My adventures with Steamboats, Steam locomotives, Tree work, Cars and more... but mainly STEAM. Included is the build of my father's 40ft steamboat, chasing steam locomotives, various steamboat meets, and other random bits!
In memory of 2 great seamen, firstly the late (great) Captain G. R. (Bob) Keyworth who (along with the mate Ross Norgrove) personally handled the Daldy for 36 hours straight holding the center span of the (then) under construction Auckland Harbour Bridge in the eye of a severe North Easterly gale, and the late (also great) Neil Hudson who was instrumental in saving the tug years later from the breakers on her retirement from the Auckland Harbour Board and forming the William C Daldy Society.... RIP Bob & Neil (and I suspect Ross too by now, sadly...).
Thank you for memorializing them. The ship and the people that served and saved her have earned their places on the pedestals of history. I believe Neil just recently passed?
@@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE Yes, sadly Neil "paid off" on August 11 (2024) in Kerikeri (Bay of Islands), a great friend, a walking nautical historian, ex USSCo, ex AHB, an excellent master of towboats and his last command "Hikanui" the massive floating crane. In Neils last few days, he was greatly heartened to hear of a possible benefactor in helping with the Willaim C Daldy.....
Imagine, if you will, a Society that lives on and by the water. Think a Venice like city that is next door to, let's say, one of the great lakes. This town has almost no roads (the only roads are on the outskirts of the town inland). You see, the water ways are the roads, and people utilize steamboats such as these in the video. Also, don't forget that as well as private & public transport, there is also the commercial and industrial usage of boats. Mail boats, barges, and don't even forget the Great Lake Freighters.
In the 80s at Sea Cadets TS Acillies in Okahu bay ,one of my friends there was something to do with that tug ,Big guy called Strom was was maybe 17 in the 80s
Question for the crew, have the hull repairs be completed and have you found a steam ticketed skipper and lastly have you managed to fund the summer season with a berth at city side ? Cheers john u
@@danielhicks7141 I will keep my fingers crossed for you,I visited the ship some thing like8 or 9 years ago while I was building a model of Lyttleton 2 from a set of the original ship yard plans and it was quite an experiance as I knew what I was to find behind each door.The engine room was fantastic as I powered my model with a twin cylinder double acting slide valve engine. Best for the future.
I remember her being tiny,back in the day I worked on a ex steam tug,then running offshore limits…( by comparison),we moored in the river along side where puke was birthed.
Thanks,semantics on bigger. I worked on the ex steam tug Rakinui , still lots of her history remaining , even as she was outer harbour limits….she was a lovely ship, had sea water down her stack a few times, a experience to be standing on the wheel house sides in 70 kns ,looking at that oh so dark water….but aways came back…… There is a photo of her and the Daldy pulling a section of the harbour bridge into place. thanks.
Bonjour Wesley, Many thanks for this video, how lucky you were to be able to do it. What a pity that this boat is so far from France, we have not any one like this one remaining functional today. An also a special thank you for the final whistle, I agree with you, it is the best medecine of our steam passion. C'est fini 😉 Amicalement, Raphaël
Bonjour Raphaël, I am happy you enjoyed the video. It is a shame there aren't more preseves throughout the world. If you can't make it to thw Southern Hemisphere, perhaps a trip a bit to the West will suffice. The S.S. Shieldhall in Southampton, UK has the same machinery (same builders dimensions on the engines), albeit almost 20 years newer. I'm happy you engioyed the final clips, and final note 🤓 ~Cheers
How can I learn to operate one of these old reliables? (Hell, own one one day.) how am I to get my hands on one of these old reliables and know how to fix and operate them? They may be more complex than a motorboat, but they’re hella cooler.
Where can I learn to pilot one of these old reliables? I really want to own one. (And know how to repair it) what should I know if I do get the chance one day? I love steamboats. (Primarily from ocean liners) they’ve always been so interesting. It maybe more complex than a normal motorboat, but damn it’s way more cool.
@@WesleyHarcourtSTEAMandMORE We are at 1117' in the Oakland hills. Usually does not get that hot here but as I've observed my spouse and others have AC, demand AC won't accept not having it on until it is in the lower 50's! But I have my own car. Rarely use the AC.
Awesome video. Every time I watch this, I always think how, if you can stick modern tech on your boat to make it automated lol. All you have to do is push a button, an onboard ai system would ignite the first stage of warming, and all the valves would be on a high temp control valves to do what you're doing manually lol. Just a weird imagination I have with these old techs.. I was also wondering, what type of steam setyp are you using? I usually see ppl using wood or coal for tgeir source of steam. Thanks for the video ✌🤙
Stuart is to be congratulated for having put together a good boat, it's not often that someone with no steamboating experience puts together a boat that basically works out of the box with very few issues.
Bonjour Wesley, I fully agree with you, this launch is just amazing... and fast furthermore ! How lucky you are to find such treasures during your journeys. Amicalement, Raphaêl
One captain, one 'stoker, oiler, shifter, greaser, love it. Have 3 steam powered RC boats, was fireman on the 1880 steam railroad locos 3 summers part time, sopuld have been born in the 1880's. if it wasn't for the huge cargo of coal they had to haul, they would have survived. Anyone ever heard of the efficiency rateing of one of these boats. (shaft HP/ fuel consumption)/?
Pu-ki in Maori means " gun" and "Puke" is either a play on words or a miss interpretation of the word by Colonial settlers. Thanks for sharing your NZ steam trip!
