I totally get the frustration you feel when the boat is filling up with tools, supplies, parts, old stuff etc. I use my old pick up truck for parts and boxes of supplies (painting, plumbing, etc.). I have emptied all the tools out of the boat to make it more comfortable and inviting with less clutter- 3 times now! And the tolls migrate right back in. It seems you need some things to stay on the boat. The head. I must preface this with the fact that I have not sailed with my new heads yet but... The first thing I did was get rid of the holding tank. It was such a relief that I don't think I could ever put another mess like that on my boat especially after fixing, painting everything. So I went to a "Nature's Head Composting Toilet", and I love it so far. It is really easy to deal with compared to the traditional holding tank with hoses valves and THROUGHULLS. Just last week I covered up 8! Throughulls that were all possible future leaks. I now have 5 left.
Wow! that is a lot of work that you have been doing. Everything is looking good and I am enjoying watching your progress and learning from your venture.
Another trick for detecting moisture in the hull is to tape some plastic wrap in a square to the hull, all the way around so its sealed. As moisture leaves the hull it will condense on the plastic. Release the moisture, then re-apply. When you stop seeing condensation, you know the hull is dry.
I agree with others. Toilet humor draws a crowd. Way to go. Those Lavacs are the very best heads you can buy... if you're intent on saving your poop. I went through three heads on a previous boat before I finally "settled" on the Lavac. I never had the least problem with it. It was perfect. That said, I'll be building my own unvented, urine-diverting, desiccating/composting head on my present boat, utilizing easily obtained 5-gallon buckets. No matter how good the conventional head is, the plumbing always stinks, weighs a lot, consumes space, and costs a lot. Epiphanes is the best. Never varnish over epoxy as a misguided shortcut. The only time this should be done is when necessarily protecting glass/epoxy. With lumber and plywood, just varnish. Great video! Keep up the good work!
Great little varnish scraper the most comprehensive yacht restoration projects on RUclips I've found. Thankfully not to cramming 5 minutes of information into half an hour. The closes up shots, at first gave me the impression I was looking at a serial killer. I'm going to back track to the start of the project.
I've been watching your "all videos" play list, I haven't been giving too many of them a thumbs up, not because I don't like them, but because I'm watching full screen with the videos starting one after another. I have been thoroughly enjoying them, especially where you doing boat restoration and renovation (most of them)! Keep up the great videos!
I would recommend "le tonkinois", since it is easy to apply, does not peel off and in a few months or years the spots where you get the most wear can just be re-varnished without having to remove the other varnish around it...
Really appreciate the detailed explanations of all your projects and have been learning a lot from both of your restoration projects. Thank you for all your time and efforts to share your journey.
Nobody likes digging around in the head and its components. I just gutted my head and redid it with a MSD porta-potti plumbed it to a deck pump-out and a macerator (needs rebuilt). You will be SO happy with the results when finished and you'll feel better knowing that your "business" will flush down while out sailing.... LOL Varnish choice is a personal preference, ask 10 sailors which varnish you'll get 12 or more answers, been there done that. I decided to by West Marine's varnish, I have been happy with the results, 2 years in the So Cal sun with only 3 full coats and It is now time to "scuff & brush" a few more coats. Good Luck!
Haha :) I'm already happy with a slight less smelly boat ;) I think I'll rebuild one of the old Lavac heads and go with an electric for the other head. Variety is the spice of life after all ;) I'd love to give West Marine's varnish a try but we don't have West Marine stores over here.
It's seems to be a fairly good varnish but your not missing anything, I know your choice will be top quality. For living aboard and coastal cruising having two different heads isn't a big deal but offshore it is better having the same heads for storing spare parts and knowing how to troubleshoot and repair any problems
I am new to sailing and will begin refitting my '75 Ranger 23 soon and I wanted to thank you for the time you invest into your videos and for your thorough and very detailed explanation s and instructions. I learned about you from Boatworks Today's channel and subscribed after viewing the first video. I haven't made it through half your videos yet but I will be watching everyone and hope you will continue posting to RUclips! Much success to you and happy sailing!!!
Have you considered leaving a heat source in the bilge areas? Something like light bulbs of sufficient strength to raise the temperature a little. I tried that on my father's boat in the enclosed bilge areas, it worked a treat in speeding up the dry-out process.
Good video. RE: varnish - I am not sure what you are looking for in durability but my experience has been to first put on a couple of coats of gloss to create a harder surface, then finish with one or two coats of satin to get the duller look. Of course lightly sanding between coats to smooth any brush stroke ridges. -johnny
Whatever brand of varnish you use, in between sand, lightly. Heck, if you're feeling very adventurous, scrape the upper strata until you get a smooth, mate finish, then apply the next one. It's a lot more work, but the end result is worth it. Dad does wood like that and there are some varnish only pieces that have lasted for many years in our house. Of course, this trick is "stolen" from the lacquer section of woodworking, so it works perfectly well there as well. Oh and layers going up can be thicker.
Also, to speed up the moisture drop, maybe build a tent around the water line going down and stick a heater down?? This one might be a bit more expensive than the heat gun one so..yeah.
Great tip! That's exactly what I did aboard Obelix :) I wasn't able to get the finish I wanted without sanding in between coats. Like you said - a LOT of work! On the upside, it'll last for years and years down below (out of the sun).
You just keep getting better and better at making videos. This one should be in the "Best Of" play list if you ever make one. I know little about making videos, but do watch many of the cruising/sailing, and woodworking ones. You are the best Mads! :) :) :) :) :) :) ;)
Couple things I'd like to mention.When you replace the head hoses get the industrial hoses not the white "marine" sani hoses. yes they are more expensive but in a few years the white hoses will smell again.Consider tenting the hull with plastic sheeting and renting a kerosene salamander heater to heat the air under the sheeting to help dry out the hull. A couple full weekends should show good improvement.Cheers
Mads, I know a couple of people here in the UK who tried to dry hulls our in the same way as you. One didn't dry even after 18 months, but when the boats had the hulls tented off with plastic sheet, the moisture dropped quickly. May be worth considering. Great videos by the way. Steve
Another great video Mads and toilet humour always finds an audience.😉 Talking of which, one of my shipwrights colleagues who had to attend to a sewage treatment plant which had gone bad - and came out of it with the shit dripping from his eyebrows ( while we rolled about laughing) said in his broad Scottish accent 'Aye It may be shit to you laddies - but it is f'n bread and butter to me'. Seriously sorting out these systems from the bottom up( more toilet humour) is the way to go (more toilet humour) it will make installing the holding tank more pleasant and at least if you have problems further down the road you will be only dealing with your own shit (mth). You could always make one of your heads composting - just not use it in Denmark? On the drying out of the hull - I cannot see how that will work - I can see it improving from 100% to say 60% but then it is going to slow right up as the difference to the atmospheric relative humidity reduces. I think it needs tenting and heating
i have 2 pieces of advice....composting toilet and composting toilet. seriously the 3rd time i had to repair the head i switched and never regretted it...besides i replaced 1 holding tank with a water tank and the other with more diesel and eliminated 4 thru hulls :) and im sure whats available now is far superior to what i had
I would pick up a cheap DE-humidifier, put it in the main salon and run a hose from it to the ground outside. Since moisture wicks from wet to dry, keeping the inside of the hull is also important. It might help with the funk smell also. When you are about ready to move in, rent an ozone ionizer and let it run 24/7 . But you can't be exposed to the ions they kill everything. Widely used in mold abatement an after flood sanitizing.
