Guys buy a cheap narrowboat hoping for adventure but when inspecting it closer find the worst thing possible
- These YouTubers took on a narrowboat as a restoration project
- However, they realized it was hiding the ‘worst possible thing’
- Could the issue be fixed or were their hopes sunk?
Published on Mar 09, 2025 at 3:44 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Mar 06, 2025 at 12:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
These guys bought a cheap narrowboat hoping they’d get some adventure, but they found the worst thing possible.
The Home Improvements Channel UK purchased the boat for $17,184.
They bought it knowing that its engine would need some work.
But after they got a closer look, they realized that was an understatement.
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This narrowboat had some major problems
Boats are always a fun challenge for DIY enthusiasts to get their teeth stuck into.
One man impulsively bought a sunken yacht and made that his assignment, whilst another took an unorthodox route and made himself a submarine.
But that’s what makes them such an exciting adventure, right?

The first item on the agenda for our guys with the narrowboat was to scrape all the rust off the interior, as well as all the dry paint.
But once all that was done and dusted – literally, as there was a lot of dust – the interior wasn’t looking too shabby.
But the real hurdle with this boat would come with its engine.
Before they found the engine’s primary issue, they discovered that it didn’t have much in the way of a filter.
It appeared that bits of grass and some twigs had found their way inside.

“I’ll tell you what, you guys can’t get this [without] Smell-o-vision. Because that stinks,” one of the hosts said.
Gross factor aside, the main problem became apparent once the team removed the engine’s head.
One of the four pistons was cracked all the way through, which is arguably the worst thing you can find during this type of project.
It left them questioning how the boat even ran at all.
But why was this such an issue?
“That cylinder is made to hold compression, so without it, it just won’t run properly,” they said.

“So now that it’s cracked, it won’t be able to hold compression.”
Now the complication had been identified, it was time to get to work.
This may be the worst possible thing to find – but could it be fixed?
All the pistons had to be removed and replaced, but fortunately, the rest of the engine’s components were in good shape.
But a cracked piston was enough to require a full engine rebuild, which is not what you want to hear.
Engine problems are a common challenge faced by those taking on narrowboat restoration projects.
Long periods of inactivity or inadequate maintenance can be contributing factors, as noted by Practical Boat Owner.
But however they come about, it’s important to address them for the safety of the boat.
The team’s restoration was on its way towards completion, but there was still a lot left to do.

Boats are no small feat – the waters can be a volatile place.
This YouTuber found that out the hard way when he took on a old boat that had been sunk and left at the bottom of a lake.
To see the adventure that went slightly off-course, head over to The Home Improvements Channel UK on YouTube.
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