Another greeting from the left side of the pond

[avalan]

Greetings all   

I've been lurking about the site for a few days and thought I'd finally introduce myself.

I'm a 56 year old Engineer for General Dynamics, looking forward to retirement. Yeah, I know.. I've got a ways to go

I have recently begun, in earnest, to design what I'd like to call my retirement project. A 65' - 70' liveaboard paddlewheeler. A sidewheeler to be exact. A dream I have had most of my adult life. But as the price of steel here in the states appears to climb daily, I may never get to retire if I plan to build it at all... It's going to take a few years.

I had planned to model it as I go along to see if my designs would hold water... or should I say hold out the water?
I'm starting my 3rd hull model now after learning the difference between a stern and side wheeler's hull. The hull is my biggest challenge. I will not be able to have the smooth lines of the 19th century wooden riverboats, but I am trying to get as smooth and efficient as I can with sheet steel and as few seams as possible. The hull will basically be built in the back yard with only a moderate amount of bending help from a machineshop. Thus all the modeling -- steel is not all that forgiving.

Some of my friends at the ASA recommended your site early on as a good source for modeling and design input. I wish I had followed their advice months ago. What better place to continue my research than at a site where folks have been building scale models of these ships for years 

I only hope I can supply alittle input of my own.

[Red_Hamish]

Welcome Avalan, what an exciting project to get your teeth stuck into. Many years ago I used to work in the stockholding division of what was then British Steel Distribution as a sales representative. It was probably no it definitely was the worst job I've ever done but sadly I still retain a lot of knowledge on material specs and uses. I wish you well on the tasks in front of you and if any of us here can offer advice or guidance then please just ask away.

cheers

Jim