drives/stability

[R.Groff]

Sorry in advance as this post may have been asked before setting up the drives for a side paddle boat is a single motor able to drive both paddles or is it better to have motors for both wheels and what motor would be used for both.
Rick 

[R.Groff]

Asking for help I'll try another post if building a side paddle boat and installing the paddles do the paddles need to be set up on an angle and scratch build paddles pros and cons.
 Rick

[DamienG]

If you mean by angle not 90 deg to the drive shaft in my limited experience from what i've built and seen on plans & discussions on here there there is no angle greater nor less than 90degrees.
Have a browse through the blogs and gallery there are hundreds of photo's to help you out and many knowledgeable members to answer questions.

Damien.

[R.Groff]

Thank Damien being new to forums I'm still feeling my way will start to browse threw the blogs and gallery to get more ideas and more questions .
Regards Rick 

[R.Groff]

Looking at some of the posts I'm seeing a few that discuss the stability of a side wheeler are there ways in the building or ballasting of the boat that can help in stabilizing the boat in turning.
Will independent turning paddlewheels help.
Is there a way to stop dipping of the paddle and boat in a turn.
Rick

[Hankwilliams]

Hi R. Groff,

independent paddlewheels will not improve the lack of stability.
The simplest and best way are floats of balsa in front of each paddlewheel in the colour of the hull, see my "Rigi" in Construction on Nov. 26 th. this year.
The floats can be removed in seconds when the boat is on display. When the boat is driving in water, they will be nearly not visible!

Thomas

[andy]

Hi Rick,

stability is a question of the hull size and length. A hull like "Glasgow" has no problem. The side wheelers with long, slim hulls can get a problem with stability- if there is no heavy steam engine with boiler inside. My DIESSEN had no problem from the beginning, I only had to give her about 50 grams weight for trimming.
What you mean with the paddles, I think only will be a problem when they turn too fast. The originals had not more than 100 revs. When calculating this to the scale of the model to get the right picture of the original waves, it will be more. But when the model paddlewheels turn too fast, they only make a hole in the water without getting more speed for the hull. So try to reduce the revs.

Andy

[andy]

Hi Rick,

this will depend on the model. Long slim paddlers have certain advantages with separate driven wheels. If you only will drive the model forfun and nice photos and videos 1 engine was enough. If you drive competitions with manoevers, 2 engines will be better. My paddlers all have 1 engine.

Andy

[R.Groff]

Thanks all this will help.
Rick

[Hankwilliams]

Hi Rick and Andy,

Most paddlesteamers has had one engine. For the present time I know only one eception: The quarter wheeler "Karim" on the Nile has two seperate engines which can be couplet or drive seperatly one of the two stern wheels.
The sidewheelers on the western rivers in America - not on the Hudson or Californian rivers - normally has had two seperate one cylinder engines and also the British sidewheel river and canal tugboats (Strongbow, Eppleton Hall etc).
In a model it`s not too difficult to drive the sidewheels seperatly by electric motors. With two seperate steamengines it will be too difficult to control the boat.
In my ironclad "Choctaw" I avoid this problem by coupling the port or starboard wheel.

See video: Battleship "Choctaw" in action at steam exhibitition Karlsruhe 2015.

Thomas

[Tomas Krejci]

Hi,
     I fully certify the fact that paddle steamers due to its narrow hull, small draft with high superstructures are very shaky and unstable. This confirmed to me the behavior of my model Ned Kelly. The situation would certainly improve the increase in the width of the model, which is not possible for the maquette. Our modeler J.Spinar on your model, "Stadt Zurich" used to improve stability keel with lead ballast, like sailboats,the model is very stable .
Regarding the drive wheels, it is a matter of choice. Anyway model with independent drive of each wheel is more  maneuverable. For "quarterwheelers" in my opinion, this design is necessary, especially with regard to little effectof the rudder. My model Lulonga practially does not react at the rudder - in this case, is disposed between the wheels and  shielded by  stern.
see my posts here at paddleducks  (another Lulonga model)

greetings
                  Tom

[andy]

nononono....

the stability of paddlers maybe very good- as well with long and slim hulls- you only have to fit a steam engine with boiler in it and to construct a light superstructure. No problem! I got it!

Andreas