My friend gave me a ride in his boat. It had a single cylinder steam engine and a wood burning boiler.
Single cylinder steam engines have some significant issues. Number one is that they will operate in either rotation and there isn't anything other than momentum in the flywheel that makes them rotate in the direction you want. If the piston stops in either Top Dead Center or Bottom Dead Center it might not start turning at all.
To get going he would open the steam valve just a little and then give the flywheel (which was exposed and very large) a kick in the direction he wanted it to rotate. Once turning he could open the valve to get power.
No transmissions in these boats. To back out of a slip you start the engine going in the reverse direction, stop, kick the flywheel the other way and open the steam valve again. While steering (tiller) mind you.
Every so often he would have to feed the burner another piece of wood. The burner was just at arms reach from the tiller so he could do this without letting go of the tiller. The main supply of wood was up in the bow, however, so occasionally he would have to have a supply brought to the back. While I was with him that was my job, and I haven't figured out how he did this when he was cruising alone.
When he opens the door on the burner flaming coals would fall out. Twice we had to stomp out the fire burning on the wooden hull. Not sure why he didn't have something fireproof under the burner door.
Steam exiting the engine ran through a length of pipe laying in the bottom of the boat, which he referred to as his "keel cooler". This condensed the steam back into water and then it dumped into a tank towards the back. A pump driven off the prop shaft could be engaged to pump the water back into the boiler. Several problems in this boat: the chain connecting the prop shaft pulley to the water pump kept jumping off so he would frequently have to put the chain back on (without stopping, mind you).
Not all the steam condensed back into water and was lost to the air. The engine itself leaked like crazy, water dripping out all over. This required a small amount of bailing. We are talking about a bucket, no electrical system on this boat.
It also required replenishing the water tank from time to time. I was horrified to see him scoop water out of the delta to pump into his boiler.
These steam boaters really like to use their whistle a lot. I had the impression that some times it was because the pressure was building up too high and he just wanted to avoid having the safety go off. Other times it was just for show as the whistle blast would drop the pressure so much that the engine slowed considerably.
Between kicking the flywheel, stoking the fire he wanted, stomping out the fire he didn't want, putting the chain back on, engaging the water pump, adding more water to the tank, watching the pressure gauge, tooting the whistle, bailing and steering it didn't leave him much time for other things. Like watching where he was going.
Good thing the boat only goes about 5 MPH.
Watching a dozen of these boats all leave the dock at approximately the same time was as sight to behold. Think bumper boats. Not to worry, a dab of paint and all is well.
I think I really insulted my friend when I suggested that a small battery would power an electric bilge pump and the boiler could be fed off propane. Electricity? Propane? Wrong era!
Rod
