The accompanying photograph is by Colin Harrison - the best yet showing off a bit of engine power!
P.S. Monarch
Progress Report September 2003
Brian Waters, designer and constructor, writes ...
Trials still continue, and the steamer has covered 20 miles this year. A lot of teething troubles have been seen to and each time she goes out things run better.
It became necessary to open up the end of the boiler recently to repair the
refractory wall at the end of the furnace. We took the opportunity to fit a
superheater coil, which we had been planning to do anyway, while the boiler was
dismantled and expect to see an improvement in engine power and fuel economy
with the engine receiving better quality steam. All this has taken time, and in
the meantime a diesel generator has been installed, with great attention being
given to the attenuation of sound and vibration. We may use a steam engine for
electrical generation someday but small steam engines have a notorious appetite
for steam.
Another development, now almost complete is the installation of a crankshaft
revolution indicator in the wheelhouse above the reversing lever for the main
engine to enable the skipper to see when the crankshaft starts to turn - an
essential feature when berthing alongside without an engineer down below working
the engine.
'Monarch' was drydocked recently for a scrape and paint up and when all things
are going properly we intend to place her on the blocks at the Acorn Shipyard to
enable the surveyor to conduct a full hull inspection with a view to obtaining a
passenger certificate.
The accompanying photograph is by Colin Harrison - the best yet showing
off a bit of engine power!
Unfortunately the print has not reproduced well as a digital image [Ed.]