APAM- List of Paddlers Part 1 Modern and Restored Vessels

[michael]

There are alot of new boats being built in Mildura and surrounding towns, some are hulls, other's are nearly ready to be launched into the river. Each having different designs to the otherws, some never seen before, and others using different materials to minimise weight.

[anth]

by the look's most are using 1/4 inch or 5. plate steel or even perhaps 3/8 or 9mm on the larger boats as this is the most common method of construction with modern paddlers, the boats look quite impressive but it's interesting to see how the different designs perform.

proven designs verse's new concepts and materials

It's a shame alot of these modern vessels can't be built with a modern steam plant, I guess you can't beat the ease of turning a key and going!

[mjt60a]

...It's a shame alot of these modern vessels can't be built with a modern steam plant....

Yes it is, but at least they don't have propellors like the ones on the Thames  :?
I notice that on the photo 'Evalagine.jpg', despite the welded steel construction, they've had a go at replicating the 'carved stem-post' where it extends above deck level.

[Roderick Smith]

I have the name of one of today's boats (from another source) as PV Evangeline.

Here is a better angle of the hull of PV Waradgery, under construction at Colignan.  The name is another revival of a traditional river one.  It isn't my photo; it comes from Murray River historian Frank Tucker.

There is a lot of merit in a steel hull in today's snaggy environment (Aussie slang: fallen redgum trees in the river, sometimes visible, sometimes just below the surface).  Billy Tea required panel beating when it was only 2 years old, and some dents couldn't be removed.  A wooden boat given the same battering might well be on the bottom.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Excelsior]

Does anyone have information on Andrew Cook's progress on the DAISY?  Is he doing anything with her, sold her on...?

Plus, I'd love more info on the IRRAK (real name?) pictured on this page.  It looks as if it may be one of the most traditional looking of the new builds at the moment.

[Roderick Smith]

Here is a list of 20 new boats, plus some existing ones.
It was created by Frank Tucker in Jan.06.
I have attempted to update the list with links to photos placed in Paddleducks recently.

1. Jeff L at Ultima is constructing a two deck vessel.
 
2. Adam A is constructing a vessel at Echuca East ("Maid of Loch Eille"?).   [This seems to be Cameron of Locheil, being built for & by George; I have a photo which is waiting its turn to be posted.  The interior features ornamental timber work and pressed-metal ceilings]

3. Adam A has his own vessel "Eclipse" under construction at Echuca [work has been suspended for some time; Michael has inspected it as a prospect for his own paddlesteamer.  I have a photo waiting its turn]

4. Adam A is constructing "Tooraloora" at Strathfieldsaye for Harry & Margaret M [As at January, to be brought to Echuca soon]

5. Cliff H and his son in law are constructing a vessel, somewhere out of Swan Hill near the Wakool

6. Peter McL is constructing a paddle steamer/diesel at Echuca [coded 'F05', and several photos have been posted]

7. Gus M is constructing a stern wheeler, "Waradgery", at Mansell Farms, Colignan [two photos now on Paddleducks]

8. John M is constructing 'Iraak' at Nangiloc.  [This is named after a small town, and has had a photo posted by Michael].

9. Robert M is constructing a small side wheeler for Bernie & Jill S of Colignan

10. Robert M is constructing a 50' side wheeler for his friend Albert, at Colignan [I believe that this is to be called 'Sunraysia' or 'Sunbeam']

11. Gary & Jackie W are construction a 60' side wheeler, "Evangeline" at Red Cliffs [photo posted recently]

12. Peter M of Swan Hill is constructing "Temeraire" at Murray Downs marina [I have a photo of progress as at July 06, waiting for its turn to be posted]

13. Andrew C is constructing "Risbey" at Mildura for Phillip & Pam S [now launched, and photo posted]

14. "Final Endeavour" is being constructed at Merbein.

