The Steamboating Forum

It seems in 1911 steam launches were still holding their own against the onslaught of the infernal combustion engine. This is the Cero II, built by Robert Deming of Cleveland, Ohio. She dominated a lot of races in the Great Lakes/Midwest region with some spectacular results. Supposedly even setting a speed record for a boat of that length in the US. Unofficially she was clocked running a measured mile at 1:32 which is the equivalent of 39.13 miles per hour. Officially, she was timed many times at under 1:40.

Her specs were as follows:

31'5" long
4'6" wide
Hull weight: 639 lbs
Engine: White 40hp compound 3-1/2" HP, 6" LP, 4-1/2" Stroke @ 900-1,000 RPM non-condensing with exhaust up the stacks for induced draught.
Boiler(s): TWO monotube steam generators @ 550-600 PSI, gasoline-fired "Bunsen" style burners (I'll have to look that up... thought Bunsen burners were for LPG/LNG?)
Propeller 23x44" driven 900-1,000 RPM
Machinery weight: 2100 lbs
Fuel weight: 400 lbs
Crew weight: 325 lbs
Total weight: 3,464 lbs

I have attached several clippings of period articles from Powerboating Magazine, The Rudder, and Popular Mechanics.

In the future I hope to do a little write-up for "The Funnel" Regarding Cero II and my findings... Rose En Soleil, by Simpson Strickland, in another interesting craft...

More Article(s)

and more...

Race Report....

end of report and a few photos

photos

moar

Anotherod Cero II, and some the Simpson Strickland launch "Rose En Soleil"

For some reason when I upload multiple attachments at once in a post, it doesn't post them in the order I selected them. Quite frustrating for trying to post something that is to be seen in order...

I think the sequence of picture uploads is the last upload is the first picture of your post.

Great to learn about the fast steamer, I thought the 4000 horsepower quadruple expansion triple reheat yacht "Arrow" had the record for speed.