I've heard about people mention those Ozone machines on a couple of occasions. A while back I checked and there is actually a place here in Denmark where I can rent one :) If there is still some remnants of "boat funk" just before I'm about to move aboard I'll rent one :)
Great update Mads. I am completely with you when you say you just wanted to do a job you could finish. Having done lots of hull work on wooden boats the only way i could keep my sanity was if I threw in a few little jobs inbetween the bad ones...like sanding, caulking, paying seams etc. I had a 48f long 16ft beam fishing boat and I used to mark off sections of the hull so my mind would only see these small sections and not get totally fed up in the realisation there was so much left to do. I have done the same on my current boat the Rival 32 but you have a much bigger area. Those pumps for the heads are great but what a pain to get to the pump, imagine the diaphragm going on a trip and you have to strip it down what a pain. At least you have two heads. As for varnish, I would use Awl Grip 3131 if i could get it here in UK as it dries quick and allows more than one coat. day. Used by many US boat builders and especially on wooden spars. Maybe some of your US viewers have a view.
Thank you so much :) I did the same thing when I was sanding the hull (section of a small area). Also, it helped a lot to able to watch the video from the week before to see that I was actually making progress even though it at times didn't feel like it. Wow! there must be a ton of upkeep on a 48 ft wooden boat :P I'm planning on replacing one of the heads with an electric one. Just to try something new :) I'd love to give Awlgrip m3131 a try but I haven't been able to find it over here so far either. I wonder if a can of it could survive the flight back home the next time I'm in the US ;)
+Sail Life Imam sure it would be ok in hold luggage. I even emailed Awlgrip and they forwarded to the Uk office but no reply so far. Yes the fishing boat was a total nightmare for over 10 years of my life and then had to sell. Burnt out... Electric head is good idea, used one recently on a Jeaneau 53 and was impressed.
Keep them coming, I find them very interesting thanks, they remind me of many, many months of scrabbling about in the bilges of my old boat. It seems boats, no matter where they are in the world, they all present the same problem, all having the stubborn bolt in an impossible place that refuses to budge. Remember we're all aboard and on your side.
Couple of ideas for your Mads. 1. It might help drop the moister level if you taped up a plastic skirting around the water line and stick a few space heaters in there. 2. Have you thought of putting In a few compostable heads? From my understanding they are about 1000 u.s. Dollars are are low maintenance and smell a lot better then regular heads. Plus you don't need a holding tank for the waist so that frees up a lot of space and weight aboard a lot of boats. Just a few thoughts. :)
Great video and nicely edited! Thanks for sharing the Blue Seas safety hub, that's a product of theirs I have not yet seen. They have a fantastic line of high-quality products and switching to their batter selector switch is generally one of the first upgrades I do.
Great videos I'm beginning the process of restoring a C&C 31 which is going to take me a while. Starting with pulling out the gas Atomic 4 and dropping in a 3 cyl Mitsubishi diesel.
I just use a cleaner/restorer product on the inside of my boat. It leaves a satin finish which is easy on the eyes. I agree with your decision. I've used Epifanes on the exterior and can say that it is a good product. I've torn out my head also.....not fun! I now have a composting toilet.
Epifanes seems to have a good reputation and it's the same price as the stuff I've used aboard Obelix. I'm very excited for my little test :) I was for a brief period of time very interested in getting a composting head. Sadly it turns out I'm not allowed to discard the waste from it anywhere. It needs to be treated as sewage apparently. We've got some silly rules over here in Denmark *sigh*
Epifanes is great. Been using it on my boat and professionally for years. Using the regular Clear Varnish or the Woodfinnish Gloss for buildup coats. The Satin Finish Varnish seems to flow better than their Woodfinish Matte Varnish as a top coat for Interior work. Epifanes also has great tech support for usage. Best of luck!
Hi Mads! I have a great tip for you. If you take a wide tape (that will leave as little residue as possible and is waterproof, I used ducktape when I did this to paint the underside of my boat. Which left residue.) and fold it, sticky side to sticky side in the middle. So it will form a T-shape and tape it along the boat over the waterline, you will have a lip sticking out of the boat that will prevent water from running along the area you want to dry and have it dripping of the lip instead! If you do this with a little bit of accuracy you won't have any water touching the underside of the boat :) which you will need to do sooner or later when painting the boat! If you didn't fully understand how I meant, I can send you a pic to your facebook fan-page :) And for varnish, I Have used two of hempels products. The classic varnish - when I used this I was too unpatient and put too thick layers on and it would never harden. You have to apply very thin layers for this to work well. And I've used the Hempel two part diamond varnish which gave off a very good result, it gets very clear when hardened. But I understand that a two part varnish maybe is too overkill to put inside a boat. (I used it on my wooden rudder). As always, thanks for a very entertaining video! :)
That is a great tip! I know exactly what you referring to! :) I've used Hempels Dura-Gloss aboard Obelix. Good product well suited for interior use :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :)
madds most of the boats that i have worked on , i have recomended to many owners to think on 12 months natural drying but it depends how wet the boat was first, trust me there will be plenty to keep you busy until the hull is dry
Should you consider putting up a tarp tent around the hull perimeter and place a couple of heat lamps under the hull to raise the temperature 15 or 20 degrees? I have seen that done to greatly reduce the drying time. great video by the way! too funny.
