Balmoral Diamond Jubilee

[PaddleWheel]

Hi all

I'm not sure were to post this, Eddy feel free to move it accordingly.

Went to see Bal' arrive at Cowes this afternoon, here are some pictures. It was a shame that her funnel wasn't red as I'd hoped, and that she looked a bit tatty, but I suppose that this is really a make or break year for the PSPS I expect they don't want to have to splash out on unrequired stuff. Here are some pictures and a video.











http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W31CH9cC20w&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2FJT8077&feature=player_profilepage

[Channel]

Bal's paintwork was very good yesterday, no rust streaks etc. As to if I think the pink suits her thats a different story but she certainly wasn't tatty.

Perhaps we are all used to Waverley's standard of hull these days - the Bal's hull is pretty much original with warts and all.  If she had £7+ million spent on her she'd look far from tatty

The important thing is that she was nearly full and given Waverley's bump this is all that counts this season!

[Channel]

Here's my efforts from Bal's weekend in home waters.

Leaving Southampton on Saturday morning.


Passing the inbound Red Jet 3.


Onboard Red Jet Cowes bound, we passed the Balmoral off Calshot where Commander Nick Rose gave a full history off the Bal. He also gave us a close up view of her.


Balmoral approaching Cowes with Rd Jet 3 outbound.




PS Monarch providing the red funnel!


Turning to come alongside.



At home!



Off around the Island.


Returning to Cowes in the evening.


Passengers and lots of em!


Outbound for Portsmouth.


And a few from today - inbound to Portsmouth.


Her pink matching the buildings behind nicely!


Pretending to be the Southsea/Ryde/Brading?! Departing Portsmouth for Ryde.

[R.G.Y.]

The Balmoral Is painted in the colours of P&A CAMPBELL'S WHITE FUNNEL FLEET, of Bristol.Who once owned her and she is based in Bristol. R.G.Y. 

[Channel]

The Balmoral Is painted in the colours of P&A CAMPBELL'S WHITE FUNNEL FLEET, of Bristol.Who once owned her and she is based in Bristol. R.G.Y.  

Only owned by P&A Campbells for 2 years! In her white funnel days she carried a cream hull and the black was a lot higher too. The 'french grey' ie pink was on the paddlers and I understand not the current shade of the Bal. Personally I feel she should carry her red funnel colours which suit her far better. Waverley's colours wouldn't be a bad scheme for her either . . . I've always thought the Prince Ivanhoe looked great in these.

I also feel she should spend less time in the Bristol Channel and work up a name for herself on the South Coast again - the Bristol Channel is far too exposed and results in many cancellations. Numbers in recent years have been low and I think will remain so this season due the the limited trip options. She lacks the 'magic' of the paddler but a stronger area with lots to see and a thriving tourist industry could be the ideal place for her operation. Just my view . . .

[Mercury]

Interesting discussion on the Balmoral. I travelled on her with my 4 year old daughter a couple of weeks ago on the Garlieston to Douglas trip. She was full (as was Waverley when I travelled on her in May) and externally looked great with paintwork in excellent condition. Internally the decks aren't up to Waverley's standards but not too bad for a sixty year old.

Personally I love the current colour scheme which I think really suits her. From the shore at garlieston she looked great.

As an earlier contributor stated this is indeed make or break for Waverley and Balmoral. Contretemps with piers are standard stuff for paddlers but the press isn't so forgiving now - mind you reading some of the classic steamer books I'm not sure they were ever very forgiving to operators!! I've made two trips already this year and intend to make at least two more bringing my family with me when I can. It's only passengers up the gangway which keep them going.

[monarch]

Totally agree with you about punters on the plank, but also I think for perfectionists....a bit of touching up might have been in order for her birthday! 
She looks fabulous through a camera lens, but being up close for a long period of time made me itch to weild a paintbrush!!

....a red funnel would look loads better as well!  :op

[mjt60a]

Well, controversial a topic as this is, I liked this colour scheme best...... http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/20374/wm/pd2002385.jpg ....but sounds like many more of us prefer this one - http://www.btinternet.com/~paddlers/MVBalmoral/articles/2001/010923/cc01.jpg

[Channel]

Well, controversial a topic as this is, I liked this colour scheme best...... http://img1.photographersdirect.com/img/20374/wm/pd2002385.jpg ....but sounds like many more of us prefer this one - http://www.btinternet.com/~paddlers/MVBalmoral/articles/2001/010923/cc01.jpg

I first knew the Balmoral in the white hull and buff funnel . . . . i will never forget her alongside at St Marys Harbour covering for Scillonian III looking just great but . . . and its a big but . . . . . the white was hard work to keep clean and presentable.



True red funnel colours would be pretty easy to keep clean as well as suiting her best - they give her a splash of colour and with the thicker area of black on the hull would cover up the streaks of rust she gets mid season from the window frames. Waverley's in her original colours now lets see the Bal fully restored!  



Her fendering will always show marks due to its design but thats just one of those things - you can't go touching it up every few days it'd be like pooring paint away. Another area that lets her down is the strip at the top of the hull that meets the deck - nearly always got streaks coming down from it.

The biggest problem with her current colours though is the light green boot top which stains badly and shows the slightest bit of rust.

I'm sure full P&A Campbells colours looked great on the paddlers, in fact I know it does I have many colour slides! I have never liked it on the motor ships and never will . . . I actually perfer Bal's shades of green colour scheme to P&A Campbells - now thats controversial!!!

[monarch]

She needs gilding!!!   

[steamboatmodel]

She needs gilding!!!   

Are you Volunteering?

[monarch]

Yup!!

[Channel]

Yup!!

And paying ?

 

[R.G.Y.]

I must agree, The white Funnel Fleet was not really P&A Campbells in Balmorals time with them. R.G.Y.

[monarch]

I tell you what...if every member of Paddleducks books a charter on Monarch-I will personally pay for the gold and apply it myself!!  Can't say fairer than that eh?