In remembrance of Edmund Fitzgerald .

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:04 pm

Pitchy wrote:Thanks Bill, here`s the first test run before paint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdx6PhOd ... e=youtu.be

That's cool. But, I think you need a bigger pond. By the way, do you set the rudder so that it always steams more or less in a circle? Ever thought about hooking up an RC setup with the ability to turn the rudder?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:20 pm

jeepnik wrote:
Pitchy wrote:Thanks Bill, here`s the first test run before paint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdx6PhOd ... e=youtu.be
That's cool. But, I think you need a bigger pond. By the way, do you set the rudder so that it always steams more or less in a circle? Ever thought about hooking up an RC setup with the ability to turn the rudder?

This is to big a boat alright for the pond but it`s all i have.
Yep have the rudders set sharp right, i`ve thought about putting electrics in one but haven`t got around to it.
Thanks.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:54 pm

That is impressive! Very nice work, Pitchy. Hopefully, I can see it chugging along in real life next week when I stop by.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 7:10 pm

KirkD wrote:That is impressive! Very nice work, Pitchy. Hopefully, I can see it chugging along in real life next week when I stop by.

You betcha pard

Got another vid coming soon painted.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:00 pm

I am always impressed by your eye for form and scale, always looks right. Good gift to have Mr. Pitchy.

I bet the crew are suitably pleased as well.

Grizz

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:36 pm

Lookin' grand, Pitchy!

Grizz wrote:I am always impressed by your eye for form and scale, always looks right. Good gift to have Mr. Pitchy.
I bet the crew are suitably pleased as well.
Grizz

+1!

I can hear the Captian on the bridge yellin' "Hard a'starboard ya lanndlubbers!"

But... as I'm sure Frank would agree, I wouldn't wanna be aboard in a November gale up there in the frozen north! As I think your tribute would all too llikely to emulate her namesakefor real! With all due respect.

We can't take ourselves all too seriously... 'cause just as many of us, Frank'd probably be one of the first to suck the venom out out if ya got snakebit! Dependin' of course, on jest where ya got bit!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:39 pm

Thanks Grizz, i felt a urge inside about those men and that ship and acted upon it.
It seems to be a good boat, the engine runs great as it`s pulling a pretty big prop of about three inches with quite a lot of pitch.

Thanks Griff,

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:02 pm

Her she is in her final glory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwqkRP9O ... e=youtu.be

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:06 pm

Awesome ship totally out did yourself this time!!!!!

is it to hot to handle? Id like to see that prop in action

ollogger

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:16 pm

Thanks pard, i`ll get a short vid of the prop next time out.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:27 pm

Pitchy, that is fabulous, love the paint job too

Gobblerforge · Post by **Gobblerforge** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:03 am

This is the best one yet. You say it ways about 25 lbs? That is amazing that the steam motor can do that. I did some numbers and it looks like your boat scales at about 82 mph. That's kicking it in the butt.
Gobbler

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:18 am

Awesome, your best yet Bro.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:38 am

Thanks, the original went 16 mph which is pretty fast for a bout that size.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 9:42 am

Thanks guys

Ollogger here`s the prop and drive, prop measures 3 3/4 inch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8feqJVIL ... e=youtu.be

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 4:55 pm

Thanks Pitchy, yep that's your best yet

all that smoke, noise & turbulence from the prop gives the heebee jeebees
after the tornado we saw this after noon

ollogger

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:56 pm

Pitchy,

Watched the video of the painted ship and really enjoyed it. The metal hull echoing the sound of the motor and smoke just made it look really real.

Couple questions:
How long will it run on one boiler full of water?
What's the draft of the ship?

Joe

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:00 am

Thanks guys.

Joe, i`m not sure as i haven`t tried running it for a long time but my guess would be a hour anyway.
The draft is about one inch, the boat weighs 25 lbs.

SteveR · Post by **SteveR** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:12 am

Hey Pitchy,

Very, very awesome ship you and the Mrs built. I love all the projects you two come up with and share.

I have a couple questions though;

Would some rubber shims under the engine quiet the knocking some?

And do you grease the arms and connecting rods from the engine to the prop?

Thanks,
Steve

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:30 am

Thanks Steve, it`s pretty hard to isolate the noises these type engines make and i like to hear the knocks anyway.
No i don`t greece anything it would just creat drag and rob power.
Oil when mixed with water even becomes sticky and slows it down. The only thing i put oil on is the crank shaft and the pivot bolt the cylinder swings on.
Low pressure steam is very wet and the water lubes everything pretty well.

SteveR · Post by **SteveR** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:54 am

Pitchy wrote:Thanks Steve, it`s pretty hard to isolate the noises these type engines make and i like to hear the knocks anyway.
No i don`t greece anything it would just creat drag and rob power.
Oil when mixed with water even becomes sticky and slows it down. The only thing i put oil on is the crank shaft and the pivot bolt the cylinder swings on.
Low pressure steam is very wet and the water lubes everything pretty well.

Thanks Pitchy, keep the projects coming I love them, brings me up when I had a rough day!

Steve

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:12 pm

Hear about the rough days, having one myself

Have another vid coming soon.

BAGTIC · Post by **BAGTIC** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:17 pm

Pitchy wrote:Thanks Joe
Then i`d have to put some air ration device in there or somethin.

Don't need an air compressor to aerate the pond. The bubbles themselves don't actually do much aeration they just stir the water. All that is needed is a little pump that draws water from the bottom and discharges at the surface. The oxygen is absorbed though contact of the surface with the atmosphere.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:47 pm

One more video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3h0MOZZnLU

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:16 pm

Sounds great, thanks for the ride!.....