Great video. GLAD you are deciding to do it correctly rather than just fast & in the water. I do have a suggestion for a couple more connections to the hub. Add your radio system. I have my HAM and SSB radio directly to the battery. I want the radio to be the LAST thing give out. Another note, When I was flying in the military, we used to carry what we called a "battle short". It was a small brass or bronze rod the same size as a fuse. If, during an emergency, a system was needed, and using it was more important than worrying about keeping it in good condition, we put in the battle short.
Thanks, Greg :) As much as I'd love to get Athena back in the water I reeeaaaly don't want to go through all of this a second time ;) Great suggestion with the "battle short" :)
I've gone over to a chemical toilet for mine but it's a good idea to have a smooth bore hose on the heads outlet as it stops 'stuff' collecting in the ridges.
Hi I use Valspar varnish because they also make a very good hand rubbed varnish which is what I finish with, it gives a satin or gloss finish. Very easy to touch up and repair scratches
How many others , thought that at 7:57 , there was a fly crawling accross their screen? To help withe drying process, it will help a lot if you tent the boat. bear in mind that the hull can only dry to the point of the relative humidity of the air around it unless you have dehumidification . but at least keeping the rain and eventually snow off the boat will allow you to work any time you want.
Haha, while editing the video I thought it was on my screen too ;) I'll go into more detail about my plan for what is going to happen if the hull doesn't dry out in the next video :)
Hi Mads. Great video again. I used Awl Wood varnish on my timber mast recently and could not be happier. I plan to use it on the coachhouse and internally as well. It is expensive here in Australia but is the best I have used over the years. All the professionals use it. Keep the vids coming.
Hey Mads, should have put this in my last posting, but make sure you replace you head hoses with Sanitation hose. its suppose to prevent odors from seeping though. Paul
😂😂😂😂 lol we had so much fun watching your channel!!!. by the way your situation going on in the V berth that's exactly what we did this pass week was one of those days you just wanna see some progress is amazing how we all go through this thanks for sharing your great videos
Mads, Buy a roll of a masking tape that has tape on one edge attached to a sheet of about 30 cm of clear plastic and run it around the waterline. This will cause the rainwater to be diverted from the hull and decrease the time it takes to dry the hull.
Another excellent video! I just stumbled onto your channel and i'm already addicted. Your videos are really entertaining (and informative). Keep up the great work!
Lol @ Click bait. Jökell is enough click bait for us. This is my favourite video so far this year. It's really fun. Plus, if you haven't sold it, i'd like to hire your tramex next year... just got to get the boat somewhere warm enough to want to strip it all back again. As for varnish - I'll take your recommendation on that!
in order to get the moisture down in a reasonable amount of time, you need to create a chamber around the bottom of the boat and use heaters with a circulation of air. The chamber is created by taping plastics sheets around the bottom making sure the area is sealed.
Hey Mads, I got a question for your question ... why so many coats of varnish on the interior wood? Typically, 8, 9 or 10 coats are recommended for any exterior wood, particularly here in Southern Florida, where the U.V. is ridiculously hard on varnishes. But in answer to your question, I've used epifanes - the product you showed, Schooner ( Interlux product ) and a 2 part polyurethane. I am about to try a new product, which i can tell you about some other time.. For interior wood work either one of the two mentioned varnished were just fine, and i was very happy with the results both gave me, even years later with only 2 coats. . For my exterior wood, i have not found a product that i am satisfied with. All of them failed miserably. This is in part do to the fact that it was almost impossible to put on 10 coats of varnish in a reasonable amount of time. Sanding between each coat, etc just compounded the effort. I am about to try a new product which says i can re-coat after 2 hours. I hope this product lives up to its promise, I have a LOT of topside teak. Take care... Paul
You might wish to research the two part Deks Olje D1 and D2 system, but that might be a bit 'bright' for what you are after (more focused on external teak, etc.. D1 stain only is another option.
I enjoyed this video very much and found many of the points you showed us most interesting. Question: Is it abnormally damp inside your boat and, if so, is this moisture contributing to the slow drying of the hull? or perhaps more likely, this continuous wet weather and probable high humidity your experiencing? - I notice many people are suggesting tenting the boat or at least installing plastic sheeting from the water line downwards to keep rain / moisture off.
Jeg har lige fundet din kanal, det er helt super, jeg har næsten set alt nu. Jeg har selv en ældre båd (1972) jeg skal have renoveret og kan bruge din meget strukturerede tilgang. Tak for det... :-)
hmmm. poo encrusted hoses... a topic sailors can relate to. What more "clickbait" do you need after that!? lol You can certainly store spare fuses in the empty spots of that hub. less likely to lose little bits like that. Always good to do the projects the right way the first time. Good job!
Hello Mads, thank you for the time invested in these videos they are really informative. I've been watching your channel for a couple of weeks now, quite nice!!! Quick question, have you thought about going with a composting toilet?
Another great one Mads. I would say this is your most entertaining one yet. Very funny comments. I am also impressed that you can shoot the video in such a clean timeline. Everything flows so nice. Do you keep a written script of your plan as you film or are you keeping all that stuff in your head?
Mads, Great video. Is it possible to speed up the drying out process by taping plastic around the hull to form a curtain and using fans or even a heater to get rid of the moisture? I know it would be a hassle but if it gets you back in the water quicker it might be worth it.
My opinion varnish wise is not very well informed as I tried only one. That is woodskin by international. The good thing with it is it doesn't need any sanding between coats. Great advantage to me! I'm quite happy about the look and durability but I did not compare it to other products...
Wow Mads you are in rare form with this video. We loved all the joking around. It seems you are really getting comfortable with these videos. One question, is there a process for cleaning the hoses? For instance, when you get the new ones in. What's the maintenance like to reduce the buildup?
Thank you so much :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) I've heard of some people removing the hoses and beating them with a hammer to loosen the scales that form inside. I've been told that those scales only form if you flush with seawater. I guess a solution would be to flush a bit of freshwater through from time to time. To be honest I never use the head aboard Obelix. It's much easier to go for a short walk and use the facilities here in the marina and when I'm out sailing I usually just pee in a small bucket and dump it directly overboard. The head aboard Obelix is tiny and getting in there hardly seems worth the trouble ;)
Yeah, I don't know of a time I have been on a boat and someone needed to use the head. It's seems like the amount of effort needed to clean or deal with it does not make it worth it. Thanks again and hopefully you won't be in such a shitty situation any time soon.
