I am looking to build a trailerable sternwheeler using aluminum pontoons that are usually used for "party barges".  I would like to build something that looks like a typical 1800's riverboat that plied the American rivers and looks like the old South.

I can't seem to locate any plans for a boat like this, nor pictures of anything that has been built in the past.

Could someone head me in the right direction?

Try contacting Gary Morton of the American Sternwheel Association. He built a sternwheeler very similar to what you have described. Details of the boat use to be on their web site but I can't locate the article any more. The ASA web site is below.

info@americansternwheel.org

Regards

Mike

Thanks Mike

I would suggest to try to get the reprint of the Sternwheeler Catalog by The Marine Iron Works of Chicago, see http://www.steamlaunch.com/books/marine.html



This lovely little book contains the drawings of a number of small to medium sized sternwheelers. The smallest of the are two 45' and 48' cabin launches and a 50' river steamer, a quite simple workboat. In my opinion, these simple and utilitarian boats look far more authentic than simply trying to decorate a party barge with some style elements of "floating wedding cake" Mississippi steamers.

Moritz

G'day Paddlek,

I know it has been nearly a year since you asked your question on building a trailerable pontoon sternwheeler and I don't know if you are still interested but by chance I came across the web site of the bloke from the American Sternwheel Association who built a similar type of boat. The web site is:

http://users.wirefire.com/gemort/vern%20p1.htm