The Steamboating Forum

Either board or fiber will last fine UNLESS the fire hits the material directly, in which case a sturdy refractory material is needed if it is to last over the long term. Friable materials like lightweight firebrick don't handle transport well, either. If you have a wall of tubes between the fire and the insulation, you're good.

- Bart

I was more concerned with the solid fuel hitting the insulation during firing. Should I be?

Thanks

Ken

I think the vitcas would stand the heat, but not the shovel!!!
Firebricks and castable refractory for the grate area is the normal approach...

I would strongly advocate liquid fuelling for watertube boilers, their lack of thermal inertia makes them a pain to manage with a coal/wood fire.....