larger paddler construction

[anth]

Hi All,
         I am making this thread open for us to discuss what we are doing with our larger paddle boats....eg general discussion it will make it easier for us to support each other and keep up to date with what we are doing.
when there is a question on techniques and construction methods that needs to be asked and can't be answered here then I feel we post under the appropriate heading and put it towards the wider community.
It is clear we have a common intrest in building or modeling and on the scale we are attempting are by no means full size but in the same token many question could be answered here and not choking up other threads.
so ask here first.......


cheers anthony

[anth]

I will start the ball rolling  here is a picture of the water tube boiler I will be using this has been inspected and passed at a working pressure of 100 psi .
As I was saying to sean this boiler is in another set which will be dismantled and re fabriacted to suit the paddler's needs.
I wouldn't say we are full size,I class it as a freelance 1/4 size model :wink:

[paddlesteamerman1]

This is a great idea    I, though am still in the designing stages , and as Sean said nothing happens ASAP it happens ASAIC (as soon as it can)  :rant . I am still having trouble  :hmph  finding a good hull, the Storer river boat I found looks good but the  :boom  owners want mid $20k  for it, and I really dont have that lying around!! Does anyone know of anywhere good that I could try and look for a hull (About 6-8m long)?? I have come to a complete dead end now!   :rant  :ohno      

Anth, do you have any pictures of your actual boat? I would be really interested    in seeing them. I have seen Sean's and Michael's and both look fantastic!!

I am going to do a hand drawn design     (it wont be the final thing, but just a squiz at what I am aiming to get, which is basically a MUCH smaller version of the PV Hebe or along the lines) of the Sarah-Jane and scan it and pop it on the site, sooner or later, because I cant get the paint program to work for me  :rant  :music

[anth]

I haven't started construction yet as I am still trying to work along the lines of it trailered.
I was saying to sean I made a cardboard model of the design I was working on but wasn't too happy with the out come!
So I am still thinking.
The problem you will have is you need to source a boat hull close to where you live,so I suggest you start looking local.
35 feet is a big boat to start with!
the most important thing is budget how much you can honestly afford to build your project! do it in stages to spread the cost.......
I have been playing around with the idea for a few years know and I still chop and change.
 

[paddlesteamerman1]

Thanks! My budget is not very big (usual for first boat builders especially a teenager) and that I want a boat that I can overnight on. So it might take a while to do. I live around Ararat   which is a stupid little town that wouldnt know what a boat is if it was hit with one!!! But I will start looking around Ballarat and Horsham! Even if I looked around Mannum, Morgan, Waikerie would be okay, because we own a house in Morgan with a large double ended shed that would be perfect for construction of a trailerble boat!
Thanks for the advice!!

Cheers

[anth]

check under row boats on ebay there is a lovely little not so little row boat wooden hull clinker style about  14 feet would convert into a small paddler with out too much trouble $800

[paddlesteamerman1]

Thanks Anth, I will check it out right away!!!

[Roderick Smith]

I will post photos which I have of boats under construction, or of small paddle vessels.  Some of these will be small portions of photos which I have posted to other parts of Paddleducks already.

Enclosed is SWPV Rusty, normally kept on a trailer at a private slipway at Colignan (upriver of Mildura, the limit of reliable navigation, at the head of the pool of lock 11).  I had watched it arriving that morning, but had not watched the launching.  The full-length canopy is light canvas over a metal frame.  IIRC the engine is diesel, amidships; there must be chain drive.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[paddlesteamerman1]

Roderick - Do you know the specs of SWPV Rusty? And what is was made out of? Paddle wheels? Because it looks like the type I want, only a sidewheeler.
Diesel admidships, chain drive to the wheel, if I had a sidewheeler would I still put the Diesel/Steam in the middle or would it be a little towards the bow?

[anth]

james rusty is a steel hull,it is 17 feet in length,beam of 6 feet with a 4 foot diameter paddle.

cheers anthony

[michael]

Its more of one of those chitty chitty bang bang engines! It has a belt drive form the engine to the stern then connects to a shaft with a chain that runs the width of the wheel( so it goes under water).
Owned by Robert Mansell: PV Mosquito Colignan

[paddlesteamerman1]

Thanks Anth!!
I am going to start with a diesel in the SJ and then hopefully advance to steam.. more info with the newly bought hull in my thread!!! The paddles should be about 10'' wide (going by the rule of thumb thing in the paddle wheel thread) and will be a simple spiderweb design!!

[Roderick Smith]

SBAA exists to support owners/builders of steam launches, and takes in putt putts too.  It is Sydney based.  I can't find any paddleboats on the site, but there must be some.
www.steamboat.com.au
Quite apart from extra technical help which may be available, the group organises rallies (as most of the vessels are trailable).  I was going to attend one at Picnic Point (Murray River, above Barmah), but the event was cancelled.

There will come a time when the Mornington Peninsula chapter will host a rally on Kananook Creek (IIRC navigable for 2 km).
Other waterways in the area which could be useful:
Lake Bryan
Patterson River
Tooradin inlet
Is there a lake at Melbourne Steam Club's Wantirna site?  Certainly, having a PS there on a trailer would be an appropriate move.


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[thewharfonline]

"Lake Bryan"

Is that my lake Roderick! I doubt three paddlers on the lake will be easily accomodated...it's not that big! However if you all wanted an event (or photo op) it could work I suppose.

Dad's building a jetty over summer when the water is down. My grandparents use the water to water their extensive gardens and as such it goes down to almost empty....perfect time to knock up a jetty for Grebe!

[Roderick Smith]

I am posting these two here, as they have design hints for current projects, particularly RB/MV/PV/PS SJ.
PV Hebe was built as an MV and converted, and the conversion sits happily with the vintage hull.  Long term, once James has his hull caulked and floating, I am sure that paddle propulsion would sit happily on it, without cutting into the sides or doing anything to change the existing classic lines: the drive shaft can sit above the bulwarks.
PS Billy Tea was rushed to completion to be launched at Yarrawonga to cruise to Nyah to join the Randell-Cadell fleet.  It cruised quite happily without sponsons, and I see no need to add any to SJ.  Sponsons would tempt people to stand to one side and upset the stability; lack of sponsons will force them to keep in the safe zone.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor