James' boat

[paddlesteamerman1]

I have finally gotten around to building my very own and very real paddle boat for the river Murray. She has been christened the PV Sarah-Jane after my very supportive girlfriend. Still only in the very early stages of construction, really it is still on the drawing board. I have been looking at hulls to buy from a shop, but was considering making my own hull. I am not sure which would be better. But am definantely going to have a hull floating by the end of the year. Also I have decided on the paddlewheels (Mick's Spiderweb Wheels) and it will be powerede by a small marine diesel. The PV Sarah-Jane will be between 4 and 8 metres long. I will be asking a few questions throughout this project.

[thewharfonline]

Well now I have another to race against when both boats are complete! Feel free to ask questions I know where I stand on this topic and I'll help you to get through some of the tedious issues that I went through to get to where I am now! The other members of this site also gave me a stack of advice so I'm sure they will be able and willing to help out!

Do you already have your marine diesel engine? Sidewheel or sternwheel? Belt drive? Independent drive? What are your plans for wheel power?

Sean

[paddlesteamerman1]

The Sarah-Jane is going to a sidewheeler, and will be powered by a marine diesel engine, that will be geared to a ration of 1:2 to the drive shaft. I will be asking many a question during this time.. THanks

[paddlesteamerman1]

With the engine, would anyone consider using a system of cogs to connect the engine output to drive shaft? I have been thinking of the balancing of the boat, and if I want the boat to look authentic I need the paddlewheels slightly aft of the centre of the boat I should be having the engine in the forward and connect it with a driving cog (larger) and a smaller idling cog and then a cog of the same size connected to the drive shaft, enabling the engine to be running forwards and not powering the paddles in reverse, Like on the PS Pevensey!! Any suggestions on anything with construction will be welcomed!!!
Thanks everyone!!

[paddlesteamerman1]

Just another question! I found a decent looking hull, from a former sailing vessel that is 3.5m long. I was wondering whether an old sailing hull would present any more problems than an old rowing boat or some other type of hull?
I heard that maybe the keel could be a problem from an old sailing hull!! Hopefully not, because it looks perfect.

[michael]

The easiest thing would be using a chain drive, less noise and less stress!

[paddlesteamerman1]

The boat was initially meant to become a pedal powered vessel, but I soon talked myself out of it, and that shot the idea of pedal power. So the chain drive was very much the first way of powering the boat.
It would be a simple set up and the motor would just turn the chain attached to the drive shaft? Am I right or wrong? I thought after the post that cogs would become more of a hindrence than a help. Thanks for the tip though. I think that the Sarah-Jane is going to become a chain driven vessel. Thanks

[paddlesteamerman1]

Also I have been looking through the PD's site for ideas on how to have the paddles the right size but to get them in enough water to power the boat. I saw Sean's idea on lowering the sponson decks about half to a quarter of the way down to the water. I hope you dont mind me taking your idea on board (no PUN intended either)
And can anyone point out any problems I could encounter with using an old sailing hull? Someone pointed out that it wouldn't be stable enough. Hopefully someone can enlighten me on this subject.
Feel free to put your ideas or suggestions on here PD's

Thanks

[thewharfonline]

I'd worry about the Keel in regards to sailing problems. You know the Murray can be a nice squeeze for flat bottomed boats!

The idea actually comes from the Europen paddlers such as Liberty Belle...so don't feel you're stealing it off me!

I don't think we're lowering mine any more we'll just build bigger wheels. Although we have spoken about putting the shaft through the sides of the hul and lowering the wheel as such keeping sponsons same height as the side of the boat but lowering the wheel so it's closer to the water, this will probably work better for Grebe as her design would have issues with lower sponsons!

[paddlesteamerman1]

I am not 100% sure  :hmmm  on what to do with the paddle wheels yet, but Dad pointed out a few 'annoyances'  :rant  with having the shaft go through the hull so the paddles could come out at the same level as the lowered sponson decks. I will just have to do a little more  one this one, and I dont want my paddle wheels to be to large because that would make them too heavy and I feared that maybe it would put the entire boat out of proportion. They wouldnt need to be a lot bigger though would they? A few centimetres at the most (hopefully) :!:
I am now looking at different hulls, and not sailing ones either :!:  
With the Grebe are you placing your paddles further aft or forward or in the dead centre of the boat :?: I was looking at a book and most paddlers seemed to have their paddles a tad further aft, but with a tiny boat that could put the boat out of wack couldn't it :?:
Also what am material is best to build the sponson decks out of :?: I was thinking just marine ply with a few coats of paint to look a bit more authentic.
:news
And I have decided  :clap2  on a colour scheme for the Sarah-Jane is going to be very similar to the and Pevensey. I will be using the white-ish colour from the Pevensey for the main part of the boat and then using maroon for the borders and edges. Hopefully it will look great. I also thought of using either the  :boom  PS Industry or the PS Oscar W but the Pev prevailed   .

 

 

[paddlesteamerman1]

I just a quick look at Duck Flat Wooden Boats and Gnat Riverboats (both of which are in SA  :hmph ) and I had a look at their hulls, especially Duck Flat Wooden Boats look awesome  :no1 and I am now considering to go there and get a hull. Only problem is   that they are very expensive. Also are Gnat Riverboats. But if anyone wants to have a look, just google the names above.

[paddlesteamerman1]

I have looked through the site, and I really want an authentic sounding steam whistle, but my boat wont be steam powered. How do I do this?

[michael]

air compressor with a tank does the trick most the time, room depending

[paddlesteamerman1]

Thanks Michael! About how big are the compressors and tanks? I have limited room aboard this little vessel! Thanks for the idea though!!

[paddlesteamerman1]

Reading through the PD's site  :computer  I found quite a few intersting points, that have made me consider  :boom the diesel and see if I could go straight to   steam. I am looking online at approximate engine prices and have been  :gather with a few people. I will post a couple of pictures to if the computer works!!