Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Steam => Topic started by: benjaml1 on February 07, 2010, 10:20:17 pm

Title: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: benjaml1 on February 07, 2010, 10:20:17 pm

No double entendre... ;)

Just looking at the next stage.... Basically I have a long water/oil retaining plinth supported by two large parallel 5/8" square brass rods... I will need to distribute the weight evenly & attempt to prevent the heat from damaging the bilge area of the hull.... Or will I ???

Title: Re: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: steamboatmodel on February 08, 2010, 03:01:33 pm

I try to mount everything on a base plate or tray, so that it is easy to remove for servicing.
Regards,
Gerald.

Title: Re: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: Underpressure on February 08, 2010, 06:37:45 pm

Blu-Tac, marvellous stuff  :-))

Joking aside, if I have a glass fibre hull, I install wooden blocks into the hull, that I can then screw the tray containing the boiler / engine onto. If the hull is plank on frame, then I either try to screw the tray direct onto the frames, or I will fit a plywood tray onto the frames that the boiler tray is then screwed onto.

I seem to screw a lot with my boats...... double entendre anyone ?  ;)

Title: Re: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: HS93 (RIP) on February 08, 2010, 07:41:35 pm

most people fit the plant on a tray so all the pipe work can be done on the bench, and you can test run as well before fitting there a a few ways to do it, hear a some picture, when mounted on the base a ply base can be bonded into the hull or bearers you need to keep the boiler away from the hull and not in direct contact .

Peter

Title: Re: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: andywright on February 08, 2010, 07:53:05 pm

I mounted my boiler and engine separately, old habits die hard, I didn't want the boiler at an angle, and the angle of the propshaft was too much to use a coupling, I like to keep the coupling as straight as possible, so I fitted hard wood engine bearers. I have an idea now to purchase a 1.5mm plate and bend it so that the engine and boiler can be mounted as one, and removed as one. It is possible, just have to be accurate with my plate bending.

(http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x196/lightshipman/IMG_0648.jpg)

Title: Re: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: SteamboatPhil on February 08, 2010, 09:47:57 pm

All mine are mounted on full engine beds, held into the wooden hulls by bolts, as Gerald (steamboatmodel) much easier to clean, service and maintain
Here is an example of a few.   :-))

Title: Re: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: HS93 (RIP) on February 08, 2010, 10:51:20 pm

very Nice Mr Steamboat,  ok who do you get to polish them, must cost that £20 note of yours a month on polish alone.


: benjaml1 the main thing is to get the boiler as low in the hull as possible and a good mount, you have to remember the weight of it IF it was floating about. even just the trip in the car.
the engine can be lifted on blocks , I had to do this with my tug to keep the boiler low but bring the engine up to the shaft, but whatever way you do it make it easy to remove.

Peter

Title: Re: How do you mount your steam plant in your vessel ?
Post by: benjaml1 on February 08, 2010, 11:43:48 pm

Thanks all, My powerplant is integral on a drip proof tray to enable it to be removed "En Toto". I was wondering about a plywood mating base for this to slot into & I think ( do we all agree ?) this is/may be the way to go...