Green Fleet - human-powered houseboatson the Ruhr

Some years ago, Human Power asso-ciate editor Philip Thiel from Seattle de-signed the "Escargot", a tiny pedal-pow-ered houseboat to sleep two or three. Iwas fortunate enough to be able to try outthe first one built on the Norfolk Broadsin England. A loveable houseboat,powered by two "Sea-Cycle" screw-pro-peller drives. These drives, which areconfigured for rather light boats, weren'tideal for the heavier Escargot and madefor heavy pedalling at low revolutions. Inthe meantime, more Escargots have beenbuilt and used in the German Ruhr area.There should be a total of 5 craft for the2004 season!

This new fleet is built to Phil Thiel'sorginal plans, but uses custom built pedaldrive units. The houseboats areconstructed and operated by the HesseBoatyard in Mühlheim, who let them outfor charter and also operate a floatingboat-café on the river Ruhr.

The Escargots are also fitted with asmall electric drive which can be chargedup by a small solar panel, although this istoo small to provide direct solarpropulsion. The unconventional craft arelicenced to carry 6 adults and have up to 3bunks. They are available from April toOctober, a three-day charter costingEURO 230.-. When it is cool, the smallcabin can be heated, using an arrangementof 8 tea-candles!

A conversation with Ms. Hesse sup-plied interesting facts about the reactionof the public to the boats, e.g. it seemsthat the Escargots are especially popularwith women, children and families, acomplete contrast to the usual huge motorboats usually chartered by groups of men!The Hesse's success-story is also partiallydue to support by the local government,which is promoting low-impact tourism inthis area formerly more known for coaland steel industries. [ts]

For further information contact:

Bootswerft HesseHafenstrasse 15D - 45478 Mühlheim/Ruhr, Germanyemail: boote-muehlheim@web.de

web: www.gruene-flotte.de

22 Number 55 Human Power

Human Power Number 55 23

More pictures of the Escargot, showing the interior with sitting headroom,the twin pedal-drive units and the propeller they are coupled to, and also theelectric outboard drive incorporated into the rudder.

Continued from page 20:

Annotated Bibliography

Berto, F. and Kyle, C. 2001. HUMAN POWER, #52, pp. 3-11. Though otherarticles have appeared measuring the efficiencyof epicyclic gearing, this is possibly the mostcarefully done.

Berto, F., Shepherd, R., Henry, R. 2000.THE DANCING CHAIN, Self-pub., San Francisco. The definitive text on derailleurdesign and history. Imprimatur.

Hadland, T. 1987.THE STURMEY-ARCHER STORY, Self pub.,s.l. The definitive text on Sturmey-Archer hubgear design and history. Nihil Obstat. Imprim.

Hadland, T. 2000.“Raleigh in the last quarter of the 20thcentury”, 11th International Cycle HistoryConference Proceedings, A. Ritchie & R. vander Plas, Eds. Van der Plas publications, SanFrancisco. This chronicles the confusingbusiness dealings that led to Raleigh's leavingEngland and Sturmey-Archer's closing. Anunabridged version is at:http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/#raleigh

van der Plas, R. 1991.BICYCLE TECHNOLOGY. Bicycle Books. SanFrancis, CA

Read, P. M.STURMEY-ARCHER: "THE END" AND"NEW BEGINNINGS"; (1902-2000 onwards)hub gear drawings, diagrams and parts lists,Fourth Ed., (1997), Self pub., Milton-Keynes.Peter Read's massive tome is the definitive guideto repair each S-A design with many smallchanges carefully documented. It includes themany aftermarket improvements that Sturmey-Archer cognoscenti have developed over theyears.