Dai,
I was browsing in a book
"Paddle Boats of the Murray- Darling River System"
by Brian Marshall ISBN 0-7316-2941-8
and came across an excellent photo page 155) of the Pevensey, with ( you guesed it)
a derrick mast fitted into the bow , with the boom swung back towards the wheelhouse,
with the winch fitted as you see it today.
The derrick mast is pretty solid, tapered, white with a black tip , and a little shorter than the
towing mast fitted behind the wheelhouse. It is supported by four (4) cables ( two each side) ,
bolted to the deck ( not the gunwales).
The boom is a simple post with a 'Y' yoke around the mast near the mast base.
Interestingly there is no 'tent rail' as fitted today, and there is no sign of any hatch covers, certainly no
'spare' timber planks, just a very big open hold.
I am of the opinion that hatch covers were not used on this vessel, as they ( the planks) would have just been a
problem in handling cargo, heavy tarps would have been the "order of the day" as a practical solution
if covers were indeed used. Inded this photo only shows one available plank - the gangplank !!
Cheers,
Brett S Hallett
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