Paddle tug AID and PS Britannia

[Tony Mattson]

I've previously mentioned a longer term project of mine - to build
the double ended side paddle steamer Britannia - and I am presently
putting some thoughts down on paper ready for a start next year.

Britannia plied Auckland's harbour from around 1886 through to the
early part of last century. There's a painting of her in my photo
folder Kiwi Paddler. My immediate goal is to develop a set of
(roughly) representative hull lines, from these sources, and from
general knowledge of side paddle hull designs.

Unfortunately there are no plans of Britannia still in existence and
I have only 3 measurements (loa, maximum beam and draft), 3 photos
and the painting to work from.

Other double ended ferries also plied the harbour - these were the
eight Albatross class ferries. However I suspect that their "90
degree vee" hull sections would not be representative of the double
ended side paddler which would need a vertical hull around the paddle
boxes (I imagine a typical box section?).

The Albatross class bow and stern sections are also different to side
paddlers as they incorporated screws and were rather more like scows
or barges from the waterline downwards.

I can only guess at the underwater development of the hull and
designing a realistic looking hull to incorporate rudders at each end
along with the vertical stem and sternposts, is giving me grief.

I accept that whatever design I come up with will be speculative but
I would like to build something that might be plausible.
Unfortunately the side paddlers I've seen tend to have a rounded
counter stern (or similar) not a vertical sternpost, so they're not
much use either.

I wonder if the double ended side paddle tug AID might give some
clues as to how the bow and stern sections would combine vertical
keel sections and rudders?

The design of PT AID featured on Paddleducks at the start of last
year (courtesy of our friend Mike Mayhew) but didn't appear to come
to anything.

Having posed the problem, can a kind PDer please check out my
Britannia painting and suggest a solution to my problem?

Many grateful thanks
Tony
Auckland NZ

[Paulrjordan]

Hi Tony:

First of all...WOW! what a beautiful paddler your "Britannia" is.
Just look at that unique paddle box with her long gracious curves
(desirable on ships too!). She looks very "Oz" in character but with
a strong hint of American! All in all a delightful looking ship and
the insiration for a fine model.

BUT..what makes you think she's a double ender? I'd be most
surprised if she was as I have rarely seen a passenger steamer of
that era with that configuration. I've taken a VERY CLOSE look at the
painting in your photo album and she doesn't appear to me as being a
double ender. Unless you have conclusive proof she was, I'd suggest
she has a rounded counter in keeping with most similar designs of the
latter 19th Century. The fact she's an Ozzie paddler could of course
influence her design as some Murray boats were indeed double enders.

> Britannia plied Auckland's harbour from around 1886 through to the
> early part of last century. There's a painting of her in my photo
> folder Kiwi Paddler. My immediate goal is to develop a set of
> (roughly) representative hull lines, from these sources, and from
> general knowledge of side paddle hull designs.

In the absence of any actual plans, one has to sometimes go to plans
of contemporary vessels by the same or neighbouring builders within
the same building period to provide good clues to overall shape.

> Unfortunately there are no plans of Britannia still in existence
> and I have only 3 measurements (loa, maximum beam and draft), 3
> photos and the painting to work from.

You might try a couple of hull mockups in foam first. Foam sands
easily, glues well, and you can easily add more if you sand off too
much. Make the mock ups in 1:96 scale or smaller. When you've got a
hull shape that pleases you, cut it into rib sections and prepare
your lines from them or simply use them as templates for cutting wood
frames. If you don't want to cut the foam plug, theres usually
someone around who can loft lines directly from it.

> I would like to build something that might be plausible.
> Unfortunately the side paddlers I've seen tend to have a rounded
> counter stern (or similar) not a vertical sternpost, so they're not
> much use either.

I just took another look at your photo...sorry..I still think she has
a rounded counter and I simply cannot see ANY suggestion of her being
a double ender. However, maybe your other photos contradict that?
Could you post your other photos please?

> I wonder if the double ended side paddle tug AID might give some
> clues as to how the bow and stern sections would combine vertical
> keel sections and rudders?

