Search found 1901 matches

by Lopez Mike
Fri Feb 16, 2024 8:05 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Reliable Steam Engine Co
Replies: 5
Views: 614

Re: Reliable Steam Engine Co

To avoid "furiousness" in routine operation, I would power such a boat around 50% higher. Or more! One of the pleasant aspects of a steam launch is the sense of not working that hard. No thrashing about whenever you espy another steam boat. Most unseemly. Fred's boat is a great example of stately pr...
by Lopez Mike
Tue Jan 30, 2024 3:11 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2612

Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller

Fred, I love your boat. Especially the measured cadence of the exhaust. Much more dignified than the busy whirring of our screw driven craft. BUT. I suspect that a decent case could be made that a propeller, even burdened by a fairly significant load of weed, is more efficient than a paddle wheel, e...
by Lopez Mike
Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:19 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2612

Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller

In my area the problem is Eel Grass and it gets wound up in a ball so tight that a plastic fork would likely break. I like Bart's war weapon but I'm afraid it might frighten visitors! A weapon of, if not mass destruction, at least medium destruction. It's such a sneaky problem. The revs don't drop, ...
by Lopez Mike
Wed Jan 24, 2024 6:32 am
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2612

Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller

Yeow! What a toad sticker. I guess one would be prepared for pirates as well as weeds.

Mike
by Lopez Mike
Mon Jan 22, 2024 11:40 am
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2612

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. https://www.ebay.com/itm/256256231621?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1MlviaXBrT0O3cIs8M1Awkg94&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=21562-222008-2056-1&mkcid=2&itemid...
by Lopez Mike
Sun Jan 21, 2024 12:23 am
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Replies: 15
Views: 2612

Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller

My present 'elephant ear" prop is also a magnet for weeds. On my previous hull I was able (after shutting down the throttle and steam valves as well as opening the condensate drains!!!) to reach the prop by hand and with the aid of an old butcher knife, clear the mess. My new hull places the prop fu...
by Lopez Mike
Mon Jan 08, 2024 1:40 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Nice video of Klamath Lake steamboat meet back in 2019
Replies: 7
Views: 16850

Re: Nice video of Klamath Lake steamboat meet back in 2019

Pete, we need a video of you standing on a wind and rain driven bluff over Cardigan Bay singing Men of Harlech!

(This request coming from a lazy sod wintering in Baja under sunny skies.)

Mike
by Lopez Mike
Mon Jan 08, 2024 1:28 pm
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: Adding a fresh water tank...
Replies: 8
Views: 18986

Re: Adding a fresh water tank...

At the other extreme, Spiffy (ex Folly) has a very tight system. To explain the name change: Same machinery, different hull. One scenario is simply going somewhere with no tooting or stack blower action in which case I can steam all day without using up a gallon milk jug of water. The other case is ...
by Lopez Mike
Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:49 pm
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: Hex Hank Rivet Bushes
Replies: 6
Views: 14153

Re: Hex Hank Rivet Bushes

I notice that, in the case of the Rivnut, it protrudes 1 mm from the surface. This may or may not be an issue with your application. Are air leaks a possible problem? Not to seem like too much of a barbarian but I've had very good luck with simply tack welding a suitable nut on the back side of the ...
by Lopez Mike
Tue Aug 01, 2023 10:52 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Boiler Safety
Replies: 2
Views: 5108

Re: Boiler Safety

When I went to look at my boat the first time and the seller rolled it out of the storage unit, the first thing that caught my eye was a shutoff valve in line with the safety. Installed, I was informed, to make it convenient to do a hydro test. Lunatic out for a picnic! Unscrewed and thrown in the c...