David Schweizer

I only got round to vieving the film (recorded on Humax) yesterday, and your Father and Grandfather were definitely there in the middle of the film, along with stills of several other Boat People.

Here you are. Nothing very sophisticated, just rough sketch plans

Thanks for the explantion Steve, I am not sure how that picture came up, but if you click on the upwards arrow and then click on Frank Nurser, you should get some illustations of Frank Nurser's work . Here:- http://nurser.co.uk/decoration/frank-nurser-2/index.html

There will be others who may be able to identify the painter, but I think I am safe in saying that it is not the work of Frank Nurser. His work changed over the years but he always painted leaves behind his roses, and the lead petal was always more robust that the other petals. This site illustrates the features I refer to:- http://nurser.co.uk/decoration/frank-nurser-2/water-can-by-frank-nurser-2.html#previous-photo

Yes, Reynolds Light Gauge Racing 531 Tube. The frame was in poor cosmetic condition when I bought it, so I had it sandblasted and then I re sprayed and detailed it myself. I was able to get hold of some genuine Carlton Transfers from the Carlton/Raleigh works, but they would not supply any Reynolds 531 transfers, even though they had some. They offered to apply them to the frame if I took it to the works which was over 100 miles away, so I never got them applied. I believe that I can get them on ebay nowadays.

Well yes, I suppopse it is, but I have just done a calculation based upon the 1953 Carlton price list, and the cost of my bike today would be something like £900, which is a lot less than a Moulton, but I guess it would actually be a lot more today, given the amount of hand work that would have to be done. As an aside my son worked part time Avon Valley Cyclery in Bathfor several years whilst he was at college, and he never rated Moultons, believing them to be over engineered and over priced, he always thought the Brompton to be a better designed and better built bike.

Does your Moulton have hand brazed lugs like those on my Carlton? This ia a clasic road racing bike built to order for serious competition. Ok it has been modified for recreational touring use, but I still have the original French Drops in the gagage, but the original Brooks saddle and Campagnola gears gave up the ghost years ago.

What with those little wheels and bendy frame?

Moulton bikes are made just down the road to me, but I would not want one. The Brompton was ideal for the boat. If I want to do more than cycle along the towpath to do some locking or collect groceries, I also have a proper bike, a 1953/4 hand built Carlton Massed Start Special, and it would beat any Moulton hands down.

We decided to give up boating because so much changed during our 20 years of ownership of Helvetia, and it just wasn't the same, or much fun any more. I could go into detail but it will sound like moaning!

We had two Bromptons on Helvetia, and they were both comfortably stored in a cupboard measuring 60cm x 60cm x 60cm. Given what they cost, there was no way we would have stored them outside the boat.

Well yes, about five years ago, but none of the problems you list seem to apply. My loft is large, well ventilated, floored over, and kept clean and tidy, it already housed my collection of old woodworking planes (and other tools), and a model railway layout, so the ambient temperature and elecrtricity supply requirements have already been accomodated. There is good lighting from two 6ft flourescent tube lights, and there is plenty of space around the boiler which can be worked on at head height, All the pipes are insulated, and the condensed water from the boiler is directed straight into the internal soil pipe. Whilst the loft can get a bit warm in the summer, I have never experienced below freezing temperatures in the winter (there is a thermomter in the loft), and if it is particularly cold outside, I can switch on a small convector heater, from the airing cupboard to warm it up a bit. I also keep a Henry Vacuum Cleaner in the loft, so no problem lugging one of those up the ladder. I did discuss all the potential issues that might arise from having the boiler in the loft with the central heating engineer, and together, we made sure that none of the problems you have highlighted might occur. I guess I could rig up a block and tackle to lift the heating engineer's toolbox into the loft once a year, but that does seem a bit OTT.🙂

Is there a problem having the central heating boiler in the loft?

I didn't know it was the 1st April.

Your statements do seem to come over as pompous and arrogant.

To be honest, If I was going to spend that kind of money on batteies I would pay a bit more and go for a tried and tested brand of deep cycle batteries such as US battery Co, or Trojan. I had a pair of 6v US 125 batteries (242 Ah) in my boat and they were still holding a full charge after 11 years when I sold the boat, and hardly ever needed much topping up.

There is nothing wrong with installing a BMC 1.5 in a standard Narrowboat designed to operate on UK canals, I had one for decades and it gave sterling service. But, and it is a big but, The BMC 1.5 is a marinized road vehicle engine and does not have enough power to propel even a small boat across the sea, for that you need, as already stated, a proper marine unit designed for sea going boats. Why are you unable to understand that?

Good try!

Scottish, Mike. As my Aberdeen born mother always said "Scotch is Whisky (or pies/eggs), people from Scotland are Scottish"

There is one, but it is difficult to explain, and there is a very complicated formula to calculate the pressure of water against a wall (or lock gate), but basicly, as I understand it, the pressure increases from the top to the bottom in a triangular form. The length of the body of water will determine the maximum pressure when measured against the height, and if the base of the triangle is truncated by another wall (or lock gate) at the other end it will increase pressure from the other end (I think). This video explains it, but I challenge anyone to give a precis of the theory in layman's terms! Having looked at the video, I accept that a long pound will not have any significant (if any) impact upon the pressure against the bottom gates, but leaving the lock empty or full will.