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Flash steam hydrofoil in UK

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dsquire:
Stew

Are you sure that this is powered by steam. It appears to me that at about the 27 second mark there is a rapid movement like someone pulling a starter cord and then the engine noise starts. That is exactly the way my Radio Control .61 Merco water cooled used to sound when I started it 35 years ago. either I am missing something or someone is trying to pull a funny one on us as I didn't realize that Steam engines required a pull start to get them going. :doh: :doh:

Cheers  :beer:

Don

sbwhart:
Hi Don

This is where I picked the link up from, http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=34163

they claim it to be flash steam, see no reason to doubt it.

Enjoy the link

Stew

dsquire:
Stew

I went to the site and this is what I found. I don't entirely understand it but this is how he explained the starting procedure so I guess that I learned something today :doh:.

"This is my procedure for a flash steam hydro run.

 Warm up on the bench, check water and fuel, fit starter cord, make sure bridle wires are clear, wade out and fasten to attachment wire, fasten bungee to front sponson hook, bungee and hydro supported by helper while I pressurise burner, when hot enough close steam release valve, pump water to generator till you feel pressure then pull starter cord.

When engine starts helper steps back and I load the engine with the propeller in the water, as the power builds you give a push to the boat and pray.

Speed builds up on every lap, when I think it’s fast enough my hand goes up for 5 100 metre timed laps.

It was going very fast and did over 107 mph but if timed 2 laps earlier 113 mph plus would have been achieved.

Checking video of run with stopwatch 2 laps before timed laps verified 113mph speed. The flash steam record is 120+mph held by Bob Kirtley. See him go on a fast run and my hydro seems slow.

Timing is done by 3 stopwatches and the average taken.

H/S is an issue we take very seriously e.g. all bridle wires can only be bought from one source and are tested, there are rules for the various classes.

Hope this rekindles interest in a very old side of Model Power Boat Racing."

Cheers  :beer:

Don

sbwhart:
Hi Don

That makes sense, what you could see was him giving the start cord a pull  :whip:, its amazing that they are getting 100mph plus out of them things.  :headbang:

Pleased you found the  link interesting.

Have fun

Stew

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