SL Senta
Senta is based on a Flying Dutchman sailing boat shell, never fitted out for sailing. She is built of cold-moulded plywood, sheathed with glass fibre. She was first fitted out for steam in 1976; since then there have been many incremental changes, most of them improvements.
| Overall length: | 6 m | 20 ft |
| Beam: | 1.7 m | 5 ft 6 in |
| Draught: | 0.5 m | 18 in |
| Air draught: | 1.5 m | 5 ft |
For many years, a non-condensing "puffer" plant, using river water if fresh, otherwise an on-board tank. In 2002, converted to be either condensing or puffing, by changing a couple of valves. In 2003, fitted with an air pump, and puffing facility removed.
Boiler: Vertical centre drum 8 coil copper boiler, approx 1 sq m (10 sq ft) heating area built 1993, but barely used until installed in Senta in June 2009, replacing previous vertical cross-tube boiler, fitted 1999. (This replaced the second of two Merryweather 'A' boilers). Maximum operating pressure 7 bar (100 lb/sq in). Solid fuel (wood and coal).
Condenser: 2 copper tubes approximately 16 mm (5/8 in) diameter, 1.2 m (4 ft) long, under the after part of the hull.
Transmission: 2:1 bevel gear step down to prop shaft; universal joints, thrust block at stern gland. Propeller 36 cm (14 in) diameter by 51 cm (20 in) pitch.
Auxiliaries: Prop-shaft driven feed pump with air pump on same eccentric; auxiliary feed pump driven by Stuart Turner Sirius engine through 4:1 step down gear; hand feed pump; funnel blower; whistle; bilge ejector; Windermere kettle; electronic tachometer (converted from a bicycle speedometer).
But the less good news is that the boiler showed signs of trouble on that outing, and later inspection showed a hole from the water space to the centre flue at about the water level. It was not practical to repair this, so a new boiler has been obtained. See above for details. The picture below shows Senta on the River Itchen, June 2009.
Steamboat Links
For many other steamboat links, click here: -
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Rainer
Radow's Steam Boat Page
I can recommend the following books as being of interest to steamboaters:
Steam Boat Register
Published by the Steam Boat Association, with details of all known steamboats in the UK.
Steam Engine Principles: Their Application on a small scale by NG Calvert
A technically sound but accessible introduction to the theory and practise of small scale steam plant. Ideal for the model engineer or preservationist: 1991, ISBN 0 951360 1 1, paperback, 130 pages
A compilation of articles from The Funnel, the magazine of the Steam Boat Association of Great Britain covering practical matters ranging from designing boilers to tying knots: 1994, ISBN 0 9513620 4 6, paperback, 175 pages. This book is still available, at a reduced price, following the publication of a new edition by the Steam Boat Association.
Steam Tables and Other Data for Steam Enthusiasts
Tables, in both British Thermal and SI units, of the properties of steam over the range of interest for preserved and reproduction steam engines, and other relevant data: 1991, ISBN 0 9513620 2 X, booklet, 12 pages.
The three above titles may be obtained from bookshops, or direct from the publisher.
