APAM- List of Paddlers Part 1 Modern and Restored Vessels

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's & thanks Roderick.......that is a very well presented weekend paddler  just the thing for a  ...

The vessel appears to have river water to fresh water engine cooling heat exchanger + engine water to domestic water heat exchanger...

Engine brand may be a TYPO... try DEUTZ....but not sure??

The Honda gen sets are of the HUSH  power range & wouldn't interupt a converstaion whilst having a  or two

I would reposition that aft ladder away from the solar panels 

[ljhall]

Well, I started posting some info. and pics. of 'Non-Murray Paddleboats' located throughout the Country, a couple of weeks back, and now I have the time to finish this off.

I will post the pic. of the 'Steam Tug Forceful' seperately as it's a bigger photo than the others, for those who don't know, the 'S.T. Forceful' C. 1925 is Brisbane's version of the 'S.T. Wattle' in Melbourne & the 'S.T. Waratah' in Sydney.
The 'Forceful' is owned by the Queensland Maritime Museum and usually runs Brisbane River - Moreton Bay Trips every weekend from April through to November, after then it's just too stifling below decks.
Unfortunately, she has been laying idle for some time, her Iron Hull has been sandblasted many times over the decades and is now very thin and deteriorated in places, the Museum is still trying to raise funds to have her Hull worked on & ultimately brought back into Survey,  - I can't wait...

The 'P.V. Louisa' & 'P.V. Lady Douglas' operate out of Cairns & Port Douglas respectively, and are the only 2 operational Paddleboats in the Far North.

Further South in N.S.W. and in Sydney's outer west are the 'P.V. Nepean Belle' & 'P.V. Hawkesbury Paddle Wheeler' located at Penrith & Windsor respectively, the Nepean Belle operates from a Jetty on Tench Av. in Penrith and has done so since about 1982, she is a Side-Wheeler with the Wheels located way back near the stern.
The Hawkesbury Paddle Wheeler used to be the Lane Cove Paddle Wheeler and operated on the Lane Cover River in the National Park, which she was later banished from apparently for envioronmental reasons.
She now operates from the Old Windsor Wharf in Windsor.

The 'P.V. Jandra' still operates on the Darling from Kidman's Camp near the North Bourke Bridge, and will be 10 years old next year.
I still can't find an official Website for her, but there are several listings and photos on Bourke related tourism links.
She is diesel-electric and the word is that her Paddles came from the 'P.S. Nile' C. 1885, which was destroyed by fire at/near Bourke in 1926.
She obviously has a very shallow draught and can apparently operated for most of the year on a 'Weir Controlled' 14 km stretch of the Darling.

Down in VIC. there are currnently 2 Replica Paddleboats under construction, the 'Golden City' and the 'Curlip'
A November 07 photo shows the Hull & Frames of the Golden City being lifted and rotated by Crane, so things are definitley happening, I think the only salvageable parts from the original are the Paddles & maybe the Shafting.
The way things are going she will be finished before there is any significant water back in Lake Wendouree.
The other Paddleboat on the Lake is the 'P.V. Begonia Princess' she is a Newbie, but I still don't know exactly when she was built, she is described as a Paddlewheel Ferry, obviously she hasn't been used much lately because of the extremely low water level in Lake Wendouree.

I haven't heard much on the 'P.V. Lady Stelfox', but apparently she is still moored in Docklands and in Survey, but still no Website, just listings with a contact Ph. No.

The 'P.S. Curlip Replica' now has a beaut new Website, I forget the URL, but you can find it on Google under 'P.S. Curlip', it's now confirmed that she will be 'steam powered', not diesel like I first thought.
There is a photo of her Engine on the Website, - can't wait to see the finished product !!!

Now over to W.A. - a in late 2003 I was searching the 'Steamboats of Australia' Website and found a new Paddle Steamer located on the Swan River in Fremantle, - the 'P.S. Rodney', Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anything on this Vessel since then.
She is a very elaborate Private Vessel and used stricltly for Outings by her owners, from memory a Dennis Baker and Family, she took quite a few years to build, and is powered by an Aveling Barford/Porter Steam Engine, she is a Side Wheeler and has a Fold-Down Funnel to allow her to get under the low slung bridges over the Swan River.
She mostly operates on the salty section of the River and has a unique Boiler/Feed Pump setup, which I can't remember the specifics of.

Are there any WA Paddleduckers out there who can supply a photo and/or more details ?

Here are some pics of some of the Boats from the Eastern States;

[ljhall]

Here is a fairly current photo of the 'S.T. Forceful' - Brisbane & and also of the 'P.V. Lady Douglas' - Port Douglas, Q.L.D.

[ljhall]

OK, I have had to pick out smaller pics. of each.

[ljhall]

Hi folks,

The 'P.S. Curlip Replica' Website is;
http://www.paddlesteamercurlip.com.au/index.htm

By the way, I have found out some more info. on the 'S.W.P.V. Riviera', it appears that she is more of a fake Paddle Wheeler, as she has no engine, just the Sternwheel, I must have overlooked this when I saw her.
The boat is listed as For Sale on the Ensign Boat Sales Website, her build date is 1990.

Peter Plowmans book from about 1990/91 called 'The Wheels Still Turn', is a hard cover, it covers all States, and has the 'Emmylou' on the front cover, it's in this book that Peter mentions a boat called the 'Riviera Queen' on the Gold Coast Broadwater Canal System near Surfers Paradise.
He describes the boat as simply a Houseboat on a Pontoon/Barge, with 'Empty Paddle Boxes' - no wheels.
So the 'S.W.P.V. Riviera' could be a re-building of this Vessel.

