Australian Paddlers & Mast Booms that face FWD

[derekwarner_decoy]

hi PD's - out of say 150 early Australian paddlers, some 25 only have mast booms [cargo lifting, luffing & slewing rope hoists] & 23 of these had the boom close to & facing over the bow so cannot be used for cargo lifting to the foredeck due to the permenent mast strongback wire supports secured abck to the deck etc

Despite research I cannot find any drawing or lithograph of any vessel boom actually being used or text to explain the same

Could this have been that they would have been used only to pickup, then lift cargo [eg., wool bales] from a wharf, slew the cargo over the paddlers bow then on to a barge tied along side outboard of the paddler? - Derek

[thewharfonline]

yes the boom's were used to move cargo from sy the shore or wharf to a barge, or ued to remove cargo from barges to wharves that didn't have hydrolic cranes, you'll also find that the snagging steamers used the the most to remove snags from the river (and I'm not talking about sausages all you international folks!)

Hope I helped! I think the look cool though and most of the boats that used to ahve them and still operate have had them removed for tourist space...which is reallly sad coz I think they make them look even more like they used to.

[lner]

The PS Industry still has one one the front at Renmark.  The interesting thing about this is the Industry was built as a snagging boat for the SA Govt.  It was also used for lock repairs later but Not for towing barges.

It was obviously used for attaching to snags and dragging them out of the water.!!

Just another use

[thewharfonline]

While on holiday I was talking to the pevensey's crew in Echuca and we talked about steam winches and cranes and that the pev did have one and it should be put back on...to transport the BBQ from the wharf to the boat and then awhile later after a nice cruise the boat to the land! hehehe just another use.

Alot of Aussie steamers had them early on, I think it was because more snags appeared on the river and with major droughts and floods near the end of the trade it was a good investment for a crane and whinch to remove snags personally instead of wait for the government...quicker time bigger pay!