Propellor rotation

[ccdewitt]

Is there a traditional direction that a propellor would turn on a steam launch? Thanks.

Chris De Witt

[TahoeSteam]

Chris,

It seems most original and new engines have the "front" or open side facing the starboard, unless they're a bottle engine like yours of course, and therefore the cross heads are more suited to take the loading from running clockwise (looking forward). You wouldn't have to factor in that consideration with your engine.

On rare occasion I have seen original launch engines built opposite of above and built to rotate anticlockwise. The 1882 T. Patchet compound in Robert Dessert's "Magic" is one that comes to mind.

[fredrosse]

I have herd the statement that all steam launches "must of course have a right hand screw". Probably a tradition. Technically it makes no difference provided the crosshead loading is correct, as mentioned above, but given the choice a right hand screw is "traditional". Unless you go for a paddle launch!

[DetroiTug]

In my searching it seems that used left hand in large diameters and pitches is easier to find. Obviously as the demand is greater for right hand.

-Ron

[Edward]

I believe by far the most important consideration is to arrange the rotation of the propellor so that when going forward the cross-head tends to be pushed against the cross-head guide/slipper-bar rather than pulled away from it . Clearly with bottle engines and any other engines with trunk guides this doesn't matter.
It makes sense for the engine minder to be placed on the open side of the engine giving him easier access to most of the lubrication points moving parts etc . and in open and fairly small launches where the engine minder doesn't rely on signals from the deck/bridge and may also do the steering he needs to be placed so that he can not only control the engine but the boat as well . In the UK where river and canal traffic keeps to the right this usually meant putting the engine minder to the right/starboard .
With most hull shapes the rotational direction of the prop will also affect the steering making the turning circle smaller one way than the other , so if you're on a set route up and down a river you might as well arrange things so that the rotation of the prop helps you turn at each end of the route.

So whilst I wouldn't disagree that the rotation of the prop was dictated by tradition there is often a very good reason for this tradition .

Regards Edward.

[dhic001]

Most original steam engines and designs are for right hand rotation props, however I disagree with Edward that the operator should be on the open side of the engine. That puts him/her on the starboard side of the boat, which is great for visibility in a crowded seaway (give way to starboard), but makes berthing a pig. If the prop is right handed, when going astern the boat pulls to port, so I try to always come alongside port side to. This means I approach the wharf at an appropriate angle, when virtually alongside I flick her astern which pulls her up to a stop, and dead alongside the wharf and parallel to it. As I control the engine from the column side, or port side, I can see the wharf easily from the controls. Coming starboard side too is a pig because I can't see the wharf, and as soon as I go astern, the boat walks away from the wharf. The other advantage of operating from the column side is that the passengers can see the open side of the engine, and are away from all the pipework.

Daniel

It makes sense for the engine minder to be placed on the open side of the engine giving him easier access to most of the lubrication points moving parts etc . and in open and fairly small launches where the engine minder doesn't rely on signals from the deck/bridge and may also do the steering he needs to be placed so that he can not only control the engine but the boat as well . In the UK where river and canal traffic keeps to the right this usually meant putting the engine minder to the right/starboard .
Regards Edward.

[steamboatjack]

Folks,
According to the old sage of Windermere, Windermere launches had left hand propellers for the same reason as above, they always berthed port side to, presumably so the owners did not have to see the grubby engine attendant who was attending the engine from the starboard side.
Just to clear the point, engines with “single” sided cross-head guides should rotate clockwise as viewed from the propeller end if the guide is on the port side and vice versa.

Regards
Jack

[TahoeSteam]

Folks,
According to the old sage of Windermere, Windermere launches had left hand propellers for the same reason as above, they always berthed port side to, presumably so the owners did not have to see the grubby engine attendant who was attending the engine from the starboard side.
Just to clear the point, engines with “single” sided cross-head guides should rotate clockwise as viewed from the propeller end if the guide is on the port side and vice versa.

Regards
Jack

Jack,

Was the "grubbiness" also the reason for many Windermere launches having covers over their engines?

[johngriffiths]

Wesley

Keeps the, frequently heavy, rain off the polished brass, steel and iron that form the engine, as Jack and the old Sage will confirm, and makes for a lovely looking boat, all that teak, oak and highly polished brass. It didn't matter if the engineman/steerer got wet....And note the passengers could retire to the cabin with head (lav or toilet), hot and cold water for the sink and tea made with boiling water from the Windermere kettle. I can recommend it! By such matters was determined the direction of propeller rotation and the need for exhaust silencers, you don't want the puffing of the exhaust steam going up the stack interfering with conversation.

John

[steamboatjack]

The grubbiness referred to the engineer NOT the engine, these were usually kept immaculate.
You have to remember these boats were the equivalent of today's exotic Italian cars etc.
Shamrock has polished brass rails down either side of the cabin top, this is so the boatmen could reach the aft end without having to go through the cabin where the toff's were!
I am rather dismayed that many of today's steam boats found at UK rallies have steam plant ranging from grubby to down right filthy! Of course the engineer's are still grubby, myself included but that's OK.
Regards
Jack.