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Boulton and Watt had been involved in a minor way with attempts to apply steam power to boats, providing in 1807 for [[Robert Fulton]] the engine for ''[[North River Steamboat]]'', the first steamboat to run on the [[Hudson River]], (the boat later referred to as the ''Clermont''). Murdoch was primarily responsible for designing and building this engine and for agreeing technical details and designs with Fulton, who also worked on the design of the engine. Boulton and Watt also provided engines for a number of other marine vessels. However, it was not until the purchase of ''[[P/S Caledonia (1815)|The Caledonia]]'' by [[James Watt Jr.]] in 1817 that they became seriously involved in the marine engineering business. The task of refitting ''The Caledonia'', building and installing new engines and boilers and making her seaworthy and efficient in fuel consumption was a difficult process and Murdoch, although frequently suffering from fever and [[rheumatism]], directed this. By August the vessel was able to be tested on its intended route, from [[Surrey Commercial Docks]], London to [[Gravesend, Kent|Gravesend]] and at first made 8 miles per hour (mph). During its sea trials Murdoch carried out experiments on ''The Caledonia'' to measure the effect on fuel consumption and speed of changes in the depth of the paddles and whether one or both engines were used. This resulted in an increase of speed to {{convert|12|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}.
While carrying out trials ''The Caledonia'' was challenged to a race by their competitors for the London to Gravesend route, the ''Sons of Commerce''. Actually there were two races to Gravesend, both of which were won by the Boulton and Watt vessel, by a greater margin on the second attempt. The result was that the proprietors of the ''Sons of Commerce'' placed an order with Boulton and Watt for a new steamboat engine. There were also a number of other orders for steamboat engines, both for commercial customers and the [[Royal Navy]], and Murdoch was in effect the head of this branch of the business, being referred to and deferred to on all aspects of their marine business. It is estimated that from 1813 until 1825, marine engines of over {{convert|3000|hp}}
Shortly after the trials were completed ''The Caledonia'' carried out a crossing of the [[English Channel]] when Watt Jr. took it to [[Rotterdam]] and up the [[Rhine]] to [[Koblenz]].
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