Prospective steam launch builder in West Virginia

[fredrosse]

Just looking at the picture of the 1906 battleship. I wonder about the boat that was used to take the picture? Obviously not a telephoto picture, so the photo boat was close, and from the looks of its wake, not moving too fast at all. I guess they had a seaworthy boat, as the battleship photo made it into the archives.

The ship had 2 triple expansion engines, about 8800 horsepower each. I have been in the engine room of a Liberty ship (2500 horsepower triple expansion) and that is an exciting experience. I can just imagine the engine room of this ship, turning out 16,500 horsepower back in 1906.

[artemis]

Been in hobby steamboating since 1970; engineered on everything from 60' Oceanid with oil firing to a 9' long rowboat with a wood fired, transom mounted steam outboard motor. Owned a couple of steamboats and am building on another. Agree with everything said above.

Suggest you start your research with Steamboats and Modern Steam Launches available from Elliott Bay Steam Launch, http://www.steamlaunch.com. This is the "bible" of the hobby and worth every penny. There are a lot of events in your part of the US. The International Steamboat Society maintains a good online calendar at http://www.steamboating.org - there's a really excellent meet from March 12 - 16, the Harris Chain of Lakes Steamboat Meet, at Tavares, FL. Check it out on the calendar and if you can make it, DO!

[Lopez Mike]

Looking at that bow wave, I began to think about what might be behind it. A short Google gave me 16,500 H.P. from two inverted triples and twelve boilers at 250 psi. That divides out to a bit over 1300 H.P. per boiler. Just within the realm of hand firing. Given that the boiler rooms were probably pressurized for forced draft, and operation in tropical waters, I would not envy the firemen.

Lest that amount of shoveling seem to much, a fast Atlantic class 4-4-2 locomotive at the beginning of the twentieth century developed 2000 H.P. and was fired by one poor soul with a shovel.

My father had a job on the Union Pacific in Idaho in the late thirties hand firing a helper locomotive, one that was attached to the rear of a train to help it up a hill. In a one hour effort, he was expected to move twelve tons of coal. That is just under seven pounds per second. There would then be a 'rest' period of a couple of hours with only token work and then do it again.

Even as a health and foolish twenty year old, he found this man killing and managed to sign on as an apprentice at the UP machine shop nearby.

Suddenly I don't feel too bad about pitching another hand full of twigs in my boiler.

m

[87gn@tahoe]

Wesley, what kind of oil burner do you use that is silent? Can you supply details?

Very quiet, only a slight rumble, not "silent". Those that have been on my boat can attest.

It's a kerosene vaporizing burner made form a coil of 1/4" pipe. Unfortunately kerosene is VERY expensive.

Most of the noise from a steam atomizing burner is the hiss of the steam. On my father's boat you don't notice it until you shut it off, then you can almost feel the "silence".

A canopy is a must for any steamboat. I am trying to figure out a way to fit mine with a tasteful setup.

[farmerden]

Interesting-A bunch of guys have left Memphis in the steam launch"Scrap Iron" on Feb 18 heading for New Orleans Found this out at the Smokstak web site.One milage indicator said 358 miles but I don't know it that was river miles or hiway miles but at least it's down hill [down steam!] Den

[S. Weaver]

The stamina issues you guys are mentioning are true for just about anything that travels at five to seven knots. Wifey and I are avid sailors, but after six to eight hours of that, I need a secure mooring and a nap ...

[Maltelec]

Scott, you want one of these engines:



Its around 15HP.

You seem to have a good idea for a hull.

My dad has built two of these engines (well nearly finished the 2nd) and we have most of the castings for a 3rd. Email me if you are interested.

Also have a spare boiler designed for the engine too.

[Lopez Mike]

Does anyone know how do keep drool off of a keyboard?

I agree with Wes. We need a place here on the forum for Steam porn!

[Mike Rometer]

Does anyone know how do keep drool off of a keyboard?

Too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[S. Weaver]

That's a productive "retirement." A tip of the hat to your Dad, Maltec. Elliott Bay Triples, no?