The Pethericks' yacht has working engines and a hole

Billy's restoration recap passes half a million views as he weighs a possible launch against doing the job thoroughly.

Channel:

The Pethericks Story of October 31, 2026Trari Newsroom

No. 5 on the DIY & art chart

Why this story? The video is running at 371,147 views a day, 7.8 times its usual pace (47,681).

Nobody Wanted This Yacht… So I Bought It

Video summary

Press to jump

0:45Earlier repairs include roof fibreglassing, teak sanding and test runs of the Detroit Diesel engines.
3:49Billy shows hull damage and explains plans for a marine fabricator to weld in replacement steel.
5:26The mid-century lounge is dry after roof repairs, but still needs electrical work.
8:18Past freshwater leaks have damaged the galley, where Billy plans to install oak cabinetry.
9:34The engine-room tour covers the running Detroit Diesels, generators and bilge cleanup.
10:42Billy says launching next summer could be possible, but he prefers a thorough restoration over rushing.

Nostalgia X's engines have been coaxed back to life. Her steel hull is another matter.

Showing a hole and a dent in the classic yacht, Billy Petherick gives a blunt assessment: "So if this boat went back in the water, it would definitely sink. It's got a hole in it." The next step is a marine fabricator, with new steel plates to weld into place.

That mixture of progress and unfinished business runs through The Pethericks' "Nobody Wanted This Yacht… So I Bought It". The restoration recap has added roughly 370,000 views in a day, bringing it past half a million. Its daily viewing is nearly eight times its usual pace.

Rather than another instalment devoted to a single generator or electrical problem, this is a walk through the whole project. Billy revisits roof repairs and teak sanding, then takes viewers through the covered aft deck, mid-century lounge, wheelhouse and cabins. The roof leaks have been fixed, but rewiring remains, the navigation equipment needs updating, and freshwater damage has left work to do in the galley.

Several commenters say the recap reminded them how rough the yacht looked at the beginning. Others pick up on the question of when restoration becomes maintenance: one experienced boat owner argues for getting her afloat and continuing the work there.

Billy isn't rushing towards that approach. He says a launch next summer could technically happen, but he would rather take his time. For someone who says he had never owned or worked on a boat before this purchase, the enthusiasm is unmistakably his: "I've never owned a boat. I've never worked on a boat, and I wish I did it sooner."

Published on Trari

An interview with Billy Petherick from The Pethericks following this video

"I think visually it’s changing from a rotten old abandoned yacht to some classic beauty!"

Trari: What made you decide to step back from individual repairs and make a recap of the whole yacht restoration?

Billy Petherick: I thought i’d do a few minutes recap and an explanation of the project and work but like a lot of these videos they always seem popular.

Trari: With the recap passing half a million views, what stood out to you in viewers’ reactions to how far the yacht has come?

Billy Petherick: I think visually it’s changing from a rotten old abandoned yacht to some classic beauty! It’s hard to explain but It is such a legendary yacht the history alone is worth saving.

Trari: What have you learned from the yacht that you wish you had known when you started?

Billy Petherick: I am pretty handy and pick up a lot of skills easily but I wish I had better welding skills it would saved me a fortune but it’s best to have a professional marine welder to come and do the important jobs.

Trari: What would you like to show next on the channel as you work towards getting Nostalgia X afloat?

Billy Petherick: I would like to get the exterior looking better and stop all the fresh water ingress before the harsh winter comes and get a makeshift tent over the front of the boat.

Where next?

Also in DIY, building and homeViews jump 23x the channel's usual paceColin Furze's secret-garage update nears four million viewsThe long-awaited instalment arrives as daily channel views climb to more than twenty times their usual level.Channel: colinfurze · Story of October 31, 2026

A different discovery todayVideo taking off 47x its usual first dayDiane Sawyer's Patrick Stewart interview closes World News TonightThe October 29 edition also covers Alaska's Senate probes and a Pentagon firing, but its comment section belongs largely to the actor.Channel: ABC News · Story of October 31, 2026

What viewers say

Gosh I'd already forgotten how bad she looked in the beginning! You've done so much already 👍
@alisavas9526See it on YouTube
I speak from experience when I say that if you wait to get everything done on the boat, you will never get it in the water. You have to have to do what you need to do to get it in the water and then keep on working on it cause the boat is constant maintenance.
@billmoran3812See it on YouTube
Billy you are doing well on your nautical terms. New for today - lounge is SALON. Bunk/ bed is BERTH
@azuresea8086See it on YouTube

4 more comments

She's come a long way already, really enjoying this series. 😃
@robinfoster7597See it on YouTube
I'm invested in watching this boat get restored and running now :)
@joshuajgrillotSee it on YouTube
Greetings from America. Longtime viewer, first time commenter.
Loving this rebuild on an ole American vessel. Appreciate you from across the pond. Everything is looking great and am looking forward for more 🇺🇸❤️🇬🇧
@GregB419See it on YouTube
Great recap, Billy. I am enjoying this reno.
@patricialeitch3230See it on YouTube