There are three great loves in my life, the first hopefully will spell check this piece. She is closely followed, by our Cheoy Lee trawler and running a close third our 1920’s Scottish built motor launch “Macushla”. Needless to say she is built from pitch pine on oak, with just enough mahogany and brass, her slinky lines make grown men tremble with emotion.

We have decided to re-engine her and the last few months we have been contemplating changing the 1.8 litre diesel and fitting a petrol engine. Macushla is best enjoyed on a summers day with a picnic hamper, strawberries and cream and dare I say a bottle or two of well-chilled champagne whilst cruising the quite waters around the Brundall area.

Atkin Clarke’s often used phrase “ quiet enjoyment” is what springs to mind when in my minds eye I see Macushla brushing the lily pads aside as she slip’s over Rockland Broad on a summers day. The muted clatter of even my well insulated engine is offensive then.

The debate in the boatshed at teabreak now revolves around electric propulsion, will we or will we not venture down this path. The smooth running and silence will be wonderful but all those batteries; this is not a 21st century solution.

Fuel Cells got themselves invented in 1838 predating four-stroke spark ignition by 38 years. The Apollo space missions relied on them. After 2 billion dollars funding by the automobile Industry and even more by the military, research has exploded. Automobile derivative fuel cells could replace our smaller diesels within a decade. Hydrogen, LPG even Diesel powered fuel cells are being made now. Is this the future for our Broads?