PT Aid was virtually two identical hulls joined together at the
centre. Rudders at both ends and bow/stern identical. This was really
quite an unique ship and quite a different configuration from your
pleasure steamer. We do know that a number of British excursion
paddlers did have bow rudders but this did not mean in any way they
were "double enders".

>
> The design of PT AID featured on Paddleducks at the start of last
> year (courtesy of our friend Mike Mayhew) but didn't appear to come
> to anything.

Unfortunately, Tony, noone has heard from Mike in the past few
months. It's a shame as he is such a gifted modeller and resource.
He was very keen to produce a model of "Aid" in kit form and I
encouraged him wholeheartedly in this. Thanks to Phil Thomas (once
again) we have a viable profile for model building of "Aid" and I'm
sure lines of her can be obtained. I believe Mike had a set.

Turning back to your "Britannia" I believe there's a lot enjoyment in
doing the research into a vessel that has little material available
at first. It's fun sleuthing for clues and contacting museums and
archives who might hold some clue. Eventually with the help of a few
pictures, some ruling dimensionsal data and some
logical "imagineering" it's amazing how you can build up sufficient
information to render a pretty good model. In the absence of
definitive reference, it's also pretty hard to criticize the end
result.

Good luck with your project and do keep us posted.

Regards

PJ
Victoria, BC Canada

[TEX]

AH! ... Some additional vocabulary fer my files. Havin spent many
years workin as a technical illustrator, I can assure ya that such
methods are often used when there is no proof otherwise. Quite
often, we used "Fudgametrics" an "Precision Guesswork" to accomplish
our tasks. I figger if ya have exhausted every resource and still
don't have an answer, it's yer privilege to do what you think is
best. If someone can prove yer wrong, tell em you'll change it first
chance ya git. ... ) TEX

[Tony Mattson]

Hi Paul,

many grateful thanks for the various suggestions and the
encouragement. I think your idea of making up some alternative hull
designs is the way to go.

Yes Britannia is a wonderful vessel - kinda reduces me to tears each
time I look at her (yeah I know, far too new-age of me!).

Although the painting makes her look a bit foreshortened, she is
definately a double ender. If you check out the painting again you
can see the skipper on the upper deck at the wheel just above the
name board at the bow, and a second steering position on the upper
deck, 3 passengers in from the stern.

(I've chewed up a bit of band width and super-sized the image in my
photos folder so you'll be able to get a better view - sorry it's a
big file and will take a bit of time to load if you don't have
broadband, but the wait is worth it for all the detail that appears).

I will post the other photos in the next day or so - one's a stern
shot as she plows up the harbour and one is fully side on and shows
both ends quite clearly. Hence my interest in the hull design for
Paddle Tug AID.

Later in her life Britannia was brought back into service for a short
time - she was rebuilt with steering houses enclosing the ships wheel
at each end and the height of the funnel was increased. I feel these
mods didn't enhance her at all, and plan to stick to the late 1800's
design as she was in the painting.

Britannia was by and large a prototype for the later Albatross class
double ended steam screw ferries - but appears to have been more in
terms of general arrangements as opposed to hull design.

There are two remaining Albatross class ferries. Kestrel was built in
1905 as a steam ferry but is now powered by diesel and is still
active on the harbour.

Toroa still exists but is presently high and dry in a field miles
from the sea where she is slowly being restored by enthusiasts.

www.toroa.org.nz includes a small photo library and you'll recognise
the general style of the Britannia in some of the shots.

By the way Tex, many grateful thanks for 'fudgametrics' - I work in
quantitative research and the term is very useful indeed!

cheers for now
Tony
Auckland NZ

[Leighton]

Hi Tony
<<Toroa still exists but is presently high and dry in a field miles
from the sea where she is slowly being restored by enthusiasts.>>

Was this the boat that was taken to Tairua, restored and the first
trip out over the bar ran up on the rocks. My mind is hazy but I
seem to recall that it was towed back in and as you say sits high
and dry. She has now become a "dry" boat resturant.
If it is the same one.

Regards

Leighton