Newbie from NZ

[Puddles]

Hi guys, here’s the obligatory newbie 1st post to tell you a bit about me …

I’m 46, from Christchurch, New Zealand,  and have been building models since I was 8, I’ve had a go at most things in that time – plastic kits, slot cars, RC race cars (road & off road), free running boats, RC scale boats, Control Line planes, RC planes (power and glider). I put about 10 years into RC scale boats before moving on to RC Planes which I still build and fly, but the interest in boats has never left me. All my boats in the past and most of my planes have been scratch built from plans, with a couple of kit built planes thrown in too, but I can’t help myself from “improving” the planes kit I’ve built. Currently on the building board is a plan built 9cc, 56” wing span sports model and a plan built 35% scale, 80cc, 76” wing span Pitts Special biplane. My other interests are motorcycling and shooting, including building my own black powder guns.

Back when I was active in boats there was a chap who scratch built a 1/12 scale Aussie river boat to his own design which really appealed to me, and I’ve always wanted to build something like it. I started hunting around the net a couple of weeks ago for plans and/or ideas on how to go about it and in the process discovered this site. I joined up and have been lurking for a while soaking up information – there’s an awful lot of knowledge about paddlers here and a lot to learn, such that I don’t feel I have a lot to contribute just yet, so for now I’ll keep lurking and learning.

I’ve picked up information, photo’s and drawings of Alligators from various places on the net as I’ve decided one of these will be my first build to learn a bit more about the building and engineering of paddlers, and then I’m thinking a PS Enterprise might be next.

I’ll be sure to ask questions once I know enough to know what to ask and will do a build thread with pics once I get started.

Cheers
Owen

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's .....& welcome Owen.......according to Parsons......[Ships of the Inland Rivers] there were two OZ built vessels named PS Enterprise ....I am not aware of an NZ built vessel of the same name

ON59533 built in 1868 [65.9x12.7x4.3'] 25 gross tons....22 net

ON74985 built in 1878 [56.8x15.6x5.2'] 55 gross tons....42 net

The text is not clear......but we must assume that the former was destroyed to allow a second vessel to be built .....as the registration process was controlled by Britian

Anyway   if you do build a paddler   this is is the only WEB site in Gods universe   that you will need & a sensible response to any questions will be forthcoming from a member from any part of the world....Derek

PS....do a search on 'Float a Boat'...a Melbourne Company that have plans for many many vessels including paddlers

[Puddles]

Thanks for the welcome Derek. Yep, it's the Enterprise in the "Float a Boat" plans list that I'm looking at.

[kiwimodeller]

Welcome Owen, I am in Waihi (the Nth Island one) and have an 80" model of the Wanganui River paddler Waimarie with a large steam engine in her. This forum has been of untold use sorting problems and even the Orstrellian members are relatively harmless. Adrian from Float a Boat is very helpful, it is just a pity that he does not get enough time to bring his website up to the stage where you can see pictures of what he has in stock. Another thought would be to send a personal message through the forum to Kiwi (Harry) and see if he can point you to plans of one of the N Z paddlers. Once you have access to the downloads section after you have done a few posts you will be able to download his plans for the Koheroa but I know he is working on others too. Cheers, Ian.

[Puddles]

Wow, I never knew we had much in the way paddlers in our history, let alone river gunboats. I googled the two you mentioned - very cool, especially the Koheroa. It looks like I need to read up on paddlers in NZ. I won't get too carried away sourcing plans just yet, as I need to focus on the alligator first to learn the ropes, but the Koheroa looks like it would be a good second build and a good first stern wheeler.

So, thanks very much Ian for the info and pointers, and yes the west islanders aren't too bad really

Cheers
Owen

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi Puddles,
Yep, we have a whole heap of paddle boats that plied NZ's rivers, lakes and coastal waters, and I'm doing my best to research and draw up as many as I can. Long task, as any historical information is so fragmented, and is so hard to find. The Koheroa (as William Simpson's Sketch of 1864) is in the downloads section. However I am currently correcting the bow profile for this as I can now access that part of the Rangiriri hulk here in Hamilton. The Rangiriri was her sister ship. As well as 2 variants of these 2, I also have on the board (figuratively speaking) The ps Manuwai (2 varients Whanganui and Waikato), the river paddle tug ps Kopu, and the Whanganui River boats, Waimarie, Ongarue, & Wairua.
Any of interest let me know, as I can supply them in whatever scale you wish. A note though, these drawings are of the original boat and have no model construction, only the full size construction.
Good to see another kiwi building paddlers.
welcome to the best paddlers site anywhere
HarryD (Kiwi)

[kiwimodeller]

Harry, it is great that you are undertaking all the research. Let me know when you are heading over this way or Paeroa and we will meet up. I have the idea that somewhere in the line up of future projects should be a sternwheeler but I have just been made redundant so have started importing steam engines to sell and boat building is taking the back seat at present. Did we ever have any centre wheelers or quarter wheelers in this country?
Now to get back to Owens search, the purpose of this posting - there is a link in the research section of this site (under "Websites") to the Whanganui riverboat story. http://riverboats.homestead.com/ This tells the stories of all the Hatrick company paddlers on the Whanganui. May be of interest to you, regards, Ian.

