MooseMan

Let's start with a little factual information: This is the Hobbies Arrow Steam Launch, christened "Môr-Forwyn" (Welsh for Mermaid), and built by myself during May, June and July 2006. She's made out of obeche, pine, mahogany and aluminium. The steam plant is a 1950s SEL Marine engine powered by a 1930s Bowman 135 boiler. The hull is 24" x 4.5" beam, and she weighs in at 1.8 kg dry including radio and batteries. 

The first I heard of Arrow was in the autumn 2004 edition of Bowman news. This magazine included an article by Martin Flegg, then the Hobbies Development Manager, detailing his new design of a steam launch strongly based on the Bowman Snipe, but with considerable improvements to the hull, and now with radio control - not an option in the 1930ies! I read the article with interest, as I'd wanted a Bowman boat for a long time but had been unable to afford one, but put the thought of building one out of my head as one of those "haven't got the time/skill/tools" things. Of course there exists a long and venerable link between Hobbies and Bowman - I believe the two companies once shared premises, and certainly early Hobbies steam engines were made by Bowman, and the wooden hulls for Bowman boats made by Hobbies. Hobbies is unique in that it is perhaps the only business of its kind still around, as it has been for well over a hundred years!

Fast forward now to April and May 2006, and yours truly is having, with some understatement, a "spot of bother" that's earned me several long-ish and painful hospital stays, and sees me laid up for protracted periods of time with nothing to do so....with a spare 135 boiler sitting on a shelf, my mind started ticking, and I decided to order the plans from Hobbies. I also had some communications with their director Andrew Meek, who gave me some gentle encouragement. My first reaction on seeing the plans was a profound sinking feeling....this was no "put it together" kit, but a scratch build - with my non-existent skills in woodwork a daunting prospect.

I studied the plans very carefully for several days, and played the build out in my head. After a while, I'd convinced myself that I could possibly bring this to a successful completion, or at least have fun doing it. So I bought an electric fretsaw on EBay, and ordered the raw materials and some tools from Hobbies..
In the meantime, I was slowly getting better. In fact, my recovery became linked with my progress in building the boat. Every day I got a little stronger, and built another bit. I had to learn a whole new set of skills, and therefore took it nice and steady. To my amazement, nothing actually went wrong! During the build, I kept an extensive photo diary which can be seen here.

The engine I had originally planned to drive the boat turned out to be not quite satisfactory, so a replacement was found in the SEL Marine Engine, which was provided by IndianaRog. On August the 22nd Môr-Forwyn had her maiden voyage, which was a total success - footage can be seen below. She is currently fired with solid fuel, but a gas burner is on order.

For further detailed information, click on the small pictures and read the diary. If you are thinking of building one yourself, I'd be delighted to talk to you, just drop me a line. Finally, I need to thank a few people: Andrew of Hobbies who was always ready to clarify this and explain that; my brother-in-steam IndianaRog for his constant encouragement and advice, and last but certainly not least my long-suffering wife Fiona, for putting up with the sawdust, splinters and fumes without a single complaint!