Orla Lifeboat

well, here’s the video that is perhaps the most anticipated or asked for. No more ‘when does she hit the water’ questions because this is it! I will confess that I was absolutely terrified throughout this day but orla works as a boat. Fine, her handling is a bit tricky but overtime I’ll get used to it I’m sure. Thank you to everyone who has supported thus far. This is now where the fun starts! I have a snagging video or two to come and then it’s getting hauled down to begin life afloat (with plenty of accompanying content to come!) Thank you thank you thank you. How much of life is lost in waiting? If not now, when? #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

and like that, the build (for the most part is over) 😅 the next video: putting her to the test and going for a spin!! #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

we have thrust! Trust me when I say that this is plenty powerful enough (just trust me!!) #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

when @Reolink reached out to gift these cameras, this very much was NOT the video I expected to make. But, life happens and I couldn’t be more grateful to have them! I’ve put an affiliate link in my bio if you wanted to check them out too. #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

since the beginning, people have asked if I would ever have exterior space and here it is! It took some time and engineering but I am very very very happy with it. (as a reminder, because the boat is just for fresh water/inland waterways the use of 304 stainless is more than adequate!) #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

a long time coming but here is the signage for Orla! You can see that the names of people who financially supported the project are what make up the letters of ‘orla’. All those people who have their name on the side should have receieved an email this afternoon with closer photos but there will also be photos posted tomorrow on Insta (linked in bio). There are still dozens of build videos but for now, thank you so so so much to everyone who has helped with the project and followed along. #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

well, built but never finished. It’s time to move onboard! #canal #boat #tinyhouse #fyp #foryoupage

it’s been a long time coming but here is the complete tour of orla !! it is a strange video to post because it might just be the one I have thought about making the most during this project. I always viewed sharing this video as the end goal but I have come to realise that’s far from the case! not only are there plenty of videos showing life afloat still to come but a very wise man taught me that something like orla is ‘built but never finished’. Not just with trims still to be done or bathroom doors to be varnished, but moreso with the personal growth that a project like this brings. yes, orla is a million miles from the shell I bought. But so too am I! I wasn’t a particularly well young man when I started the boat and watching the smile on my face at seeing her complete is the achievement I am most proud of. though construction on orla has largely come to an end, it’s made me realise that I get the greatest joy doing something practical and hands on. The first 21 years of my life, I thought I was best suited to traditional education and writing from behind a desk yet orla has fundamentally shifted my mindset. Indeed, the project has fundamentally changed what it is that I now want from life. It also means that I am hoping to continue sharing videos with you all of my next projects/adventures - I’d be honoured if you decided to stick around! so to all those who helped me get here: thank you, thank you, thank you x #boat #canal #tinyhouse #tour #fyp #foryoupage

so orla has now arrived in London. Who wants to see a final tour? 👀 #boat #canal #tinyhouse #fyp #foryoupage

Where river meets canal! The cruise from Teddington down the tidal section to Brentford and up onto the Grand Union Canal. What an adventure this boat is proving to be! Thank you very much to my indomitable crew for their time and wisdom! #boat #canal #tinyhouse #fyp #foryoupage

the day I cruised Orla down the River Thames from Staines to Teddington! What a special (and terrifying moment). This came after the 8th wettest winter on record wherein the entire navigation system was on ‘red boards’. This meant no navigation was allowed to happen and my insurance would have been entirely voided if I had tried… It might not look it but the river undercurrents were surprisingly strong in places and made handling a bugger. (Sorry this video has taken a few months to get out, I’ve finally got a break in my masters so going to try and post as much as I possibly can!) #boat #canal #tinyhouse #fyp #foryoupage

let the adventure begin !! #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

I’ve sat on this video in my drafts for several weeks and have written, deleted, re-written, deleted and re-re-written the voiceover a dozen plus times. And still, I don’t know if this level of honesty is the right call or not. But there’s a truth to this project: behind the scenes I struggled a great deal. Social media is a bizarre and fickle place and I have always been acutely aware of what I could and could not say. But now, with the hindsight of completion, I know that I owe it to both you and to myself to be absolutely truthful. I hated this build for the first year or so. I ended up in a really bad place and came close to quitting soooooo many times. I really never thought that I had it in me to get to the end and be where I am today. I’ll be posting a carousel on insta in the coming days with photos from my time in Whitby and I’ll reflect a bit more in that post. But for now, thank you for hopefully understanding that this project wasn’t always rosy! #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage

orla is done! It’s been a long journey (and there are still lots and lots and lots of videos to come!) but for now: thank you. I know I’ve been poor with videos but I’m also currently trying to juggle my masters with the boat and it’s been very stressful. Next video will show me get hauled down to London!!! #canal #tinyhome #boat #fyp #foryoupage