15. "Cato" is being constructed at Murray Bridge by Bob B & partner [I posted a photo much earlier in this thread]

16. "Tania Anne" is being constructed at Karoonda, SA, by Colin W

17. "Lady Rae" was built at Heathcote by Denis C.  [It has been launched; and a photo has been placed by Michael.  As at Jan. it was at Torrumbarry, waiting for suffience water to continue to SA].

18. Mick T of Wallerawang has launched his third paddler "Shay" at Swan Hill and has her moored behind 'Black Shag'. Both vessels are of aluminium construction. [I have photos to post]

19. Harry P of Mildura is building a steel replica of PS 'Success' which is to be called "Succession"

20. The P family, near Morgan, are building a paddle boat, to be named 'Chloe', 20 metres long and 4.3 metres wide

21. John S from near Waikerie is still building his side wheeler

22. Andrew C, Mildura, has started a side wheeler for Dr R [AFAIK this is the hull under the shelter in Michael's quintet of photos of boats under construction at Cook's yard]

23. Steve & Chris B have started their side wheeler, "Ulonga", at Boille Creek

24. Robert F has plans to build a small side wheeler day tripper

25. Greg & Julia E are about to start "Wentworth", a side wheeler specially
designed to operate at Wentworth

26. PS "Ruby" is under restoration at Wentworth [photos posted]

27. PS "Canally" is under restoration at Euston [photo of the hull posted]

28. PS "Tarella" has been purchased by Shaun G with plans to rebuild the vessel [photo posted]

29. PS "Hero", restored by Echuca Port Authority for Gary B, is nearing completion at Echuca [several photos posted]

30. Andrew C is constructing his own small stern wheeler at Mildura [photo posted by Michael, using the name PV 'Temporary']

31. PS "Wanera" is under reconstruction at Colignan [It was burnt to a hull years ago, having been an overnight cruising PV]

32. PB 'Gnat' recently launched at Goolwa

33. Graham & Penny M - about to start a paddle boat at Mildura

34. John L - about to start a paddle boat at Mildura

35. John A recently launched PB 'Incredible' [That's why I don't have a photo; it is newer than my last visit to the area].

The two-deck vessel in Michael's photosis being built at Cook's for Graham and Penny M, name not supplied.

I enclose a photo from the Goolwa Wooden Boat Festival website, showing PV 'Incredible' with barge 'Dart' and PS 'Marion' during the recent cruise of the barge carrying memorabilia of the 1956 major flood for local displays.  The port would be Cadell, Morgan, Blanchetown, Swan Reach or Mannum.  My guess, from the backdrop, is Cadell.

Tues.20.2 update: I have edited the text to include Michael's updates supplied later in the day.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[anth]

I never new there were that many new boats being built on the murry.
Makes me wonder where some of these new boats  around echuca are planning to moor there boats as according to luke there aren't any new mooring's around echuca..!


We had a look at eclipse a while ago ,not long after the paddle box was hit by a car,not too much damage  she does have potential and a lot of work,goodluck with it michael :wink: certainly a lot bigger than gemma....!

cheers anthony

[Roderick Smith]

Raak Plain is a stretch of Mallee west of Colignan/Nangiloc, stretching for 100 km to the SA border (lots of references by googling).
It is unsuitable for agriculture, and has housed gypsum mines (feeding cement factories at Geelong).  I did travel there twice on a quaint private line: once in the loco, and once atop an open wagon loaded with gypsum.
I don't know if there are local variations on the name.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[michael]

Its called Iraak, which is a small township out of Mildura where the owner grew up,  as on Franks list its number 8.
Traver's Lee is actually Lady Rae.
Final Endevour is being built in Merbein on the edge of the river and is nearing completion.

[Roderick Smith]

This hamlet is between Red Cliffs and Nangiloc.
It is the area for Deakin Estate wines (I buy a lot of DE shiraz, good value) and a major asparagus-export estate (going to Japan).
I will certainly include Iraak on my next visit to the region (when I also go to Colignan).

