Finally in operating order! s/s Robert has tried the seas two times this summer. First time we went for a 45 minutes long trip and the second time we stayed away for over two hours.
| First time we fired the boiler was in May 2006. At that time it wasnīt isolated and the temperature in the machine room reached some 40 degrees Celsius. We promised ourselves to isolate the boiler before next time we intended to fire it. As you can see in the photo we are well on our way. |
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| The very next day we sneaked out of the port for the first trip in nearly 30 years. One of us had to relay commands from the captain down to the machine room. The machine telegraph was not yet in order. A couple of months later, just before the second trip, we put some short copper chains together and managed to link the two parts of the machine telegraph together. As we were backing out the chain broke almost immediately as it proved to be completely worn out. Anyone who knows where to find another one? Again we had to relay commands but I think all of us enjoyed that just as much as we did using the telegraph. | |
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Robert is on itīs way back into the port. Photo: Johan Blom |
| Here we are slowly approaching the port. We discovered a noise from one of the main bearings indicating more work this winter. An old steamboat friend once said that having a steamboat is 100 maintenance hours per each running hour. Luckily it seems as if he was right. Maintenance is great fun. I donīt think you buy a steamboat if youīre just interested in the running part. Photo: Johan Blom | |