Watched by many enthustiasts for traditional boats, after a short speech, John Sharps who started her 20 or so years ago, annointed the stem with an appropriate tincture

and she slid down the ways with a full head of steam.

A lost key in the shaft coupling was returned to its rightful place and she steamed merrily on the first voyage.

First steam down the Opango Creek owner on board and satisfied

All smiles after another trip round the block: Wayne Larsen engine builder on the bow and John Sharps afloat again and happy.

As the tide left us, the two steamers were rafted up together after a very satisfactory day.

BUILD HISTORY

The hull of the SL "Janice "was built by John Sharps while he was a tutor in boatbuilding at Carrington Technical Institute (now Unitek) Named for John's late wife, "Janice" is a robustly built little boat. The hull is two skin Kauri and the scantlings are sufficiently strong to take the steam machinery. Here she is on arrival at the boatyard Whangateau

PROGRESS

Local boatbuilder Jim Emtage is sorting out the remaining woodwork. She now has a raised cuddy forward to house spare coal, tools and lifejackets etc. Because I am using a vertical firetube boiler, I wanted to soften the profile, hence the cuddy. It is very becoming and will have a port each side to let the light in.

Offering the boiler up to the hull before lagging                                The cuddy erected and being glued

All done and awaiting the ports and some paint.

Which was applied first week of November

The teakclad boiler is in the foreground with the mountings temporarily stacked on top.

We went for a steam in "Romany" that day and I couldn't resist including these pix. She's so photogenic.

THE ENGINE

The engine is a single cylinder engine 2.75" x 3" to a variety of designs. John Sharps made the patterns and had soleplate and cylinder cast 20 years ago. There were various other parts that came with the boat including the crankshaft pieces. It has been finished off by Wayne Larsen and should push her along quite well.

Wayne at it full steam ahead.

Offered up for the fitting of the engine beds late October 2006

BOILER

The boiler is a coal fired wet leg vertical firetube design by Wayne Larsen similar to that fitted to his boat "Victoria" Slightly bigger firebox and narrower wet leg.

Wayne with the new boiler ready for its test.

View from the foundation ring

200 psi hydraulic and no water leaks!

The boiler mountings have arrived. I have some castings for a Klinger reflex water gauge and will get on to them sometime. For some reason, I have always liked the look of a reflex gauge and it does confer a little more safety in the stokehold.

Teakwork finished,varnish drying and the mountings on display.

HERE SHE GOES!

Out in the open for the first time in many years and nearly finished.  Shot Romany off her trailer and slid Janice on in her place. Here she is off to the Steam Engine Society AGM

.