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[kusuchi]

My latest acquisition.  A perfect pairing for Topaz.

Marten, Howes & Baylis, 52" steam launch, 'Der Seekadett', with original MH&B Boiler and triple cylinder engine.

Also, an aftermarket steam whistle.

[gondolier88]

Just beautiful mate- very lucky guy- can't wait to see them both on the water together...

There is a thread about steam whistles on here somewhere.

Greg

[derekwarner]

Hi kusuchi.........in the Der Seekadett....we see two steam control valves  

One engine mounted ...which I assume is FWD><Astern engine speed control...or do I see Maurdsley style reversing gear sets?....which would mean that this first control valve is throttle only
One line mounted just below the boiler gauge....& the control linkage wire is cleverly disguised in a copper tube.......what is this second valve used for?    ......Derek

BYW....the vessel & the engine look  

[kusuchi]

Hi Derek,

Thanks for your compliments.  I'm extremely pleased with what I can see of her and cannot wait to get her back to the Virgin Islands for closer inspection.

Not sure I fully understand your question, please excuse my ignorance, but I have a feeling it is the same query I had.

There is one engine mounted steam valve that controls the feed to the entire engine.

There are four servos, forward/reverse, throttle, the bowden cable tiller rudder and the aftermarket whistle.


The gas tank and Hemmens attenuator are located under the fore deck egg crate.  Gas in on the port side, out on the starboard.  The steam pressure line runs along the port side of the gas tank to the bottom of the attenuator.





The aftermarket whistle is fed by a steam pipe on the port side of the boiler and controlled by a servo cable, sleeved in a copper pipe on the starboard side of the engine.  The steam valve is located immediately above the engine to the right of the displacement lubricator.




The exhaust steam is routed to the separation tank in the starboard 'coal bunker' next to the engine and onwards across the starboard side of the boiler to the funnel.




So what, I asked myself, is in the port side 'coal bunker'?



Apparently it is the control switch for the RC.  Pull up to turn it on, push down to turn it off.  A definite upgrade to the plastic switch, usually located in the Saloon, which requires the removal of the roof to activate.

Having not yet seen the launch in person I'm working from photographs at present.  Would really appreciate any insights you may have.  It's not always easy purchasing launches from as remote a location as ours.  Luckily I have many friends around the world who go to great lengths to assist me.

As I understand it, she's never been on the water, so I expect I will have some ballast issues to address on arrival.

A short video of the engine running that my associate took when the seller demonstrated it collection:


http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u238/mc_mc_bucket/Der%20Seekadett/?action=view&current=S1031496.flv

[derekwarner]

As kusuchi says 'the bowden cable ..........and the aftermarket whistle'..........thanks kusuchi ....this explains all

With the gas tank....I see a large round knurled nut a few bends away from the actual connection to the gas tank...I assume this is to allow removal of the gas tank  from the vessel for filling?

Posssibly our colleague 'bogstandard' may comment, but I would be inclinded not to let the engine run to the speed [RPM] UNLOADED as shown in the video clip  ...Derek

[kusuchi]

As kusuchi says 'the bowden cable ..........and the aftermarket whistle'..........thanks kusuchi ....this explains all

With the gas tank....I see a large round knurled nut a few bends away from the actual connection to the gas tank...I assume this is to allow removal of the gas tank  from the vessel for filling?

Posssibly our colleague 'bogstandard' may comment, but I would be inclinded not to let the engine run to the speed [RPM] UNLOADED as shown in the video clip  ...Derek

That makes me very nervous as well, but the MH&B boilers are so efficient it's hard to avoid.  Very small movements of the transmitter throttle can cause the engine to race.  MSM advised me that the 'Heron' is engineered for this, but I don't know if that's true for other engines.  Would very much like to hear a definitive opinion.

You are absolutely correct about the knurled nut and the gas tank.

[kusuchi]

A short photo montage up to her delivery to the export shippers and craters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI-Ld7eTe-4

[kusuchi]

Now in the Virgin Islands.

[Bunkerbarge]

They do look superb together and you couldn't want for a better background to photograph them in and show them off to thier best.

You must be very pleased with your latest aquisition, particularly with the original steam plant.  I bet you can't wait to see them under steam!

[gondolier88]

Just beautiful.

Greg

[mogogear]

That boat is as hypnotizing as ever...especially with that  joyous-son-standing-boat support!!

Congrats Richard

[kusuchi]

Unfortunately, she came with a 40 Mhz receiver and no transmitter.  40 Mhz is illegal in the US, so I have ordered a new transmitter and receiver that are compatible with the servo connectons.  She's never been on the water, so we're now doing ballast tests, and as soon as they arrive she'll be on the water.   Can't wait to see them both under steam together!

[kusuchi]

On the pool yesterday, videos to follow:

[kusuchi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpTMIJ7N0bQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPfU1uBXCQ

[kno3]

Der Seekadett is the most elegant looking steam launch I've seen!

By the way, it seemed to me, in the movie, that the launch seems somewhat unstable. That could either be a high centre of gravity, or a heavy flywheel/shaft/propeller (looks like it rocks sideways mostly on start/stop) or a combination of both.

