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[Tom_DK]

Hi

I am a totally newbie when talking about steam driven boats. Can anyone give me some advice where to start or clear up some of my questions?

Planning to buy a steam African Queen but want to know more before I buy one.

What is the generating the heat, is it gas?
Should I buy a 1 or 2 cyl engine?
How long time can a boat run ?
Can the flame suddently stop?
Is it running on normal water or ...?
Are there any security valves in the boiler?
can the engine drive a prop without gear?
How is the speed controlled?
Can the boat reverse?
Which boat and which steam engine can you recommend?
How to maintain the engine?
Expected lifetime on the boiler?
Anything else I shoud know?

Thanks ,

Tom

[HS93 (RIP)]

It all depends on how much you want to spend....


Hs93

[tigertiger]

Lifetime of the the boiler and engine will be longer than yours if regularly used and fettled before and after every use. And if not regualrly used, fettled regularly.

[MCR]

What is the generating the heat, is it gas?
Gas is the most convenient
Should I buy a 1 or 2 cyl engine?
African queen had one cylinder
How long time can a boat run ?
depends on gas engine relationship assuming boiler has water feed
Can the flame suddenly stop?
never say never
Is it running on normal water or ...?
distilled water is kinder to boiler
Are there any security valves in the boiler?
safety valve is essential
can the engine drive a prop without gear?
gearing is not essential however you will be using a course pitch prop
How is the speed controlled?
control of steam supply to engine
Can the boat reverse?
Twin no problem single needs a little more invention check out kitchener rudders
Which boat and which steam engine can you recommend?
How deep are your pockets
How to maintain the engine?
oil grease
Expected lifetime on the boiler?
Boiler certificate will need to be obtained and kept up to date
Anything else I should know?
Very obsessive
Mark

[BarryM]

Tom,

If searching for info on "Kitchener Rudders" try 'Kitchen Rudder' first. Kitchener was a Field Marshall who demonstrated his lack of floatability to extreme lengths.

Barry M

[Bunkerbarge]

I'm afraid even answering all those questions will not give you a complete enough picture to be able to make a choice.  Some of them are so open ended it would take an entire chapter just to answer a single one.  For instance How to maintain the engine is a huge subject in itself.

At this stage of your developement you need to read all the books you can on the subject and visit as many model engineering shows as possible.  I would certainly join a boat club if you have not already done so and find the guys who have steam engines.  They are usually quite willing to help out a newcomer and go through thier own installations with you.

If you have an idea of what you want as a model then you have a good start.  From there you need to make some further decisions such as if you want the engine to be fully controllable from one channel.  If you do then you must have a double acting twin cylinder engine with built in control valve.  The process goes on from there but, as has already been said, the biggest governing criteria is cost.  An engine of the type above could well start at 150.00 -200.00 pounds and the boiler required to run it will be at least the same if not more.  Do you want to spend so much?

A good first step would be to read through all the steam posts on this site, then visit the Paddleducks forum and read all the steam threads on there as well.

You should then be generating some ideas for yourself.

[Tom_DK]

Thanks for all the answers.
I want to spend up to 3-400£ on the engine.

I am member of a german model boat club with around 60 members. But I haven't ever seen any running a steam boat.

Regards,
Tom

[Bunkerbarge]

Thanks for all the answers.
I want to spend up to 3-400£ on the engine.

I am member of a german model boat club with around 60 members. But I haven't ever seen any running a steam boat.

Regards,
Tom

Tom, When you say engine do you mean the complete plant i.e. engine with boiler or just the engine itself?

My complete plant of engine with boiler on a base plate with all boiler fitings including burner came to 450.00 pounds four years ago.  It would be slightly more now.

If your budget is 3-400.00 pounds you could either be looking for a second hand unit or a simpler engine, in which case you may not be able to afford a self starting unit, which would mean the engine would not be reversible.

Don't forget on top of the engine and boiler on a tray you will have to decide as to whether you want a separator tank, an on board gas tank, gas regulating valves, boiler water filling facilities etc.  These are all additional significant expenses that you should be aware of from the start.

If your total expenditure on the complete propulsion plant is 3-400.00 pounds then you are going to need to do a complete budget breakdown and fit the plant to your available funds and it will have to be a very basic propulsion system.

As a guide my steamer cost 350.00 for the kit but the total cost of the model with propulsion plant is approximately 1000.00 now.  Read my build thread here:

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6094.0

to see what you get for your money.  You can of course simplify this plant but you are compromising functionality and only you can decide on what you are prepared to give up.

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

If you are looking for a complete steam plant including a oil separator, take a look at our new oscillator range. We have units that are ready to run starting at 500 pounds. If you need any technical assistance whether or not you are interested in purchasing our steam plants, we will be glad to help out. Just drop us a line.

Regards

Nick

[Tom_DK]

I will look onto several possible engines and reviews before deciding which one I'll go for.

Might also be a used one from ebay.

Regards,
Tom

[Alastair_I]

Thanks for all the answers.
I want to spend up to 3-400£ on the engine.

I am member of a german model boat club with around 60 members. But I haven't ever seen any running a steam boat.

Regards,
Tom

Tom, if you're in Germany have a look at the Regner steam plants, they do quite a selection in arange of sizes and one of them (not sure which one) is recomended for the African Queen.  I have one of their Lumberjack steam locos and it's proving very easy to run for a steam novice like me   Al

[kno3]

Tom,

If searching for info on "Kitchener Rudders" try 'Kitchen Rudder' first. Kitchener was a Field Marshall who demonstrated his lack of floatability to extreme lengths.

Barry M

Are Kitchen rudders available as complete units for model boats? Or propellers with reversible blades?
I have a marine plant with a single cylinder engine and I'd like to build a boat that can have reverse as well.

[MONAHAN STEAM MODELS]

Tom,

If searching for info on "Kitchener Rudders" try 'Kitchen Rudder' first. Kitchener was a Field Marshall who demonstrated his lack of floatability to extreme lengths.

Barry M

Here is a picture of a launch using a Kitchen Rudder.

Cheers,

Nick