Paddleducks
General => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: tug on October 08, 2012, 08:20:04 PM
-
Hello to you all. Steam powered paddle tugs is the interest. Would like to build one using the Westbury engine. Would like to start with a commercially made hull as is first attempt, so any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
-
Welcome to you tug.......I have just re-fit a side wheel paddle tug( from a built hull purchased from a member in Wales)
I am in Oregon and I can tell you my sidewheel tug gets a lot of reaction from folks here at the boat ponds...rare --"So how many props does it have?" is a common goofy question :o
She is Cheddar steam powered wit ha Puffin twin oscillator-- love the smell of compound oil...Have fun and good to have you here.
-
Hi tug, welcome aboard. You ask for advice and mine would be to start with something smaller than the Westbury engine. From what I remember reading about it the engine is fairly large physically and would also require a fairly large boiler. To fit in the machinery and have sufficient buoyancy you will need to have a fairly large hull. I have a large (6'6", 2metre) steam powered tug and although I enjoy sailing it takes some getting organised. I need help to launch and retrieve her and have to add the ballast after she is in the water. I need another person to help with the lifting. She certainly attracts attention but I tend to only bring her out on important occaisions when there are plenty of helpers available. A smaller paddler, say 1 to 1.3 metre would be a lot easier starting point and there are plenty of engine plans and kits available. By all means stick with the steam idea, there is nothing I enjoy more but perhaps a more manageable boat as a first effort. Hopefully there will be a photo or two of my Waimarie attached. Best of luck, Ian.
-
The design of the shephenson link is not quite right on the wesbury and needs some expert adjustments. I have built one and had to take it to my model engineering club to get it to run. Lucky for me one member had one and knew what to do. I have 2 steam paddlers but have not used the westbury. Definitely not for a beginner just my opinion. R.G.Y.
-
Hi PD's.....& thanks for posting RGY [hammer in another forum] & without taking over this thread as posted by: tug on: October 08, 2012, 10:20:04 PM .... :crash ....
That is a very nice twin horizontal displayed there :s_cool
Is it a Westbury as mentioned here?
Derek ..... :beer
-
Yes its a Westbury, I did make it narrower than the plan, to ease the installation. I did this by bringing the piston assemblies together. A bit of a mistake as now the timing has slipped it all has to come apart to get at the slide valves. It has only ever run on air. Geoff