A MARINE STEAM PLANT - had dreams of gliding down the river so set about building a steam propulsion unit for a punt - Part I

摘要

The concept was thought about years ago, but until I retired in 1979 it was not possible to actually start making the plant, although I had a splendid workshop and tools and made many things, including models. The basic idea is to drive a 23ft. 6in. punt by steam, and to be transportable the punt is in two halves bolted together, the machinery and driver in the aft section, and two passengers in the forward section. I had visions of gliding down a river (the Wey navigation) on a fine sunny afternoon, but had no idea at that stage of the weight, space, or some of the practical problems. The plant should be almost silent as it is a condensing unit.