Steam launch
The elegant little steamboat for lakes and archipelagos, with an awning and a tall funnel.
As steam engines became smaller and lighter during the 19th century they could be fitted in small boats. The steam launch became a pleasure craft for wealthy families on the lakes of England, Switzerland and Scandinavia, and a working boat for pilots, customs officers and surveyors.
The hulls were long and narrow, since the power of the steam engine was limited. Many launches have survived and still run on steam on summer lakes, often with their original engine and boiler.
Materials: Wood or steel plate, brass, steam engine and boiler
Manufacture: Built by engineering works and boatyards, often to order; the steam engine came from a specialist.
The tall, slender funnel amidships.
The awning on thin stanchions over the open seats.
The long, narrow hull that slips along with almost no wash.