"STEAMBOATING FOR DUMMIES"

[artemis]

For a brief, illustrated, simplifed expalnation of What is involved in owning and operating a hobby steamboat (it's really very easy and simple), please go to: http://www.reliablesteam.com/RSE/RSEfaqs.html - this is the FAQs page for the Reliable Steam Engine company that I put together a few years ago. It also references the "primer" page on the same website which gives a good, very basic, description of how a steam plant operates. After you've absorbed this, order "Steamboats and Modern Steam Launches" for Elliott Bay Steam Launch http://www.steamlaunch.com - this is, and has been for over 50 years, considered "The Bible" of hobby steamboating. There is also the Swiss Steamboat Society: http://www.vsd-asv.ch/ which is a very active organization as well as steamboat groups in Germany and France. All reasonably close with many activities. Most such organizations have "links" pages and you could spend many days simply exploring these and gaining knowledge from practioners of the hobby.

Just remember, hobby steamboating is a communicable disease for which there is NO CURE. So enjoy!

[PeteThePen1]

Hi Quinten

Welcome to the wonderful and friendly world of steamboating. It sounds as if you are an ideal candidate for building a steam launch. However, there might be something to be said for buying a small one second hand to "play" with. You will then get a much clearer idea of what sort of vessel would meet your needs. Having spent nearly 5 years building and still not having finished yet, I rather wish I had taken that route.

Anyway, here is a source of information that I found useful and others have referenced elsewhere on this site:

http://web.archive.org/web/200607191802 ... index.html

It covers the decision making and construction of a Selway Fisher classic launch.

Regards

Pete

[quinten1231]

Pete

thank you for the website... the calculations part will surely come in handy at some point.

I think I will first start of with a really small dinghy or sailboat hull (2 persons max.) with a small steam plant.
nothing special, just a floating boat and operational steam plant and a place to sit so i can see if i actually like steamboating before spending alot (planning to build a 20ft tug in the future) besides that a small dinghy is still easy to transport and store.

does anybody know what kind of steam plant would power a 9-10ft dinghy (1hp or less, I.E Stuart No.1)? I am sort of forced to be able to reach a min of 10-15 kph because where i am located there is only one lake further away, so the first choice would be the river Danube which flows anywhere between 5-12 kmh.
Would be funny if I leave the harbor and cannot theoretically return to port

Quinten

[Edward]

Dear Quinten ,

A Stuart No 1 would be fine in a 9-10' dinghy especially if the hull lines are fine and the weight isn't too great.
I hope I am not ruining your dreams ......BUT.... You are going to have difficulty getting getting your hoped for 10-15 kph from a hull of this length with steam power : A reliable guide to the speed which can be achieved with a displacement hull is :

V =( root L x 1.3 ) , V is speed , root L is the square root of the waterline length in feet. This gives you the Hull Speed , that is the maximum speed which can be achieved with a moderate amount of power . Below Hull Speed power consumption cubes with a doubling of speed , so if it takes a given hull 2 hp to go at 3 mph it will take 8 hp to go at 6 mph . Above Hull Speed to get higher speeds requires an almost exponential increase in power .

You would get considerably more power from a Stuart 5A or one of marinized versions ...but this is heavier and would need a bigger boiler which would would mean still more weight and I suspect the speed increase would be very slight .

If you do go down this route you should bear in mind that the Stuart engines were designed as models , so they look nice but need modifying before they are put to hard work . In particular the cross head pin should be hardened and all the bearings enlarged as much as possible .


I hope this information is useful and that I haven't poured too much cold water on your ambitions .

Regards Edward .

[Lopez Mike]

I concur fully with Edward's remarks concerning speed and the use of a Start 5A for such duty. One of my recommendations to potential users of the 5A is to borrow a similar sized hull and a decent sized electric trolling motor and see if the performance meets their needs.

The combination of a small steam plant and a small hull produces a great boat for small waters and modest currents and is convenient to store and transport. But it will not be a speed demon or carry a large crew for any distance. By all means, consider such a project with our encouragement but I feel the need to warn you of the limitations.