Ironwood · Post by **Ironwood** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:17 pm

I gotta tell ya! That's one good looking ship. You've made some spectacular projects in the past but I think this one takes the blue ribbon. The story of the ships sinking brought back some somber memories for me. Having been in a hurricane at sea I can relate to how those men must have felt when the ship started to break up.

ollogger · Post by **ollogger** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:21 pm

Looks & sounds great, flat out awesome job!!!!

ollogger

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:41 pm

What a very special memorial. The song is on my play list. Thank you sir for the honor you did those men. Blessings

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:03 pm

Absolutely fantastic...remember the day as if it was yesterday.

One of my best friends (brother in law) was trying to hitch a ride to Superior three days before. He was Journeyman Engineer with the Maritime Union and he wanted to work as an extra for the last run before deer hunting (this would be the general end of the season on the lakes). He called the day after she went down, much to our relief.

Thanks Pitchy

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:13 pm

Thank you pards.

Peter M. Eick · Post by **Peter M. Eick** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:52 pm

Nice job.

I remember that event very well. My dad and I were putting a furnace into our cottage near Traverse City. My job as a kid was to get the tools and keep the fire going so we had heat in the house. We had an AM radio on and listened to the storm reports come in. Even now I can remember how big the waves were on the lake by our cottage and how strong the wind was as I opened the door to get the firewood and gather up dead sticks that had just fallen down. We heard about the Fitz on the radio as they reported that the Coast guard was heading out of TC going north. We talked about the guys on the ship and how hard it must have been for them. When the worst of the storm came to TC area, we were taking waves against the house off the lake. Something I have never seen since that time. I still think about it when I work offshore.

Keep up the good work. There are those of us who will never forget it.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:26 pm

Thanks and neat story.

Here`s a couple more runs, and one is topless

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQI2QR37jG4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_5FOjwKgm8

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:46 pm

That's unbelievable! So Cool! Yes, the sounds are all part of it.

Owen

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 11:56 am

Pitchy, I think you are missing the boat (pun intended). You ought to start selling your steam driven contraptions. In our own classified section if no where else. Heck, I'd buy one.

Hey, ever think about making a stern wheeler riverboat?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 1:56 pm

jeepnik wrote:Pitchy, I think you are missing the boat (pun intended). You ought to start selling your steam driven contraptions. In our own classified section if no where else. Heck, I'd buy one.

Hey, ever think about making a stern wheeler riverboat?

Thanks gents.
You`ll have to do a search back and find my boat thread where i posted vids of two, a side wheeler and a paddle wheeler.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 2:36 pm

Pitchy wrote:
jeepnik wrote:Pitchy, I think you are missing the boat (pun intended). You ought to start selling your steam driven contraptions. In our own classified section if no where else. Heck, I'd buy one.

Hey, ever think about making a stern wheeler riverboat?
Thanks gents.
You`ll have to do a search back and find my boat thread where i posted vids of two, a side wheeler and a paddle wheeler.

Okay, I remember now. I'll just plead CRS. Anyway, think about making some money on these things.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:24 pm

You guys are probably getting sick of these vids but if i make them might as well post them.
Today we couldn`t get it to make a circle in the pond so had to add a fin front left which seemed to work pretty good, we also stoped at the loading pier and took on some iron ore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRbcZ9YFMdo

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:57 pm

Enjoyed that one Pitchy, thanks

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:20 pm

".....26,000 TONS MORE THAN THE EDMUND FITZGERALD WEIGHED EMPTY..."

THAT WOULD BE TACONITE FROM THE MESABA....[ IT ALWAYS SOUNDED TO ME LIKE THE FOLKS UP THERE SAID ' MASABEE' BUT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST MY OLD SHELLSHOCKED BUZZIN' EARS.]

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:23 pm

GEEZ LENN, I DO LOVE TO WATCH THESE VIDEO'S OF YOUR HANDMADE BOATS DOING THEIR THING ON YOUR POND. HOW DEEP IS THAT POND ?? SOMETIMES IT LOOKS LIKE INCHES AND OTHER TIMES I'D SWEAR IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'D MEASURE IT IN FATHOMS....

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 3:38 pm

The ponds sides are 2x6`s so about five inch of water

Thanks Terry and Pete.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:08 pm

Borregos wrote:Enjoyed that one Pitchy, thanks

+ one....

Post by **Old Savage** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 7:39 pm

Looking good!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:31 pm

I can tell you that it is even more enjoyable to watch It steaming around Pitchy's pond in real life. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

Idahoser · Post by **Idahoser** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:57 pm

J Miller wrote: wahla

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voil%C3%A0

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:37 pm

From the engine room.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znqkI026u54

hightime · Post by **hightime** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:31 pm

What are you using for fuel? You sure got me thinkin' bout bein' more crafty. You got it, I tell ya. I do have a little steam engine somewhere.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 7:45 pm

hightime wrote:What are you using for fuel? You sure got me thinkin' bout bein' more crafty. You got it, I tell ya. I do have a little steam engine somewhere.

In the fitz i`m using propane, in the other boats fire starter gel mostly.
The propane is the handiest but ya gotta have a boat capable of hauling the weight.
Though there are companies that will sell ya small propane tanks for 300 bucks.
I`m going to make a new freighter and put a RC car in it for the power and steering.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:38 pm

Beautiful job Pitchy, great looking tribute. I'd love to put a little propane powered steam engine in my 16' dory to putter up and down the stream in my backyard.