UK forum

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

My first car was a 1968 Ford Falcon with the 200 straight six.

Well, if we are going to get off-topic...your post reminds me of a good friend I had back in the 70's who had a 68 Falcon. Except he had the small block V-8 in it..maybe a 302 or whatever they were using then. The car was light and pretty fast to begin with but we used to take it and make a poor man's dragster out of it. We would inject it with 2-3 cans of starting fluid (Ether) and then run about a quarter mile in face-bending dragster acceleration until normal gas started feeding into the bowls. Of course, he got carried away and it wasn't too much longer before he burned up the engine..probably put a couple rods through the pistons if I remember correctly...they obviously weren't designed for that.

But back on topic, my sister and brother-in-law live in the U.K. And...he too used to work for Lotus a couple of decades ago. They aren't sailors but he now makes custom cabinets for the narrow canal boats that are popular there.

[Frank C]

... a 68 Falcon. Except he had the small block V-8 in it..maybe a 302 or whatever they were using then. The car was light and pretty fast to begin with but we used to take it and make a poor man's dragster out of it.

Had a '63 Comet S-type, 2-door coupe w/ bucket seats, 4-on-the-floor, slim-back roofline, and a 260 cu.in. V-8. It was bone-stock that way from the factory! Quite a fun car. Sold it for 500 bucks in about '72
... my bad!

[Max]

km,
You, sir ARE an Englishman after working at Lotus!! (original F1 trailblazers - gave the world Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell, twin forward wheel steering etc etc) God bless you, sir!!
What a small world....Wolverhampton's not too far from us - in fact I am a fanatical supporter of the city's football (soccer) team: Wolverhampton Wanderers (or just 'The Wolves')
And what a lovely part of GB to live in - particularly Radstock!
Great pics BTW!
Regards
Max

PS Ain't this thread becoming interesting in a non-boat sort of a way??!!

[kmclemore]

PS Ain't this thread becoming interesting in a non-boat sort of a way??!!

Precisely my point, Max (I said, finally getting back on topic)... why take your UK discussions elsewhere when there's kinship and comrades a-plenty here? And for our continental mates, too, why go elsewhere? America has so many of European heritage that surely there's many who will relate to your experiences, and still more who will reach out to help when you need it.

Heath, can't we make an extra place for them at our table? All that needs doing is adding "UK Discussion" and "European Discussion" sections!

If this might be accomplished then we could all do common cross-topic searches... we can keep our mods all in one place easily to hand, and if any of us is up in the middle of the night with a bad head (as I am now!) there will still be someone in the world awake with whom one may communicate!

[Max]

Heath,
I would like to echo km's points - great idea.
Max

[mike uk]

The Ford Maverick in UK is a SUV which was developed jointly with Nissan. The engine is a Nissan diesel but I dont know how much of the rest is Nissan and how much is Ford. Nissan market the identical vehicle as a Terrano. I believe they are built in Spain. The Maverick isnt as trendy as say Jeep or Mitsubishi. However, insurance is cheaper and the vehicle isnt quite so bulky this made it a lot easier to get the seal of approval from the boss.

The marina in Liverpool is part of the redevelopment of the Victorian docks just a short walk to the Beatles museum which is in the famous Albert Dock. Its downtown so very handy for sleeping on board after a night out in Chinatown etc. The pontoons are in one of the large Victorian dock basins with lock gates out onto the Mersey. Its quite awe inspiring to be there and to imagine the place full of square riggers tied up to these very same bollards with thousands of men hauling cotton, sugar, rum, etc (although we have to remember too that Liverpools early shipping trade was built around the slave triangle England to Africa to America and back).

Im looking forward to participating in the discussion forums especially the modifications. Ive already realised its possible to extend the port side of the v berth by using the back of the bench seat. I just unscrewed the poles and it fits in perfectly. Ill use wing nuts on the poles for a quick swap over. Im also pondering on a device to make it a bit easier to tighten the mast stays. Possibly some kind of sliding arrangement that will clip into the holes on the adjusters and can then be squeezed or screwed shorter - saves slipping with a screwdriver and gouging the gelcoat

[Max]

Mike,
Yes - know the Albert Dock well. Was there earlier this year (or was it late last year??!! ) to see Macca on his final show of his world tour...utterley brilliant.
What a good idea to use the bench seat back!! Hadn't thought of that - must read the mods page more carefully!
Max