Hi,

I have added some close up views of the paddle wheel of the Sternwheeler Portland to the photo gallery under my photos..  Lots of great detail.

Bill

Thanks for the photos Bill, greatly appreciated...

One thing I did notice is that the buckets (floats) are on the forward side of the wheel arms on one side of the boat and on the stern side of the arms on the other.... Is that normal for American sternwheelers, or just a peculiarity of the Portland?

No Eddy, This is just a views of half of the wheel length. The buckets are forward on each end of the wheel and aft in the middle.   It seems pretty common on the Columbia River sternwheelers. Even on the Columbia Gorge, which I was on this weekend and is a fairly new boat.  Before the Columbia River was dammed (many times) these boats had to contend with some pretty severe rapids going and coming. Also the river had a lot of floating logs and such.  Bucket breakage was pretty common.  It is  much easier to replace a smaller section of wood than one long one.  I  also understand it gave the wheel more bite in the water. Economy was also a factor.  Smaller length  of boards were cheaper and easier to obtain.

Bill

Thanks Bill,

Silly me! But I guess you don't learn if ya don't ask! :-)

Eddy maybe this view will be more helpful although I could not get it all in. No wide angle  on this camera.

Bill