The Steamboating Forum

Good Afternoon All,

Having lurked for some time I have commenced preparing my back garden to build the 17ft 9" version of the Selway Fisher "Fanny" Design. This weekend should see the start of the build shelter and "floor", etc.

Everyone I have talked to about Fanny has told me that there was "a great serties of articles in the Boatman Magazine in the 90's". I have tracked this down to issues 30 to 37. (Nov-Dec 95, Jan-Feb 96, Mar 96, April 96, May 96, June 96, July 96 and August 96).

Boatman was absorbed by Classic Boat some time back and now that title has been sold to another magazine chain so back numbers are non-existant.

Unfortunately I have been unable to obtain copies via second hand magazine shops or via back issues sales. Does anyone out there have copies of these magazines and would they be willing to copy/scan the Fanny Articles (private use only)? All costs covered of course.

I'm sure they would be most helpful in avoiding the obvious pitfalls.

Best wishes,

Geraint.

Be sure to check e-bay, they will e-mail you when what you are searching for turns up, and almost everything eventually shows up on e-bay.

Geraint wrote:Good Afternoon All,

Having lurked for some time I have commenced preparing my back garden to build the 17ft 9" version of the Selway Fisher "Fanny" Design. This weekend should see the start of the build shelter and "floor", etc.

Everyone I have talked to about Fanny has told me that there was "a great serties of articles in the Boatman Magazine in the 90's". I have tracked this down to issues 30 to 37. (Nov-Dec 95, Jan-Feb 96, Mar 96, April 96, May 96, June 96, July 96 and August 96).

Boatman was absorbed by Classic Boat some time back and now that title has been sold to another magazine chain so back numbers are non-existant.

Unfortunately I have been unable to obtain copies via second hand magazine shops or via back issues sales. Does anyone out there have copies of these magazines and would they be willing to copy/scan the Fanny Articles (private use only)? All costs covered of course.

I'm sure they would be most helpful in avoiding the obvious pitfalls.

Best wishes,

Geraint.

John Hickman of the Northwest Steam Society built a "Fanny" with rounded bilges about this time. The boat was recently acquired by another NWSS Member and info can be viewed at: http://www.northweststeamsociety.org/Pa ... SSBmrn.htm . John was going to build another, larger steamboat, but is no longer listed in the NWSS roster. Perhaps the present owner may know of his whereabout. John, I'm sure, would be happy to share his build experiences. He had a boat whose plant was nicely sized and fitted to her needs. He also had a website titled "John's Boat" describing his build, but unfortunately that has been down for some time. If you're buying your plans from Selway-Fisher, ask him about a copy of the article, he can probably get it for you. He's very helpful and would be happy to supply you other info as well.

Ron,

Regarding John's old web pages or any old seemingly inaccessible web pages, if you still have the link, put it in here on this page: http://web.archive.org/ . I accessed them a few years ago. My PC crashed (Hosed the drive) last summer and I lost all my shortcuts. Let me look.

Here is the link to John's engine:
http://replay.web.archive.org/200607191 ... e-web.html

The way to access these is put the web address in, choose "Show all", a calender will open, then choose the last date it was crawled. Mouse over it and time will be displayed, click on the time. I was able to get the engine and hull page open.

The link to the hull in question:
http://replay.web.archive.org/200607190 ... l-web.html

All the pics are still there.

Here is the info from the hull page:

THE HULL

SELWAY FISHER - FANTAIL LAUNCH
Fanny 15

SELWAY FISHER designed this launch for the Boatman magazine and the construction of her hull was covered in issues 30 to 37. Since then several have been built both in plywood and in steel (by Peter Nicholls Steel Yachtbuilders). She was originally based upon their successful ROSE 'V' bottomed launch which has a large carrying capacity and enough volume for steam, electric or diesel engine propulsion. The drawings give details for construction as an open launch or with a closed wheelhouse. The original requirement was for a tough, robust single chine 'V' bottomed launch that could be stored in the average domestic garage but still have the capacity to carry up to 6 or 8 crew. She had to have sweet lines, the ability to be adapted for different roles and ease in construction.

Construction is based upon a framework of ply frames/bulkheads, ply fore/aft girders and stringers which is then clad in a ply hull skin. LOA 18'; Beam 6'; Draught 1'8"; Weight with engine and boiler: 2200 lbs.

Fanny 15
HARD CHINE CONSTRUCTION

The plans received from Selway-Fisher were good with plenty of details and specifications. The
only problem with this type of boat design was the hard chine. The plywood construction only allows for
curves in one direction which gives the boat a boxy look and reduces hull efficiency about ten percent.

The AMATEUR BOATBUILDER'S PAGE details the Radius Chine method of construction which allows
curves to be built into a plywood boat. This makes the boat much more attractive and increases hull efficiency.
In hard chine plywood construction the sides and the bottom of the boat come together at a sharp angle
making a definite line along the boat looking something like the corner of a box. The radius chine construction
adds an additional chine stringer and curves plywood between the two chine stringers. Approximately
2/3 of the bottom and 2/3 of the side of the boat remain flat plywood as shown in the drawing below.

With radius chine construction you get the benefits of plywood construction (strength and ease of construction)
and a much more pleasing hull shape. I redesigned the hull to accept radius chine using two layers of 1/4" plywood
on the large flat areas and four layers of 1/8" plywood on the radius areas. The 1/8" ply was flexible enough to
allow bening in two directions . The photos below show radius panels installed on a hull and a finished plywood hull.


Typical Radius Panels Installed Typical Finished Plywood Hull


CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS PHOTOS


LAMINATING STERN FRAME FRAMING IN PROGRESS



STERN FRAMING BOW FRAMING



FRAMING COMPLETE



ROUNDED CHINE FRAMING PLYWOOD COMPLETE



FIBERGLASSING FIBERGLASS COMPLETE


BOW PAINT COMPLETE STERN PAINT COMPLETE


RIGHTING THE HULL RIGHTING COMPLETE


INTERIOR FRAMING COMPLETE STERN DECKING COMPLETE


BOW STAINING COMPLETE ENGINE INSTALLED

HEAT EXCHANGERS INSTALLED BOILER INSTALLED


DECK VARNISH COMPLETE HULL COMPLETE

HOME - BOILER - ENGINE - CALCS - PLUMBING - LINKS


-Ron

Contact me off line, I have copies of most of the Boatman Magazine

James

Well done Ron!

Prior to jumping into the lions den and buying a boat, I had found the John Boat site and was working carefully through it. Then it went off-line.

I am ever so pleased to see it again. I have saved it and will see what else I might have learned.

Regards

Pete