The Steamboating Forum

Good Day to all steamers

I am form South Africa Cape Town I have just joined The steam boating forum and I am quite looking forward to our talks. I have been a side line steam enthusiast most of my life, I have had the opportunity to work on some old steam engines in the past, but now I have been tasked to rebuild a Semple 354-DL which has been in service for many years. The only problem is that the boat was run for profit only. Thus the poor little Semple never got the attention she demands. I have managed to redo the steam pistons and valves the cross heads are still in a reasonably good state but the rest of the engine has been altered purely to keep her running. I would like to know if any one can help me with drawings or any paper work on this engine so that I can return her to her original state of beauty.

Welcome to the forum Ecoguru. Rest assured, someone out there will know something, and good advice is never far away on here.

Welcome Ecoguru

I've run a couple of the semple v's for many miles... Great engines, quiet, powerful, smooth, and reliable save for the slip eccentric reverse.

Ron Fossum here.
Among other things I publish Steamboating Magazine and there are a number of articles in back issues and in the Steamboater's Handbook which address your subject pretty well. PM me and we'll go from there.

Have a brand new one waiting to go in my extra boat.Have to build the new shop first and time and money have got in the way. Another steamer in my neighbourhood has rebuilt the engine in "Edith Mae" so what would you like to know? Den

Welcome to the forums!

I am a bit late but it has taken a while to go back and read all the old posts. Since I will be building my very first steam engine and boiler as well as the Launch to mount it in I figured I better get as much information as I can before I start.

My Grandfather (God rest his soul) told me once when I was a small annoying boy that I must try and learn by the mistakes of others, because I will not live long enough to make them all myself. I was not sure at the time if he was inferring that I was a danger to myself or that I needed to slow down and pay attention to what was going on around me.

Now that I have a few years behind me I realize he meant both!

Best of luck to you!

Cheers,
Scott