As Edward mentions, the 5A has some wear points, especially the wrist pin. Also, I invariably discard the supplied crank shaft casting and make one up from larger stock. I make the crank in separate bits and assemble it. The machining of a crank that small is an irritating and difficult process. I have had no failures from a built up and pressed together assembly. In addition I've had good success from bonding one together.

Good luck,
Mike

[PeteThePen1]

Hi Quinten

Another thought for you, since Ron Fossum has been too polite to promote his own magazine.

Steamboating Magazine has run a series of pieces by Chris Doughty about his launch, Maid of Scrap. It is made from a former 15ft sailing dinghy and uses the Stuart Turner 5A. It is full of practical, down to earth ideas and humour that an engineer like yourself would appreciate. Unfortunately, the boat has not yet been finished due to circumstances beyond Chris' control, but it is nearly there.

I cannot recall the particular issues of the Magazine, so you will have to send a note to Ron. I am staying away with relatives just now so do not have access to my library.

Regards

Pete

[quinten1231]

thank you all for the quick replies

does anybody know of the avarage prices a stuart 5A would go for (machined and ready, or almost ready to run), since I neither have a milling machine nor the time to built one from castings. besides that, I have read somewhere that the modern stuart casting quality has decreased dramatically.

Quite frankly I do not want to risk buying castings and trying my own luck at making the engine myself at the moment, since I dont wan to waste money on ruining a set of casting, plus I will be more than occupied making a boiler and restoring the boat hull, along with saving enough money along the way.the engine building will come in the future when I change to a larger hull and (8-10 hp) engine.

Mike: do you know a adress where they could have such a crankshaft, and pin. Or maybe even a suitable engine.


regards Quinten

[PeteThePen1]

Hi Quinten

I have just had a quick search on E-Bay and only found one offered for £2,250GBP. It is an exhibition finish machine and well over priced. There are other engines to be had that are more suited to driving a boat for less than that. I know that there are a few to be had from SBA members that are not currently advertised - one just needs to ask around.

If you have not joined the SBA yet, I would advise you to do so, if only for the small ads section of the magazine Funnel (also on the website). For example there is a small boat for sale called Bitterling for sale at £6,500 GBP with trailer and in working condition. There is also a number of engines plus a complete steam plant in search of a boat. You will probably get some bargains as the UK's triple dip recession has really hit second hand prices. There are some nice boats that are just not selling and, since the GBP is sinking against the Euro, the prices are quite keen. You could, of course, place an advertisement for what you want.

Pete

[PeteThePen1]

Hi Quinten

I have just had a quick search on E-Bay and only found one offered for £2,250GBP. It is an exhibition finish machine and well over priced. There are other engines to be had that are more suited to driving a boat for less than that. I know that there are a few to be had from SBA members that are not currently advertised - one just needs to ask around.

If you have not joined the SBA yet, I would advise you to do so, if only for the small ads section of the magazine Funnel (also on the website). For example there is a small boat for sale called Bitterling for sale at £6,500 GBP with trailer and in working condition. There is also a number of engines plus a complete steam plant in search of a boat. You will probably get some bargains as the UK's triple dip recession has really hit second hand prices. There are some nice boats that are just not selling and, since the GBP is sinking against the Euro, the prices are quite keen. You could, of course, place an advertisement for what you want.

Pete

[quinten1231]

thank you pete

I have seen the overpriced one aswell, eventhough it does look nice, i think that it is a ridiculous price for that engine.

however I was able to find one, the engine costs 1200 euro. it is a fully built 5a with reverse linkage, apperently the bore is well made, but according to the owner the link to the valve chest needs work (It appears to be missing, at least I believe something is missing), and threading of the steam inlet and exhaust ports needs to be done, seems on the picture that it hasnt been threaded yet, and therefore never run (i think). it is not painted, and looks as if it is rather old but pretty well in shape.

it sounds like a good deal to me, however I am an amateur and never had a steam engine before. so yeah I basically have noooo idea.
i am quite close to buying it, but the owner is not a steamboater and does not guarantee the workings of the engine as he has just taken them over and never used them. based on that I am a little skeptical, and would only buy it at a lower price.

would love to hear your opinion

regards Quinten