Bill's Siberia tour is coming together gradually, but may be too expensive and with advice too late to get the required patronage.  If it is deferred to 2008, do consider coming to Australia and seeing the fleet, the river, the redgums and the places which we have been describing.  A warm welcome is assured.  There are also lakes with model paddleboats in Melbourne and in Bundaberg (and undoubtedly in many other locations).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Back to a traditional vessel.

This one has been through many incarnations as a tourist vessel.
I have photos in three eras; Sean has placed a set of current photos in the albums section.
It was converted for tourist cruises (1930s?) at Mildura.
It spent some years at Murray Bridge.  In this era it was diesel electric, with traction motors and conrol equipment from scrapped Adelaide trams.
It returned to Mildura (in the 1970s?).
At this stage, the engine and transmission were changed; the paddles had hydraulic drive.
By the time this 1992 photo was taken, the ugly paddleboxes, extending to the top of the upper deck, had been removed.
As at about 2000 it was for sale.  It has been converted to an expensive restaurant, trading statically for casual bookings, cruising for charters.

Avoca River rises on the northern flanks of Great Dividing Range, and flows across northern Victoria, but gets lost in a lake and never quite reaches the Murray as a river (but the water may seep through as groundwater).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

This one was built in Goolwa, to a Veenstra design.  The thrust up and forward wheelhouse was also used on SWPV Goolwa.  However, I can't find any Australian boat which had that feature, not even Captain Sturt did.
It run public cruises and charters from Goolwa, including some from railway enthusiast: special trains could run from Adelaide to Goolwa until the mainline was converted to standard gauge in 1995.
It was bought by Mildura interests, taken there, and converted to diesel.
It is visible in the guard of honour for the Queen's Baton relay (placed in an earlier post), and on the video which can be downloaded.
Here are two photos taken at Goolwa.  Neither is a clear angle, so I have posted both to give a better understanding of it.  I was there with a railway group, travelling on the tourist railway, which links Mt Barker via Strathalbyn and Goolwa to Victor Harbor (where there is a connecting horse tram onto Granite Island).


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

A slight diversion from Murray River today.
This boat operated on southern Queensland waters, and is preserved in a park at Nerang (Gold Coast).
There are two photos and some history at
www.kenfig.org.uk/skermaids.html
Could Mac please post an existing photo, or drive down specially to take one to post?

Afternoon update: Googling has brought up
* www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=2961 (which I had found before; useful text but no photo).
* http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-pa-HTTP%253A%252F%252FCATALOGUE.GOLDCOAST.QLD.GOV.AU%252FUHTBIN%252FPGC_IMAGE.EXE%252FLS-LSP-CD032-IMG0105-MR
(more interesting history, plus a photo in its working era).

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Excelsior]

Yeah, not a problem.  Might be a few weeks though, I'm flying to sydney in a couple of days for a party that it will probably take me till next year to recover from!

[Roderick Smith]

Alistair D commented in an off-topic thread:'Murray paddle steamers are comparatively easy to build,  put a traction engine boiler and machinery into a hull, and add some basic wooden paddle wheels and paddle boxes, and there, you have a paddler. None of your heavy engineering or naval architect stuff, eh'.

Only last night I had asked: were there ever any twins constructed, or was each Murray paddlesteamer unique?  Because the style is generic, many boats looked similar, but were any identical?  This hints in turn that none was built to a formal plan, just by the experience of the builder, possibly modified to match an owner's request.  If plans were used, surely they would be used more than once?  [Steam tug Wattle, which is not a paddle vessel, was build as a depression-relief measure for apprentice training using old plans].
In one of the modelling threads somebody else suggested to build a hull, and then experiment with the best position for the engine to get the balance right, as that's what the full sized ones did.

Friday update: Eddy has shifted the discussion into this Research forum, as the thread 'Aussie sister ships'.


Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor