rt08ry.htm

Subject: Re: cars and boats
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 1998 17:07:46 -0700
From: John Woodson
I crewed aboard the "Beverly" with Roger McGuire and together we found the perfect combination of dirty black rocks, grate draft, and stack blower to thoroughly roast all the paint from the double walled but un-vented stack, and send smoking paint flakes floating all 'round the passenger area and adding healthy roughage to the bilge grime...(grin) Of course being caught up in the affairs of swatting smoking paint cinders from our flesh and clothing while adjusting the engine packing glands that were all blowing like open steam whistles, no one gave much thought to navigation or destination. Somehow, someone must have bumped the ships wheel from time to time, miraculous steering us clear of the rivers dryer interface areas, and keeping us disfunctionally operating in a forwardly direction, and within the more watery areas of the river. We were steaming ahead into the wind and rain. We all felt it obviously proper, in that "rain in the face and a distinct bow wake" were constantly reminding us of our success, and gradually we seemed to settle back into a relaxed cruising mode.
As I found moments of leisure between periods of schlepping dirty black rocks from the dark underdeck bunkers, I hopefully kept vigil for other craft steaming to the picnic which I could photograph underway. Other steamers? Nary a Grunion, mate! We did manage to get the steam gauges from the dash of the abandoned Stanley in the old barn we found when we realized we were lost. After one hour of steaming out and turning about, we began our picnic as we steamed back. I wonder if we can find that old barn again?..........(grin)
I never saw a picnic, except for the splendid one we six, Captain Carl, Beverly and crew, had aboard the "Beverly". We even fired up the Windemere Kettle for a brew of river brine and hidden mud dauber nest for a stout, full-bodied bunker/bilge Pekoe latte.
It was a great steam adventure, and I left soon after returning to port. Anything else would have been anti-climactic. Nothing could top the afterglow except a hot shower and some dry clothes.
John
ps for those who were not there, photo is father and son steam team of Todd and Goldie in Ed Haas' "Pegasus"

picture 1: view of right side of engine. Broken ecentric rod is clearly visible just behind brass flywheel (made from old bronze semiconductor polishing head). Nut used to fix first break is visible just below new break. Pump drive and idler sprockets are obvious here as well.
picture 2: view of left side of engine. Condensate drain valves (note wooden handles to prevent burns) and hypro boiler feed pump nicely shown here. New black engine mount of 2" x 1/4" angle doesn't move at all -big improvement over old one which flexed at "high" speed. New hand feed pump is also visible here, as is my first casting - a bronze pump handle. New burner steam pressure regulator (made from old air regulator and some misc. stainless fittings, ball and reach rod - thanks Allan Greg!) can be seen in the upper left.
picture 3: Picture of entire plant in boat from engineer's eye view. Note left handed control orientation...
picture 4: Somewhat dark view of top of engine looking down w/ steam chest cover removed. Circular ring driving d-valve is seen inside steam chest.
picture 5: ditto... Note o-ring for balancing cap to reduce valve forces... not yet finished.
picture 6: Steam chest, rocker and D-valve assembly has been removed and flipped over; bronze D-valve is clearly visible. Large ports (for 2 x 2.5" engine can been seen in valve plate on engine.
picture 7: Valve plate has been removed from top of engine and sits next to steam chest assembly. Exhaust port between cylinders is visible in engine block.
Picture 8: Chief engineer's finger is pointing out snapped 1/4" brass rod that drove rocker arm... replacement will be stainless w/o threads in this critical area. In addition, I'll finish work on balancing the valve so the loads go down. Note field repair caused loss of proper rocker arm bolt; washers added to longer bolt saved the day :-).

Ripping Yarns