Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: garston1 on June 07, 2010, 01:09:51 pm

Title: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: garston1 on June 07, 2010, 01:09:51 pm

Can anyone tell me what the hand cranked motor was called on ships lifeboats. It was a type of pump system where you pushed a handle back and forth that worked a Cam that turned the Prop?

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Netleyned on June 07, 2010, 05:37:02 pm

Fleming Gear
Each survivor had a crank handle
Quite effective as opposed to
inexperienced survivors trying
to row the lifeboat


Ned

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Colin Bishop on June 07, 2010, 05:41:18 pm

I imagine it would help keep you warm too.

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: garston1 on June 07, 2010, 05:43:10 pm

Thanks, you're a star!

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Bunkerbarge on June 07, 2010, 06:22:10 pm

Funny you should mention that as I was looking at an aluminium boat with just such a drive in a ship yard in Germany only a few weeks ago.  This particular one involved you standing up and operating the levers very much the same way as you would one of the 'skiing' type of exercise machines.

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Jimmy James on June 07, 2010, 09:15:37 pm

There were Mk 1 ,2 ,and 3 Flemming gear they were all pretty much alike but the Mk 3 was much smoother than the 1 & 2 and was faster with a larger prop... A lot of the Trinity House ships had Flemming gear in their life boats
Freebooter

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Martin (Admin) on June 08, 2010, 06:42:01 am

Any pictures anyone...?

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: funtimefrankie on June 08, 2010, 10:44:50 am

Manxman has/had :(( Flemming lifeboats

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: garston1 on June 08, 2010, 12:00:48 pm

Yes Frankie that's where i saw them when i went to see the Manxman in Sunderland, I've got a photo that I'll put on later  :-))

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Bryan Young on June 08, 2010, 01:04:46 pm

This any help? BY.

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Jimmy James on June 09, 2010, 03:16:52 pm

Nice one Bryan Looks like the Mk 1
which is the most common
Jimmy

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Bryan Young on June 09, 2010, 06:37:00 pm

Thanks Jimmy. I did once look into building one (at roughly the same size as the picture) but quickly realised that I may as well just stick the hand controls into the boat and stick another couple of "drive rods" in...nobody would be able to see the deception!. BY.

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Jimmy James on June 10, 2010, 12:36:15 pm

Thats the way most GOOD modelers do it .... only the fanatics build the real thing that small where no one can see it anyway
Jimmy

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Nordsee on June 14, 2010, 08:36:22 pm

I saw a Life boat on a PandO Channel Ferry in the Early 80s, with the cover off and they had a long shaft with several cranks , so the survivors sat facing into the boat, turning the prop, the shaft was driven by a chain from the crank, a very coarse pitched prop. too, As you said keeps you warm and also way on the boat, and the cover could be rigged as weather protection.

Title: Re: hand cranked motor on ships lifeboats?
Post by: Jimmy James on June 14, 2010, 11:22:35 pm

These Boats were surprisingly easy to get and keep moving by unskilled personal which is why they were designed in the first place... the short comming was you had to keep them well Oiled & Greased and used regularly other wise they sized up ( Helped if the crew was well Oiled too )
Freebooter  :-))