Rear Paddles

[john44]

I know I am new to paddleboats,
call me stupid or thick,
 but how do you steer a rear paddle, paddle-boat?
where do you put the rudder?
or does the paddle tilt?
when you experienced guys have finished laughing, perhaps you could
enlighten me.

regards
john

[Eddy Matthews]

It's not a stupid question at all John! The only stupid question is the one you didn't ask!

Sternwheelers normally have their rudders mounted at the rear of the hull, in front of the paddlewheel. Some have rudders behind the wheel, and some use a combination of both....

I've attached an image of towboat Joe's model of the George M Verity, which has rudders in front of, and behind the paddlewheel - I hope that makes things a little clearer?

Regards
Eddy

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi John,
Eddy's right, re the questions and the rudder locations.
Hopefully attached is a photo of the ps Manuwai, showing the 2 extra rudders mounted behind the wheel. She started life with 3 rudders infront of the wheel, and had 2 extra added very late in her life.
cheers
kiwi

[Roderick Smith]

A close-up of SWPS Captain Sturt's twin rudders is in my selection of photos attached to
www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3263.msg18557#msg18557

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[john44]

Thanks for that guys,
A friend and fellow model boater has just purchased a second hand rear
paddle boat, with a propshaft and propeller fitted. the rear paddle is turned
by the flow of water created by the propeller and the rudder is behind the prop in front of the paddle.

we dont know how it sails yet.

regards
john

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's.....John ...just a few points.....

The [often] twin rudders FWD of the paddel wheel are the actual rudders 
The [often] twin rudders AFT  of the paddel wheel are termed as monkey rudders  with the name & term being self explanatory

For propellor driven vessels with a "psuedo" free rotating stern wheel....the fact that the wheel rotates is due to water pressure on the wheel blades as a consequence of motion through the water.... & not directly associated with the propellor ......Derek