Yes it is James' decision! It's an awesome boat though! What's the bet it does have some paddler history too...wouldn't be bad eh!

Sorry to breifly highjack your topic James...I'll bring it back on topic after this question. Anth you say you've turned down 3 boats, now that you plan on building a smaller boat are you considering picking one up? The Echuca 'Tiny Fleet Parade' could be a big part of future Hertiage Festivals don't you think....

Picture the advertising: Firstly 'Sailpast of the world's largest fleet of paddlers' followed by 'sailpast of the world's smallest paddler fleet!'

One day eh!

Make sure you get us some measurements and photos James, I want to see all aspects of your boat!

I plan on building a steel hull for the paddle steamer as I am a little concerned about snags and I love working with it and after a discussion with a few owners the discission was made..
The largest boat I looked at was a 16 foot clinker (frankston) not for a paddler but for a home for the steam engine I built ,the other 2 were (Mordialloc and Hastings)smaller again which means smaller length and beam.  
Maybe I need a think of a name and start my own thread sorry james :wink:

Well Everyone, the boat is sitting in our shed!!
Wow, does she ever look a treat!! Absolutely beautiful shape, but, BUT, there is so much work to do... And I think that the trailer ride home rattled a few planks that might need replacing now. There are BIG cracks in it Michael, and they will need fixing. I might be introduced to the Wonderful World of Sikaflex!!
With the whole paddler conversion thingy, I am just going to get this hull back to former glory, and then see what is possible then. I, personally think, that it would look like a small fishing paddler, but any advice is good advice. I really would like it to be a small paddler... I will get the hull working and then, I think that you need to see it face to face (well not face to face but you know what I mean!!!!! )
I am going to go and take a few photos of it now, and let everyone see what actual condition the SJ is in, because I think that the photos from Ebay were a little old...
I will post a few photos tonight!!!
The Worlds Tiny Fleet, consisting of about 6 vessels, or more!!

Cheers Everyone

when you say crack's james do you mean in the planks or the seamline of the plank..?
and if your not familiar with steaming and riveting then perhaps fiberglass MAYBE a better option
looking forward to the pics.

Congratulations James...kind of flukey that it was Alan's boat don't ya think!

You must be feeling pretty proud right now I know I was when I got Grebe!

Hope she's not in too bad a nick either but she sounds awesome and I can't wait to see the pictures.

What is the seamline of the plank?? I will get the pics on ASAP tonight!
And I am very very proud and happy with myself at the minute, but due congratulations to Anth for pointing out Ebay!!
And yes it is flukey, but now I am not sure if it is Alan, hents editing my earlier post.. I am not sure now... So I dont think that I will be publically announcing that yet!!

The overlap in you case because your hull is a clinker or in the case of carvel where the planks would be caulked.

I have taken the photos, so here they are...
Please Welcome the Paddle Steamer Sarah-Jane!!!

This is a picture that I am going to use on Paint for a design point of view

Looking Stern to Bow

The underside of the Stern

The SJ at an angle!!
With an accidental Paint mistake!! Oops

This is the one side of the stern, the Right Side!! The Planking looks just awesome I reckon,
I love it!!

it's in better condition than the ones I looked at! :wink:
it's been out of the water a while hence the gap's in the plank work and the cracks here and there all normal for a boat of this age.

It is not in a horrible condition, she said that there is not rot whatsoever and Dad (who knows rot when he sees, feels or some other sense it) thinks that the wood is still very solid, I can stand in it when it was on an angle so it can hold weight!! The wood is just very dry, and is it best to introduce it into water slowly like, lightly spraying it and then hosing it then buckets etc...
This picture is of a crack in the very bottom of the hull, unfortunately I dont know how to fix them yet!!
It is in better condition than I imagined,
I will just have to work very hard to get my project done!!