The Steamboating Forum

We are both proficient, having spent years canoeing as part of BSA outings, including a week-long trip on the Colorado. Stability was never really an issue, but then we mostly used somewhat heavier aluminum canoes. If stability proves to be a significant issue, we can look at some kind of outrigger ...

I posted here some time over a year ago, with great and ambitious plans to build one of the several steam launch plans I had drawn up in my spare time. These were interrupted by reality, as my father and I had to move, and I came to the realization that we were not ready to pursue any project with m...

Would that be this book here?

https://archive.org/details/steamenginedesi02whitgoog

I have purchased the cylinder castings from Tiny Power and would like to build a proper steam engine. A few developments have lead to this decision, namely: - The two-stroke engine was found to be built in such a way that it could not be readily reassembled (the seals were not gaskets but some kind ...

Thank you all very much for the suggestions. The overwhelming consensus seems to be to go with machining up an engine, from castings or from an existing machine. Part of the experiment of this boat is to see if an engine (which will be powering a chain and easy to replace later on with a proper stea...

I ought to have come here before making any purchases. My efforts thus far will be a cautionary tale for future generations. I , at least, am enjoying the experience. Unfortunately, I do not yet have brazing capability/equipment, though the 212cc Predator will still be around when I do, as I would b...

Setting aside my ambitious plans for the John Fitch , I step out into the new shop and start making real progress on a real boat. I was originally going to call her Modest , but given the manner in (and materials from) which the boat will be constructed, I think I will leave the name Modest for a sk...

If my father and I go to Flagstaff as planned to test his ATCS, this will be my first Christmas in snow. At any rate, the end of the year brings with it progress on getting a boat in the water
Will have real content to post soon.

Merry Christmas!

We've been in the new Buckeye house for about a week, and now that we're sleeping on real beds and washing with softened water, I figure we're settled enough to finally get some real tools. Yesterday, the Fedex Man dropped off five boxes from Micro Mark: a 7x16 lathe; bedway for lathe; work table fo...

Fred - thank you for looking over and critiquing my plans I got as far with them as is shown, before realizing that: 1. I don't know enough about these things to be making any final decisions and 2. I ought to build a boat first (ANY boat, even if less-than-ideal, so long as it is SAFE and relativel...