Australian paddlers and barges

[Derek Warner]

Say about 20% of all paddle boat pictures in "Ships of the Inland Rivers" (Australian) by
Ronald Parsons show two pieces of tree timber (guess 4">6" diameter) suspended vertically
down over the sides of the paddle box's - I can only assume these were primitive "fenders"
to keep a distance between a wharf or towed barges

So from that point, were barges (in Australian rivers) towed tight in alongside - or loosely?
and aft (behind) etc - I do understand that the same publication shows larger barges as
complete with their own steering gear (wheel, ropes & rudder etc)

The reason I ask this is that viewing the hulk of PS Decoy confirmed a towing post (port & stdb)
just aft of aft sponson, but the new house works cover in near the fwd sponson - so I don't know
if I should install two posts fwd

I mean after finding that the real hulk of Decoy (1878) still existed, my version of Decoy is now
no better than "very stand off in scale detail" so any corrections can only help

regards Derek

[freedem]

Hi Derek
acording to the novel "all the rivers run" the barges were as you
said with their own steering gear and were maned. and towed
on log ropes behind. both the description of delia's first voyage
and ( her husband decited to two two barges even though they
were not insured for more than one) and also the report of
another steamer bloding up killing all on board and only surviver
was the steersman on the barge
jeffery