Echuca news

[anth]

Yes Roderick your right
                                  When I was doing a small stint of boat building quite often sika was used to do a repair on clinker hull or carvel hull.
it set's under water,so for those quick repairs that boat owners do when they only have a day out of the water sikaflex was pumped into the gaps and painted then re launched.
it's obvious not the best traditional method but it works.......

sikaflex is basicaly a high grade silcone but it has better flexabilty need for wood .and as i said it goes off underwater.

[paddlesteamerman1]

WOW!! The Hero looks fabulous with its paddles, and even just having the paddle box planks makes it look a lot better!! It shouldnt be to far away from completion now!!

[michael]

Well Alexander Arbuthnot went back in the river today and Hero went back up, as she needs measurements n drawings done for the Marine board..... obviously part of the requirements of being a commercial steamer.
A.A steamed back to the wharf tonight and was to moor in front of PS Adelaide, but low water prevented that and we tied her up at the end of the wharf behind PS Pevensey. Photo shows her trying to reverse in front of Adelaide, you can see the wheels churning up mud, and her freshly painted black bottom, and the weather, dark, stormy, wet, windy and cold.
And also AA returning to the wharf and Hero on slip

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's & thanks Michael... your posting &  :kewl of our AA are great... I saw her a few years ago, but did not get the privilege of going onboard....any further snaps of the AA you have to compliment Seans postings will be appreciated,,,,, especially for all those other PD's that live in FROG Hollow type Lands    :music    :nah - Derek  

[paddlesteamerman1]

Brilliant Photos of the AA, she is magnificent isn't she!!! And it could have at least poured down rain if the skies were that stormy looking!!!! It didnt rain anywhere much though..

[michael]

Well P.V Lady Rae departed Echuca last saturday bound for the lower murray in SA. She has so far got to Torrumbarry where she is stuck with not enough water on the downstream side of the lock. It is rumored there will be a flush early Febuary which it might catch to promising waters at Mildura.

[thewharfonline]

Wow she hasn't capsized yet...that to me is amazing! Too bad she's still beach house colours!

If the flush comes through will there be hope for enough water for the run Michael and will the Echuca fleet be able to meet the other fleet?

[michael]

There should be a  flush in Feburary, Ranger may also be taking the same rise through to Mildura.
Barmah trip news: PV Babbler won't be participating as it is currently cruising in SA

[anth]

It will be interesting to see if the flush will be enough.....we will see I do have doubts...!
hopefully I am proved wrong...

[paddlesteamerman1]

Just on the other topic - is anyone going to the Cargo Shed Relaunching Event in Echuca this coming Monday.. It would be good thing to meet up... So if you are let me and everyone else know and maybe we could meet up quickly or something!!

Just a thought

[michael]

Yes there's been a bit of interesting things going on in Echuca. With the re-opening of the cargo shed with its new tv and information on the ports boats and the transport's history. Also tourists now enter through the Strathmerton railway station, which has been fitted out with the old style fittings.
We have been organising a paddlesteamer trip to Barmah for the first week of 2007, at the moment we only have 2-3 vessels participating, so we will probebly have another one later in the year after the 2007 trip if the Echuca vessels can not participate.
Peter McLeod's boat is coming along well, he has been glazing all the windows and she also has her outer coat on so she's coming up a treat. I have been giving him idea's for an air-conditioning sysytem for the vessel.

[anth]

the intresting thing about these pictures is both boats in the pictures have been built by peter...!
peter has built his fair share of murry paddlers.
got some good advice of him last steam ralley in june06

[paddlesteamerman1]

Gee, that boat seems to be going up quickly.. Which boats are participating in the little trip.. 4/1/07-7/1/07..

[michael]

Barmah trip has been postpond due to idiots on speed boats and the hot summer weather. We are having a car trip to Canberra to attend the summer nats!
If Echuca boats can't participate in the 2007 trip we will do a trip to Tocumwal in March, with the hope of lots of rain in Feburay.

[paddlesteamerman1]

the hope of rain has been there for an age.. I seem to be getting more and more pesimistic about rain.. Unfortunately I cant see rain anywhere near