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi Ian,
sorry about the redundancy. My contract was terminated a couple of weeks ago, so in a similar boat, so to speak.
So far in my research, have not found any centre paddlers or quarter wheelers, but that doesn'r mean there where not any. The paddlers in NZ seem to have been built by hard headed business people who wanted a reliable vessel hence going with tried engineering solutions. Even so a couple of 'different' boats where built. Haven't enough info to draw these as yet, but still looking.
Hope to be getting to Paeroa sometime soon, have to arrange to meet with their steam knowledgable people, and continue measuring the hull of the ps Kopu. Also trying to find and measure, the Eva, a wooden scow not far from the Museum, so will let you know when I'm coming.
Best of luck with the Steam engines.
Puddles, there where paddle wheelers on lakes Wanaka, and Wakatipu, as well as the River Clyde and the Otago & Banks Peninsulas. Hope to chase these up early next year.
The first paddle boat on the Waikato was actually built in Christchurch for use on the Avon, before being brought to Port Waikato to assist the military to enter the Waikato, back in 1863.
kiwi

[Puddles]

Thanks for all the information guys, and I haven’t even asked anything yet There’s also some info here which is where I read up on the Koheroa/Rangiriri.

Ian, thanks for the web link and sorry to hear about the redundancy. We’re going through a restructure at the moment with 10-15 people expected to go, just waiting to hear in the next couple of weeks who gets the chop. What are you planning to bring in in the way of steam engines? Ready to run, kits, boilers, burners? I have a Stuart Turner 10 and water pump kit of rough castings and parts that I bought years ago. The plan is to build it and the Vic Smeed River Queen launch for it one day. I bought it about 15 years ago and tucked it away safely as a project to be built when life’s a little less hectic.

Harry, sorry to hear you’re in a similar situation as Ian. You seem to be a mine of information about NZ paddlers, thanks for sharing what you have. My knowledge on NZ paddlers on the other hand is limited to what’s in this thread. I’ll build the Alligator and in the meantime do some research and see what I can dig up on local stuff. I’m surprised a paddler was made for the Avon, it must have been quite small, as the Avon is very narrow, twisty and shallow. The Avon was used as an important supply route for bringing supplies into Christchurch in the late 1800’s, but I don’t know what sort of boats were used.

Cheers
Owen

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi Owen,
Yep, thats why the Avon was sent North, to big (60' long x 3 ' draft). She was take goods & people from Littleton to Christchurch, but the river Avon as you know is a bit shallow and windy. Post some photos of your 'gator build, ok. Anything you find on NZ paddlers from your end of NZ I would be most interested in also. Will be travelling down to Christchurch maybe next year to gather some info etc on the old late 1800's torpedo boat over in Littleton. (And paddlers)
Like the River Queen, nearly brought it myself about 15 years ago) and your plan for the ST10 engine sounds cool.
kiwi

[Puddles]

Ha ha 60' x 3' ! Someone didn't plan very well before they built that then. It would be tricky getting it part way up the Avon let alone all the way to where the other boats went. I've paddled (in a kayak) the length of Avon from town to sea and in one spot in particular it's only 6" deep at most for about 80'. I assume things must have changed in the last 150 years although I doubt by that much.

I'll be be sure to let you know of anything I come across, I find it interesting researching local stuff. If there's anything locally you want photo's of just yell out and I'll see what I can do.

Have a look about half way down this page, I assume this is what you want to have a look at at Lyttelton?

[kiwimodeller]

Owen, I am bringing some American engines, some V Twin double acting oscillators and some verticle singles and twins. I also have a locally made large single for sale. The boiler accessories are coming from England although we are looking at making burners here. I know of some very good boiler makers when you get to that stage with the Stuart and also have a good database of who supplies what in the way of steam bits around the world. If you need any help either post a question in the steam section or send me a personal message through the forum with your email address. Regards, Ian.

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi Owen,
Yep, thats what I will be doing. Contacted them just before Christmas last, just have to get there now.
To speed things up available drawing wise, I have decided to split the drawings for boats into two catagories. The first the external general arrangement and hull lines, while the final would be similar to the Koheroa package (not quite complete yet) with all hull construction machinery etc. Generally all at 1/48th scale, but I can generate plans at any scale.(I draw at full size and scale down from there)
Any information you can find on any form of paddle boat from around your area would be greatfully received. I'd like to get a data base of Kiwi built boats for modellers, so that we can have a few kiwi paddlers on the pond, as well as the English and American paddlers which seem so popular. This is not a commercial venture, but I would like to recover my plan printing costs, if possible. Mainly wish to see 'OUR' paddlers on the pond. 'Float-a-boat' has been drawing a few of the Aussie paddlers, and would like to see 'our' boats modelled. Hope to also draw a few of the Auckland Paddle ferries, and the variuos paddle tugs from our ports too.
Any help in this much appreciated.
kiwi