Paddleducks
Paddler Information => Preserved Paddle Ships => Topic started by: monarch on November 15, 2007, 11:16:45 PM
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PS Monarch, built by Brian Waters, has moved to the Isle of Wight to continue offering a public service on the River Medina and around Cowes.
Her primary duties will be restricted to private charter use for parties with 12 or less guests although during weekends and school holidays she will be offering public cruises from Newport, Island Harbour and Trinity Landing in Cowes. Full details can be found at http://www.leisuresteam.co.uk, keep checking towards Feb 2008 for more complete information.
Currently, the vessel is undergoing a major refit which will include an overhaul of her saloon to be more accomodating for seated dining and a complete change in her livery.
Monarch's official press launch is scheduled to take place on 12th March 2008, after which public service is set to begin.
The Classic Boats Museum have pledged a number of beautiful motorboats to escort Monarch on her maiden voyage from Island Harbour into the Medina. We would be honoured if members of the SBA felt willing and able to join us as well to provide Monarch with a flotilla.
We hope to see as many people as possible down here on the Isle of Wight!! Please email dir@pporg.co.uk if you require further details.
Matthew O'Crowley
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Came across this blog re: the progress of PS 'Monarch'.
http://medinamonarch.blogspot.com/
Tony.
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A few pictures from a trip on 'Monarch' yesterday from Newport down the Medina. The vessel is really looking smart and well cared for with exciting plans for a new boiler which will improve this great boat even further! Thanks for the helm Matt ;)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/SouthCoast108.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/SouthCoast119.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/SouthCoast131.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/SouthCoast152.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/SouthCoast162.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/SouthCoast163.jpg)
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/SouthCoast198.jpg)
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Monarch deep sea off Cowes!
(http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/channelimages/Mon2.jpg)
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What a beautiful little ship!
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She's not that bad, handles nicely in a bit of chop too!
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What a suprise. this is the first time i have known about the Monarch, as I am on the island next week 5July, I hope to have time for a visit. She will make a very good model if built too a large scale. R.G.Y
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Shame on you!! Come visit her and spead the word!! ;D
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Some nice pictures of her here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/leightonian/3931423786/
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Gosh, this is a sad announcement! It was my dream to go to sea as a little boy, but got sucked into the landbased careers that were on offer. At that time, it was impossible to join the MN as a mature entrant, but now that has changed.
As a result, I am looking to join up as a deck cadet-meaning that this coming Summer will be my last season on the Monarch. As a result, we are looking for either:
Sale of PS Monarch
or.....
Charter of PS Monarch to be run as a stand alone business
or...............
Self employed skipper!
Apart from a sale (which we would be loathed to consider), this would be a temporary situation, and would maintain the boat for the future.
Sorry for this news, but the opportunity for me, personally, is too great to ignore......and it seems thay I am wanted!! Anyway, with all of these giant paddle steamers being restored, there needs to be someone qualified to drive em!!
Matt
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Hi Matt.
That's quite a shocker, but you must do whats best for you. I wish you all the best with the "big boys". I will just have to make sure that the model monarch is ready next summer.
Cheers.
Chris
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Gosh, this is a sad announcement! It was my dream to go to sea as a little boy, but got sucked into the landbased careers that were on offer. At that time, it was impossible to join the MN as a mature entrant, but now that has changed.
As a result, I am looking to join up as a deck cadet-meaning that this coming Summer will be my last season on the Monarch. As a result, we are looking for either:
Sale of PS Monarch
or.....
Charter of PS Monarch to be run as a stand alone business
or...............
Self employed skipper!
Apart from a sale (which we would be loathed to consider), this would be a temporary situation, and would maintain the boat for the future.
Sorry for this news, but the opportunity for me, personally, is too great to ignore......and it seems thay I am wanted!! Anyway, with all of these giant paddle steamers being restored, there needs to be someone qualified to drive em!!
Matt
Matt,
You have my number . . . give me a call.
Chris
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Sorry Chris, your number and contact details are lost!! Give me a shout on 01983 290124
Cheers,
Matt
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As I said before, Monarch is either up for sale or long term charter owing to peronal circumstances, She is a cracker, and her details are availble on Boatshed.com
Cheers,
Matt
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Phew!! Monarch will be coming off the market (which is a bit embarrassing as there are parties interested) as Ian (the other half of Monarch) has been offered another job! The prospect of selling her was awful, but with the council taking his job away from him, forcing a move to the mainland, and me leaving the country in September-there was not much option but to let her go to a better home.
