Tenacious

Status: Steaming

Owner: Doug Brookens

Area: USA

Hull

Open Launch. Construction: GRP with Meranti deck and coaming.
Hull model: Mt Girl 19 designed by Jim Thayer at Colorado, USA in 2001
Built 2007 by Thayer Co. at Colorado, USA
Fit out 2008 by Doug Brookens at Issaquah, WA, USA
LOA: 19' 2", LWL: 17' 6", Beam: 5' 3", Draft: 2' 4", Displacement: 1950 lbs.
The mold was built from a pattern taken from an old work boat found abandoned on the shores of Lake Champlain, NY. First laid up as a 16 foot hull, she was later cut in half and 3 feet added at mid-section for her present length of 19 feet. She presents with good sheer and a butter knife bow and has proven to be a dry steamer on the occassionally rough waters in Washington State.

Boiler

VFT, 104 tubes, 1/2" Type K cooper Designed by Doug Brookens,
Built 2007 by Doug Brookens at Issaquah, WA, USA
Fuel: diesel, Pressure: 150 psi, Heating area: 19.5 sqft,
16" dia X 21" high Seamless steel barrel. 104 X 1/2" dia Copper tubes. Welded with rolled in fire tubes construction,
engine driven pump, injector, feed water heater, whistle,
. This "hobby boiler" was hydroed to 225 psi and fired to blow the safety at 150 psi for the WA State Boiler Inspector in April, 2007. The boiler is fired with a Beckett ADC gun burner at a rate of 1.25 gph. The steam automatic is based on a Watlow temperature controller set at 355 degree F (equals 150 psi steam pressure).

Engine

Propeller

Bronze, 3 blades, Right Hand, 17" X 25"
Shaft: 1.25" monel
Built by Peterson Propeller Co.

History

In many ways, the Tenacious project was a group effort. My steamer friends who build scale live steam locomotives locally helped me with design, casting and machining. I have learned so much from all of them. We designed and fabricated the VFT boiler in 2006, I took delivery of the bare hull in the Fall of 2007 and was steaming by late spring 2008.

I've opted to go with atmospheric exhaust as I like the steam trail and to listen to engine chug away.