Steam powered boats
02-16-2010 | 11:51 PM
#2
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From: Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND
RE: Steam powered boats
My father made a steam engine he machined from a kit of castings, then he made a variable pitch marine prop, (from scratch), a boiler,( from scratch), and finally a model tug to put the gear in, also from scratch.
How he went about making the steam engine, boiler and so on are detailed in his web site. The tug goes really well,however my father now suffers from macular degeneration and while the degeneration has been stopped, his modelling days are over as he just can''t see well enough any more. (It is impossible to get sight that has been lost, back, with this eye condition, although it is now possible to stabalise the condition) However with assistance he still enjoys getting steam up and sailing the tug, at 85 years old which I think is not to bad.
http://steamtug.orconhosting.net.nz/<br type="_moz" />
How he went about making the steam engine, boiler and so on are detailed in his web site. The tug goes really well,however my father now suffers from macular degeneration and while the degeneration has been stopped, his modelling days are over as he just can''t see well enough any more. (It is impossible to get sight that has been lost, back, with this eye condition, although it is now possible to stabalise the condition) However with assistance he still enjoys getting steam up and sailing the tug, at 85 years old which I think is not to bad.
http://steamtug.orconhosting.net.nz/<br type="_moz" />
02-18-2010 | 01:04 AM
#4
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From: Dunedin, NEW ZEALAND
RE: Steam powered boats
Thanks, but he is 85 years old and apart fromimpairedvision he is still A1, he can no longer drive but gets around all over the city on the buses. Would like to be as good at 85!
Sorry his work was a bit creative/ complex for yourrequirements. You certainly needed daily access to a lathe to construct the steam engine and variable pitch prop. Kept dad busy and occupied for ages, especially as he made two steam engines as he thought he could do better than the first one.(engine #two is certainly the better engine)
He had a mate who was a marine chief engineer before he retired and had done his early years on steam ships so together they solved issues as they arrive, and probablyarrivedat lots of solutions that were completely unnecessary as well. but they had great fun doing it. Unfortunately his mate died a couple ofyearsago, but I guess when you are 85 that happens.
All the best with your search for information on steam powered boats.
Cheers
David<br type="_moz" />
Sorry his work was a bit creative/ complex for yourrequirements. You certainly needed daily access to a lathe to construct the steam engine and variable pitch prop. Kept dad busy and occupied for ages, especially as he made two steam engines as he thought he could do better than the first one.(engine #two is certainly the better engine)
He had a mate who was a marine chief engineer before he retired and had done his early years on steam ships so together they solved issues as they arrive, and probablyarrivedat lots of solutions that were completely unnecessary as well. but they had great fun doing it. Unfortunately his mate died a couple ofyearsago, but I guess when you are 85 that happens.
All the best with your search for information on steam powered boats.
Cheers
David<br type="_moz" />
