The Steamboating Forum

Hi,

I just bought an old boat that has been neglected for quite a while. I am hoping that someone can tell me something about it. All that I know is that it came up from the outer banks of Carolina in 1995. The hull is in really rough shape. The engine and boiler look decent, but I have yet to spend much time with them.

It is a very interesting set up. It looks like it was set up to run Oil with steam atomized injectors after you get a wood fire going. I was unable to poke around the boiler before i bought it because ti was pretty unstable. (It was a major chore getting it on to a trailer) I thought it was a regular firetube, but it is actually an Ofeldt.

Does anyone recognize the engine or boiler ? Any information would be greatly appreciated. I have attached a link to a short video. The video was taken before I realized it was an Ofeldt. I can post pictures when I figure out how.

jon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDnbAicntcs

Jon, now you will have two boats?

Looks like the boat and machinery you have here is well thought out. Engine seems to be robust, boiler too, although its condition is not really shown on the video. How did you find this boat?

Just a personal gripe having little to do with this boat and certainly not with you, I wish people would permanently retire certain boat names out of a modicum of respect. African Queen is one of them.

For me it's like some fat back money pig naming his gin palace The Titanic. Ridiculous.

The James Caird is another one that has not so far been desecrated. That I know of, that is. It is the name of the life boat that Shackleton and crew navigated to South Georgia island to summon rescue. Google it. Go see it if you are near Dulwich College.

Anyone using that name on a boat should be set upon forthwith. Harumph!

I saw the hull at the transfer station. What happened, beyond repair?

Alex

Hi All,

I agree with Mike on the name thing....... I pulled the equipment out of the hull and transferred the boat to stands in the garage. The main backbone of the boat was so rotted that it would have been very hard to save. I cut the stern off to make into a couch for the garage.

I saw the boat on Craigslist down in Connecticut. It was on stands and in very rough shape. I almost killed myself trying to get it on the trailer. We were finally able to get it loaded and hauled back to RI.

The engine is very heavily built. I was able to get it unstuck. It has a piston valve instead of a d slide set up. There is only one opening in the valve chamber which I assume means that it iis single acting. I put compressed air on it and I can get it to turn over but not cycle all the way without "helping" it.

The boiler is an Ofeldt and is very heavily built as well. The steam line comes off the top of the boiler and then goes thru the fire box to superheat. There are two oil burners. They are gravity fed and steam atomized.

I had to use a torch on a couple of lines to get things opened up because a couple of unions wouldn't move. I will re-pipe it and do a pressure test.

If the hull was salvagable I was going to put it back together. At this point I guess I will sell them.

Jon

Very odd engine. It would be nice to know more. Pictures?

I can't figure out how to post #%#£€$@@ pictures !!!!

Jon,

In Photobucket just click on the "direct" link and then put it between the image codes. Simply left clicking it copies it automatically.





-Ron

Hey,

The real African Queen !!! Did you go for a ride ? I was surprised at how little they knew about the rig they were running.

Pictures of the Engine I hope.................
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