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| Looking for suggestions of plans for ... |
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Chris
| | Posted on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 05:46 pm: | 
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I have an 8hp single cyl Caille two-stroke, thing runs great, and I'd like to return it to work in a boat. I am planning on building a boat myself, as I've had no success in finding a good fantail launch (the type I really desire) to put the motor in. Does anybody have any suggestions? I am looking at the Fanny the Fantail plans from Selway Fisher, http://www.selway-fisher.com/Steamup20.htm
It looks maybe a little small for the Caille, but is the right style. Also, my Caille is equipped with a wico mag like I've never seen elsewhere, with a three position switch on top that is used to change the motor's direction by backfiring (tremendous amount of torsion force produced as the flywheel changes directions - the whole motor tipped over skids and all the first time I did this!). For shafting, do I just attatch straight to the flange on the output side of the crank, or do I put a clutch of some sort on it? I am looking to stay period correct (cir 1915-1920) with the drivetrain. Any and all comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris |
Dick Gibbens
| | Posted on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 08:36 pm: |
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Chris, I'd put a lot of thought into this project! I have a Caille 8HP one cylinder that was in a 40 foot wooden boat! Story was, it shook a lot! Also, your experience with reversing it says it is subject to torsional power impulse vibrations when under way. I'd suggest a hefty fondation with a lot athwartship to absorb the power pulses. I'd flange the tail shaft to the engine coupling. |
miro
| | Posted on Sunday, October 13, 2002 - 07:57 am: |
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From what I have experienced, yu'll need a 24 ft hull or longer to suit the 8 HP . A 26 or 28 ft boat would be even better. This implies that you are looking at a 4000 lb boat - all in. Anything lighter and the engine will eventually shake open the joints if it is a wooden boat.
Real hefty stringers are the key to managing the problem of engine vibration.
It might be easier to keep the Caille as a parlour engine and find a smaller one to use in a boat.
In any case the boat will never be anything more than a leisurly cruiser - it can be satisfying adn quite wonderful - but you can't be in a hurry .
miro |
Richard Day
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 08:38 am: |
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I had a now long gone old time waterman tell me that the big one lungers took a terrible toll on the heavy displacement hulls and it was common for an engine to outlast two even three hulls. In this case he was talking about the 4 to 10 horsepower 2 and 4 stroke single cylinder engines. About every ten years a waterman would cut down some "Eastern Shore Mahoganey" (Southern Yellow Pine) and for winter work would spend a couple of winters building a new hull. Crude but very rugged in the classic Chesapeake Bay deadrise design. They would take the old engine, shaft, stuffing box, prop all the good metal work, etc. and put it in the new hull. Most of these boats had direct drive with no reverse gear as cost was the driving factor. There were hundreds of these hulls used for Tonging oysters, trappingg or trot lining for crabs. The watermen hated the disk flywheel as they "Stomped" on the spokes to start the engine.
Almost none of the early hulls survive today in useable condition. Those that do are almost all in marine museums and in terrible shape due to years out of the water and undercover. The large two strokes were replaced with 4 strokes after about 1920 as they were very worn and tired. The gasoline consumption of the two strokes was also a driving factor toward the four stroke engines. Myself I beleive the reason the small two strokes are much more common today is simply the fact they were not used as much and were in family launches or other pleasure craft applications. Miro's points are well taken. Find a small engine like a Palmer YT-1 (2 horspower at 800 RPM, RH three blade prop, 12" X 12") and put it in a 16-18 foot hull. Reliable, easy starting and won't destroy a reasonably light hull. I think that any engine more than 3 horsepower will put your hull in a much larger size and displacement. For what its worth. |
Chris
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 15, 2002 - 03:29 pm: |
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Great comments guys- points I'd never have even considered. Thanks!
Anyone else have more lore/history/practical advice for me?
Chris |
Bruce
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 08:44 pm: |
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Chris, Don't get discouraged- look for a small metal life boat style hull or look at the Elliot Bay 26' 'glas hull for your 8hp single Caille. After all- it IS about the ENGINE! Ken Gallop in Rhode Island has a big single Lathrop in a 21' 'glas Beckmann Truscott hull-it's QUICK!! Neat how there's a surge forward each time it fires- kind of a slight rocking motion fore and aft while running- COOL!! |
Pat Spurlock
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 04:22 pm: |
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Chris:
See the Elliott Bay website at www.steamlaunch.com
The 23-foot hull is very high quality and is less expensive than the Beckmann hulls when you consider that the Elliott Bay hull has a deck, and engine bearers and sterntube installed, not to mention the difference in quality. The Elliott Bay hull is also stable.
The hull has had Saabs and other big engines installed. A man in California is installing a 6 hp Hicks. The hull takes a 22 inch diameter wheel without modifying the skeg.
I too want to install a "small" Hicks; does anyone know of a nice specimen?
Pat Spurlock
Elliott Bay Steam Launch Co.
503-775-5954 |
andrew
| | Posted on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 05:22 pm: |
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Pat,
There is a 8HP Hicks for sale on ebay at the moment... not very small though...
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