Steam Paddlewheel Boat

Sidewheel Steamer

Start & Turn Video Clip

 

Short clip, running on Lake Nockamixon, North of Philadelphia.

 

FRED, try a couple passengers in the front, you are dragging a lot of turbulence with that wide transom.The floats are pretty much dead right, one entering, one at the mid stroke and one leaving the water is good. too much more and they start to bog down.I could watch that engine pumping all day long.Not being critical Fred but with all those rudders you are starting to get away from the simplicity of a steam side-wheeler. There are a lot of new and restored steamers here in Aus, mainly down on the Murray River

 

The stem rudder is attachable and removable when in the water, and just has a simple tiller handle.

 

Greetings,

For a similar type boat I was wondering how someone could take the typical small modern day diesel which turns at 3600RPM, mount it midship, and gear it down to turn the paddles at 90 RPM?

 

Method depends on the horsepower.

Up to a few horsepower, 1 to 10 HP, suitable for a paddleboat up to about 30 feet long, use ordinary heavy duty V belt drive 4:1 pulley ratio, with an idler to use as a clutch. That gives 900RPM on the intermediate shaft. Then use ordinary timing belts 9:1 ratio, or motorcycle chain drive final to the paddle shafts. Final output 100 RPM.

You can also use a lawn tractor transmission, just put paddle wheels in place of the regular drive wheels, on extension shafts. You then have no driveline designing to do, use a lawn tractor engine as well as 6 speed transmission, with reverse. These come with diesel engines ranging in this power level.

For bigger applications, say to 80 feet length, 20 to 50 HP, use an ordinary automotive (rear wheel drive) differential, just put paddle wheels in place of the regular drive wheels, on extension shafts. An 8:1 reducer gets engine speed down to 400 RPM into the automotive drive shaft, 100 RPM paddles.

Using the differential setup you can get individual paddlewheel control, brake one output shaft and the opposite wheel turns twice as fast, you can turn on a dime.

 

Kind of my thoughts with the belts/chain reductions however the differential idea is a very interesting, your mentioning "lawn tractors" brings to mind my Mitsubishi diesel tractor (16-18HP) and possibly just mounting the whole engine/transmission/pto setup to turn the paddles, do you think this could work? It has 6 speed as you say with very low gears which would correlate to about 100 rpm and the whole setup seems very heavy duty with controls already built in. Would thrust bearings be needed with this type of propulsion?

Btw, would keep the sidewheeler with mid ship engine location just as your setup.

 

The tractor differential and bearings can take far more thrust than the boat would ever have, super strong setup without modifications.

"Mitsubishi diesel tractor (16-18HP) and possibly just mounting the whole engine/transmission/pto setup to turn the paddles, do you think this could work?" I think that is what is previously stated.........You can also use a lawn tractor transmission, just put paddle wheels in place of the regular drive wheels, on extension shafts. You then have no driveline designing to do, use a lawn tractor engine as well as 6 speed transmission, with reverse. These come with diesel engines ranging in this power level.

"Would thrust bearings be needed with this type of propulsion?" The tractor differential and bearings can take far more thrust than the boat would ever have, super strong setup without modifications.

 

Thanks for responding so fast. Been thinking about this for awhile n its great to have an idea that sounds like it solved my concerns in a practical way. Hope u are still enjoying your creation although probably putting it away for the season.

 

Nice looking lady, you have there!

Working up a design with a cabin and pilot-house, myself. Planning to be electric/electric-hybrid (w/genset). Dual sternwheels, separate drives, so she'll turn within her own length, from a dead standstill. Stern should resemble the R/C model "Major" and the "Wild Goose" steamer. Convert electric to reciprocating, to get those shafts pumping. Would appreciate your input.

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/bo...nwheeler-hull-design-analysis-help-51901.html