The Steamboating Forum

May I introduce myself. I met Richard Harvard on the SBA stall at the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition in October. He sold me a Steamboating Guide and kindly threw in some back issues of Funnel. It seems my project for 2017 is to build a steamboat!

Progress so far is the purchase of a Stuart Turner 5a from Paul Smith. The engine was made by his father in 1968 and powered Chuff 2, later renamed Buttercup.

Today my SBA membership confirmation arrived, together with Funnel 171. I note from page 11 that SBA members are “reasonably colourful” and you hold your AGM on all fools day. Have I joined the right group?

Nick

We certainly think so! Welcome aboard

Welcome Nick! We are the bunch of fools you want to be associated with!

Hi Nick
Welcome to the forum , the SBA AGM is quite fun to attend. You can pick up all sorts of bits and very cheap rates. Plus view a member and his wife bidding against each other for same item.

Now that you have joined the SBA remember to contact your local area rep.

Mike

Nick C wrote:Progress so far is the purchase of a Stuart Turner 5a from Paul Smith. The engine was made by his father in 1968 and powered Chuff 2, later renamed Buttercup.

Well, according to my equation engine+boiler+hull=steamboat, you're already 1/3 done with your launch!

-CB

Welcome to the madhouse Nick!

Where are you based, in the Midlands?

Thanks to all for your welcome. I should have given my location.

Which for Mike Rometer from Middle Earth is on the mountains within Mirkwood. Close to The Elvenkings Hall and Esgaroth on the long lake, with a view of Erebor (the lonely mountain).

Which when moved to North Wales is on the mountainside in Gwydyr Forest. In the same parish as Plas y Brenin, not far from Llyn Geirionedd, with a view of Moel Siabod.

I had already downloaded details of Mike Coles Blue Bucaneer with other Stuart 5a powered boats to get a feel of possible Hulls and Boilers. So yes CB about a third there. Just got to get hull and boiler, then bodge it together.

From studying The Steamboat guide it would seem to me that, provided I have an adequate or oversize boiler for the engine, I need the right propeller to match engine to hull. Hmm, where did I leave that guide? Length? Beam? Pitch? Diameter? DAR?

Thanks again all

Nick

You can examine the FAQ section of this website, which provides approximate technical information about the power requirements and speeds attainable for various hulls, the power available according to the size of engine (and other parameters), the steam consumption of your engine, and sizing of the boiler so everything works reasonably well all together.

Have a look there, and if anything is not clear, do not hesitate to ask.

That was a fair jaunt to the M.M.E.S. then Nick. Gandolf would be proud of your tenacity.

I'm around midway between Birmingham and Manchester, hence M.E.

Thanks Mike and Phil

The FAQ area is full of useful info, and is helping increase my understanding.

I have added my location as North Wales. Everywhere in the UK is a bit of a trek, when heading south I often drive to Chirk and take the train. The MMEE has a shuttle bus from Leamington Spa Station to the Exhibition. Merseyside and the Midlands probably have more nearer members than Wales. The Cambrian mountains mean it is a long journey time wise to the south.

I have emailed Richard, but believe he is away until the New Year. Can you belong to more than one region?

Nick C