Fantail steam launches

[confused]

I have always liked steam launches. I don't know what it is that draws me to them, but it draws me to them like a peice of iron to a magnet.
Even though I have been told numorous times by my freinds "Wait untill you're older to build one," I STILL daydream about building one.
Well the time has come to tell the truth. I am going to build one, so don't try to stop me. I just need a useful design to fit my purpose, so I have created this thread so that I can get some helpful advice from you, (hopefully). The only thing I have to say to your objections is this: it will be 6 ft long. (yes, laugh!)
I don't know if it will be able to carry a person, and if it CAN carry a person... probably only one. I found a suitable steam engine for it, and since I have steam engine expirence (YES! I DO) it should be easy. I have a steam engine, but it is to small to power a six foot boat. So, I will give you the link for the engine I have now, and the engine I am going to get. The one I have: http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Steam-Marin...d=p4634.c0.m14 I have put it together and it runs perfectly. This is the engine I am going to get (sooner or later):http://cgi.ebay.com/Live-Steam-Engin...ayphotohosting

too small, 12 will be about minimum. look here:
http://www.selway-fisher.com/Steamup20.htm#FELIX

Regards
Richard

[confused]

Will that steam engine work on the 8ft one I designed?
(the link above that I posted)

[confused]

o.k, but let me get this straight. I am ONLY going to use my boat in freshwater canals. If I get the house I think that we are going to get, we will have a canal behind our house, and I could use my boat in that after it rains, It's more like a ditch though.

Originally Posted by confused

Will that steam engine work on the 8ft one I designed?
(the link above that I posted)

Maybe, has a 1/2 to 3/4, but is still just a toy! If we blow her enough pressure to do some 800W I fear we have her in parts after some minutes.
And I will not design a boiler arrangement for unsafe engines. You understand.

To your last reply: if its brackish, forget it! Even in a thunderstorm you´ll have enough salt and minerals to destroy the boiler in some hours.

A totally different idea.
Why not building a say 5 to 6´ model Launch and use your existing engine?
Could be done very lightweight, strip planked, using inexpensive carpenters glue, then sheathed with light cloth (glass epoxy). It would get you very well trained in the technics you have to use with the "real thing", is not overly expensive and does´nt take too much time to see the fruits of your sweat and tears.
Häh?

Regards
Richard

[confused]

It won't suck water from what it's floating in. Did you click on the link for the twin engine I posted?

Originally Posted by confused

It won't suck water from what it's floating in.

It will! Otherwise you have to build a self propelled watertank. Look above!

[confused]

alllllrrrigghhttt.... Dang! I have to use it in fresh water only...you still here>?

[confused]

Whats the best boatbuild material?

[rasorinc]

price wise Doug Fir clear, vertical grain or hand picked select structural Grade.
good on rot, fairly light, hold fasteners well and can be bent. Always avaiable especially in the west
go here and on left click wood pywood then click on boatbuilding wood. then hard or soft woods lots of info here.
http://www.glen-l.com/

[Steam Flyer]

Originally Posted by confused

I have always liked steam launches..... I am going to build one, so don't try to stop me. .... it will be 6 ft long. (yes, laugh!)
I don't know if it will be able to carry a person, and if it CAN carry a person... probably only one.

Cute engine. One benefit of the steam engine is that they are torquey for their rated horsepower. That's why they are a good match for paddlewheels.

Another thing is that boilers are heavy, my advice in designing a hull 6' LOA is to remember the basics of displacement. If you take the length of a graceful fantail off of that 6', it leaves you with an immersed body of maybe 4 1/2' which means you have to find the immersed volume to float it by using beam & depth.

A fantail hull of classic graceful proportions, at 6' LOA, will not be able to carry a person and may not be able to carry a decent-sized boiler. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... but you can also look at it as a challenge.

Just remember that in design work, "Doing the math!" is not optional.

FB- Doug

Originally Posted by confused

Whats the best boatbuild material?

No doubt wood Epoxy.........

go here:
http://www.newfound.com/rangeley17.htm
go down the site to "construction notes" dl the .pdf file read it, notice it is possible to be done by a one armed monkey with some patience, and tools.

And thanks to Steam Flyer.........

[confused]

I agree, but I have to ask you this question. If you heat up metal once, and let it slowly cool down, but you keep heating it and slowly cooling it, then it will crack, right?

[rasorinc]

https://www.boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=475
Look thru the Glen L plans for ideas esp special purpose boats and human powered you will get tons of ideas. above is just a pretty picture with steam

[confused]

I have been to their site before. I was on it an hour ago.