over the years, it can clog from hard water deposits and debris. I’ve pulled it out and cleaned it before but this time I thought I would swap it out for a brand new part. The OEM installed a flushing … Read more
Recently, I wanted to examine the various systems underneath our 2011 Keystone Cougar 267RLSWE fifth-wheel trailer. I removed the coroplast underbelly for maintenance and a thorough inspection. In this video, a look at what I found and explanations of the various systems hiding under there. Related Posts: Water Tank Bracket Repair Water Tank Filler Hose … Read more
Today, I decided to tackle some plumbing maintenance on my RV, specifically focusing on a leak I noticed around my water heater connections. Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen some weeping where the plastic meets the metal on both the hot and cold connections. This issue became apparent because I mostly boondock, using my … Read more
I tackled a little maintenance project on my RV. I noticed that the slide wiper seal on the top was completely falling apart due to its age – this trailer’s almost 14 years old now. I had previously replaced the secondary bulb seal a couple of years ago because it had failed from too much … Read more
I have a handy new tool to add to my collection: a thermal imaging camera from Kaiweets. I also have their digital multimeter and clamp-on ammeter. The thermal imaging camera will help me quickly check temperatures on things like engines, wheels, electrical equipment, and appliances. It is also another tool for troubleshooting and repairing problems. … Read more