The Steamboating Forum

Hi Ron,

Schedule 40 will be fine for non-pressurised or low pressure/temperature pipework such as the SV vent and whistle valve-whistle pipwork.

If you didn't want to fit a siphon to the PG then you could fit a diaphragm type instead which can take steam to the gauge as the innards are protected by the diaphragm, there would be nothing stopping you screwing it straight into the boiler- other than potential problems with temperature.

Any pipework that is not isolateable is a part of the pressure vessel of the boiler- a problem on this pipework would be classed as a boiler failure- if it's isolateable then it's a pipework failure- I know which one I prefer...

Greg

Thanks Guys,

That clears it up. Just ordered two high pressure steam ball valves and two high pressure siphons. Putting a 10" steam gauge on the back wall behind the boiler.

-Ron

Ron,

You mention that each isolation valve must be connected with a short piece of pipe, but not a close nipple. I'm not understanding that. I have some sch 80 nipples about 2" long, are those ok?

Thanks, Ron

PS, The trailer brakes are all working now, took it out for a test drive last night, truck pulls it fine and stops on a dime. One problem people literally stop in the street to look at it. I guess they don't see many tugboats behind half-ton pickup trucks

DetroiTug wrote:Ron,

You mention that each isolation valve must be connected with a short piece of pipe, but not a close nipple. I'm not understanding that. I have some sch 80 nipples about 2" long, are those ok?

Thanks, Ron

A "close" nipple has no unthreaded area; when screwed tightly between two female fittings, very little of the nipple remains exposed. But because the thickness of the pipe wall is decreased by the threads, the nipple is liable to collapse when removing it. There is also no place to grasp the nipple with a wrench without damaging the threads. Not recommended for any pipe work where you wish to reuse the components as the short nipple will invariably stay in one component, necessitating the removal with a pipe wrench - which will collapse the nipple and necessitate it being removed with pipe removal tool, etc.

As long as you can grab the unthreaded part of the nipple with a pipe wrench you're OK. So a 2" long nipple that's less than 1-1/4" in diameter is always OK.

Ron,

Oh I see, it's just from an ability to remove later standpoint.

Thanks, Ron

Ron,

She is looking good! Can't wait to see her in the water on the thornapple river. What day are you coming over?

Bret

Hi Bret,

I'm trying to get there Wednesday morning. What day are you going?

-Ron

ron,

We are planning for thurs am. I floated the boat yesterday to check weight and balance. pretty close to what I had thought. Can't wait to see your progress in person!

Bret, Looking forward to seeing you and Psst up there.

Did the float test today and it went without a hitch. Didn't run it as we sort of pressed for time. I know it will run just fine, it's the main feed pump I'm concerned about, there is the manual. Hopefully it won't be needed.

So our journey began during rush hour:



We got to the lake and luckily the ramp wasn't too crowded. Unloading it was easy, the ramp was quite steep and the Silverado handled it with aplomb.



The float test went great, no leaks, stable:







And one my largest concerns was vanquished, submersion of the prop, dry weight and all is good.



Thornapple lake, here I come!

-Ron

Man she sure is looking GOOD! Doesn't she ride a little high in the water? Maybe some ballast will bring her down to a more stable depth.