Back to the paddle launch...

[Roderick Smith]

There is one in my avatar photo: replica PS Mary Ann (the original was built in 1853).
See www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2348.msg8831#msg8831
As a river pioneer, it was styled more to match contemporary UK practice than subsequent Murray-Darling practice, and had a wineglass stern.
I can't find the length fast, but I suspect 18 m.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

For launch inspiration, see also the range of launches in 'Large paddler builds - general discussion', including:
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2990.0
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3859.0
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3849.0
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3521.0

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks for all the info Roderick - I may not be responding much, but I am taking note of each and every posting! So your efforts are appreciated!

I will eventually decide what it is that I'll build, but as I've said earlier, I'm in no mad rush.... I just couldn't bring myself to hiding a beautiful steam plant inside a conventional paddler where it couldn't be seen.

Regards
Eddy

[Tug--Kenny]

 I just couldn't bring myself to hiding a beautiful steam plant inside a conventional paddler where it couldn't be seen.

Regards
Eddy

Good point this, Eddy. They should be easily seen and appreciated, I've always thought.

ken

[bogstandard]

Remember Eddy,

With a little bit of ingenuity it could easily be made to look like a diagonal, so raising it further into view, and doing a direct connect to the shaft, that would also shorten the length required for mounting the engine. A win/win all round.

John

[Eddy Matthews]

Thanks John,

But would it have enough torque, and run slowly enough to connect direct to the paddleshaft?

I have other questions about the engine and it's ancilliaries, but I'll leave those until I decide what it is I'm going to build, so I have a better idea of layout etc.

Regards
Eddy

[Roderick Smith]

My posted photo of replica PS Mary Ann attracted a lot of viewers, so here are more which are available instantly, all taken on Fri.26.9.03, between Torrumbarry weir (lock 26) and just downstream of the Campaspe & Murray confluence (below Echuca).  Even if this doesn't become Eddy's next modelling project, they should be of interest to a lot of viewers.  For me, they bring back magic memories of a grand river event, which resulted in my purchase of Jessie II as a retirement hobby.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi Roderick,
Do any drawings /sketches exist of the ps Mary Ann ?
Or is it possible to get some basic dimensions so I could draw some up
regards
kiwi

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's......& yes Roderick...these snaps are an interesting depiction of our first OZ paddler the 'Mary Ann'

Reading through 'Parsons' provides a further in-site....but certainly sparten....no real covered accommodation...nor a bar facility to get a thirst quenching  after a standard 12 to 16 hour day @ the boiler room just under deck level

But that was OK as people from OZ are  TOUGH....before we discovered iron ore to eat....we used 6" nails as tooth picks to remove the left over bits of garlic flavoured KANGA rump steak.....

In one of the .jpgs I think I see a horizontal plate over the boiler....I suspect this was the first OZ maritime BBQ plate  Derek

[bogstandard]

Eddy,

But would it have enough torque, and run slowly enough to connect direct to the paddleshaft?

Those are only minor issues and easily solved. I keep going back to my little horizontal oscillator, that proves there is more than enough low end torque in these long stroke sizes of engines to turn paddle wheels at very slow rates and very low steam pressures.

Let the doubters doubt, but all will be revealed in the end. Nothing is insurmountable.

John

[Roderick Smith]

Replying to 'kiwi', the question regarding drawings was asked in an earlier thread on the replica.
At the time I replied: 'I have followed up an earlier request for plans of the replica Mary Ann.  They are not available from the building team in Mildura.  As Sean suggested, they may be available from the designer, but I will not be in Mannum until Mar.07'.  I haven't met Dick Bromhead since that post, and haven't asked the question.  However, the replica boat was built to plans or sketches, and these must exist somewhere.  Michael is more Echuca than Mildura with his contacts, but may be in a better position than I am to tap into the right people.

My own question relevant to this thread: when using the term 'diagonal engine' are people simply meaning cylinders on a slant, with direct drive to the paddleshaft?  There are certainly lots of examples in prototype, including all of the Swiss ones, and my recently-posted photos of PS Waimarie (New Zealand).  Echuca's PS Adelaide is another.  They are certainly noticeably slower revving than geared or belt-driven paddlesteamers, and the transmission is much quieter, helping the exhaust beat to stand out more.  I can see the fear that such a drive might not translate well into scale: prone to stalling?

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

I had another thought: the Yarrow boats for tropical environments (notably Myanmar, probably Egypt and some for India) were two-deck boats, but with completely open lower decks if a sternwheeler.  See www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2862.0
A sidewheeler would have some of the view blocked.
That was the case with the typical Murray-Darling designs: because of the climate, and the use of wood as a fuel, at least one end of the boiler was open to view, but the engine was usually obscured from view by the paddleboxes and two or four sponson cabins.

Regards
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

PS De Schelde came by as I logged in tonight, as rare as getting four pineapples in a row in a poker machine at a pub.  I grabbed the image, and placed it here so that all can see it at any time (Eddy can see it whenever he wants to).  Totally open, and a great display case for a prized steam boiler and engine.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's....some two years ago I posted questions on this vessel. which yielded ZERO response ...appeared to be totally mythical  was my conclusion....but why is the rudder off axis ....toward the STDB side?..........& where are those dreaded souls paddling to? ....Derek

[bogstandard]

Derek,

Just a theory, because it is steered by tiller arm, if it was in the middle, the steersman wouldn't be able to see where he was going because of the boiler position, sticking it on one side might mean he can just lean over and see where he is going.

The ship also looks just like an old fashioned sail driven river barge, maybe just a quickie steam conversion job, and again would give rise to the offset tiller, the poor chap couldn't see past the mast that used to be on it.

John