\after all the ups and downs with MEDWAY QUEEN a bit of good news on the MAID. She now sports two new masts, Paid for by Paddlesteamer Preservation society. These required A 200foot crane to erect them and have been produced in Aluminium as wooden masts rot very Quickly on Loch Lomond. They were made by JMS Flagpoles Limited in Stavely who provide all the rigging as a goodwill geture. She now really looks great with her new masts. These are treated with a special paint to give them a wood look.The second bit of good news is that the MCA (maritime and coastguard agency) after a long and detailed look at the MAID OF THE LOCH have said that they WOULD issue her with a passenger certificate to sail again. that is WONDERFUL news and is a clear go ahead to run her as a viable opperating ship. Cheers for now, Walter.

I know this topic is a bit old now but here are 2 pictures I took back in 2005 when we used to go up regulary , if its running by 2010 it might pass my wife if she enters the Loch Lomond Swim..

It will be nice to see her sailing.

Had very nice plate of fish and chips aboard the Maid with my two granddaughters last week when I snapped the enclosed of the engine room.

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_24_16.jpeg

Some more pics in the source album

Hi PD's....I think we can all understand ....this very nice .jpg must have been taken during a maintenance period .....as the chain block chain would get VERY ripped apart  if the engine revolved ....Derek 

PS....we are glad the grandaughters liked the chippies & fish...

Not strictly on topic but there is often a lot of activity in the immediate vicinity of the Maid which adds to the interest. The two attached pictures show the the fast patrol boat, the Brigadier Pearson, used by the Rangers from the National Park. I've often thought that it would make a very attractive model. Also just visible in one of the photographs is the Bata Greine, an electric powered boat which is designed to cater for disabled people, especially those with wheelchairs.

The reprobates on the slipway are fellow modellers Lachie Stewart and Gerry Marchbanks with Lachie's son Glen skulking in the background. Sailing a model with the Maid in the background is a very pleasant experience but the Duncan Mills Memorial slipway can be busy in high summer with even lots of the dreaded/dreadful jet skis being launched/retrieved.

An added bonus to sailing here is that if one gets into difficulties the rangers are fantastically helpful. I have been rescued twice, including a sinking in seven feet of water!


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_22_7.jpeg


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_22_6.jpeg

Again not strictly on topic I suppose, but out with Lachie this afternoon to test sail the hull of his new boat the Clyde Steamer King George V. At full tilt it resembles an E Boat tearing along! What better backdrop for first photographs of a new model?

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_24_15.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_24_14.jpeg

Some interesting maintenance work on the Maid last month. The pontoon was warped around to the paddle box to facilitate removal of weed from the paddle.


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_23_13.jpeg


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_23_12.jpeg

Frank takes a break to watch Lachie Stewart's model of the Fleet Tender Meon cruise past.


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_23_11.jpeg

Job done and the pontoon has to be warped all the way around to the other side.


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_23_8.jpeg

Not sure if this stream of Lachie boats set against the background of the Maid is relevant to the thread. Perhaps Walter, as owner, can advise.


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_23_10.jpeg

Particularly liked this shot


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/1/1550_24_10_09_8_17_23_9.jpeg

A couple of 'youtube' videos of Maid....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0skIyfGVz4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_rCPxla6LE&feature=related

Some shots taken of the Maid over the last few days in very wintry conditions. The ice on the adjacent lagoon at Lomond Shores is several inches thick but the Loch and the area around the Maid is ice free.

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-291209123831-3.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-291209123830-2.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-291209123830-1.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-291209123830-0.jpeg

Nice shots, makes me cold just looking at them!!

In spite of the thaw there is still ice on the lagoon at Lomond Shores. However the bay at Balloch and the water at the memorial slipway are clear and I was out last Thursday sailing with a group of three friends with the Maid as a backdrop.

The attached shot was taken at dusk from Lomond Shores. I decided not to lighten it as it would spoil the atmosphere.

Hope 2010 is a good year for visitor numbers to reward the hard work all the guys on board are putting in.


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-240110134436.jpeg

We've had heavy snow but there seems to be a thaw in progress. The water level in Loch Lomond is as low as anyone can remember and the surface has been frozen over up to Balmaha and possibly beyond. The Maid was frozen in for a few days. Given the water level one wonders how much there is below the keel at the moment.


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-240210183451-2.jpeg


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-240210183451-0.jpeg

The Maid was quite busy today when I visited with Lachie. The Knightswood Model Boat club were mounting an exhibition of ship models in the function saloon and put on an interesting display. May post some pics later.

Excitement however when we passed between the engine room and the starboard sponson as the access hatch was open and festooned with hazard tape. Naturally we fought each other to hang through the opening to take pictures but as Lachie is actually building a model I ceded first go. If you don't tell the Health and Safety Gestapo we won't either.

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195439-3.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195439-2.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195439-1.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195438-0.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195215-4.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195215-3.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195215-2.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195215-1.jpeg

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-030410195214-0.jpeg

Nice pictures, some good 'weathering' there 

Did everyone notice how the 'inner rim' of the rimless paddlewheels is not in fact circular? just an observation should I ever decide to build a set....

Quote from: mjt60a on April 04, 2010, 07:19:58 AM
Nice pictures, some good 'weathering' there 

Did everyone notice how the 'inner rim' of the rimless paddlewheels is not in fact circular? just an observation should I ever decide to build a set....

They seem to be the same pattern as for the Jeanie Deans and I think probably Waverly. There is a good set of pics for the Waverly wheel somewhere on the Duck I'm sure.

My own interpretation.