Major Mick - will the build technique catch on?

[greeny]

Retired Army major's mission to row 100 miles in homemade boat | ITV News
All credit to him for what he's doing.

 

[Zagato]

I used to enjoy rowing my 22' Drascombe Coaster up various quiet creeks. It is surprising how far you can go if you plod on at a gentle pace, each stroke of the oar just topping up the momentum. Not sure I would be doing it at 80 and in that thing... good luck to him...

 

[johnalison]

I used to enjoy rowing my 22' Drascombe Coaster up various quiet creeks. It is surprising how far you can go if you plod on at a gentle pace, each stroke of the oar just topping up the momentum. Not sure I would be doing it at 80 and in that thing... good luck to him...

Are you suggesting that 80 is old? If you are, you are setting yourself up for limiting your own life's ambitions. I last sailed to Poland when I was 75 and only stopped sailing abroad two years later because of my wife's problems (new knee etc). Last week I joined a 6-mile walk and admittedly suffered a bit the next day. I'm not sure that my 80-yr-old back would let me row 100 miles but although worthy, I don't see it as anything exceptional.

 

[mjcoon]

Can't be bothered to follow the link but saw it at transmission. IIRC he based the design on boats he had seen; was it in India?

 

[Mark-1]

For the charitably minded you can donate to the Canal here:

Secure Chichester Canal Foundations

...and/or to the hospice here:

Major Mick's Tintanic 100 mile Challenge

 

[Mark-1]

I'm not sure that my 80-yr-old back would let me row 100 miles but although worthy, I don't see it as anything exceptional.

I'd agree. 80yo's do parkruns in fairly large numbers so fit and healthy 80yos are not rare and Hunston-Chi and back is an easy row by any standards. Bigging up the age thing to increase media attention for a good cause is fair enough though IMHO.

What *is* exceptional to me is a friendly eccentric rowing up and down chi canal in a boat made of scrap. I'm local and I've not seen that before. When I first saw him (before the charity row was thought of) I couldn't resist stopping to ask him all about it. I'll be heading down to the Basin at lunchtime today and his presence will definitely raise a smile!

 

[Zagato]

Are you suggesting that 80 is old? If you are, you are setting yourself up for limiting your own life's ambitions.

Yes... and you maybe right, time will tell. If I get to 80 I will be pleasantly surprised and will kiss the ground when I get there. Good health to you...

We visit Chichester quite often so will look him out... hope the weather stays good for him.

 

[johnalison]

I'd agree. 80yo's do parkruns in fairly large numbers so fit and healthy 80yos are not rare and Hunston-Chi and back is an easy row by any standards. Bigging up the age thing to increase media attention for a good cause is fair enough though IMHO.

What *is* exceptional to me is a friendly eccentric rowing up and down chi canal in a boat made of scrap. I'm local and I've not seen that before. When I first saw him (before the charity row was thought of) I couldn't resist stopping to ask him all about it. I'll be heading down to the Basin at lunchtime today and his presence will definitely raise a smile!

Indeed. I didn't intend to belittle his achievement, which I fully admire. I hope you have a lot of fun.

 

[Norman_E]

Its quite a clever design actually. He seems to have solved the problem of making it watertight, and the outriggers stop it capsizing.

 

[Bouba]

I certainly remember years ago, many backyard canoes built out of corrugated iron in New Zealand, where it was plentiful because most roofs were made of it

 

[NotBirdseye]

I certainly remember years ago, many backyard canoes built out of corrugated iron in New Zealand, where it was plentiful because most roofs were made of it

Coincidentally neighbours started complaining it was a bit drafty... no idea why... ?

 

[Slowboat35]

I'm afraid I'd have thought that to become a Major in the British Army you'd need rather more intelligence and ability than that required to concieve such an utter, clumsy abortion of a 'boat'.

Perhaps my opinion of Pongos is over-generous. It certainly appears that way.

 

[NotBirdseye]

I'm afraid I'd have thought that to become a Major in the British Army you'd need rather more intelligence and ability than that required to concieve such an utter, clumsy abortion of a 'boat'.

Perhaps my opinion of Pongos is over-generous. It certainly appears that way.

... **uncontrollable laughter**

Army... Intelligence... Major... **wheeze** (not all, just most).

 

[Mark-1]

I'm afraid I'd have thought that to become a Major in the British Army you'd need rather more intelligence and ability than that required to concieve such an utter, clumsy abortion of a 'boat'.

Because the standard of other boats built on a whim by ocagenarians out of stuff lying around the house during a period of national house arrest is typically far higher. ?