Hello from Maldon, Victoria, Australia

[echidna]

Hi, I have called myself Echidna because I had intended to build something that looked like a typical Murray River paddlesteamer, and name it "Echidna".

However I recently purchased some plans for the Alexander Arbuthnot from the Port of Echuca, so now I intend to build that.

The length of the Alexander Arbuthnot is given as 23.165 metres. However, I do not know if this is the length of the hull, or the length over all. The length over all would include the length of the rudder, which hangs out the back by a significant amount. I need to get this made clear before I start construction. Perhaps I will be able to make my own measurement on the actual boat, but if anyone can give me the answer it would save me a trip.

Echidna

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....& welcome echidna........ 

According to Parsons....the AA was 76' x 15' 3' x 4' 6"...so that translates pretty well to your 23.165 M

I believe the total vessel length included the overhung rudder

I am not familiar with any drawn plans for the AA.........may I ask what scale they are drawn in?....Derek 

[echidna]

Hello Derek, the plans that I bought have written on them that they are 1:25 scale. That would have been when they were on an A0 sheet, but the copy that I got from the Port of Echuca is on an A3 sheet. In that form, the scale is about 1:70 (but that is calculated without including the rudder in the length).

Today I had my copy enlarged by 294%, and the scale is now about 1:23.92 (calculated without including the rudder in the length).

The Port of Echuca has a model of the AA which has been built by Robert Dingey using this drawing. It is said to be 1140mm long. That would make the scale of the model roughly 1:20.

Echidna

[DamienG]

G'day from Wendouree Mate.

[echidna]

Thanks for the "G'day", DamienG.

I visited Lake Wendouree recently. My wife wanted to visit the Botanical Gardens, and I wanted to float my Aquacraft Atlantic Harbour Tug. Unfortunately, the waves looked a bit big, and there were many large water birds, so I decided not to risk it.

Echidna

[DamienG]

The waves aren't the biggest problem there is so much rubbish left over from mowing the water weeds for the rowing fraternity, I've given up using propeller boats and gone paddlers in the hope they won't clog up like props.
It wouldn't be so bad if I could find others in the area and we could get a dingy or canoe for retrieval but with only 3 days with no wind below 20kph sailing down wind always has floating weed. 

I carry the models on a trailer behind my mobility scooter, I doubt I'd get away with putting a canoe or such behind my wife's scooter.

[Roderick Smith]

If you tuck in behind the island at the eastern end, it might be sheltered but weedy.  There is a hire fleet of pedalos, with strict limits re range (but if you are on a mobility scooter, you won't be wanting to pedal one).  That owner also has a retrieval boat.

Somewhere on the Maldon to Daylesford road is a small lake with a preserved gold dredge: the right size and sheltered.  What about the top end of Cairn Curran?

Lake Wendouree was the venue for the Olympic rowing in 1956, with its own Olympic village (apparently morphing into Creswick forestry school).  Because of bad weather, one day was cancelled.  For the first time in Olympic history, events were held on a Sunday.  In recent years, with the water vanished, people got into trouble fossicking for the mythical lost medal: the bottom was glutinous mud.  There was also a problem with a fairy-grass fire in the lake bed: fire trucks couldn't get in.

There is a small clinker dinghy, kept at Maryborough, called 'Echidna'.  It is taken to Murray River paddleboat rallies quite often.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[echidna]

Thanks for the info, Roderick.

I have operated my model boats on many lakes and dams around Central Victoria. It's nice to have a bit of variety, even though I have a fairly nice dam that I can access just by going out my back gate.

Since I have decided to build a model of the Alexander Arbuthnot, I feel that I should start a new thread called "Alexander Arbuthnot". I am not experienced with forums, so perhaps someone could tell me if that is the appropriate thing to do.

[Roderick Smith]

While learning, spend some time looking at the existing posts.  On the main menu is a search box; entering Alexander Arbuthnot brings up 61 references to read.  Most are in general Echuca and Murray threads, and are about the boat itself.  One is in a modelling thread: perhaps add to it rather than start a new one?
http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1446.msg10076#msg10076

There was a push by port volunteers to take AA to Koondrook to celebrate its 90th anniversary, but that didn't happen.  It had to wait until PS Adelaide's new firebars were installed, and PS Canberra went to Koondrook to mark its centenary.

Is Lake Weeroona better than Lake Wendouree for shelter and safety?

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[echidna]

Thanks for the guidance Roderick.

I haven't floated a boat on Lake Weeroona, although I visit it fairly frequently. A large part of the lake's surface is laid-out in lanes for rowing races. When I was there a couple of days ago, there was a group of 4 r.c. yacht people sailing in the vacinity of the boathouse. I think it would be a nice lake to operate on. It's not too big, and there doesn't seem to be a weed problem. I don't know how deep it is (sometimes it's handy to be able to do a recovery using waders).

I have operated on some other lakes in the Bendigo area. Lake Neangar at Eaglehawk is pleasant. I have also used Crusoe Reservoir, which is very large (so has the potential for quite large waves). The r.c. yacht people use Crusoe on Mondays and Wednesdays.

I haven't ever asked for pernission to operate on any lake, so I guess there is the slight possibility that I may not be welcome. Some times I make a bit of noise with my "steam whistle", and some people may not appreciate that.

Keith

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's .......& a belated welcome echidna .........

One would hope that your local water authority would not have a problem.........providing you have the appropriate steam boiler certification

Why not post a few images of your steam build 

If we as a WEB group members  can offer assistance .............just ask! 

Derek 

 

[echidna]

Derek, I am sorry if I gave the wrong idea about my "steam whistle". It is not actually powered by steam. The boat has a little MP3 player, with a recording of a real steam whistle. This is connected to an amplifier, and a speaker with a mylar cone that is mounted underneath the wheelhouse. It is turned on and off by remote control, using an auxilliary switch on the transmitter.

I intend to duplicate this arrangement on my proposed model of the A.A.

This will be my first attempt at a paddlewheeler, and will be powered by an electric motor.

I do have a dream of having a steam powered paddlewheeler, but that will have to wait. I have a single-cylinder oscillating steam engine that I made many years back. However, I have ruled-out using that in a boat, because I want something more capable.

Keith

[DamienG]

I sailed on lake Weeroona and the small one next to the Kangaroo flat fire station the one them damned the creek in the '90's  I lake liked best was Lake cairn curran not far from you Keith spent a lot of time there when I lived in Maldon  and Castlemaine.
Albert park lake is also good mid July is not a good time foe sunken schooner retrieval lol   Also sailed at Ringwood lake in the early '70's and up until I moved to Wendouree almost 3yrs ago I sailed with the Surrey Park model boat club Forster NSW and Mandurah WA are goot to you need a rubber raft for them as the water is tidal.