Hi Mads, I really enjoyed your video, lots of (ahem) interesting stuff... I use Le Tonkinois varnish (for the exterior), easy to apply and maintain, and environmentally friendly. Please see "S/V Pearl Sail", and I'll start using Minwax Helmsman clear satin spar urethane on the interior. Keep up the good work!
your puppy is so cute! I'm thinking of getting a Icelandic sheepdog, I've been looking to get a companion for my Shetland Sheepdog. hopefully an Icelandic will do well.
I'm sure you'll be receiving this comment late in the game however I have used that particular brand of varnish but I only use it where it's subject to weather or sunlight since you're down below you don't have to use such a premium product because it's not subject to either my preferred look is to do all of the solid wood trim in a gloss and then do the large panels in a satin it just adds another level of detail
@@SailLife ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! That was the icing on the ... poo cake. OK, you know what I mean. It was timely too as I have been watching a lot of cruising videos and have been contemplating making "Cruiser Video Bingo" where you can watch for common tropes such as "clickbait girlfriend", "drone shot", and whatever this is called --> 🤙🏽. Can you think of more?
I enjoy all your videos, but this one really made me laugh. Must have been the poop jokes and the head slapping! Well done with the progress on Athena.
insides starting to come together! any thought to what youre going to use for anti fouling? I've no idea on the cost of copper coating, but i've heard its amazing and lasts 10-15+ years.
Does Athena have a holding tank? Also I'm getting ready to deal with the same osmosis problems as Athena, i believe you used sand, i have been getting recommendations to use soda? have you heard any pros and cons to each? And thank you for all the hard work making the videos, i look forward to them every weekend! its a highlight!
Not yet :) I'm required to put one in by the marina I'm staying in sadly. That is a great question! I've heard about both as well as dry ice. From what I've heard soda should be more gentle than sand. The dry ice was odd. I called a company that specializes in dry ice blasting and they told me they'd use sand. I didn't get a good explanation as to why. Do you need to remove old gelcoat and/or barrier coat like I did (and go down to bare fiberglass)? Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos :)
Yerkel is getting old and his heart is weaker, that's why he sleeps so much. Try adding Spirulina to his food as it is a superfood that helps mitochondria (powerhouse of our cells). Thanks for funny video.
That's a good question :) If the hull hasn't dried out before winter I might get an opportunity to answer that question ;) I keep crossing my fingers we'll get lots of sunshine and wind. It feels like it's been a very wet summer so far.
Thanks! :) I hope you're both settling in well aboard Tuuli. I think I noticed a new video from you guys in my feed. I'm very much looking forward to it! :) I'm going to answer a few more comments and then it's "Two aboard Tuuli"-time :P
Hi Mads . Look like you are progressing fast Cool ! One thing can I suggest a more attractive thumbnail picture then the one you have for this video ? I think its too descriptive Yikes! It will also make me want to fart lol !
Maybe it's just that I'm a guy, and so every poo joke makes me laugh, but that was your funniest video yet. Great to see the continued progress though! My wife and I really enjoy watching the work. Are you expecting any more projects on Obelix?
Thank you so much :) I'm glad you both enjoy the videos :) There are a few more projects aboard Obelix I'd like to take care of before putting her up for sale. Even with those out of the way there are plenty of stuff for the next owner to take care off.
What paint did you use? On on of your first blog posts you mentioned that you used a Multicoat pure white, but the pure white (10231) is actually a Brilliant Gloss and not the Multicoat. So my guess were that you used a standard Multicoat white (10000) or ...?
Mad's is your head a Lavac? that's what I have but mine is the powder coated Aluminium one's from early 70's. I figure if they last 40- 50 years there not bad. some thing to think about if your holding tank is plastic, fiberglass over it real good and it will last or just build it out of glass then it will last 50+ years.
Good eye! They're both Lavac's :) I'm guessing mine are from the 80's (when the boat was build). I plan on replacing one of them with an electric head. Most of all just to see what that's like :)
Had a friend who wishes he didn't, seems to always plug up, so he put's the toilet paper in a bag. Gross I think. the Lavac you can almost pump paper towels thru. Watch Alfie's new video, why do you need two heads?
+Sail Life, if you really must electrify, just use the same bulletproof Lavac with a mascerator pump and push button. You seriously can't improve on the Lavac unless you go with a composter.
I totally get the frustration you feel when the boat is filling up with tools, supplies, parts, old stuff etc. I use my old pick up truck for parts and boxes of supplies (painting, plumbing, etc.). I have emptied all the tools out of the boat to make it more comfortable and inviting with less clutter- 3 times now! And the tolls migrate right back in. It seems you need some things to stay on the boat.
The head. I must preface this with the fact that I have not sailed with my new heads yet but... The first thing I did was get rid of the holding tank. It was such a relief that I don't think I could ever put another mess like that on my boat especially after fixing, painting everything. So I went to a "Nature's Head Composting Toilet", and I love it so far. It is really easy to deal with compared to the traditional holding tank with hoses valves and THROUGHULLS. Just last week I covered up 8! Throughulls that were all possible future leaks. I now have 5 left.
Wow! that is a lot of work that you have been doing. Everything is looking good and I am enjoying watching your progress and learning from your venture.
I can really tell how your videos evolve into better and better quality. These are a pleasure to watch. Thank you.
Another trick for detecting moisture in the hull is to tape some plastic wrap in a square to the hull, all the way around so its sealed. As moisture leaves the hull it will condense on the plastic. Release the moisture, then re-apply. When you stop seeing condensation, you know the hull is dry.
I've read about that method :)
I agree with others. Toilet humor draws a crowd. Way to go. Those Lavacs are the very best heads you can buy... if you're intent on saving your poop. I went through three heads on a previous boat before I finally "settled" on the Lavac. I never had the least problem with it. It was perfect. That said, I'll be building my own unvented, urine-diverting, desiccating/composting head on my present boat, utilizing easily obtained 5-gallon buckets. No matter how good the conventional head is, the plumbing always stinks, weighs a lot, consumes space, and costs a lot. Epiphanes is the best. Never varnish over epoxy as a misguided shortcut. The only time this should be done is when necessarily protecting glass/epoxy. With lumber and plywood, just varnish. Great video! Keep up the good work!
Great little varnish scraper the most comprehensive yacht restoration projects on RUclips I've found. Thankfully not to cramming 5 minutes of information into half an hour. The closes up shots, at first gave me the impression I was looking at a serial killer. I'm going to back track to the start of the project.
