New Project - Trying to bring a boat back from the brink

JonRiley56 · Post by **JonRiley56** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 7:03 pm

Hi,

I just bought an old boat that has been neglected for quite a while. I am hoping that someone can tell me something about it. All that I know is that it came up from the outer banks of Carolina in 1995. The hull is in really rough shape. The engine and boiler look decent, but I have yet to spend much time with them.

It is a very interesting set up. It looks like it was set up to run Oil with steam atomized injectors after you get a wood fire going. I was unable to poke around the boiler before i bought it because ti was pretty unstable. (It was a major chore getting it on to a trailer) I thought it was a regular firetube, but it is actually an Ofeldt.

Does anyone recognize the engine or boiler ? Any information would be greatly appreciated. I have attached a link to a short video. The video was taken before I realized it was an Ofeldt. I can post pictures when I figure out how.

jon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDnbAicntcs

fredrosse · Post by **fredrosse** » Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:05 am

Jon, now you will have two boats?

Looks like the boat and machinery you have here is well thought out. Engine seems to be robust, boiler too, although its condition is not really shown on the video. How did you find this boat?

Lopez Mike · Post by **Lopez Mike** » Sat Jul 04, 2015 11:36 pm

Just a personal gripe having little to do with this boat and certainly not with you, I wish people would permanently retire certain boat names out of a modicum of respect. African Queen is one of them.

For me it's like some fat back money pig naming his gin palace The Titanic. Ridiculous.

The James Caird is another one that has not so far been desecrated. That I know of, that is. It is the name of the life boat that Shackleton and crew navigated to South Georgia island to summon rescue. Google it. Go see it if you are near Dulwich College.

Anyone using that name on a boat should be set upon forthwith. Harumph!

asal0312 · Post by **asal0312** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 1:57 pm

I saw the hull at the transfer station. What happened, beyond repair?

Alex

JonRiley56 · Post by **JonRiley56** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 1:17 am

Hi All,

I agree with Mike on the name thing....... I pulled the equipment out of the hull and transferred the boat to stands in the garage. The main backbone of the boat was so rotted that it would have been very hard to save. I cut the stern off to make into a couch for the garage.

I saw the boat on Craigslist down in Connecticut. It was on stands and in very rough shape. I almost killed myself trying to get it on the trailer. We were finally able to get it loaded and hauled back to RI.

The engine is very heavily built. I was able to get it unstuck. It has a piston valve instead of a d slide set up. There is only one opening in the valve chamber which I assume means that it iis single acting. I put compressed air on it and I can get it to turn over but not cycle all the way without "helping" it.

The boiler is an Ofeldt and is very heavily built as well. The steam line comes off the top of the boiler and then goes thru the fire box to superheat. There are two oil burners. They are gravity fed and steam atomized.

I had to use a torch on a couple of lines to get things opened up because a couple of unions wouldn't move. I will re-pipe it and do a pressure test.

If the hull was salvagable I was going to put it back together. At this point I guess I will sell them.

Jon

Lopez Mike · Post by **Lopez Mike** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:51 pm

Very odd engine. It would be nice to know more. Pictures?

JonRiley56 · Post by **JonRiley56** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:20 pm

I can't figure out how to post #%#£€$@@ pictures !!!!

DetroiTug · Post by **DetroiTug** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:59 am

Jon,

In Photobucket just click on the "direct" link and then put it between the image codes. Simply left clicking it copies it automatically.

-Ron

JonRiley56 · Post by **JonRiley56** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:39 am

Hey,

The real African Queen !!! Did you go for a ride ? I was surprised at how little they knew about the rig they were running.

JonRiley56 · Post by **JonRiley56** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:13 am

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New Project - Trying to bring a boat back from the brink

New Project - Trying to bring a boat back from the brink

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Re: New Project - Trying to bring a boat back from the brink