The Steamboating Forum

Thank you Dan and Ken. I'm very pleased with how she turned out. Lots still to do, but she runs and is presentable, so that's a good start!

A few years down the line and I finally got around to the steam boat project - see the video below of Pickle's first launch at the 2025 Bristol Harbour Festival.

A few years down the line and I finally got around to the steam boat project - see the video below of Pickle's first launch at the 2025 Bristol Harbour Festival.

Thankyou both for your responses - I think I need to stop overthinking things a bit and just get on and put it together!

Thanks for the response's just to put the record straight I joined the SBA before I joined this group :roll: the forum on the SBA site is virtually unused! that's why I'm asking on here!! does anyone know of a boiler inspector around Somerset? Thanks for your advice Nigel although it looks rusty th...

Thanks for the response's just to put the record straight I joined the SBA before I joined this group :roll: the forum on the SBA site is virtually unused! that's why I'm asking on here!! does anyone know of a boiler inspector around Somerset? Thanks for your advice Nigel although it looks rusty th...

Your thoughts on bearer position would also be appreciated please. This is the hull I'm working with - she's approx 16' long. Photos are not ideal, they were taken from the sale listing. Not sure of the state of the bearers/floor supports that are presently there so need to have a good dig about - i...

Thankyou for all the advice chaps, I've also had a few SBA members call me to give me advice so I think I've a plan of attack now. I have a source of free, well seasoned oak which will influence my material choice! The sawing operation for this oak may be of interest to you lot: http://www.youtube.c...

First post for a while for me so hello again! I have an approx 16' fiberglass hull that I would like to add some extra bearers in to for engine and boiler mounting. What material do people recommend for bearers? Also, should the bearers be totally encased in fiberglass or do you just fiberglass arou...

Welcome to the forum. Getting a hull together can be a task with minimal work, up to a work of art that takes years to finish. A few examples on this forum: Monotube Javelin , originally purchased, with trailer, for $107 on Ebay. A small fiberglass day sailing hull, and very low cost, as sailboats ...