Steam Engine kit or plans

[Rockingdodge]

So what size bore and stroke did you build yours to? I had a look at the Reeves Borderer and that would fit my space but I just don't know how powerful these engines are! This is where my knowledge of marine engines is not at all good and I have to rely on our 'experts' . If I took the borderer out to the max, would it give the power required?

 

[fcheslop]

5/8 by 5/8 It is a good little engine with plenty of power for its size. You may need to double up for youre boat
T Publishing sell a couple of the old Percival Marshall books building model steamers and machinery for model steamers.In these books are some rough and ready formula to calc the size of engine needed for a given hull .They are based on the water line from memory.
I tend to build smaller boats now the big stuff is just to heavy to get in and out of the water
https://www.teepublishing.co.uk/books/marine-modelling-steamboating/machinery-for-model-steamers/https://www.teepublishing.co.uk/books/marine-modelling-steamboating/model-steamer-building/Just finished a small boiler using a radiant burner with no tubes in the flue as an experiment and if my calcs are right she should be good to go

 

[Cogsy]

Wow - the boat, the boiler and the engine are just beautiful. I'm an I.C. guy but you've almost convinced me I need to have a go at a steam setup some day.

 

[Rockingdodge]

Hmmm, looks like to be safe I need to plan for either the Borderer x 2 or Paddleducks engine x 2 to be sure of adequate power then! decisions decisions.
Do like your new one

 

[fcheslop]

Try a post on Model Boat mayhem, there are a couple of guys with a lot more knowledgeable on the larger stuff and they maybe able to answer the conundrum before it becomes expensive .
The new boat is just my lock down project using up bits of scrap that have been lying around for far too long
cheers

 

[minh-thanh]

fcheslop !

The boat, the boiler are just beautiful ! I LIKE IT
What fuel do you use to burn ?
Do you have video ?

 

[fcheslop]

fcheslop !

The boat, the boiler are just beautiful ! I LIKE IT
What fuel do you use to burn ?
Do you have video ?

Hi Minh Thanh, its not finished although I did post the engine on here
The burner runs on Butane gas
The engine is a single double acting engine with a self start

cheers

 

[minh-thanh]

fcheslop !
Thanks
Will you make a small fuel tank for it? by what material?
sorry if i ask too much
I've always liked Steam Engines with Boilers ! And especially the engine is run by a boiler.

 

[Samet ÇALIŞKAN]

So what size bore and stroke did you build yours to? I had a look at the Reeves Borderer and that would fit my space but I just don't know how powerful these engines are! This is where my knowledge of marine engines is not at all good and I have to rely on our 'experts' . If I took the borderer out to the max, would it give the power required?

I am building a 1 meter ship and I am looking for plans for double cylinder Saito style engines. Have you found any?

 

[timo_gross]

Hmm nice, when I win the lottery I'll take 2, until then I'll keep looking for the plans, they must exist somewhere!
Strangely I view the boiler as being much more straight forward, just need to know how much steam I'll be using.

I am not so sure, I think buying one or ten of those engines would have been the far cheaper option, compared to start making things by myself.
But then again, I do not want to have the engine, I wanted to make one.
Is scaling one of the "too large" plans an option. Should be easy enough. Just reduce all dimensions and try to find a compromise with screws etc.

 

[William May]

I am not so sure, I think buying one or ten of those engines would have been the far cheaper option, compared to start making things by myself.
But then again, I do not want to have the engine, I wanted to make one.
Is scaling one of the "too large" plans an option. Should be easy enough. Just reduce all dimensions and try to find a compromise with screws etc.

Excellent suggestion. An hour spent looking at one of the books by E. T. Westbury will give good advice about the size of the engine you need, and how much steam it will require. You can size it SPECIFICALLY to drive your large boat and it will be a perfect fit!

 

[Steamchick]

Hi Fcheslop.
Nice boiler engine and especially the boat! Have you considered join a Model boat club? E.g. The onein Roker Park in Sunderland? As I am more into Engineering than "boating" I have been with the Sunderland Model Engineers in Roker Park for a good while. We do everything including boats, especially steam. But as we have a 1/4 mile railway track we do a lot with running model trains.
Members meet most Thursday mornings. Train running from Easter to Autumn (leaves on the line an horrid weather), when dry weather permits Saturday and Sunday p.m.
Come and meet us? Club members are covered for insurance for steaming on the pond. (Boat club is separate and do not cover steam boats - the reason I joined the Model Engineers....). Our Chairman lives at Witton... maybe you know it?
I have a 20 year old Naval Picket boat with boiler, Star engine, etc. And a small tug with boiler, V-twin oscillator, etc. As well as a few stationery boilers engines, and stuff.