Navigation lights on paddlewheelers

[Derek Warner]

Hi from Australia and the slowly progressing PS Decoy

PS Decoy was built by Henderson & Co in Scotland, knocked down and reassembled in Melbourne Australia in 1878 the worked on the inland river system, as a tug in the gulfs and converted to a pleasure vessel in Perth Australia (2000 Km from Adelaide) to 1915 as sunk

The four photographs I have of her don't indicate or show any Port or Stb navigation lights although all photographs clearly show two search lights just below the wheel house

Interestingly, text indicates that the engine room was lit by kerosene slush lights

Could anyone confirm if ships of British registry in the time periods noted above had navigation lights?

I mean the photographs were taken in daylight - could navigation lights have been red & green lensed kerosene slush lights and taken down in daylight hours??

I have enjoyed immensely reading all the paddledux e-mail communication

regards - Derek Warner

[Joe E Brown]

Info from the old American wheelers I have built had the nav lights
on a line on the stacks. That way they could refill the lights and
then lift them high for other boats to see. They were usually about
the same height as the wheelhouse roof or two feet higher. Look at
your photos closly on the stacks.

Regards, Towboat Joe

[Paulrjordan]

Hi Derek:

Now isn't THIS an interesting question...personally I have no
idea...but let's see how the rest of the Paddleducks do with this
one..if not I think I know the places we can get an answer.

BTW..any chances of getting some "DECOY" Pics so we can start her
online tribute!!!?

PJ

[Derek Warner]

Thanks Joe

I have magnified & re-looked at the four photograph copies that I have of PS
Decoy but still cannot find evidence of navigation lights, nor can I see any
similar evidence in some 120 (book) photographs of Australian paddle ships
on the inland river system during similar time periods as noted

However since say 1905, the photographs indicate fixed port & stb lights
facing FWD lights only???

regards - Derek