Otter's old engine used a thin-line ball bearing on the eccentric - it was very smooth and easy to turn over, even w/ some steam chest pressure.

That engine lasted many years, and the bearing still feels smooth. A squirt of oil now and then took care of lubrication.

- Bart

If steel is sandblasted prior to paint, and good quality marine primer and topcoat is used, it will last for many years. For those w/o access to sandblaster, I've found that brushing on phosphoric acid and letting that dry, then rinsing & wiping makes a good surface for paint. The best paint I've u...

Steel: 1/4x2 frames, 3/8 x3 keel, 12 GA on the bottom 14 GA on the sides. Need a plasma arc to cut the skin. Need to calculate weight displacement. You'll want some thin bar in there for the chines; you'll also need the same for some deck framing and stringers. I'd suggest pipe for the deck/side jo...

Addendum: You may find something like https://www.selway-fisher.com/Steamup20.htm#SAPPHIRE suitable. From a practical standpoint, I'd avoid the separate cockpit configuration as it would make single handing more difficult, but I then I often anchor out or tie onto a mooring buoy by myself and then r...

I'd start with figuring out: How many people you want to carry. Type of use: Short tours from the dock, typical of steamboat meets. All-day steaming (impact on fuel, level of shelter/shade). Overnight camping (sleeping on shore, but lots to carry). Type of fuel: oil - built-in or portable tank? prop...

Quote: "Getting older I find myself leaning more and more towards the quiet of solid fuel firing. Even with the associated mess, pain in bunkering, etc. There is something magical about just hearing the water boil, the crackle of the fire, and the engine turning over.'' Hear hear. Messing with liqu...

I can carry enough wood under the wheelhouse floor for 30 mile range. Some on the aftdeck for 50. Coal takes up about half as much room for that much fuel. Rainbow will steam for 25+ hours (100+ nautical miles) on the wood she can carry under the raised foredeck. We use a 16" diameter bundle of 16"...

What if I got a bronze bearing like this and turned it down to the slot ID, cut it to the right length, and soldered/babbitted this in the slot I'd follow Mike's advice; file a piece of bearing bronze in each link to fit, soft solder it in and drill and ream proper holes w/ matching overall lengths...

If the slot is wider than the pin, even by a small amount, then shape a piece of brass/bronze to fit as best you can and soft solder it in. Then work out the position of the bearing and drill and ream it back in. Not a full blown 'engineering' type repair but more than adequate for that use. Add a ...

You may wish to consider plastic bearing materials; I've had good luck with Delrin in this application. Oillite might also work well here. If the loadings are very high you may need to choose something stronger, but the very slow rotative speed and intermittent motion makes plastic a natural choice....