PV Cobba (Murray River, Australia)

[Roderick Smith]

I have been hearing bits during the construction, via Michael.
PV Cobba will have its grand opening at Cobram on Sun.30.3.
It will be offering 1/2 h rides $10 per head with complimentary drink and nibbles.
PV Betsy will be going up to attend; I presume that PV Julie Fay will be there too [post edit, no].
For a photo, see:
<http://paulalivinthedream.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/echuca-cobram/olympus-digital-camera-35>

Michael has no time to voyage there with PV Struggler.  It is a full 3 days from Echuca even at Jessie II speeds, and involves passing through Barmah Choke, then snaggy reaches above.  I am looking at trailing to Cobram on Saturday and launching there; the ramp is adequate [post edit, I didn't take my boat].

Cobram is a typical river town, a fruit (and vine and vegetables for Melbourne) and dairy centre, and increasingly sunbelt retirement and riverside golfing.  As with Echuca, it benefits by proximity to Melbourne.  There was a local commercial cruising launch, but it has been relocated to Koondrook/Barham.  Bit by bit, every river town has a commercial operation and/or houseboat base.
See: <www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/The-Murray/Destinations/Cobram-Barooga.aspx>

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

I lacked the time to launch Jessie II, and made a day return from Melbourne on Sun.30.3, with a 6.30 start, rain until Shepparton (9.00), then sun.  I arrived at Cobram Thompsons Beach at 9.58, for the 10.00 ceremony, but events were running 20 min late.  Tents for sales and a barbecue had been set up, also a pa system.  PV Cobba was at its new floating pontoon wharf.  PV Betsy had arrived after a difficult journey from Barmah.  PV Julie Fay's owners were on an interstate caravan adventure, so that boat wasn't present.  Cobba's owner also runs a houseboat and fishing boat hire service: his boats were moored in the vicinity, also a trailable hired houseboat from Queensland.

At 10.00, the owning family gave a brief welcome, thanked the many local sponsors of the vessel and its entry into revenue service, and mentioned the delay to the morning's program.  Tickets for the first cruise had sold out; I got one of three remaining for the second cruise; other cruises were filling fast.  The boat is in survey for 49 passengers, with a maximum of 29 on the upper deck.

At 10.20 the main ceremony got underway.  Three Aboriginal/Koori(Koori) dancers, with a supervisor who spoke, and played a didgeridoo.  Normally I wince at meetings which recognise the traditional owners of the suburban land on which the town hall stands.  Here it was highly appropriate, and very effective: the speaker also presents at events such as football grand finals, and is known nationally.  His grandmother had been a nearby riverbank dweller, and he explained how this culture is one of the few in the world which has a spiritual affinity to the land, and what that means and how it is honoured.  He then carried out a traditional smoke ceremony ('traditionally I would use twirl sticks to light the fire, but today we are on a timeline, and I will use a cigarette lighter').  He carried a bark container with smoking eucalyptus leaves aboard, and waved the smoke in all corners of the vessel to ward off evil spirits, and so ensure good fortune.  This was the equivalent of smashing a bottle of champagne, and wishing good fortune for the ship and those who sail upon her in other cultures.  By 10.30, the first passengers were boarding for a 30 min cruise with drinks and finger food included in the $10 fare.  Cobba headed up river, under a broad side opening of the bridge, and not the narrow channel through the former lifting span, then out of sight to round up, come past the bridge and pontoon again, and around one more bend to round up and return.  Meanwhile, the dancers were performing on the sand on the beach, in front of Betsy.  I boarded just after 11.00 for the second cruise, following the same pattern.  Paddleducker James had been skippering a PS Emmylou overnight cruise, finishing at 9.30.  He arrived with Paddleducker Michael and friend Luke (builder of PS Billy Tea, and now building larger PS Ironside).  We chatted; they were on the fourth Cobba cruise, while I was treated to a cruise on Betsy.  We chatted a bit more, then headed for home with cruises continuing.  The day had been a brilliant success, and augured well for future operation.  Most people were locals, fully aware of the long political struggle with the local shire in the 2 years since launching.

I didn't get the motor specifications, but the drive is electric, with steering by paddle control from a pushbutton controller (similar to the remote of the models built by other Paddleduckers).  The hull is aluminium, barge style: not traditional, but very practical; in this tricky reach, Cobba can cruise on 350 mm.  The inaugural skipper is from Echuca (Bere yesterday) while the owner gets his own master 4.  The survey figure is very important: 49 can hold a busload of tourists, notably Probus clubs.  PS Curlip was built to suit the same requirement.

Enclosed: A selection of six photos of the day.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Roderick Smith]

Normally I would start a separate thread for PV Betsy, but these photos are intertwined with the PV Cobba celebrations.  Owner Greg brought the boat about 150 km upriver to attend: through the narrow and snaggy Barmah Choke, then an ok reach past Picnic Point, then the very snaggy reach above Tocumwal: avoiding vertical snags, riding over some horizontal ones, and touching the bottom.  He is waiting for better water for the journey home.  I had an agonising cruise in Jessie II above Tocumwal a few years ago, and an easy one from Echuca to Tocumwal in 2013, having been in a fireworks parade which had Betsy as a participant (photo up in a different thread).
Betsy was built in 1966, and has a David Brown tractor engine and transmissions, driving  via chains to stub axles.  A paddle can be feathered for tight manoeuvring.
At Cobram, Betsy was nosed onto sand to hold against the current, then the river dropped 10 cm overnight.  Considerable effort was needed to get off.  Very kindly, the owner picked me up at the pontoon, then was able to nudge in without grounding to let me off later.  This selection shows Betsy's participation, and should help convey more of the mood of the day to those viewers who weren't there.  I have been to major rallies at many river towns; it was great to see Cobram matching the others.   The fifth was taken by Michael, showing me photographing from Betsy.  The sixth was another of mine, with Michael & James watching Greg push clear of the sand after letting me off.
There is a third Cobram selection yet to come.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's.......& all very interesting & thankyou again Roderick.....................Derek 

[Roderick Smith]

Here is my final selection to round out the day's coverage, and some complementary background.
For information and bookings: <www.cobba.net.au>

040702F Cobram (Vic.). MV Matilda.  This earlier public-cruise boat was relocated to Koondrook/Barham. R Smith
080201F Cobram (Vic.) MV Jessie II.  This jetty has since been dismantled. R Smith
140330Su Cobram (Vic.) PV Cobba, speeches.  The owner is at the rear, wearing sunglasses. R Smith
140330Su Cobram (Vic.) PV Cobba passes another visitor: a hired trailable houseboat from boatahome.com.au. R Smith
140330Su Cobram (Vic.) PV_Cobba, the first cruise docking.  The owner is ready with the lines, while Captain Bere is manoeuvring using the control box. R Smith
140330Su Cobram (Vic.) PV Cobba foredeck, with a passenger enjoying the drink & fingerfood offered as part the inaugural day package. R Smith

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

[Mike Smith]

The owners of this boat have an  interesting a 98 photo facebook page showing the construction and launch of this boat


https://www.facebook.com/cobbapaddleboatcruises/photos/a.479962618775669.1073741828.478858382219426/479966208775310/