Therefore, we shall carry on with the motley and there will be many more seasons on the Isle of Wight to come!!
....Can't tell you how relieved I am!
Just need to get my arm fixed in time to be able to drive her by the start of the season!!
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It's good to hear the Monarch will be continuing in service Matt, even though it's extremely unlikely that I will ever get down there to sail on her, it would be sad to see another paddler go....
Regards
Eddy
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Never say never Eddy!!! Well actually, when you have ploughed tens of thousands of pounds and put your house up as security all for the pleasure of the general public...I'd say don't do it!!
Can't say how relieved I am to see my baby stay on her river though!!
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Can't say how relieved I am to see my baby stay on her river though!!
She's become a feature on the Medina now-it really would be a shame to see her go!
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2010 timetable is now available at www.medinamonarch.co.uk.
Mention your Paddleducks username onboard to get 3 for 2!!
Matt
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FYI....we're getting a new toy!! After Easter we will be able to take on any laser cutting jobs that might need doing. So if anyone is interested-give us a shout!
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Hi Mat. Will you be able to laser cut styrene? The guy who did the cutting for my model monarch, can not cut it so I have had to use acrylic. If you can then the worlds your oyster. All those paddler windows perfectly straight and identical wow :)
Cheers Chris M.
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I would like to set a few records straight if I may-my google alerts have been going mental recently with many people commenting on the PS Ryde and disagreement between ourselves and the PSRT over the sale of the engine console. I am a very firey redhead who for three years has spent every day working until the early hours trying to keep a pleasure steamer going for the general public. We are not rich, we have no disposable income and very little contingency for when things go wrong. Monarch's boiler required major repairs at the time of the sale and I can say categorically that if it were not for the sale of the Ryde's console we would not have been able to fulfil what was a very busy year for us.
I, personally, have the greatest respect for Mark Young who has not only offered moral support to us when we had the idea of bringing Monarch to Island; but has also saved our bacon at times when the boat regularly broke down in the early days. He is a passionate, positive and practical man who I am pleased to regard as a friend. Any person that either contributes to, or reads this forum, is entirely incorrect should they assert otherwise. The sale of Ryde's console was done with the full knowledge of the PSRT and the PSPS and we met with Mark prior to the sale for a pint and a chat about it!
I will not stand for any person to make comments on our behalf, nor I imagine would Mark. Those people who have done so by using their credentials to add artificial weight to their comments will receive a complaint from me via the organisations that they purport to represent.
I'm all up for a bit of debate, but when somebody who has the gumption to get up off their backside and do something is being slated-it's time to draw things to a close.
PS Monarch is a standalone vessel with a supportive community voluntary organisation supporting it. We will continue to attempt to entertain the public, improve the boat and allow those with passion and commitment the chance to work alongside us as volunteers.
In terms of my personal views-these are entirely that. I am not a member of this forum to advertise myself, simply to learn from those who have experience in the type of boat that I plod up and down on every day. Support the Ryde if you want, there is a fine engine hiding in that hull and I for one would love to see it move once again-but only if I can be taken around the Isle of Wight by it (I'm only jealous as we are always stupidly busy when Waverley does her trips down here, and I rarely get the chance to go for a ride)!
Let this be an end to all of this, and be warned-if I see ANY person attempting to represent ourselves or make comments on subjects that they do not understand here or on any other site-I will take action. The Monarch is my livelihood, it is not a hobby and we fight a daily battle to keep her steam powered and not take the easy option of slinging a diesel hydraulic system in so that we might one day get a decent wage packet home!! Therefore I must protect it.
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Well yesterday was a psps trip......absoluetly s*@$ing myself about taking her out with a broken arm-but all seemed good! I did try and land the last group on gridiron pontoon-but the flood tide and the lack of strength in my arm prevented that from happening. At least it was myself that let that particular trip down and not the boat...which handled stunningly after a winter layup!
We operated from East Cowes Marina, which worked very well...I am sure that we will use them again!
Boiler test next week-so fingers crossed....not as though luck has anything to do with it!