Feathering paddles

[Paulrjordan]

Hi Christian..let me explain!! (anyone else please feel free to add
comments)

The Feathering Blade" found on many British Paddle Vessels right up
to the last ones constructed in the 1950's allowed the wheels' blades
to be controlled by a pushrod system that ensures the veins are in a
near vertical position from the moment they plunge into the water. It
reduces the impact on the blades from SLAPPING into the water which
had previously caused tremendous wear and loosening of bolts in the
non feathered types. It also "drains" the paddle of water quicker on
the upward stroke to reduce weight and pressure on the blades. The
result was therefore a saving in fuel and far greater efficiency of
the paddle.

The system of rods set in an eccentric plane to the central hub is
remarkable to look at..and watch operating. I clearly remember the
dull thud from the paddle boxes as each paddle blade reached the top
of its stroke on the old British Paddle Steamers I rode as a kid.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, take a look at the files
section where you will see the folder:

"THE FEATHERING WHEEL" (3 images) First patented in England in 1829
by Elijah Galloway, the feathering Paddle Wheel was perhaps the most
successful attempt to improve the efficiency of the conventional
paddle.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paddleducks/files/

I sincerely hope you can now access all this archived material,
Christian. If not, then you need to obtain a new Yahoo Groups ID.
Let me know.

Hope this answers your question on the "FEATHERED PADDLE"

regards

PJ

[Christian]

Hello PJ


Please let me comment on the following issue:

> I sincerely hope you can now access all this archived material,
> Christian. If not, then you need to obtain a new Yahoo Groups ID.
> Let me know.

I am so sorry but I still do not have access to the Paddleducks files.
Please let me get my PC at home first. Every attempt with this iMac from my
workplace would be a half-solution only as I plan to take over completely to
my future home PC for obvious reasons.
I simply didn't have time to go shopping for the computer "rig" yet. I will
let you know immediately when I have the new computer hooked up and running.

BTW: thank you very much about your comprehensive info about the feathered
paddle wheel. I guess this mechanism would have been too delicate for ocean
going paddle wheelers. For river boat with paddle wheels I guess it is THE
solution.

Thanks for all the info

Cheers, Christian

[Paulrjordan]

I'm so glad you got all the "GE" plans from London and they were not a
disappointment after all the effort you have made to locate them.
NOW...here's ALSO a bit of news from London. Since you cannot access
the files I will send you the following which is in the "GE" folder.

The Building of "Great Eastern" . An amusing account of how legendary
R/C Sailboat modeler Mike Taylor (Founder of the Scale Sailing
Association) built a huge model more than 14'long into what was
probably the largest 1:48 scale model paddle steamer ever built. It's
not so much HOW Mike built it, but WHERE...and part of a saga which
started over 30 years ago in a small town called Crouch End,
just outside London, England.

You'll be fascinated by this account Christian. Mike is a delightful
guy who for more than 30 years has been an ICON of R/C sailing ship
modeling. He is the President of the Scale Sailing Association and
their Website is at
http://www.scalesailing.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ .
His email address is
scale.sailing@blueyonder.co.uk

He's just joined up in Modelboats@Yahoo.Groups.com so you can join and
reach him there too.

California DAVID..you'll get a kick out of this guy too..kinda shares
the same type of humour as you do.
For those who can access the member control area. the file can be
found at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paddleducks/files


As a last thing, Christian...I think feathering wheels were eminently
suitable for the ocean as they reduced the SLAP of the paddles as they
hit the water and would have certainly added to fuel efficiency. Can
you look at your plans of "GE" to determine the wheel configuration.
Something tells me they WOULD have equipped her with feathering
blades.

PJ

[Christian]

Unfortunately the plans I have (Spar (main) deck, Lines, Rig) don't show
that. But I read in the very comprehensive technical data that accompanies
the 1/200 Paper Model of the Great Eastern that the 30 floats of each paddle
wheel were fixed (as opposed to feathering). Also: all photographs show the
floats at radial angles. There is no evidence of any mechanism for
feathering wheels in any of the many construction photographs. GE's floats
could be moved though. This has been done rarely as it is a very time
consuming and dangerous procedure at sea.

In any case I would appreciate it if anyone could add further info on this
subject.

Cheers, Christian

[Paulrjordan]

Hi Christian:

I will email Mike Taylor in the UK to see if he has any information
from the plans he used to build his BIG MODEL! I don't think he got as
far as actually building the wheels....but I'll find out. (BTW did you
get the email I sent you on Mike Taylor's building of the 14 1/2 foot
model of GE?)

Have you found a GE "enthusiasts" group (or website) of the net yet?
If you can locate these, they will probably have the answer to this
and many other questions.

PJ