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'Medusa' does have a sister ship being restored. Though 'Surinda' is now very much living in civvy street her restorers are giving full respect to her veteran status. If you want to follow her restoration it is being being broadcast on RUclips channel 'Ship Happens'.

Would it be possible to make your own charcoal on a beach from driftwood and use that as a fuel? If you are unfamiliar with the process of pyrolization what you do is essentially bury your campfire and dig up the charcoal in the morning. It is very light and is pure carbon that burns relatively cleanly. Keep in mind that I don't know anything about all this. I am just learning.

'They won't let you do it yourself. You have to have it done by a professional. Sign all the forms and all that. Because of the environmental effects of the gas and all that. Well, make of that what you will." C'mon Tom! People follow you because you're a legend and can turn a phrase (and because you -- along with Christian and Patrick -- give us yachty videos that aren't giggle-vision). I little environmental responsiibility wouldn't hurt.

Cordless angle grinder with 1mm cutting blade for stainless. Replaces bolt cutter in dismasting and very useful. Also hemostat forceps!!!!! Best tool ever for electrical work on board!

Very enjoyable video Tom. I lived for some time on a Dutch barge on the Nieuwe Rijn in Holland

Tom - I have read a number of old time seafaring books, and occasionally i see a new term. i can sometimes look them up, or get their meaning from their context. But one that i can't quite sort out is "tacks aboard". Here is part of a sentence "the Sophie was standing in with her starboard tacks aboard". I'm sure it refers to rigging. Could you clear this up for me ?

so true Tom. Independence is a wonder but oh the price. I paid it happily in my 20's - ignorant of discomfort. even begrudgingly in my 30's but 40's with 4 young children - no thanks. Now in my 50's I have no time for it. I've gone a lot further than you down this path of comfort and a lot earlier - Im a happy trawler yacht owner!

The more you've got the more you've got to go wrong.

I always look forward to your videos, Tom. Thanks for keeping us informed and entertained.

R134a is a standard refrigerant but it is tricky to buy any refrigerant in the EU if you’re not a commercial operator due to eco laws. You would have been better calling a commercial chandler and buying it as a commercial company.

Absolutely, Tom. Keep it simple!

Thanks for your efforts Tom. I was fortunate to grow up 75 miles from the sea but my parents went racing every other week on the Blackwater estuary where I got my life long skills soaked in. Now trying to get my grandson to take up the oar/mainsheet?

Hello again Tom. My yacht had a temperamental fridge that would leak so, like you, I thought I'd fix it myself. The fittings are universal and the vacuum machine quite simple to operate. Think it had a blue hose and a red one? I managed to buy a big bottle of gas from a Moroccan air conditioning outfit who where more than happy to oblige! Never looked back!

Hello Tom, did you purchase the bruchless dc motors for the boats

Tom, please tell us the name of the guy who laid your deck!

I'm curious to find out how come you are driving a right hand drive car in Germany when you are on a boat! Have you got a bigger boat and can load an Audi on to it? At least you were on the correct side of the road.

This was so uplifting and heartwarming! Thank you 🙂

Time flies, enjoy it!

Any car aircon mechanic can fix this. I had them put in a whole new system. First mechanic I found who does car air conditioning systems was able to do it 🤷‍♂️

I’m a plumber… you’ve got more shifting spanner’s than I do…

It is amazing that you preserved the armament. I had seen different restoration video of MTB with fake armament on board, sad story.

It’s a pleasure to hear you Tom. We all go away temporarily sailing with you when watching your videos. Thank you

You are right Tom. Keep it simple. We have our traditional Colin Archer and during the last two years we have replaced all spars and the standing rigging, and most of the running rigging. And what is the thing that have consumed most hours of work? The Engine! The engine that we ran for a total of 31 hours on a 2 month trip last year. I want to take it out but my girlfriend (wisely) dont allow it. Ps. I remeber when you visited us at Hardanger Fartøyvernsenter with "Western Man" i belive 15 years ago or more

Thank you, sir. We love to hear from you.

I remember the ozone holes and I'm glad we are more careful now in Europe. If you let thr public access the gas a lot of them are going to treat a leak like they treat an electric short and just fill it up, just like they just change a fuse. However, if I didn't have a car mechanic buddy I would not have A/C in my cars. Because it is expensive to have it checked out and fixed and it is ample opportunity for conmen. Customers must insist they show them the leak with UV indicator oil addition. You can buy indicator oil and a bit of gas as a kit in the US and perhaps they should be made available in Europe as well, at a price that prevents them being used as a top-off. It should help get things diagnosed and fixed instead of customers asking to refill things with small leaks

You ought to do a piece on 3D Printing and the technological advances that allow us to make affordable spares to replace obsolete parts on older boats.

so true

👍!!!

R134a is the normal refrigerant used in vehicle air conditioning systems. Maybe seek out a mobile a/c recharge technician if you have the problem again. Best wishes Tom. Love your content always.

There is no point adding refrigerant gas to a system that has a leak. Even if a professional does that it is technically illegal. If the system has lost its charge completely then you have another job and that is to pull and hold a vacuum on the system for a specified time (get rid of moisture) - adding gas is the easy bit. So did your professional find the leak?

The black arts of refrigeration, purging and pressurising ! Still don’t understand 1/10 of it myself

Another great video Tom.

Wonderful Tom.

well said Tom!

Situations like this, its easy to understand why Plukky and Holly didn't or don't have fridges/freezers. In Oz, some folks use Hychill as you can get it over the counter, but its a flammable gas. Not ideal for a boat!

Yes there's a book in this sort thing to be written . You're a narrator Tim, succinct, not out to sell anything except explain the truth. Pearls amongst the goats dung. Please add more often.

Tom, you are so right in your conclusions. And I know for sure as I just some weeks ago changed the leather (!!!) air bilge in our 1974 Mercedes OM636 diesel fuel pump. It took many phone calls, kilometers driving and stress, but the end result was nothing less than fantastic. Cheers & enjoy the cold G&T!

Here in the States, we can buy R134a in 12oz. Cans at any auto parts store…the gauges and fittings from discount store “Harbor Freight” and how to do it from RUclips… Glad you got professional help Tom… Cheers and Thank YOU for sharing your wonderful life with us.

Always quality

A cautionary tale but in your usual interesting fashion Tom - The problem can be that you don't cost your own time, I know I don't and I should!!!!

Just to make myself minimally useful, R134a is a pretty standard HFC refrigerant, so you could think of sourcing it outside the marine community, e.g. heat pump suppliers. I still don't see any reason for it (or any cryogen) to be available to the general public though.

Enjoyed!

It is highly illegal to work with refrigerant gasses with out certification, at least in the Netherlands where I live. You might be able to get some R134 but never with a camera nearby :-) The good old Electrolux D4202 absorption fridge will never break down but draws 120 watts all the time. I replaced it with a Severin 8872 that fits in the same space. Runs on 230V AC via the inverter but draws on average 15 watts and 50 watts when running. It is working in all sea states for over 3 years now, and only 120 Euro to replace.

It’s the same gas you have in AC in cars

Great video!!

This gas was bann3d in uk January 2025

I’ll smuggle some R-134a to you…it’s only a one month sail across the Atlantic, right?

Ah the creature comforts. Love em and hate em. I, like most of us sailors, try to do all my own work, but I've lived and run my own business for 34 years by an old saying, "Hire to your weaknesses". It always pays off. Thanks Tom!

Tom, you can get 134 in UK, halfords sell it for £72 but autodoc sell for £ 12.51 + £8.45 delivery

Excellent point about tradeoffs and the endless hunt for parts.