The Steamboating Forum

I was asked recently if I could supply an engine suitable for a small steam boat of up to about eighteen feet. The Drawing shows a new engine design suitable for small launches. It is of simple construction without castings but of robust dimensions for long service life. Bore & stroke are 2ins x 2,3/8 twin high pressure and will develop up to 2.5 IHP.
I have hopefully produced a design which is reasonably good looking as some engines of this size are either of poor appearance or modifications of essentially model engines.
The engine is deliberately tall to allow the benefit of long connecting rods.
I can provide a full set of drawings and any laser/plasma cut parts required. The crankshaft is from solid EN8, I can machine this if required or build a complete engine. The main bearings are needle roller (sealed & grease lubricated). The Stephenson gear uses box type links favoured by Cliff Blackstaffe and used on U.S. Navy engines and Lifu engines.
Approx. dimensions: length over chests 9.2ins height to cylinders 15.6ins width of bed plate 7.5ins


For further details of this engine e mail me.
Regards Jack

Hi Jack,

That looks to be a very elegant engine, I look forward to seeing one in the flesh.

Interesting you have chosen to use a curved link rather than slide bars on the valve links- is this because you feel it wouldn't merit any benefit at this size?

Is the first engine destined for a boat...?

Greg

Hi Greg,
The use of the box links is to keep it simple, double bar links are my usual but there is a lot of work in them, I think these should be good and certainly better than the usual slotted link which I don't like due to small wear surfaces and poor lubrication.
Regards Jack