New Steam Launch Construction

[wrfalpacas]

Well, last winter it was the restoration of two nice starcraft boats. I wanted something a little different this year, so I decided to combine my two hobbies (steam engines and boats). Here goes nothing

Hull: 1940 Tregoning Boat Co. Steel Rivited Lifeboat (EX US Navy) Needs a little work, ok, a lot of work, but what a unique boat it will make.

Motor: Home built inverted piston 3" bore by 4" stroke double acting steam engine with stephenson reverse.

Boiler: New 5 hp ASME Code boiler built by Rappahanock Boat Works.

Here are some pics of the hull as I found it:

And Motor

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

This is what I am going for:

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Wow that's gonna be one heckuva project

Knowing your attention to detail, appreciation for metal boats, and your background w/ steam engines I'm sure this will be a great project to follow.

Glad to see you back on the site, and good luck to ya!

 

[Sea Stomper]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Is that a little governor thingy sticking out of the top of the engine shaped like a "T"? Missing the flyweights?

VERY interesting. What is the heat source for the boiler? I love this. Steam engines are awesome. I once got to run an early 1900's Monteray hull with a Hicks one lunger gasoline engine, but it ran at about 100 rpm and sounded like a steam engine and it had an open valve train that had to be hand oiled with an oil can. It was so much fun and I can totally see where this would be the killer fun boat to take out on a lake or bay cruise. Outstanding. However, not too much expertise to add from me. I'm going to be a spectator on this one!

Edit: I guess I would just add that safety is a consideration here with a boiler in your midst. Plenty of safety popoffs and what not. Make your plumbing safe. Steam can be nasty when unleashed. Again, I really have no expertise here.

 

[Psiclown]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Oh wow this is going to be cool! I've never seen anything like that. Looking forward to following your resto.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Oh wow, AWESOME!!!

Great to see you back Bret!

 

[djpeters]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

I second, or third, that this will be cool to watch. I have read both your SC restorations and they turned out great. Good luck!

P.S. Do you know what replacement rubrail insert will work in the channel of our old Starcrafts?

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Is that a little governor thingy sticking out of the top of the engine shaped like a "T"? Missing the flyweights?

VERY interesting. What is the heat source for the boiler? I love this. Steam engines are awesome. I once got to run an early 1900's Monteray hull with a Hicks one lunger gasoline engine, but it ran at about 100 rpm and sounded like a steam engine and it had an open valve train that had to be hand oiled with an oil can. It was so much fun and I can totally see where this would be the killer fun boat to take out on a lake or bay cruise. Outstanding. However, not too much expertise to add from me. I'm going to be a spectator on this one!

Edit: I guess I would just add that safety is a consideration here with a boiler in your midst. Plenty of safety popoffs and what not. Make your plumbing safe. Steam can be nasty when unleashed. Again, I really have no expertise here.

SS,

The brass cover at the top of the engine is just the end of the crosshesd guides. This is an inverted cylinder with the piston rod exiting the top of the engine. There is no need for a governor, as the prop creates constant drag and is always "in gear" so there is no chance of overspeeding. I am pretty familiar with steam boilers and am following ASME code on this one to minimize chance of injury. It will be coal or wood fired.

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

I second, or third, that this will be cool to watch. I have read both your SC restorations and they turned out great. Good luck!

P.S. Do you know what replacement rubrail insert will work in the channel of our old Starcrafts?

DJ: I used Taco Marine :

http://www.iboats.com/1-3-16-x1-2-B...4324499--**********.430358998--view_id.271894

from iboats

 

[djpeters]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

DJ: I used Taco Marine :

http://www.iboats.com/1-3-16-x1-2-B...4324499--**********.430358998--view_id.271894

from iboats

Thanks a lot! Any chance you have a pic of that insert installed?

(sorry for the hijack)

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

What a great project! I can picture you pulling into a marina to refuel and asking for 100lbs. of coal.

Will the water (to be turned into steam) come from the lake or a freshwater tank? Will it be condensed in a closed loop, or once-through?

 

[DianneB]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Great project! I got my steam ticket 20 years ago and built a 1/2 scale traction engine 15 years ago. I know a couple of steamboaters and considered it but I am too lazy afloat to be feeding the boiler

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

What a great project! I can picture you pulling into a marina to refuel and asking for 100lbs. of coal.

Will the water (to be turned into steam) come from the lake or a freshwater tank? Will it be condensed in a closed loop, or once-through?

I will be running open loop with exhaust able to be run up the stack or out the side as it will be a freshwater boat, most times water will be drawn in thru a seacock, but I will have a freshwater tank as well.

dj - will look for a pic

 

[Chris1956]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Bret, I saw a documentary on the history of the first steam-powered Missisippi Riverboats. These were the ones you see in Maverick and other movies about the 1880s. They were careful to say that 90% of the first ones made and used blew up, with great loss of life. Don't be in that statistic.

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Here is an animation of a similar inverted crosshead engine. It will give you an idea of how it looks while running.

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Bret, I saw a documentary on the history of the first steam-powered Missisippi Riverboats. These were the ones you see in Maverick and other movies about the 1880s. They were careful to say that 90% of the first ones made and used blew up, with great loss of life. Don't be in that statistic.

Chris, I definately do not want to be in that statistic, however up until the 1970s most large commercial and military ships used steam boilers as a power source, so boiler and steam safety has come a long way

 

[LastDollar]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Man Ya just love all that motion! I had the privilege to take a ride in a steam launch similar to the one you are making. Totally a different experience.

 

[sprintst]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Slick setup. That sucker will be built to last...

 

[wrfalpacas]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

Well the hull was dropped off at the sandblasters yesterday, and the boiler was ordered. The Hull should be ready by Jan 7th, and the boiler by the end of january. On to restoration of the engine. Will post some pics once I get it apart. I will need to add a feedwater pump (to add water to the boiler).
BTW The wife wants more space in the barn, so I guess I will need to sell the SkiChamp, I guess 3 boats is too much to ask

 

[jasoutside]

Re: New Steam Launch Construction

I guess I will need to sell the SkiChamp

Bummer!

Ah well, I am thinking that it should bring about a million dollars as it's awesome!