Thanks for the heads-up, I have a subscription to Model Boat on my iPad, just downloaded the Winter Issue!!!!👍

This looks like it is going to be very interesting.

Martin555.

This just arrived from Alibris. Com, haven’t opened it yet, let’s see what the Steam Gods have in store for me....Si

Sapot you might look for a copy of the Model Boats Winter Special - just out - has an article on starting with steam - the things to consider.
There are safety considerations to think about too - for example if you are running a gas fired boiler beware of gas build up in the bilges - any leak and the next time you light up so does the boat and probably yourself....... Gas is heavier than air so that causes the problem.

Inboard or stern drive petrol (gasoline?) driven boats have the same problem - forget to use your blower and boom goes the boat - we watched one on Kariba Dam explode after they had stopped for a swim - 30' cabin cruiser burnt to the waterline in a couple of minutes - picked up a couple of singed people - very lucky as the burns were not serious............

Definitely 'Ayes to the right'.

This sounds an excellent idea, I shall start thinking about my design immediately, having watched that very informative video.

Incidentally, does anyone remember very small model boats (and swans) propelled by two lumps of camphor.?

Cheers,
Nerys

Sorry Simon😔
We seem to have gone even more insane with the Pop Pop / Putt putt stuff!

So Chaps and Chapess; if this Pop Pop boat stuff takes off I suggest we start a new Pop / Putt thread under "Building Related" and leave Simon's seriously insane 😉 Steam Boat thread in peace to develop as he would wish.
Who's up for that? (Design & Build contest perhaps?)
DIVISION: CLEAR THE LOBBIES.
Ayes to the right, Noes to the left.
Cheers All, Doug 😎

You can even have one with four funnels if you wish Nerys,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-TITANIC-tin-putt-putt-boat-new-never-used/153693532732?hash=item23c8d9323c:g😮YUAAOSwQ75dPJEk
Of course you will know that the fourth funnel is only for aesthetic! 😁
Or build your own design...

Cheers, Doug 😎
PS Many thanks for the offer of the Sausage Roll ransom👍
Maybe DHL has 'Cool Fridge-Freezer Trucks' ❄️ coming to Germany!!?? 😋
Or pack them in Nitrogen?

That's good to know. They used to be far more traditional looking than that, they had a funnel. Still, I might buy one for old times sake.

Nerys

You can still get 'em Nerys,
'Putt Putt' or 'Pop Pop' Boats. Lowest possible Entry Level!?😉
https://www.ebay.com/b/putt-putt-boat/bn_7024846341

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_pop_boat

Ten years or so ago there was a resurrection of them here, made of recycled Coke, Fanta, Beer cans etc. They call them Knatterboot here.
Still got one in the cellar, somewhere 🙄 !
Cheers Happy Pop-Putting😎

Entry level steam boats - about twenty years ago there used to be an advert in the Market Trader newspaper for a simple tin toy steam boat. Worked with pellets of solid meths heating water and a jet over the stern. Wish I still had one. They were quite fun.

Nerys

Sapot have a look at Steam Engines on the Forum - have posted a picture of the Steam Outboard and will be posting more unit pictures tomorrow - might be of interest simply to look at.
Please keep us updated on your progress - look forward to a building blog.........

All good, Appreciate the info, on my way and thanks for supporting my insanity!
Regards

Checked the Loyalhanna dockyard for something else and found they are advertising Saito engines so the they must be back in production - know they stopped production in the mid 80's - apologies if I mislead you. You should check out Loyalhanna Dockyard site for yourself - they may well have a suitable hull as well.

https://www.loyalhannadockyard.com/

Searched Google for an engine supplier in the US - lot of makes available - but mostly very pricey - some plants as much as +-$4500 . Might be a better idea to import a cheap one direct from Tony Green in the UK or there is the Australian Model Steam co as well although quite pricey - they advertise in Model Boats magazine through their agent.
Saito himself was the owner of a large scale engineering works in Japan apparently - loved steam engines so devoted part of his shop to making them for a while - even had a steam turbine in the range - one of the few successful commercial ones. Member of our club in Johannesburg had the standard twin or triple plant (memory fails me) - only had one shortcoming in that fuel usually lasted longer than the water in the boiler........
Models by Design in the UK have a large range of glass fibre hulls which may well suit you - not seen anything similar advertised in the US - a lot of the specialist shops like the Dromedary have closed down - perhaps a request on RC groups Boat section might help you - there are a lot of US members who might be able to help with direct advice - there is a section devoted to steam power.

Wow, I had no idea that Saito is history, thanks for the heads up ! But I’ll continue search for an open hull, that I’ll be able to convert.
Regards

Have you found a Saito plant ? - they went out of production years ago . Not bad engines but they would be pretty old by now - most date from the 80's.
Good idea to use open type boat - not sure If I can remember an American one . Plenty of British ones of the African Queen type and some with minimal cabin etc.

Thank you very much for the feedback, going to look into a suitable Hull with no superstructure. I know it a very steep entry point for the entire steam power plant, but I got this bug to push a giant boulder up a hill. I also stumbled across SAITO steam engines, right now I’m in the “pipe dream stage”

There is also a friend in Napier - South Africa who makes an exquisite small single cylinder outboard steam engine - not cheap but really great model..... Can get his contact details/website if you wanted - River Queen plans are no problem either - not really suitable for the outboard though.........

How about Vic Smeeds River Queen launch - Clinker built
Build at a size to suit engine/boiler. Nice & open - easy to see working parts and no superstructure to worry about. Pity Midwest's steam engines are no longer available......Dont think model expo keep any steam engines. In UK Tony Green Steam Models sell a simple oscillator in various stages which can be ganged up into multiple cylinders - and do a boiler to suit. Or Clevedon Steam who are redoing the old Cheddar steam sets if you want to go a bit upmarket.
A friend built an enlarged version of the River Queen in Teak to suit his Stuart Double 10 with a Yarrow boiler - beautiful example of a rivermans boat - always trying to persuade him it needs a new home with me ...... will try and obtain a picture of it and post here.