I've been watching your "all videos" play list, I haven't been giving too many of them a thumbs up, not because I don't like them, but because I'm watching full screen with the videos starting one after another. I have been thoroughly enjoying them, especially where you doing boat restoration and renovation (most of them)! Keep up the great videos!
I think you are an excellent presenter, and I really admire your organisation, motivation and bravery. Anyway keep it up and thanx.
I would recommend "le tonkinois", since it is easy to apply, does not peel off and in a few months or years the spots where you get the most wear can just be re-varnished without having to remove the other varnish around it...
Really appreciate the detailed explanations of all your projects and have been learning a lot from both of your restoration projects. Thank you for all your time and efforts to share your journey.
Thank you so much :) You're more than welcome! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos :) Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :)
Nobody likes digging around in the head and its components. I just gutted my head and redid it with a MSD porta-potti plumbed it to a deck pump-out and a macerator (needs rebuilt). You will be SO happy with the results when finished and you'll feel better knowing that your "business" will flush down while out sailing.... LOL
Varnish choice is a personal preference, ask 10 sailors which varnish you'll get 12 or more answers, been there done that. I decided to by West Marine's varnish, I have been happy with the results, 2 years in the So Cal sun with only 3 full coats and It is now time to "scuff & brush" a few more coats. Good Luck!
Haha :) I'm already happy with a slight less smelly boat ;) I think I'll rebuild one of the old Lavac heads and go with an electric for the other head. Variety is the spice of life after all ;) I'd love to give West Marine's varnish a try but we don't have West Marine stores over here.
It's seems to be a fairly good varnish but your not missing anything, I know your choice will be top quality. For living aboard and coastal cruising having two different heads isn't a big deal but offshore it is better having the same heads for storing spare parts and knowing how to troubleshoot and repair any problems
I am new to sailing and will begin refitting my '75 Ranger 23 soon and I wanted to thank you for the time you invest into your videos and for your thorough and very detailed explanation s and instructions. I learned about you from Boatworks Today's channel and subscribed after viewing the first video. I haven't made it through half your videos yet but I will be watching everyone and hope you will continue posting to RUclips! Much success to you and happy sailing!!!
Have you considered leaving a heat source in the bilge areas? Something like light bulbs of sufficient strength to raise the temperature a little. I tried that on my father's boat in the enclosed bilge areas, it worked a treat in speeding up the dry-out process.
I hadn't thought of that :) The laminate surrounding the bilge doesn't have a higher moisture content but I'll keep you tip in mind :)
Good video. RE: varnish - I am not sure what you are looking for in durability but my experience has been to first put on a couple of coats of gloss to create a harder surface, then finish with one or two coats of satin to get the duller look. Of course lightly sanding between coats to smooth any brush stroke ridges.
-johnny
Whatever brand of varnish you use, in between sand, lightly. Heck, if you're feeling very adventurous, scrape the upper strata until you get a smooth, mate finish, then apply the next one. It's a lot more work, but the end result is worth it. Dad does wood like that and there are some varnish only pieces that have lasted for many years in our house.
Of course, this trick is "stolen" from the lacquer section of woodworking, so it works perfectly well there as well. Oh and layers going up can be thicker.
Also, to speed up the moisture drop, maybe build a tent around the water line going down and stick a heater down?? This one might be a bit more expensive than the heat gun one so..yeah.
Great tip! That's exactly what I did aboard Obelix :) I wasn't able to get the finish I wanted without sanding in between coats. Like you said - a LOT of work! On the upside, it'll last for years and years down below (out of the sun).
You just keep getting better and better at making videos. This one should be in the "Best Of" play list if you ever make one. I know little about making videos, but do watch many of the cruising/sailing, and woodworking ones. You are the best Mads! :) :) :) :) :) :) ;)
You've got us smiling Mads. Thanks.
Couple things I'd like to mention.When you replace the head hoses get the industrial hoses not the white "marine" sani hoses. yes they are more expensive but in a few years the white hoses will smell again.Consider tenting the hull with plastic sheeting and renting a kerosene salamander heater to heat the air under the sheeting to help dry out the hull. A couple full weekends should show good improvement.Cheers
Ha ha ! I'm enjoying the satire you add to your videos. A touch of humor always makes a daunting task tolerable. Keep up the good work.
4:24 - Probably the funniest thing I've ever heard you say. :)
Haha ;) Thanks ;)
Came here to say the same thing! ;-P
Mads, I know a couple of people here in the UK who tried to dry hulls our in the same way as you. One didn't dry even after 18 months, but when the boats had the hulls tented off with plastic sheet, the moisture dropped quickly. May be worth considering. Great videos by the way. Steve
Another great video Mads and toilet humour always finds an audience.😉 Talking of which, one of my shipwrights colleagues who had to attend to a sewage treatment plant which had gone bad - and came out of it with the shit dripping from his eyebrows ( while we rolled about laughing) said in his broad Scottish accent 'Aye It may be shit to you laddies - but it is f'n bread and butter to me'. Seriously sorting out these systems from the bottom up( more toilet humour) is the way to go (more toilet humour) it will make installing the holding tank more pleasant and at least if you have problems further down the road you will be only dealing with your own shit (mth). You could always make one of your heads composting - just not use it in Denmark? On the drying out of the hull - I cannot see how that will work - I can see it improving from 100% to say 60% but then it is going to slow right up as the difference to the atmospheric relative humidity reduces. I think it needs tenting and heating
Probably with heating pads in direct contact with the hull.......?
i have 2 pieces of advice....composting toilet and composting toilet. seriously the 3rd time i had to repair the head i switched and never regretted it...besides i replaced 1 holding tank with a water tank and the other with more diesel and eliminated 4 thru hulls :) and im sure whats available now is far superior to what i had
Great work!! even without click bait =-) I admire very much the fact that apparently you enjoy fixing your boat as much as sailing . two thums up!
I would pick up a cheap DE-humidifier, put it in the main salon and run a hose from it to the ground outside. Since moisture wicks from wet to dry, keeping the inside of the hull is also important. It might help with the funk smell also. When you are about ready to move in, rent an ozone ionizer and let it run 24/7 . But you can't be exposed to the ions they kill everything. Widely used in mold abatement an after flood sanitizing.
