Adventures of Adamant 1

[rightfredsdead]

the more i see of narrowboat vids the more i want to chuck it all in and go liveaboard. i rented one for 1 week in summer and it wasnt at all claustrophobic as i thought it might have been. i have a job a programmer from a laptop. i work from home. i have the cash. i have the life left in me - and by golly - i should go for it no ?

[hairmonster12]

@rightfredsdead yes!

[FA7273]

It is said Australia has everthing!!!

Not true.!!!!

What a FANTASTIC vidio !!

The Brits have somthing we Aussies dont,t have......

The Great Inland Waterways of Britten.

[Vinniebearinpa]

Hi, Great vid. Are the smokstacks on these a "break-away" type? Just wondering.

[lauriebooth]

Great boat, great video, great engine. Thanks for the posting.

[lezonk]

A charming little video, well handled and very interesting.

Sunshine, water, steam, a boat and good company. What more could one want?

[hitch42hiker]

Good heavens, how old is that engine that we see chuffing along at 1:00? It's like Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willy! :)

[tunneltug]

Dear hitch42hiker, Thanks for your comment. The engine was made by "Cockrane of Birkenhead", this is cast into the valve chest, as they moved to Annan (Scotland) in 1902 the engine must predate this. The style is that of the sort of engine that was produced between 1890 & 1900

[tomterahedrob]

How much horsepower?Im amazed at how such big boats can be moved so well on as little as 9HP.Were very fuel inefficient over here in the US.How long is your ship?Whats she displace?

[tunneltug]

Hi tomteradrob, We calculated that Adamant is using between 6 and 7HP, in a full day of 12 hours steaming she will burn about 75kg (160lbs) of good coal, covering perhaps 30 miles which isn't a lot but the canals are crowded and so there are delays and the speed limit is 4mph. She is 60' long, 7' wide with a draught of just over 3', displacing about 22 tons. Hope this helps.

[tomterahedrob]

Perfect!Thank you!I can use this info.That seems to be a swell cozy ship.

[tomterahedrob]

I bet that 6-7HP has a lot more torque than my modern gas engines 6-7 foot pounds of torgue for the same hp.Whats the torque?Thanks.

[tomterahedrob]

Have you ever considered coal gas or wood gas system?I wonder if one might save on fuel.

[tunneltug]

I am not sure what torque Adamant's engine produces but I guess it's higher than 6-7Lbs?ft. The cylinder pressure is 120psi, diameter (HP) 4.5" and stroke is 5" nominal RPM 200. The LP cylinder should produce the same power so perhaps you could work it out with this info. I think the boiler is designed to run on coal which it does well, based on discussions with other steam boaters, we think that there isn't a great deal to be saved by using other fuels.

[tomterahedrob]

thanks.On you tube they show cars running on wood gas and how its done.I know in Scandinavia coal barges ran on gasified coal.

[tomterahedrob]

I remember now.From Weston Farmers My Old Boat Shop.1pound of coal gasified and fed to conventional gas engine gave 1hp for an hour no matter the size of the engine.(gas engines are cheap unlike your classic steam engine)BUT they dont have the torque of the steam engine.Its like being stronger than you are.That7HP steam engine will probably out work a 25 hp gasoline engine.

[Jm4steam]

Nice Video