She was designed and built by Mr. William Charles Grosjean of Poway, California (near San Diego). Mr. Grosjean designed every aspect of this boat; he also made the patterns, boiler, controls, and engine himself.
The hull is a Chesapeake Bay style open launch, 22'-2" X 5'-10" X 1'-5". Sitka spruce frames and stringers. Honduras mahogany stem, keel, floor timbers and engine bearers. Bruynzeel plywood planking. Silicon bronze fastened and epoxy glued and sealed. Epoxy/fiberglass sheathed. Weight-850lbs
The engine is a 2" & 4" x 3.25" compound on six turned columns, stephenson link valve gear, piston valve on the high pressure piston, balanced slide vlave on the low pressure piston, independent valve gear adjustment on LP. Drip feed lubrication to bearings w/ oil slingers from main bearings to feed rod big-end bearings. Two feed pumps and two air pumps(condensate- 27in/vacuum when no leaks!) and one fuel pump dirven 1/4 engine speed ala Simpson Strickland style gear drive. approx 6BHP@700rpm. Weight-225lbs
The boiler is "once through" monotube, ASME approved design and materials. Natural draught, 21sq.ft./heating surface, 150psi, 450F, 200 lbs/hr. Controls similar principles to Doble "normalizer" control system. Vaporizing kerosene burner, modulated by steam pressure. Steam temperature controlled by quartz rod thermostat. Weight-220lbs
10 and 14 gallon fuel tanks, 3 gallon hot well, condenser: three 7/8" copper tubes 4.5' long.
Propeller- 15"x17" 3-blade
Mum getting warm:
Engine:
Clutch:
Action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD8_nvSzz2Y
With my father up in the bow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec-oB7_J25s
