The Steamboating Forum

Okay, I've started the John King Boiler. Orderd a steam atomizing oil burner from Fred Eisner. Now since I only know and am used to my VFT with wood for fuel I have a question about burner placement.

My plan is to place the burner under the door firing horizontally at/toward the back wall of he boiler. Will this be ok? Will the heat rise through the tubes enough? I could mount the fuel tank in the bow under the deck and hopefully gravity feed down under the sole, under the boiler and just turn up to connect to the burner. I hope the weight and height of the fuel and tank will push the fuel out to feed the burner. If not, I will have to add a fuel pump.

As long as your oil tank is at a somewhat higher elevation, this should be no trouble. Fuel pump is one option, a 1 or 2 psi air pressure over the oil in your tank will do equally well, and dispense with a pump that might give trouble (or a pump that would use electricity, blah!)

since I like to run at night, I've got a battery on board - and a small fuel pump like this one sure makes things easier as compared to pressurizing tanks:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027I88VQ/ref ... 0JM47RIKL0

Yes, I could use kerosene running lights, too - but LED ones are much easier to spot and easy to use.

- Bart

Just kidding about the use of electricity. As a matter of fact the next steam plant I have planned will use an electric motor driven atomizing oil burner, and a motor driven feed pump as well! Planning on about 400 PPH steam at 250 PSI, and need to have an alternator to keep up with electric power consumption.

As a matter of fact the next steam plant I have planned will use an electric motor driven atomizing oil burner, and a motor driven feed pump as well! Planning on about 400 PPH steam at 250 PSI, and need to have an alternator to keep up with electric power consumption.

I'm headed in the same direction in terms of maximum capability on our next boat; I plan on lower steam rates most of the time, however. We're also planning on being able to burn wood. I will use solar panels on the pilot house; I put them on our 1971 Airstream and this has made boondocking completely generator free for us; I'd like to be able to hole up in the Pacific Northwest in the same way.

Note that w/ modern magnets, it's possible to build a direct drive alternator that generates ample current & voltage at normal steam engine speeds; a MPPT control would be necessary to match the battery impedance correctly. A car alternator is easier, but less styling
You can also convert a Fisher & Pakel drive motor to do the same thing.


- Bart