Status: Active use - resting
Owner: John A. Frampton
Website: http://Johnaframpton53@gmail.com
Area: UK-South West
Based on a rowing boat.
Construction: Folding boat marine ply plus P.V.C. Membrane.
Hull model: Lighter Row Seahopper designed by D. Rea at Wellington Somerset in 1970
Built 2018 by Seahopper Ltd. at Wellington Somerset
Fit out 2020 by John A. Frampton at Bristol England
LOA: 7' 0", LWL: 7' 0", Beam: 4' 4", Draft: 0' 6",
Stanley Type Designed by Owner,
Built 2003 by Kings wood Boilers, Bristol. at Bristol
Fuel: gas, Pressure: 100 psi,
5" dia X 14" high Copper barrel. 19 Copper tubes. Copper construction, copper/bronze superheater,
condensing, engine driven pump, hand pump, injector, feed water heater, whistle,
Boiler was originally tested using a Coleman picnic stove. One boiler band has the name The Picnic Steam Generator etched into it. A friend of the owner suggested that the boat should be called 'Picnic' ,and that is how the boat got her name!
Bronze, 3 blades, Right Hand, 10" X 20"
Shaft: 0.375" SS
Built up from three blades silver soldered to a bronze hub
Stern drive: short tail out drive with offset rudder designed specifically for boat. Propeller, and rudder made to be hauled up to take ground, and detachable for transit, and stowage. Known to builder as 'The Jack Drive'.
Steam plant removed from Bucephalus Steam Bicycle, it was originally designed to power a Steam Canoe. Mounted on a lift-in bearer, and fitted with a new gas firing system. New piping was made up to suit boat installation, and improvements to fittings were made. Construction was started in April 2020, flotation testing, July 2020, and construction completed in April 2021. Currently frequently in use with outboard motor as boiler is not yet certified, although it is steam able.