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Because they wereso expensive, his steamboats wereunsuccessfu l. The first successfu l steamboatwas the Clermont, which was built byAmerican inventor Robert Fulton in 1807.The Clermont was the combinedeffort of Fulton and Robert Livingston.Fulton was born in Lancaster County,Pennsylvania. By the age of 17, he wasworking as a painter in Philadelphia.
Power Plant. The heart of the steamboat is the steam engine. Many different designs and variations of steam engines were developed and tried during the era of steam ships. The basic Watt engine was the most important design.To start the process, water is fed to a boiler that heats it up until it produces steam.The steam is then fed into a piston cylinder. It pushes the piston up to the top of its stroke. When it reaches the top, a valve is opened in the side of the cylinder to vent out the steam.o start the process, water is fed to a boiler that heats it up until it produces steam. The steam is then fed into a piston cylinder. It pushes the piston up to the top of its stroke. When it reaches the top, a valve is opened in the side of the cylinder to vent out the steam.