New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

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farmerden
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by farmerden » Sat Nov 27, 2010 3:24 am

What a beautiful sound! And moving at a pretty good clip for 46 RPM! Den
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by mcandrew1894 » Sat Nov 27, 2010 12:18 pm

It would appear she's moving with some authority Fred! Looking good!


Dave
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by kno3 » Sat Nov 27, 2010 5:50 pm

Great sound, love it!
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DetroiTug
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by DetroiTug » Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:17 pm

Congratulations Fred!

Runs very nice, she marches right along!

-Ron
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Aheadslow
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by Aheadslow » Sat Nov 27, 2010 7:10 pm

Wow, Its amazing what happens when you wind up in the hospital for a couple of months.
Had a little accident on the last job. Anyway absolutely incredible job on the boat there Fred . I wish I had your organizational skills. The speed with which you accomplished this build is very impressive, it looks like youve got a winner there. Congratulations on a job well done. I cant wait to see her after final fitout. should be a real beauty. :D
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fredrosse
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by fredrosse » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:44 am

A picture that appeared in the steamboating magazine "The Smokestack" at the end of 2010, (although there was no smokestack on the boat at the time).

Much thanks to all of you who provided guidance and suggestions during the building process. I remember buying the steel wheels (farm implement wheels), which form the basis of of the paddlewheels, in the late 1970s, at a “yard sale” for $10. At the time I knew exactly what I would use these wheels for, yet it took more than 30 years before the sidewheeler was actually steaming on the water.

I think the real spark that got me to proceed with the project came from a seafaring man named Sterling Hayden, his words that follow hold value for me, and possibly many others:

“The years thunder by, the dreams of youth grow dim where they lie, caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.”
Attachments
10 Oct 2010 TrialsSSS.jpg
Lookout-Wife Katharine, with our two Tibetan Terriers in the bow, Son Jeanpaul at the stern, and Fred tending the machinery, First Outing
10 Oct 2010 TrialsSSS.jpg (193.49 KiB) Viewed 11699 times
Last edited by fredrosse on Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Chris W
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by Chris W » Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:14 pm

She's a beauty! I wish I could remember where I read the term "perambulating waterfall" used as a description of a sidewheel steamer. :D
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by bkueber » Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:57 am

Oh Wow :o What a fabulous sound! DO you have more info on the engine you built for her. You gotta love walking beam engines!
Regards,

Bret
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fredrosse
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by fredrosse » Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:36 am

There is info on this engine under the "Technical - Engines and Boilers" Section of this website, under "American Walking Beam Engine". I really like the slow speed of the engine, getting to see everything rocking and rolling, making the boat move forward. I still plan a condenser, which will virtually silence the exhaust note, but I think I will usually run with the exhaust to atmosphere, I like the music of the machine. It uses Marshall-Bremme Valve Gear.
Attachments
WBE2007S.jpg
Walking Beam Engine, with Wet Vacuum Pump and Boiler Feedwater Pump, 90 RPM 1 HP Rated
WBE2007S.jpg (206.26 KiB) Viewed 11699 times
Last edited by fredrosse on Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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fredrosse
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Re: New Plywood Sidewheeler Building

Post by fredrosse » Wed May 25, 2011 12:56 am

Putting small deck pieces around the hull, about 5 inches wide all around, with a small coaming.

Also epoxied in the vertical stem piece, made of 3/4 inch extra heavy steel pipe. I was going to use brass pipe, but they wanted $175 USD for a 10 foot long piece! The forward eye for trailer winch attachment was welded to the pipe, and through bolted to a large reinforced piece of wood epoxied into the bow. I think the entire boat could be suspended from this eye. Lower down, two steel flat bars secure the stem to the bow, so I can ram something without the stem coming loose.
Attachments
FwdDeck-Coaming.jpg
1/2 inch thick nine layer plywood decking with small coaming 1-1/2 x 1/2
FwdDeck-Coaming.jpg (88.87 KiB) Viewed 12269 times
Bow-Stem.jpg
Stem Piece in Place, with Winch Eye
Bow-Stem.jpg (84.32 KiB) Viewed 12269 times
StemWelds.jpg
Stem Flat Bars, Welded
StemWelds.jpg (73.97 KiB) Viewed 12269 times
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