Steam launch

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this Steam launch

This wonderful steam launch, built in Sweden between 2005 and 2010, has only had 2 seasons in the water, wintered under cover in a shed and can be considered as a new boat in new but in fully trialed and proven condition.

The story of this fine steam launch began about 2005 when the Swedish owners came across a few small steam boats on the Gota Canal.

In the autumn of 2005 Bernt Breding, maker of the B2 steam engines and boilers sent a drawing to the owners of an 1892 steam launch designed by Harald Olsson of Vanersborg.

A new hull to this design was commissioned from Lars Qvist from Kungslena Cabinet Makers, the first boat to be built to this vintage design.

This very sweet classic steam launch design has a straight full length keel, a straight stem and a short counter stern with good freeboard.

The Hull

The construction uses the epoxy resin saturation method with Oregon pine strip planking, edge glued and coated inside and out with resin and glass cloth.

Steam bent oak timbers added after the hull skin construction with close-spaced transverse oak floors in the bottom which also form the supports for the cabin sole.

The sheer is emphasised by a deep bulwark plank painted red cut with waterways to drain the narrow side decks, varnished capping above with bronze capped rubbing strake below with gilded carving at the bow.

After very careful filling and fairing, the hull was painted externally with a linseed oil based paint and varnished on the inside.

The superstructure is built to an equally traditional design to give shelter over most of the length of the boat and standing head-room all through. Built in African and S American mahogany  with large opening windows down each side to give plenty of light to the interior and excellent all round visibility, one doorway each side for side entry and all finished in 12 coats of Tonkinoise varnish.

The cabin roof is built of Siberian larch on oak beams, covered with canvas in the old way with varnished moulded mahogany margin boards round the edges, again soaked in Tonkinoise varnished oil. A sliding hatch at the after end allows ease of access through the after doors.

Twin, gull-wing lifting hatches at the forward end allow ease of access through the forward doors.

A traditional opening sky-light over the after end of the cabin roof with a pair of opening hatches midships.

Large classic spot-light on the roof forward end.

Nav lights in light boxes on the forward corners.

Bow mooring lines pass either over the stemhead fitted with magnificent polished bronze chain rollers or through bronze fairleads in the gunnel to heavy duty bronze bollards each side of the fore deck.

Spurling pipe on deck for the chain rising from the chain locker below.

All windows are in bevel-edged toughened glass.

All fittings are in bronze supplied by Davey & Co of London or Toplicht of Hamburg. Other unobtainable fittings were custom made in Sweden.

Blakes bronze sea-cocks.

Steering

Hydraulic wheel mechanism to a ram on the rudder stock under the aft deck.

Stainless steel rudder mounted vertically in a stainless steel shoe extension to the keel.

The wheel has two positions in the cabin, either on the starboard side forward or against the forward bulkhead to starboard.

The Cabin

Steps up aft to twin glazed double doors open to the  Oregon pine laid deck over the counter. Sampson post takes the lines. Spurling pipe to take aft anchoring chain.

Below the counter the space is open to the cabin behind the steps and contains the hydraulic steering ram on the rudder stock.

At the forward end, steps up to deck with two glazed doors open to fore deck laid in Oregon pine on oak deck beams and finished in Tonkinoise varnish.

Seating in the after compartment of the cabin down both sides built as removable benches on mahogany spindle legs with loose, buttoned cushions.

The seat backs are formed in varnished mahogany slats with roll-round top edges.

At the forward end of the starboard seating is the panelled mahogany heads compartment with a new Porta Potti portable chemical toilet and polished stainless steel bowl hand basin set in a mahogany corner unit.

2-door locker below.

Shelf above.

Brass pillar and rail guards.

Sea water from a hand pump, waste drains overboard.

Opposite the heads compartment to port is a varnished mahogany panelled part bulkhead, sideboard in the cupboard, corner cupboard above.

A double folding panelled mahogany door closes off the compartment.

Forward cabin compartment with 2 fold-down button seats each side.

Steps up forward with twin glazed doors to the fore deck.

Engine and boiler in the midde of the forward compartment, all visible from the after cabin with the door open.

Head-room in forward part of the cabin                    1900mm  (6’3”)

Head-room in after part of the cabin                         1860  (6’1”)

Electrolux spirit stove.

The top surface of the boiler is also good for boiling a kettle or frying the bacon and eggs.

12v refridgerator

Machinery.

B2 Anga 10hp 2-cyl high pressure steam engine driving a centre-line 50cm x 1m bronze prop.

The engine is mounted above the prop shaft which is carried in plummer blocks and belt driven from the engine.

B2 Anga wood fired 35kw 90 litre boiler.

The boiler holds 90 litres fresh water and is topped up from the outside by a mechanical piston pump driven off the shaft. A vertical handle operates this water flow when required.

A manual stand-by pump is fitted in case of pump failure or if the boiler has to be topped up when the engine is not running.

Birch is used as fuel and is stowed under the fore deck.

70kg birch (or 3 Ikea blue bags) gives 8 nautical miles steaming.

The stowage spaces can accommodate some  35 Ikea blue bags full of logs cut to the size of the bag which is also the size of the fire box, perfect for the job!

Coal can be used as well.  A combination of some coal and some wood has been found to be efficient.

3 x 12v 96 amp/hr batteries secured below the cabin sole.

Shore power charging with a battery charger.

All switch gear on a switch board by the helm.

Nav lights each have a dedicated motor-cycle type battery.

The engine installation is in perfect, almost new condition, always visible by the helmsman, all controls easily reached. A wire mesh security cover protects the belt drive mechanism.
Typically, the engine cylinders and the boiler are clad in varnished hardwood.

All copper and bronze pipes and parts are polished.

The boiler is fuelled from the forward face.

The boiler flue runs vertically through the cabin roof.

Extensive range tools, oils, greases etc.

An exceptionally fine example of a classic steam boat but a new construction built to a very high standard with wonderful attanetion to detail and beautifully presented in as new condition, ready to steam away.

Disclaimer:

These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.