Showboat: Mini stern paddle wheeler

[Rob Bruce]

The Showboat design by Douglas Rolfe has been commented on elsewhere. The link below will get you one of the many sites where details of this pedal powered stern-wheeler can be found:
http://www.svensons.com/boat/?f=PaddelBoats/Showboat/Showboat_1.jpg
I purchased the printed plans some years ago (before I found the Paddleducks site) from D.N. Goodchild who sells the plans and books from many out of date plans and publications.
The Goodchild folder does include building instructions which are missing from many of the free plans sites on the web.
Has anybody ever build one of these little boats?
The hull sides depth of 10 inches is a little too shallow for the chop we get on our rivers here, but the simple hull could easily be modified and plywood paddles powered by a small steam engine or even an electric motor. My guess is that this design is do-able especially if the hull and superstructure were slightly modified. The building methods and materials are also out of date.
I hesitated to have a go mainly because I couldn't see any evidence on the web of one that had been built and I wasn't sure about the plywood paddle wheels themselves. Are they the right size? diameter? number of blades? and depth of the blades?
Any comments?
Rob

[anth]

Sometimes it requires a leap of faith,
                                                   
The mini stern wheeler is simply that,i think it's more of a novelty but you are correct in the freeboard height not being suitable,i would suggest using it as guide to base your own designs/idea's on.
I would feel uncomfortable having a boiler and engine in such a small space due to it's expansion properties and the fact that you can not quickly escape if needed.

cheers Anth

[Rob Bruce]

Since making the original post I have had a closer look at the building instructions for the "Showboat" design and realize that the designer suggests you build the little boat by laying out the plan view on the workshop floor and adding the side planking, the framing etc on top. Detailed building instructions are given for the whole and then finally it looks like oops! I forgot about the bottom. Then "add the bottom" are the final instructions. He has to be joking: build the whole boat including the side decks, the cabin, the furniture, the floor boards AND THEN add the bottom planking. How?
However it is a neat looking little toy boat that could become a small paddle wheeler by increasing the dimensions by 25%. Or just start again and use the general layout.
I agree she is not designed to be a steamer. While the cut-down bike power might not be everyone's cup of tea a four stroke industrial motor like the Honda does come with an optional 6:1 reduction. Reverse would need a gearbox or a system of using V belts like on the garden tractors.
Still deciding whether to build a 20' version of the "Showboat" or a neat little side paddle wheeler like the Traditional Boat Shop's "Minette".
See the link below for this design:
http://www.traditionalboatshop.co.uk/minette1.htm
This is a nice looking little paddle wheeler. The designer Glyn Jones is currently redrawing the plans for me and I will keep you informed of which way I jump. There are some photo available of this design which I will post the link is any are interested.
Rob
Rob

[anth]

Rob,
       i suggest you have a look at a little paddle steamer 20ft called minumus she located down here in melbourne i have personally looked over this vessel at the owners house,she seems small out on the water compared to the other 60-100ft paddlers,but she a lot bigger up and personal.
The fact that it's trailerable runs on steam and has great appeal,make it a worth while paddler to copy.

The owner Geoff is a member here so do a search on his vessel.

cheers Anthony

[Rob Bruce]

Thanks Anth for the suggestion. I'm a new chum at this and got nowhere trying to locate Geoff or his 20 foot paddle wheeler Minumus on the Paddleducks site.
Can you help me?
Rob

[Roderick Smith]

Go to the search box, and type in Minimus; it brings up 15 messages to view, and at least one photo.
This thread has a photo at Wentworth:
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2990.0
I am sure that photos at Echuca have also been posted.

Regards,
Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Rob Bruce]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I didn't find the link because I typed the name incorrectly. Got the info thanks.
Rob

[anth]

I think that was my fault
Thanks Roderick

cheers Anth