The Steamboating Forum

I remember reading online about a steam powered outboard motor back in the early 2000's that I'd really like to see again. But for the life of me I can't find it any more. It's not the Mounster outboard, which is easy to find. I think it was located in the Pacific NW USA. In one reference I think I remember the builder saying he could even use pine cones and twigs found onshore to fire it temporarily if needed. I don't remember if it was monotube fired, possibly not.

Does this seem familiar to anyone here?

Thanks!

This is likely Terry William's steam outboard. Image search on Terry Williams steam outboard will return some hits.

- Bart

Yes, that's it! Thank you, Bart.

There's not much left online about Terry Williams steam outboard, but I did find a reference to some coverage in Steamboating bulletin #43. I can't find an issue of that anywhere. Does anyone here have a copy? Any help would be greatly appreciated....

Elver1 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 2:07 pm There's not much left online about Terry Williams steam outboard, but I did find a reference to some coverage in Steamboating bulletin #43. I can't find an issue of that anywhere. Does anyone here have a copy? Any help would be greatly appreciated....

I've located my copy; I'll scan it in when I have a chance (e.g. not working); I may be able to OCR this as well.

- Bart

I took pictures of the article; they may be found here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/y4gNsGZxe9zGdHNN7

Please let me know if this doesn't work for you.

- Bart

Thanks so much barts! I was able to read it by downloading and zooming -- a little blurry, but legible.

Interesting that he also built the engine using machine tools in a steam powered shop! I know that he was able to increase power and speed quite a lot later. I believe it was eventually 8 hp equiv and started out at 2hp. I wonder if he changed lower units, as he said he was having problems the the original in the above artcile. Torque much higher. He admired the hydroplane racing OB lower ends for possible use w/steam and said they had a 1:1 gear ratio.

I think if I were to build an engine, something similar is what I'd try. I know his were dual poppet valve, cam operated. His later exhaust was funnel shaped.

The engineering involved was quite tricky; when racing the steam conditions were sometimes 800F and 800 PSI iirc. The megaphone exhaust was quite loud; if you make a steam outboard perform like a two-stroke, it sounds like one too, I guess

Note that this level of performance in the steam outboard required both an exceptional boiler and an exceptional engine. It didn't hurt that Terry has an engineering degree from MIT, and that knowledge combined w/ a lot of experience working on steam engines helped make this successful. There was a lot of trial and error debugging, however; with steam temperature and pressure varying wildly during runs, it's difficult to predict loads, etc.

My experience with 'ragged edge' designs suggests that one not venture further from shore than one can row with such devices... or at least, have a friend along in another boat with some line for towing. Of course, my ideal steam boating experience is more like this; we're a couple of miles out steaming through the Salish Sea on a warm summer afternoon...
- Bart

Well, thanks Bart, I don't expect this to be easy and any particular practical result assured. But it is something that has fascinated me for a long time, and that's a good reason to doit. I don't mind failing at things as long as it was interesting challenge to explore. The boat will have oarlocks, and a set of oars. I row all the time. Plus an anchor, the traditional symbol of hope.