Search found 77 matches

by Bob Cleek
Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:05 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Steam Sirens
Replies: 12
Views: 14781

Re: Steam Sirens

Not that I have a steamboat to put one on, but I sure do LOVE seam sirens!
by Bob Cleek
Mon Oct 05, 2015 7:04 pm
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: Building a small flat bottomed boat
Replies: 10
Views: 15403

Re: Building a small flat bottomed boat

I'd suggest that you carefully calculate the weight of the design before building if car-topping is your intention. Plywood is not a particularly lightweight material in the application you contemplate and any sheathing in resin and fabric will materially increase the overall weight of the boat. It ...
by Bob Cleek
Mon Oct 05, 2015 6:50 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Re-powering a riverboat
Replies: 6
Views: 7725

Re: Re-powering a riverboat

Am I correct that the Federal regulations require any steam powered vessel over 40' LOA to carry a licensed engineer and be subject to inspections, etc.? I was aboard the "Mark Twain" at Disneyland last month and even though she runs on a submerged track at low speed in probably six feet of water, s...
by Bob Cleek
Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:57 am
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: A question of Glass?
Replies: 19
Views: 22780

Re: A question of Glass?

The glass pretty much lasts forever. You can calculate the weight of either from the densities. 2.6 gm/cc for most common glass and 1.2 gm/cc for acrylic and polycarbonate. I have a repair kit for acrylic that claims that you can repair anything from a bullet crater to slight fogging. Depends on ho...
by Bob Cleek
Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:45 am
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: A question of Glass?
Replies: 19
Views: 22780

Re: A question of Glass?

The glass pretty much lasts forever. You can calculate the weight of either from the densities. 2.6 gm/cc for most common glass and 1.2 gm/cc for acrylic and polycarbonate. I have a repair kit for acrylic that claims that you can repair anything from a bullet crater to slight fogging. Depends on ho...
by Bob Cleek
Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:55 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: What are these?
Replies: 8
Views: 9238

Re: What are these?

Ventilator cowls actually do provide a noticeable air flow below deck and are quite common on smaller yachts. There is a device, known as a "Dorade box" upon which they set, that prevents any water entering the cowl from finding its way below. There are also cowls manufactured with internal baffling...
by Bob Cleek
Wed May 20, 2015 2:46 am
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: Type of Wood for Hull
Replies: 18
Views: 20090

Re: Type of Wood for Hull

Well, this thread may be a little stale, but I can't resist... Your fiberglass (or expoy/Dynel) sheathing will be "perforated" as soon as you drill your first hole to screw on a fitting. In reply to your thought that "fiberglass sheathing" seems like a great all-around solution, just google "balsa c...
by Bob Cleek
Wed May 20, 2015 1:25 am
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: brass accoutrements for the boat?
Replies: 6
Views: 6923

Re: brass accoutrements for the boat?

Or even spin one yourself, if you are handy. All it takes is a wood lathe. You turn the pattern you want out of wood, mount it in the lathe chuck, attach a piece of annealed sheet brass, and start it spinning. Then you press the brass against the pattern with a smooth hardwood stick held against to ...
by Bob Cleek
Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:52 pm
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: PS TULE PRINCESS Opens to Public in Texas
Replies: 7
Views: 7507

Re: PS TULE PRINCESS Opens to Public in Texas

Lovely boat. Great to see her kept so well! I do believe, however, that she was actually built to David Sarlin's order by the Millerick Brother's Coast Marine Construction of Sebastapol, CA, which is just up the road a few miles from Petaluma, CA. Not to take anything away from Mr. Sarlin, who made ...
by Bob Cleek
Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:04 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Larger boat feasible?
Replies: 25
Views: 25220

Re: Larger boat feasible?

My personal prejudice is that traditional carvel construction is, by definition, overweight. I understand that it's the way boats were built and for good reasons. I find them esthetically pleasing but I find a lot of things from the past pleasing. It doesn't mean that I will choose to duplicate the...