[Bernhard]

hi-...GREAT it is,,,,,,,,,do the gas control work now,,,,,,i did have 3 off them from J,Hemmens,,,,2 off them never works what ever i did,,,so John send me the payment back,,,,he have be making some new ones now,, i think..,,,,

Regards Bernhard

[kusuchi]

Der Seekadett is the most elegant looking steam launch I've seen!

By the way, it seemed to me, in the movie, that the launch seems somewhat unstable. That could either be a high centre of gravity, or a heavy flywheel/shaft/propeller (looks like it rocks sideways mostly on start/stop) or a combination of both.

Thanks Kno, for your generous comments.  We are absolutely smitten with her.  Although we had been eagerly searching for this model for some time, she exceeded our wildest expectations.

The stability issues are entirely associated with the learning curve of handling a vessel with a large propeller, powerful boiler and huge rudder.  By the end of the video you can see that Andrew is finally getting the hang of it.

We were advised of this issue, prior to putting her on the water, by the man himself:

"The rudder has a large area and, at high speed (Your son!!), it needs smooth operation or the boat may twitch and lean over alarmingly. (Don't worry - it won't roll over). But in confined spaces, as in your pool, if you put the rudder hard over and give a kick on the throttle,it will make a tighter turn."

He does, of course, mean a gentle kick.  Any more produces the same undesirable results.

Still haven't got the attenuator working yet, Bernhard, but under advice, are working through more immediate issues, stripping and cleaning the safety valve, ameliorating the excess gas pressure caused by the heat of our climate, etc.   When these adjustments are complete, I'll take a closer look at the attenuator. 


 
 

[derekwarner]

Kusuchi - in the following video I see the pressure gauge rise to 70 PSI....[4.6 Bar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpTMIJ7N0bQ .......there are two issues here

1) safety........is the boiler relief valve set @ 70 PSI? ....is this within the manfactures recommended range?
2) subjecting a 80 PSI gauge to 70 PSI......far exceeds the ISO/DIN recommendations of ??????? 70% of FSD?......................it is suggested ...that exceeding these recommendations....the gauge burdon tube can be deformed & not provide an accurate pressure display at all levels ............... Derek

[kusuchi]

Kusuchi - in the following video I see the pressure gauge rise to 70 PSI....[4.6 Bar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpTMIJ7N0bQ .......there are two issues here

1) safety........is the boiler relief valve set @ 70 PSI? ....is this within the manfactures recommended range?
2) subjecting a 80 PSI gauge to 70 PSI......far exceeds the ISO/DIN recommendations of ??????? 70% of FSD?......................it is suggested ...that exceeding these recommendations....the gauge burdon tube can be deformed & not provide an accurate pressure display at all levels ............... Derek

Hi Derek,

That was the first test run, and whilst we attempted to reduce the boiler pressure using the whistle, we had to cut the run short as neither the safety valve, nor the attenuator seemed to be functioning correctly.  We have since stripped, cleaned and adjusted the safety valve and it now functions correctly, blowing off at the recommended pressure of 60 psi.  Fortunately, there is no damage to the pressure gauge.

Our next consideration is gas pressure.  The propane component of the 80/30 mix is really designed for colder climates.  With our year round heat the pressure generated is greater than is optimal.  This accounts for the hooting noise heard on the pool video.  On that run we turned the gas right down, and although we put it on the water at 55 psi, the pressure rapidly dropped to 40 psi.  The adjustment is so sensitive, however, that it is easy to blow the flame up into the funnel due to excess pressure.  We have been advised to store the canisters in the fridge and extend the steam  exhaust pipe to the top of the funnel in order to alleviate these problems!

Once this is resolved we will address the attenuator.  Bernhard's comments above, however, have not infused me with anticipation of great results.

We have been extremely fortunate, throughout, to have been the recipients of expert diagnosis and advice on all these issues, for which we are extremely grateful.

Best Regards,

 

[HS93 (RIP)]

gas valves can be a pain Cheddar did one of the mechanical ones that worked but was a pain you had to re adjust it each time you had to take the pressure off the diaphragm and spring at the end of each days running so you spent most of the next day sorting it out , the electronic one they did  works faultlessly fit and forget.

peter

[gondolier88]

Hi Kusuchi,

If you find your still having problems, Stuart Turner do the electronic gas control that cheddar used to do, also Forest Classics do a mechanical one too.

Greg

[Bunkerbarge]

I struggled with attenuators before giving up and getting a Cheddar electronic one.  Absolutely brilliant and although the Stuart one is quite a bit more expensive than the Cheddar one used to be it is still the best means of controlling the boiler pressure.

[steamboatmodel]

I struggled with attenuators before giving up and getting a Cheddar electronic one.  Absolutely brilliant and although the Stuart one is quite a bit more expensive than the Cheddar one used to be it is still the best means of controlling the boiler pressure.

Is the Stuart unit any different than the Cheddar unit?
Regards,
Gerald.

[kusuchi]

On the sea Sunday.  The safety valve is now set to blow off at exactly 60 psi.  Refrigerating the gas tank has helped to ameliorate some of the problems caused by the excess vapor pressure in our ambient temperature.

Hopefully my skills with the underwater video camera will improve when I get used to it!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqC3XYo1IeA

[andywright]

what a terrifuic setting, have to try to replicate that setting in the Bristol Channel in the summer fat chance!. But joking a side , a lovely boat.
Andy