@Matthew Barrick Yet more than 99% of locomotives are either diesel powered or connected to the power grid. Steam locomotives are only so interesting because there's so few of them. Steam power is also not restricted to trains, and includes anything powered by steam, including boats, trains, and lineshafts. I will not continue wasting my time on this pointless argument over something insignificant.
User 2C47 You corrected OP saying steam POWER, implying that you disagree with the statement that steam LOCOMOTIVE enthusiasts can find common ground with boating enthusiasts. Don’t act like this argument is pointless and go off listing random facts that we already agree with. Either your grammar or original intentions of your first comment were wrong.
And to top it all folks, this beauty has got to be the most environmentally friendly boat there is! Awesome launch, very well done Sir, Congrats and Thank-you for sharing the pride and joy!!
Wow. What a beautiful craft! You’ve done an amazing job. Magnificent hull design, cuts through water with little wake. Engine/prop well balanced, even flat out engine doesn’t sound as though it’s stressed,......revs sound low. Whole thing is a work of art. Congratulations, could watch it all day long, it’s SO relaxing.
What a beautiful little boat ! An absolutely gorgeous example, inside and out ! Great attention to detail ! Your copper line work is just as beautiful ! A great video !
Very impressive! I even re-watched the video. I can't even imagine how many hours of labor you invested in this build. Or how you were able to source everything you needed. She's certainly a beautiful vessel.
I don't know why steam boats aren't more popular. A steam engine is the ultimate multifuel engine - it can run on anything that burns. Coal, oil, gas, wood, alcohol, used cooking oil, general combustible garbage, and so on. If you can light a fire, you can run a steam engine.
Goodness, she's quite brisk in the water! (Love the sound of a wake forming from a clapboard hull - brings me back to our family boating as a child 😊❤)
Beautiful boat! I had the pleasure of making a day trip to Vancouver, BC once and the day I was there, they had all kinds of antique steamboats at the dock. It was really cool to see them! 😁
The owner, the builder, the engine, and the boat, are a perfect match. The shape of the wave on that hull shows a perfect wave motion for that length of the hull. The noise from the engine adds up to the romance of the situation and serenity of the amalgamation of the human and machine and natural environment state. My sincere and heartiest congratulations.
I think steam is becoming a viable power plant again, especially as you can use many different sources of fuel to heat the boiler. My father was always building small working steam engines. I kick my ass now for not paying more attention. It would be great, if say, community colleges started offering courses on steam. Great job.
Thom Vogan I'd really like to see what modern optimization could do with steam power. I bet power and efficiency would go through the roof from where it is now.
It never stopped being a power plant quite literally most electrical generators are powered by steam the electricity you use to charge your computer comes from steam.
I've been in the steam business since 1981. As stated, still used for a majority of electrical production as well as large district heating locations. I don't understand the comment about steam being half as efficient as diesel. Steam is merely the energy transfer mechanism, not a fuel. Compare fuel costs and energy transfer costs. But this is simply a very cool demonstration of steam power in a very sweet wood boat.
This is obviously a labour of love, absolutely,stunningly beautiful,just breathtaking. Superb job and now you can enjoy the fruits of your labour.👍🏴
Imagine, if you will, a Town that lives on the water. Say a Venice like city, but on freshwater like the Great Lakes. This town has very little to no roads, and so the waterways and canals are the roads of the town. The People of said town, for both private, and public transportation, utilizes these steamboats and other watercraft to get around. This town also serves as a port for larger ships, such as lake freighters and bulk carriers. There are also mail boats that travel around delivering the mail.
My goodness! When I first saw the prop, I thought it would barely move the launch. Since steam is so powerful, I was wondering why you didn't have a larger size on there. After watching the video, I was pleasantly surprised to see just how nicely she clips along! Well done, Sir! She's quite a beauty!
That’s cool. This is a big hobby in the U.K. I’ve seen videos of lots of restored steam narrowboats in the English canals. I’d like to see restored and fresh built boats take off here in the U.S. One can only hope.
i have a 20 inch midwest wooden harbor tug with a Mamod marine engine, not as much power as id like but it works as long as it doesnt go thru a seaweed patch - your motor sounds very good
Yours has but one gear shaft to the propeller - could you have added several for upstream and downstream? Retired maritime lawyer of with the Maritime Administration, U.S.Dept. of Transportation. I handled a lot of law, but am trying to learn about the Missouri River steam travel and why the pioneers didn't take steamboats up to as close to the Rocky Mountains of Montana as possible? Any ideas. Beautiful vessel you have! Would be a great hit on the Georgetown Canal running 186 m.up the Potomac
Beautiful plant and boat. Thanks for posting. About to start a build around a 1 1/2 + 2 1/2 x 3 compound. If it comes anywhere near your vessel I'll be able to die a happy man..!!
