The Steamboating Forum

Yesterday I had the boat out for the last time before I put her to bed for the winter.I was experimenting with going slow on oil [atomizing steam ] I got down to about 2 kts with about 3lbs steam pressure on the atomizer and just a puny flame,no roar no smoke nothing Good now I can go fishing! But!!! When we got down to the end of the lake and turned around the cold wind was blowing directly on the boiler face. After a time the steam in the fire box was turning into a fine water spray! What the? Thinking about it I realized I have about two ft of uninsulated pipe between the fine adjustment valve and the superheater The steam flow was so slow and the fire was so cool that the steam was condensing in the pipe and not being superheated at all! Now you know I like shiny pipe but maybe -just maybe you guys with pipe insulation have been right all along-But you already knew that didn't you! Have a good day. Den

Hi Den,

Thanks for the blow by blow....I've been putting off insulating pipe until the plumbing "settles down" but next year I think I'll be all over it.......if for no other reason than to stop burning myself

Dave

mcandrew1894 wrote:...if for no other reason than to stop burning myself

Dave

Heck, if you don't have at least one third degree hot steam pipe burn per boating season, you're missing out.

I really had to laugh I burned myself reaching back from the cabin to the engine and Be darned if Stan didn't grab the same pipe to see if it really was Hot! What can I say -Steamers!!!

farmerden wrote:I really had to laugh I burned myself reaching back from the cabin to the engine and Be darned if Stan didn't grab the same pipe to see if it really was Hot! What can I say -Steamers!!!

YUP!

Had a 2nd on the back of my upper harm form the braided stainless steel steam line to my engine. People pay money to get sear marks to look that good on their barby!
What was funny was, I didn't care....every one else was horrorfied!

My answer.....eh Steamboating......
Dave

I used to show off my "battle scars" in school... I think my teachers thought I was being abused