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STEAMPROPULSION
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NEW AND VETERAN STEAM BOATSThis is my almost finished Krick "BORKUM" steam launch.
It is powered by a Cheddar Gemini engine and by a specially designed 3" x 4" boiler built by Maccsteam. which has an insulation composed by a cork sheet clad with teak wood strips retained by two copper strips .
The Gemini engine has a Maxwell Hemmens feed pump directly coupled to it: this involves a check valve on the boiler, a T and a Bypass valve, a water tank with a filling plug, a water outlet a a return inlet for the unwanted pumped water.
I have chosen this set up because Borkums have a tendency to have the bow too deeply submerged in the water, this being caused by the position and weight of the boiler in the boat: therefore I have a tiny and light boiler, fed with a water pump. The rest of the power plant consists of a big condenser, of a gas tank, with a gas control valve. The RC plant is distributed in the back of the hull: a servo near to the rudder; 3 Mini servos for the reversing gear, throttle and whistle (Mamod) hidden inside the crate. Receiver, batteries and switch are hidden under the lid of the big bench.
A fat launch which has less room than it could promise a first sight. A lot of designing has been spent in the RC gear and in all the links and leverages with the aim of not showing plastic parts.
There are few model details to be added, bollards, lifebuoys, front fender etc.
No dolls allowed!
A few pictures and details of the steam plant
A Windermere launch, 115 cm. long, named "SOLON" after our gardener of Costa Rica.
Again a Steam plant with pump.
This time it is an Anton Cristal Plant (not a recent model, the pump was retro-fitted)) with an Anton vertical boiler, Gas Tank and Condenser: the original Camping Gaz mushroom burner has been replaced by a home made ceramic burner. There is a French Gas Control Valve made by the late François Retif and an Anton Bypass Valve on the boiler water feed line.
Again a lot of design was involved to make a very unobtrusive RC plant under the cabin floor.
Although most of Windermere launches had cabins I do not mind at all the look of this launch with the cabin removed.
I like very much its very simple and essential look.
Again dolls will not be allowed on board.
A few pictures of the steam plant
This is a well known launch designed by Basil Harley called "VICTORIA".
The former owner was Logoman and since I have it it had undergone many changes, its looks remaining apparently unchanged. The missing rudder was built with its tiny hinges. The original Maxwell Hemmens steam plant was changed:
a new SEL engine with a Maxwell Hemmens lubricator. The sprit burner (it burned some parts of the wooden boiler lagging) was at first replaced by an annular gas burner, and subsequently by a home built ceramic burner. This involved the construction of a new set of boiler supports. Incidentially I must now give credit to the maker of the boiler chimney top ornament: Mogogear!
This launch is now a vetrean from Sain Savinien kermesse:
A lot of problems were encountered on the pond as this launch never had the chance of having a maiden voyage: mainly a steam leak on the line from boiler to engine and a too big propeller installed. We sourced out these problems on the spot re-soldering the copper pipe and having a smaller propeller kindly borrowed from a French steamer: the maiden voyage was satisfactorily accomplished. Yet there was another minor defect to be taken care of: the bow was too deep in the water.
Back home from Saint Savinien the boiler was moved 2 cm. backwards and a smaller and lighter gas tank was fitted.
Now she sits perfectly in the water (of a bathtub) with a new propeller.
Another Saint Savinien Veteran.
This is my Saito "CERVIA""tug with an updated Saito oscillating engine plant.
It had its maiden Voyage in Saint Savinien and of course it was untested.
This year I had won a Mamod scuttle with gas tank and ceramic burner in one epic Mamod Forum raffle: Roly Williams commented: "I know that he knows what to do with it".
Actually I knew what to do with it only few moths after, preparing the tug for Saint Savinien.
The Saito Cervia is very tiny (60 cm) and its sprit burner seemed to me quite dangerous. So I installed the complete unit in the tug with no difficulty at all, and without modifications of the scuttle.
The performance of this little tug was excellent on the pond.
As always there was too much weight in the bow, so back home I modified the boiler and and made an aluminium stand for the gas tank and the burner, which now weight a lot less and which can now be placed further backwards.
I was about to forget mentioning that in the Saint Savinien pond the Cervia ran so well that the boiler ran out of water, the safety valve and its ferrule was spitted un-soldered inside the cabin.
The tug was rescued without other damages The ferrule has been soldered on the boiler.
"NATALIE" is really a work in progress.
It has been started some 25 years ago. Every time I resume working on it I chance something of the previously made Steam Plant.
I have been recently so involved in it that what I have done probably will not be altered.
This German Launch, GRP hull 80 cm. long, has a Maxwell Hemmens Caton engine with mechanical water feed pump a and a vertical fire tubes copper boiler gas fired.
Two small water tanks are placed inside the front benches.
The scratch built separator feeds the exhaust condensate on a copper pipe which runs through the Gas Tank warming it: the exhaust condensate it is collected inside a central tank in the keel.
The RC gear is fitted in the two back benches.
I know that this engine room will be crowded.
No dolls will be allowed to sit on the red upholstered seats.
END OF STEAMPROPULSION TABLE
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magpie38
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well worth the waith, what astunning table  thankyou for sharing
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Les
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 Astonishing.
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colin
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Love the steam plant,it's awesome
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tmuir
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Some very nice launches there.
Thanks for sharing
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benchmark
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I really loved he photos.
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Gary279
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WOW! Love it Giovanni, I've been waiting for your boats all weekend!!!
The vertical boilers are awesome!!! You do some fine work!
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Swift Fox
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Wow what an amazing selection of boats, thanks for sharing them Giovanni!
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Sandman
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Jeez, Giovanni, what a wonderful steam feast for our boaters.
Great detail and beautiful photography.
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logoman
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remarkable planning and excellent job done hiding the rc equipment.
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RocDoc
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Wow ... a lovely collection of really beautiful launches.
Pete
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Steve_S
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Wonderful! 
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The Denying Dutchman
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The Denying Dutchman
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Awesome boats. 
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kd02
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Giovanni, what can i say, absolutely outstanding,
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Freespawn
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very impresive love them all
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stenella
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what a magnificent set of boats Giovanni ...but what do you have against dolls ? :-p
Thanks much - it's been an inspiration
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Narrow Minded
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A-boat-solutely wonderful! Works of art!
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ozsteamdemon
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Some beautifull craft there , you are a true inspiration Giovanni .
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flywheel61
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Some great boats & engines there, a very nice fleet, 
Cheers
Chris
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