Search found 1070 matches
- Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:53 am
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: Fire Space for small solid fuel boilers
- Replies: 3
- Views: 693
Re: Fire Space for small solid fuel boilers
Some random thoughts: The smaller the wood pieces you burn, the less grate area you'll need (see pellet stoves for examples). Rainbow has about 1.5 sq feet of grate area, and makes 5-6 hp. Power is proportional to grate area, so you'll likely be limited by the size of the pieces of wood you want to ...
- Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:48 pm
- Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
- Topic: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1712
Re: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
Hi Bart, the parts look good. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any prices on the foundry's website. Where can I check? --------- Dietrich You can give them a call; I've found them not to be very responsive in email although that may be a function of time of year. It's a small operation, with an amazi...
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:34 am
- Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
- Topic: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1712
Re: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
The forum software is quite broken... sigh.
- Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:31 am
- Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
- Topic: New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1712
New hawse hole pieces for Rainbow
Rainbow had some trouble with the mooring bridle rubbing the (already poor condition) finish off the top of the bulwarks when she was last in the water some years ago now: IMG_20170717_174449(2).jpg We were in Port Townsend in August and I ordered some hawse holes from Port Townsend Foundry. This wi...
- Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:16 pm
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: steam oil question
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1762
Re: steam oil question
Otter's safety goes off at 180 psi; I hear the squeak/groan after running for a while at 125+ psi and then throttling down.My 1960s vintage Blackstaff steeple compound engine is condensate lubed, and I've never heard it groan.
Max operating pressure is close to 100 psi.
- Bart
- Fri Feb 23, 2024 5:37 am
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: steam oil question
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1762
Re: steam oil question
The engine will typically groan after running hard for a while and then throttling back... the throttling back superheats the steam (drops the pressure, leaves the temp the same) and the engine is hot, so groaning occurs.
- Bart
- Bart
- Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:02 pm
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: Reliable Steam Engine Co
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1254
Re: Reliable Steam Engine Co
Neat! As far as planning goes, I'd work backwards from your boat's displacement to pick a suitable engine design. Typical steam powering levels are 1-3 hp/ton of boat displacement, with 1 hp/ton being slow, and 3 hp/ton being at the "sporty" end of things. Where do you plan on operating your boat? H...
- Tue Feb 13, 2024 5:27 am
- Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
- Topic: Reliable Steam Engine Co
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1254
Re: Reliable Steam Engine Co
Note that these plans detail the machining of the castings they also sell (aside from the turbine, which is a steam hog as all small turbines are...) . As a means of determining whether or not you want to tackle such a project, the plans offer an good way of "putting one's toes into the water". Ther...
- Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:36 pm
- Forum: General Steamboat stuff
- Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4054
Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
Yeow! What a toad sticker. I guess one would be prepared for pirates as well as weeds. Mike When my Leatherman's serrated blade took minutes to saw through that crab pot buoy line, I decided I want something fierce. I was nice and knotted the cut line ends together once I'd managed to free them fro...
- Tue Jan 23, 2024 12:43 am
- Forum: General Steamboat stuff
- Topic: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4054
Re: Traditional Steam Launch Propeller
My most effective tool for weeds has been an ordinary linolium knife attached to a suitable handle. Perhaps a meter or so of plastic pipe. Pole arms for steamboats! I'd need one a bit longer to reach the prop, perhaps with a wood (enough to float) handle and serrated stainless blade... Maybe one of...