Search found 1069 matches

by barts
Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:48 pm
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
Replies: 4
Views: 279

Re: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow

Hi Bart, the parts look good. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any prices on the foundry's website. Where can I check? --------- Dietrich You can give them a call; I've found them not to be very responsive in email although that may be a function of time of year. It's a small operation, with an amazi...
by barts
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:34 am
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
Replies: 4
Views: 279

Re: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow

PXL_20240321_023244184.jpg
PXL_20240321_023244184.jpg (94.09 KiB) Viewed 276 times
The forum software is quite broken... sigh.
by barts
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:31 am
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
Replies: 4
Views: 279

New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow

Rainbow had some trouble with the mooring bridle rubbing the (already poor condition) finish off the top of the bulwarks when she was last in the water some years ago now: IMG_20170717_174449(2).jpg We were in Port Townsend in August and I ordered some hawse holes from Port Townsend Foundry. This wi...
by barts
Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:16 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: steam oil question
Replies: 9
Views: 834

Re: steam oil question

My 1960s vintage Blackstaff steeple compound engine is condensate lubed, and I've never heard it groan.
Max operating pressure is close to 100 psi.
Otter's safety goes off at 180 psi; I hear the squeak/groan after running for a while at 125+ psi and then throttling down.

- Bart
by barts
Fri Feb 23, 2024 5:37 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: steam oil question
Replies: 9
Views: 834

Re: steam oil question

The engine will typically groan after running hard for a while and then throttling back... the throttling back superheats the steam (drops the pressure, leaves the temp the same) and the engine is hot, so groaning occurs.

- Bart
by barts
Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:02 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Reliable Steam Engine Co
Replies: 5
Views: 631

Re: Reliable Steam Engine Co

Neat! As far as planning goes, I'd work backwards from your boat's displacement to pick a suitable engine design. Typical steam powering levels are 1-3 hp/ton of boat displacement, with 1 hp/ton being slow, and 3 hp/ton being at the "sporty" end of things. Where do you plan on operating your boat? H...
by barts
Tue Feb 13, 2024 5:27 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Reliable Steam Engine Co
Replies: 5
Views: 631

Re: Reliable Steam Engine Co

Note that these plans detail the machining of the castings they also sell (aside from the turbine, which is a steam hog as all small turbines are...) . As a means of determining whether or not you want to tackle such a project, the plans offer an good way of "putting one's toes into the water". Ther...
by barts
Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:36 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2647

Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller

Yeow! What a toad sticker. I guess one would be prepared for pirates as well as weeds. Mike When my Leatherman's serrated blade took minutes to saw through that crab pot buoy line, I decided I want something fierce. I was nice and knotted the cut line ends together once I'd managed to free them fro...
by barts
Tue Jan 23, 2024 12:43 am
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2647

Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller

My most effective tool for weeds has been an ordinary linolium knife attached to a suitable handle. Perhaps a meter or so of plastic pipe. Pole arms for steamboats! I'd need one a bit longer to reach the prop, perhaps with a wood (enough to float) handle and serrated stainless blade... Maybe one of...
by barts
Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:57 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2647

Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller

Otter's prop can usually be cleared by reversing... I did have to go overboard in Clear Lake, CA in the early 90s to clear the propeller from a giant ball of hydrilla - a really invasive weed. I've only had Rainbow in the water back in 2017 (before moving, pandemic, etc), but the only thing that gav...