Steam Canoe "NYRA"
The hull was made by Hobbs & Sons of Henley-on-Thames, England, circa 1910. Restored by me. Mahogany planking on chestnut ribs with Teak topworks. Length 27'6", Beam 3'6", weight just under 1 Tonne in working order. The design is that of a Canadian Canoe, and were popular on the Thames from around 1890 to 1920; following which the fashionable shape became the Slipper stern. Not many original canoes are left now.
The propeller is 15" x 28" RH. This is a copy of an original Simpson-Strickland propeller (ex Artemis) of 1899. It is unusual in that it is not a constant pitch propeller (pitch increases with diameter), and has ""spoons"" on the end of the blades to direct the water-flow backwards more efficiently. Comparative trials carried out against more modern designs of propeller demonstrated that these unusual features gave it a 20% advantage over the modern designs. [Who says we know better now ?]
The boiler is a side-fired locomotive-style firetube boiler. Heating surface about 16 square feet, with 1 square foot of fire grate. Working pressure 200 psi, but currently lowered to 150 psi in deference to the age of the engine. This is a modern design, all welded, but with expanded firetubes.
The engine is an original Simpson-Denison single crank "A"-size compound of 1887 (Engine No 48) from Dartmouth. Dimensions 2"+5" x 3.5". Restored by me.
