Banter II

Out for a jaunt at local Lake Lagunita. Radio control steamship, powered by denatured alcohol.

Lines of a new kind of vessel

Engine design

Hull takes shape

Lines lofted, ribs cut and keel laid, the shape of the vessel begins to emerge.

Plank on Bulkhead

Finely cut planks go on to fill out the hull. These will be treated with polyester resin to seal the joints.

Boiler System

To generate steam for the engine, I fashioned a boiler from a old propane tank and gave it an alcohol burner, visible below. One of the early challenges was constantly melting the hard soldered connections, before switching to mechanical (threaded) fittings.

Test Assembly

Installing Crankshaft Counterweight

Here I am balancing the rotation of the single cylinder engine crankshaft with a counterweight.

Maker Faire Exhibition

Exhibited in the Bay Area Maker Faire, Banter II won the editor's choice Blue Ribbon for young maker.

Maker Faire Exhibition

Fielding questions at a Palo Alto Maker Faire.

Banter II

Banter II out for a run in the historic San Francisco Model Yacht Club waters of Spreckels Lake.