I've heard about people mention those Ozone machines on a couple of occasions. A while back I checked and there is actually a place here in Denmark where I can rent one :) If there is still some remnants of "boat funk" just before I'm about to move aboard I'll rent one :)
Great update Mads. I am completely with you when you say you just wanted to do a job you could finish. Having done lots of hull work on wooden boats the only way i could keep my sanity was if I threw in a few little jobs inbetween the bad ones...like sanding, caulking, paying seams etc. I had a 48f long 16ft beam fishing boat and I used to mark off sections of the hull so my mind would only see these small sections and not get totally fed up in the realisation there was so much left to do. I have done the same on my current boat the Rival 32 but you have a much bigger area. Those pumps for the heads are great but what a pain to get to the pump, imagine the diaphragm going on a trip and you have to strip it down what a pain. At least you have two heads. As for varnish, I would use Awl Grip 3131 if i could get it here in UK as it dries quick and allows more than one coat. day. Used by many US boat builders and especially on wooden spars. Maybe some of your US viewers have a view.
Thank you so much :) I did the same thing when I was sanding the hull (section of a small area). Also, it helped a lot to able to watch the video from the week before to see that I was actually making progress even though it at times didn't feel like it. Wow! there must be a ton of upkeep on a 48 ft wooden boat :P I'm planning on replacing one of the heads with an electric one. Just to try something new :) I'd love to give Awlgrip m3131 a try but I haven't been able to find it over here so far either. I wonder if a can of it could survive the flight back home the next time I'm in the US ;)
+Sail Life Imam sure it would be ok in hold luggage. I even emailed Awlgrip and they forwarded to the Uk office but no reply so far. Yes the fishing boat was a total nightmare for over 10 years of my life and then had to sell. Burnt out... Electric head is good idea, used one recently on a Jeaneau 53 and was impressed.
Keep them coming, I find them very interesting thanks, they remind me of many, many months of scrabbling about in the bilges of my old boat. It seems boats, no matter where they are in the world, they all present the same problem, all having the stubborn bolt in an impossible place that refuses to budge. Remember we're all aboard and on your side.
Couple of ideas for your Mads. 1. It might help drop the moister level if you taped up a plastic skirting around the water line and stick a few space heaters in there. 2. Have you thought of putting In a few compostable heads? From my understanding they are about 1000 u.s. Dollars are are low maintenance and smell a lot better then regular heads. Plus you don't need a holding tank for the waist so that frees up a lot of space and weight aboard a lot of boats. Just a few thoughts. :)
Great video and nicely edited! Thanks for sharing the Blue Seas safety hub, that's a product of theirs I have not yet seen. They have a fantastic line of high-quality products and switching to their batter selector switch is generally one of the first upgrades I do.
Great videos I'm beginning the process of restoring a C&C 31 which is going to take me a while. Starting with pulling out the gas Atomic 4 and dropping in a 3 cyl Mitsubishi diesel.
so enjoyable watching yours vids, nearly getting through all of them.
Thank you so much :) I'm glad you're enjoying the videos! and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :)
I just use a cleaner/restorer product on the inside of my boat. It leaves a satin finish which is easy on the eyes. I agree with your decision. I've used Epifanes on the exterior and can say that it is a good product. I've torn out my head also.....not fun! I now have a composting toilet.
Epifanes seems to have a good reputation and it's the same price as the stuff I've used aboard Obelix. I'm very excited for my little test :) I was for a brief period of time very interested in getting a composting head. Sadly it turns out I'm not allowed to discard the waste from it anywhere. It needs to be treated as sewage apparently. We've got some silly rules over here in Denmark *sigh*
Just finished catching up. Wow... what a journey! Thanks for taking the time and trouble to put up all this together.
Epifanes is great. Been using it on my boat and professionally for years. Using the regular Clear Varnish or the Woodfinnish Gloss for buildup coats. The Satin Finish Varnish seems to flow better than their Woodfinish Matte Varnish as a top coat for Interior work. Epifanes also has great tech support for usage. Best of luck!
Hi Mads! I have a great tip for you. If you take a wide tape (that will leave as little residue as possible and is waterproof, I used ducktape when I did this to paint the underside of my boat. Which left residue.) and fold it, sticky side to sticky side in the middle. So it will form a T-shape and tape it along the boat over the waterline, you will have a lip sticking out of the boat that will prevent water from running along the area you want to dry and have it dripping of the lip instead! If you do this with a little bit of accuracy you won't have any water touching the underside of the boat :) which you will need to do sooner or later when painting the boat! If you didn't fully understand how I meant, I can send you a pic to your facebook fan-page :)
And for varnish, I Have used two of hempels products. The classic varnish - when I used this I was too unpatient and put too thick layers on and it would never harden. You have to apply very thin layers for this to work well. And I've used the Hempel two part diamond varnish which gave off a very good result, it gets very clear when hardened. But I understand that a two part varnish maybe is too overkill to put inside a boat. (I used it on my wooden rudder).
As always, thanks for a very entertaining video! :)
That is a great tip! I know exactly what you referring to! :) I've used Hempels Dura-Gloss aboard Obelix. Good product well suited for interior use :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :)
I sent you a picture to your sail-life fb-page. I don't know how notifications to pages work, but I might as well mention it :)
One of the best channels on RUclips!
madds most of the boats that i have worked on , i have recomended to many owners to think on 12 months natural drying but it depends how wet the boat was first, trust me there will be plenty to keep you busy until the hull is dry
Should you consider putting up a tarp tent around the hull perimeter and place a couple of heat lamps under the hull to raise the temperature 15 or 20 degrees? I have seen that done to greatly reduce the drying time. great video by the way! too funny.
Great video. GLAD you are deciding to do it correctly rather than just fast & in the water.
I do have a suggestion for a couple more connections to the hub. Add your radio system. I have my HAM and SSB radio directly to the battery. I want the radio to be the LAST thing give out. Another note, When I was flying in the military, we used to carry what we called a "battle short". It was a small brass or bronze rod the same size as a fuse. If, during an emergency, a system was needed, and using it was more important than worrying about keeping it in good condition, we put in the battle short.
Thanks, Greg :) As much as I'd love to get Athena back in the water I reeeaaaly don't want to go through all of this a second time ;) Great suggestion with the "battle short" :)
Great vid. Enjoying all your work in getting boat ready. (Hamilton, Ontario)
I've gone over to a chemical toilet for mine but it's a good idea to have a smooth bore hose on the heads outlet as it stops 'stuff' collecting in the ridges.
