The Steamboating Forum

The new valves definitely did the trick on the economizer. Took her out about a week ago and that is the best it ever ran. We made a nice 40 mile trip up the Detroit River. We ran in between 50 - 60 psi most of the day.

Learned more about firing it which is making even more improvement. The draft in the door is totally closed off now. I can say that pulling all the combustion air through the grate with wood is definitely the most efficient burning wood - in this boiler anyway. Also there was a slight gap between the grate and the ashpit in the door area that I blocked off, now any air that comes in has to go through the grate area. The boiler was definitely performing better and with the economizer, no pressure was lost while taking on boiler water.

We did get a pressure issue when we whistled for the swing-bridge to open on Grosse Isle's north end. We had to wait about 30 minutes and I let the fire die down to maintain an idle pressure/steam production. The bridge keeper yelled down they wait 30-45 minutes to open the bridge. So we tried it while it was closed and made it through with about 3" to spare, rather tricky with the 2-3 mph current through there. Then when we got under way again, and I had to try and get pressure back underway. Some good dry pine took care of that, and pretty soon we were happily clacking along up over 50 psi. Getting very close with the tweaks and understanding how to operate it. I was a bit concerned about traveling up the river as the current is quite swift in some areas, but Chief marched right through undaunted.

Also learned on taking on feedwater, it's not necessary to close the bypass fully. Leaving it cracked a little bit seemed a much more constant and stable input.





-Ron

Spent the weekend working in the wheelhouse, getting the doors made below deck level. These were lots of fun Still have to do the final fitting and then get them swinging on hinges and latched up. The after most door on the starboard side will hinge at the bottom, swing out with chains to hold at 45 degrees, it's actually a door for the wood bunker below.









Found some brass 4" tall letters for the front of the wheelhouse. I guess it's time to take that line off that bollard



-Ron

The wood work is gratifying.

Got a good day in on Iron Chief today, still working in the wheelhouse. I could get done if I would stop adding to the project. I found a speaking tube with whistle recently (the end that goes in the helm), Have to figure out how to mount. Is anyone familiar with these, do's and dont's for install? The plan is to obviously mount a speaking funnel over the engine. even though this is a 22 footer, out there in the wind and the waves and the engine running etc, it's difficult to communicate engine space to wheelhouse. Not to mention how cool it will look









The last pics show the two brass tubes that shroud the chain.

-Ron

That looks fantastic! What type of wood did you use?

John,

Thanks, that is white oak.

-Ron

No words for this beautifull work!!

Thanks for charing this pictures with us !!!!

Lovely woodwork Ron. How did you make the curved top & bottom rails on the doors - are they laminated ? Steamed?
John

And while you are at it, tell us how you did those curved joints between the top rails and the side posts on the curves doors each side of the steering chain tubes.

Clearly I have a lot to learn about wood joinery. I can do damned near anything in my machine shop but this sort of joinery stops me in my tracks. Off to the library for some books.

Mike

As I have said before Ron is more than just a welder-Alot more!!! Den