I was on the Brisbane River on Friday night, took a 3 hr trip on the S.W.P.V. Kookaburra River Queen II, a very good trip, despite the cold winds, lots of river traffic, even the candy-striped Bris Vegas Cruises Paddle Wheeler, which I don't think I have ever seen in operation before.

Cheers,

[stephenf10]

Does anyone know anything about the PS Decoy operating on the Swan River in Perth? The website gives some info about the original Decoy which is now a fixed houseboat near Mannum but nothing about the vessel now operating under that name in Perth.

Stephen.

[ljhall]

Hi Stephen,

The 'P.S. Decoy' over in Perth is a 'Newbie' except for the Steam Engine.
She was built in 1986/87, she has a Steel Hull and is powered by a 16 n.h.p. Ransome, Simms & Jeffries Steam Engine C. 1905, I think the Boiler was built espescially back in the 1980's.
The Boiler is oil fired and also in-keeping with American tradition, the Decoy is equipped with a custom-built Calliope, which I believe is smaller and more automated than the U.S. versions.
On January 14, 2007 the Decoy struck the Applecross Bridge over the Swan River and was slightly damaged, but was repaired and back in service a short time after.
She operates lunch, dinner and jazz cruises from the Mends Street Jetty in South Perth.

AFAIK the 'P.S. Decoy' is the only Commercial Paddle Steamer / Paddle Boat in W.A.

Her Website is;       http://www.psdecoy.com.au/

Hope this helps.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's......Stephen...here is a link to the PS Decoy operating in Perth WA ....http://www.psdecoy.com/feedback.htm...this second PS Decoy was built 1909 & retained the name, although as you know the original 1878 'build' came back to Murray & is home as a house boat HULK of Dick Bromhead at Mannum

I have had the pleasure of afternoon   tea on board with the owners a few years back..I am into my eighth year with my stand of 1:24 scale verson of the vessel......  

[stephenf10]

Thanks Leith. I thought it was a bit strange that the website went on about the original Decoy but not a word about the current vessel it was supposed to be advertising.

Stephen.

[Roderick Smith]

I have just had a frustrating hour trying to find my own post and photo.
Searching on PS Decoy, Decoy Perth or Decoy Swan didn't bring it up.
It is on page 3 of this thread, and I got there only by scrolling through from page 1.

A checked in Alastair's book 'Directory of the world's steamships', published by Tempus in 2007.
He has no extra knowledge there than Leith has just posted.
He did give the two Decoys nearly a whole page, with a photo of the replica one (which still steams for public cruising, which was the criterion for entry in the book).

I may be in Perth later this year for a combination of event, and a cruise and interview will be a priority.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[ljhall]

Hi folks,

I thought I would clear up part of a previous post on the 'PS Decoy', where I mentioned a slight American theme, however for the benefit of those who may not know much about this Vessel, I was only referring to the Boiler being Oil Fired, and to the addition of the Calliope.
The 'PS Decoy' is not based on an American Steamer, she is actually of Scottish design, the original 'PS Decoy' C. 1878 was built in Scotland and shipped out in sections, it should also be noted that the modern version is not an exact replica of the original, and is slightly smaller also.


B

[ljhall]

Hi folks,

By the way, I don't think I included anything on the Wreck of the 'P.S. Shannon' - an ex. Murray River Steamer built C. 1877 and wrecked on King Island in the middle of Bass Strait in September, 1906.
Another Wreck that I have never come across on this site is that of the 'P.S. Young Australian', built C. 1853 and wrecked sometime in the 1870s on the Roper River near Roper Bar, N.T.
This Vessel played a vital role in the development of the Overland Telegraph, she was 94' in length, single decked and fitted with masts and a 40 n.h.p. Steam Engine.
The 'Young Australian' is the 'only known' Paddle Steamer Wreck in the Northern Territory, and is located about 20 klms downstream from Roper Bar. 
Apparently bits of her Machinery can still be seen above the water line, but not sure what condition the rest of her is in, anyhow the Roper River is infested with Crocs so I don't think anyone will ever take a dive down to find out.
Photos of the Wreck are limited, and are under Copyright by the N.T. Government, but you can google search under 'Young Australian Wreck, Roper River' to get some idea.

There are sure are some Wrecks in unlikely places !

[ljhall]

Hi folks,

I noticed that the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney have a collection of Model Paddle Steamers - mostly very early coastal style vessels, one in particular that drew my attention is the 'P.S. Wallaby' which is different to the others as it's a definite Murray River Design, but the name 'Wallaby' completely escapes me - never heard of it before.
She's almost a cross between the 'Ruby' and the 'Hero' - having the approximate dimensions and shape of the Ruby mixed in with the classic art-deco style wheel house of the Hero.
The same style was also used on the 'P.S. Resolute' C. 1877.


Cheers,

[Eddy Matthews]

Any chance of getting some photos of the models in the museum next time your there Leith?

[cooked_unit]

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=211456&search=paddle+steamer&images=&c=&s=

This working 1:24 scale model represents the usual Murray River paddle steamer of the 1890s. Some 300 full size paddle boats were built over a seventy year period to cater for the Murray trade. They were constructed from local timber, especially red gum and the shallowness of the rivers dictated the shape and form of the vessels, flat bottomed with a broad beam for greater stability. They usually had two or more decks, and were propelled by steam engines driving paddles, either at the rear or more often the sides of the boat. Their carrying capacity was increased by towing barges, which were sometimes lashed to the side instead. This model was made by Trevor Watson in 1975. Although it is called Wallaby, no Murray River paddle steamer was ever given this name.