The Boat that Guy Built part 2
Written as I watch.
Its the BCN - great start but its raining stair rods, so no change there.
First up its project shower and cue a steam powered instant water heater, or a geyser created in the confines of Sherborne Wharf. Instant hot water - "look chief" is the excited cry! But lets scale it up and blow up a shed with propane. Hmm, must remember not to mess with gas on a boat.
Next solution its a simple header tank on the solid fuel stove - but the twist is to pump the water with a steam engine. A lovely little model turning a drill pump our out gushes hot water. Well, maybe not at first, but finally Guy gets a dousing all rinsed off with fat soap. It works but I am not sure that the faff with the steam engine will catch on.
On to Boulton and Watt and their 1817 beam engine lurking in a Birmingham roundabout (near Waterlinks). It was revolutionary - 70% more efficient that its predecessor when pumping water but the ever enthusiastic Guy is appalled at the graffiti. You can tell he is a country lad - if you live in Birmingham you get immune to graffiti.
Showers needs soap and that means fat from a Bromsgrove butcher. Fat? Yes fat. Chopped and then rendered (boiled) and caustic soda added in to create a version of Pears Soap. Add the scent of sandalwood and Earl Gay tea and its into a mould to set. A lifetimes supply of soap - guess Guy dosn't wash too much!
The glimpse at Thomas Crappers world of sanitary ware provided a rich seam of schoolboy humour. Time for a quick competitive flush off. A bit surreal and the winners were the Crapper Kensington and Dolphin. Not sure what it proved but so what. A cheap laugh is better then no laugh at all!
And so it concludes, another fragmented episode flitting from innovation to innovation but never really focusing on the boat. I don't think the boat is is really going to be restored at all, its just a base to play industrial revolution Mythbusters.
Oh, Guy is from Lincolnshire - not Lanscashire as I observed last week.
What thoughts have you on his 'Bridge Jumping'?
ReplyDeleteI watched it last night and now I'm worried that I may be turning into an old fart because Guy's innocent tomfoolery doesn't entertain me at all!
ReplyDeleteSue, nb Indigo Dream
All
ReplyDeleteHmm, I really didnt like the bridge jumping - a really stupid thing to show on TV and never to be encouraged / endorsed.
I can forgive using the roof as a bridge over locks if you are agile enough - but as the years pass I do it less and less. Maybe I see the danger more these days.
I think the tomfoolery lacks gravitas.
Several non boaty friends emailed me to make sure I didn't miss it when they saw the trailers. I rather hope they aren't watching it. I'm getting less enamoured with every minute, and I don't think it'll do anything to further the image of canals or boats.
ReplyDeleteThe blowing up of the shed was I fear symptomatic of the whole thing, which seems to be a desire to have a laugh rather than to teach anyone anything.
I'm with Sue on this. Us old farts should stick together.