That makes perfect sense! :)
Hi I use Valspar varnish because they also make a very good hand rubbed varnish which is what I finish with, it gives a satin or gloss finish. Very easy to touch up and repair scratches
How many others , thought that at 7:57 , there was a fly crawling accross their screen?
To help withe drying process, it will help a lot if you tent the boat. bear in mind that the hull can only dry to the point of the relative humidity of the air around it unless you have dehumidification . but at least keeping the rain and eventually snow off the boat will allow you to work any time you want.
Yep, saw that
Haha, while editing the video I thought it was on my screen too ;) I'll go into more detail about my plan for what is going to happen if the hull doesn't dry out in the next video :)
Better and better my friend! Loving the video and editing work. Keep it up!!!
Hi Mads. Great video again. I used Awl Wood varnish on my timber mast recently and could not be happier. I plan to use it on the coachhouse and internally as well. It is expensive here in Australia but is the best I have used over the years. All the professionals use it. Keep the vids coming.
Hey Mads, should have put this in my last posting, but make sure you replace you head hoses with Sanitation hose. its suppose to prevent odors from seeping though.
Paul
Just bought boat as project , can't wait 😊
That's awesome! Congratulations! What kind of boat did you buy? :)
+Sail Life only a little motor boat (first boat ) hope to upgrade to sailing boat in future , love your vids
😂😂😂😂 lol we had so much fun watching your channel!!!. by the way your situation going on in the V berth that's exactly what we did this pass week was one of those days you just wanna see some progress is amazing how we all go through this thanks for sharing your great videos
Mads, Buy a roll of a masking tape that has tape on one edge attached to a sheet of about 30 cm of clear plastic and run it around the waterline. This will cause the rainwater to be diverted from the hull and decrease the time it takes to dry the hull.
Great videos mate.
Thanks! :)
Another excellent video! I just stumbled onto your channel and i'm already addicted. Your videos are really entertaining (and informative). Keep up the great work!
Lol @ Click bait. Jökell is enough click bait for us. This is my favourite video so far this year. It's really fun. Plus, if you haven't sold it, i'd like to hire your tramex next year... just got to get the boat somewhere warm enough to want to strip it all back again. As for varnish - I'll take your recommendation on that!
in order to get the moisture down in a reasonable amount of time, you need to create a chamber around the bottom of the boat and use heaters with a circulation of air. The chamber is created by taping plastics sheets around the bottom making sure the area is sealed.
I have used Interlux Schooner varnish with some success. I have been told though Epiphanes is better, so you may have picked right.
Another great video! Thanks
I always look forward to a new video. great job and very entertaining as usual
Hey Mads, I got a question for your question ... why so many coats of varnish on the interior wood? Typically, 8, 9 or 10 coats are recommended for any exterior wood, particularly here in Southern Florida, where the U.V. is ridiculously hard on varnishes. But in answer to your question, I've used epifanes - the product you showed, Schooner ( Interlux product ) and a 2 part polyurethane. I am about to try a new product, which i can tell you about some other time.. For interior wood work either one of the two mentioned varnished were just fine, and i was very happy with the results both gave me, even years later with only 2 coats. . For my exterior wood, i have not found a product that i am satisfied with. All of them failed miserably. This is in part do to the fact that it was almost impossible to put on 10 coats of varnish in a reasonable amount of time. Sanding between each coat, etc just compounded the effort. I am about to try a new product which says i can re-coat after 2 hours. I hope this product lives up to its promise, I have a LOT of topside teak.
Take care...
Paul
You might wish to research the two part Deks Olje D1 and D2 system, but that might be a bit 'bright' for what you are after (more focused on external teak, etc.. D1 stain only is another option.
Jueckel is in "Full Retirement" mode😊😊😊😊
I enjoyed this video very much and found many of the points you showed us most interesting.
Question: Is it abnormally damp inside your boat and, if so, is this moisture contributing to the slow drying of the hull? or perhaps more likely, this continuous wet weather and probable high humidity your experiencing?
- I notice many people are suggesting tenting the boat or at least installing plastic sheeting from the water line downwards to keep rain / moisture off.
Jeg har lige fundet din kanal, det er helt super, jeg har næsten set alt nu. Jeg har selv en ældre båd (1972) jeg skal have renoveret og kan bruge din meget strukturerede tilgang. Tak for det... :-)
I recommend Epifanes! That is what I have used for years. :)
Awesome! Thanks, Alfy! Fun coincidence that I'm doing a test with Epifanes. Seems like a great product so far :)
hmmm. poo encrusted hoses... a topic sailors can relate to. What more "clickbait" do you need after that!? lol
You can certainly store spare fuses in the empty spots of that hub. less likely to lose little bits like that.
Always good to do the projects the right way the first time. Good job!
Haha :) Yeah, it doesn't take much to satisfie us sailors ;) Thanks! :)
Hello Mads, thank you for the time invested in these videos they are really informative. I've been watching your channel for a couple of weeks now, quite nice!!! Quick question, have you thought about going with a composting toilet?
Another great one Mads. I would say this is your most entertaining one yet. Very funny comments. I am also impressed that you can shoot the video in such a clean timeline. Everything flows so nice. Do you keep a written script of your plan as you film or are you keeping all that stuff in your head?
I really liked Ephipanes before we discovered the Total Boat brand.....
As always, great video & great content
Mads, Great video. Is it possible to speed up the drying out process by taping plastic around the hull to form a curtain and using fans or even a heater to get rid of the moisture? I know it would be a hassle but if it gets you back in the water quicker it might be worth it.
My opinion varnish wise is not very well informed as I tried only one. That is woodskin by international. The good thing with it is it doesn't need any sanding between coats. Great advantage to me!
I'm quite happy about the look and durability but I did not compare it to other products...
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment :) I think Epifanes has a similar product. I'll take a look at the one from International :)
This is probably one of the funnier episodes but I guess that reveals my level of maturity lol
Thank you so much :) You and me both i guess ;)
Wow Mads you are in rare form with this video. We loved all the joking around. It seems you are really getting comfortable with these videos. One question, is there a process for cleaning the hoses? For instance, when you get the new ones in. What's the maintenance like to reduce the buildup?
Thank you so much :) I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) I've heard of some people removing the hoses and beating them with a hammer to loosen the scales that form inside. I've been told that those scales only form if you flush with seawater. I guess a solution would be to flush a bit of freshwater through from time to time. To be honest I never use the head aboard Obelix. It's much easier to go for a short walk and use the facilities here in the marina and when I'm out sailing I usually just pee in a small bucket and dump it directly overboard. The head aboard Obelix is tiny and getting in there hardly seems worth the trouble ;)
Yeah, I don't know of a time I have been on a boat and someone needed to use the head. It's seems like the amount of effort needed to clean or deal with it does not make it worth it. Thanks again and hopefully you won't be in such a shitty situation any time soon.
lol That face when you looked into the hose.
It looks to me like you might have to put up a tent around Athena and use some type of gas heaters to get your moisture levels down.
I use the unused portion of my fuse block to "store" extra fuses :)
That's a clever idea! :)
Poor Yokul, he's so tired doing all the work Mads is taking credit for
Hi Mads, I really enjoyed your video, lots of (ahem) interesting stuff... I use Le Tonkinois varnish (for the exterior), easy to apply and maintain, and environmentally friendly. Please see "S/V Pearl Sail", and I'll start using Minwax Helmsman clear satin spar urethane on the interior. Keep up the good work!
Have you considered tenting the ground and the hull and using some commercial dehumidifiers ?
For now I'm still crossing my fingers that the weather will improve :)
your puppy is so cute! I'm thinking of getting a Icelandic sheepdog, I've been looking to get a companion for my Shetland Sheepdog. hopefully an Icelandic will do well.
I'm sure you'll be receiving this comment late in the game however I have used that particular brand of varnish but I only use it where it's subject to weather or sunlight since you're down below you don't have to use such a premium product because it's not subject to either my preferred look is to do all of the solid wood trim in a gloss and then do the large panels in a satin it just adds another level of detail
Good one Mads. Alfy & I talked about click bait. Your click bait isn't very sexy, but it sure is funny. And real. Way to go for keeping it real, bro!
Got a real chuckle on the clickbait joke.
Awesome! :) I almost didn't include it in the video.
@@SailLife ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! That was the icing on the ... poo cake. OK, you know what I mean. It was timely too as I have been watching a lot of cruising videos and have been contemplating making "Cruiser Video Bingo" where you can watch for common tropes such as "clickbait girlfriend", "drone shot", and whatever this is called --> 🤙🏽.
Can you think of more?
I enjoy all your videos, but this one really made me laugh. Must have been the poop jokes and the head slapping! Well done with the progress on Athena.
Thank you so much :) I'm glad you got the humor. Disgusting job but at least I had fun shooting the video :)
madds i have used epifans, but i am now on temple two pack lasts longer between make overs
Since you have removed all the old plumbing, did you consider installing composting toilets instead?
insides starting to come together! any thought to what youre going to use for anti fouling? I've no idea on the cost of copper coating, but i've heard its amazing and lasts 10-15+ years.
Does Athena have a holding tank? Also I'm getting ready to deal with the same osmosis problems as Athena, i believe you used sand, i have been getting recommendations to use soda? have you heard any pros and cons to each?
And thank you for all the hard work making the videos, i look forward to them every weekend! its a highlight!
Not yet :) I'm required to put one in by the marina I'm staying in sadly. That is a great question! I've heard about both as well as dry ice. From what I've heard soda should be more gentle than sand. The dry ice was odd. I called a company that specializes in dry ice blasting and they told me they'd use sand. I didn't get a good explanation as to why. Do you need to remove old gelcoat and/or barrier coat like I did (and go down to bare fiberglass)?
Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos :)
+Sail Life in the UK I have heard soda is now an expensive alternative to sand and powdered glass alternatives so maybe also elsewhere.
I like your little friend at 7:58...
I totally came for the clickbait! hmmmm...pipes!
LOL :P
Yerkel is getting old and his heart is weaker, that's why he sleeps so much. Try adding Spirulina to his food as it is a superfood that helps mitochondria (powerhouse of our cells). Thanks for funny video.
Thanks :)
I used icelandic parquet floor varnish very strong,btw yesterday was the day of icelandic sheepdog )
👍🏻 would covering the boat with a tent help dry the hull or just build the humidity? It's a dogs life.
That's a good question :) If the hull hasn't dried out before winter I might get an opportunity to answer that question ;) I keep crossing my fingers we'll get lots of sunshine and wind. It feels like it's been a very wet summer so far.
So many laughs, great work Mads :)=
Thanks! :) I hope you're both settling in well aboard Tuuli. I think I noticed a new video from you guys in my feed. I'm very much looking forward to it! :) I'm going to answer a few more comments and then it's "Two aboard Tuuli"-time :P
Yey!
Hi Mads . Look like you are progressing fast Cool ! One thing can I suggest a more attractive thumbnail picture then the one you have for this video ? I think its too descriptive Yikes! It will also make me want to fart lol !
Funny I do this sort of stuff all day-"not poop tho"- then come home and watch your vids..
Do you sand the internal hull just with sandpaper and hand. I have this job to do myself and I don't want to damage the laminate. Thankyou
I think the best thing I like, is that it was made in Ireland, and not China.
Maybe it's just that I'm a guy, and so every poo joke makes me laugh, but that was your funniest video yet.
Great to see the continued progress though! My wife and I really enjoy watching the work. Are you expecting any more projects on Obelix?
Thank you so much :) I'm glad you both enjoy the videos :) There are a few more projects aboard Obelix I'd like to take care of before putting her up for sale. Even with those out of the way there are plenty of stuff for the next owner to take care off.
What paint did you use? On on of your first blog posts you mentioned that you used a Multicoat pure white, but the pure white (10231) is actually a Brilliant Gloss and not the Multicoat. So my guess were that you used a standard Multicoat white (10000) or ...?
Ups that must have been a typo :) You are 100%! I used Multicoat white (10000).
Where did you learn how to fix boats? Hils!
Mad's is your head a Lavac? that's what I have but mine is the powder coated Aluminium one's from early 70's. I figure if they last 40- 50 years there not bad. some thing to think about if your holding tank is plastic, fiberglass over it real good and it will last or just build it out of glass then it will last 50+ years.
Good eye! They're both Lavac's :) I'm guessing mine are from the 80's (when the boat was build). I plan on replacing one of them with an electric head. Most of all just to see what that's like :)
Had a friend who wishes he didn't, seems to always plug up, so he put's the toilet paper in a bag. Gross I think. the Lavac you can almost pump paper towels thru. Watch Alfie's new video, why do you need two heads?
+Sail Life, if you really must electrify, just use the same bulletproof Lavac with a mascerator pump and push button. You seriously can't improve on the Lavac unless you go with a composter.