2010 Sternwheel Towboat Calendar available

Thanks Steve I've been looking forward to it. on the 09 I read about every boat and I was looking at march and realized that the March boat, Tecumseh, had been the Cotton Blossom at one time down in NOLA. The Capt., Steve Villere, was an old friend and I got alot of steering time on that boat back in the canals. Even got to lock her a few times. So it was a really nice surprize to see her on my calender. Thanks again Steve, I'll be putting in my order later this week.

Mel,
Here is a photo of the TECUMSEH when it was renamed and rebuilt as the ROBIN D, and before it became the COTTON BLOSSOM. This photo was taken on 9-15-72 and is courtesy of the Boat Photo Museum. The other boat that is turning a bit fast and heeling to port, is the CLAIRE-E.

Notice how many buckets the ROBIN D has! I'd say too many to work efficiently at faster speeds. Looking at the TECUMSEH's original wheel, it seems they added a bucket between each original bucket. Early photos of COTTON BLOSSOM show she still had this dense wheel, but later photos show they have rebuilt it to have the original number of buckets. I would imagine it performs better now.

Anyone know if there is anything new with the COTTON BLOSSOM?

Steve Huffman;19031 wrote: Anyone know if there is anything new with the COTTON BLOSSOM?

I don't have an answer to the question, but I am wondering if I am correct that the photo of the ROBIN D was taken in Marietta Oh, with the Lafayette Hotel behind the photographer?

Bruce,
Marietta would be my guess also. I don't have any other info with that photo.

Steve, that particular photo ROBIN D is NOT from my files. I have a similar one taken the same day. The last report of COTTON BLOSSOM I had was after it had been moved to Mandeville, La., on Lake Pontchartrain, east of New Orleans and was removed from documentation a couple of years ago.

Dan,
Thanks for the info. My latest notes on the COTTON BLOSSOM are about the same as yours. What I have is:
"2007, COTTON BLOSSOM operating out of Madisonville, LA on the Tchefuncta River.
Due to complaints from area residents about where she docks, her COI was allowed to expire on 4/1/07, and she has been for sale."

I was just wondering if anyone had newer info than that.

The Cotton Blossom is still owned by Tchefuncte River Cruises, aka Frank Crain.
The vessels document IS CURRENT. Good till 10-31-10

Bill,
Thanks. I see they must have just redocumented the Cotton Blossom very recently. You're really on top of the old sternline telegraph! Hope they start running that boat again next year.

CB's owner

Frank Crain rides the NATCHEZ on occasion and is a good friend of Capt. Don Houghton. Don was Captain on the CB before making pilot on the NATCHEZ, and he helped Frank in getting the CB recertified.

If we can find out if the COTTON BLOSSOM is operating, I can put it back in the next edition of the Inland River Record

Hey Steve thanks for the picture. I really loved that boat she reminded me of the PA Denny. I guess I'm not the only one intersted in the CB.

That photo of the Robin D. Was indeed taken at Marietta. It was probably on the occasion of the Sternwheel Festival or an S & D meeeting, probably the latter. It was probably the same year that I got a tour through the boat and met Mr. P. A. Denny, who had fixed her up as a super floating home, sparing no expence. I didn't take any photos of the interior, but I remember a great huge chandelier hanginging the main cabin. The wheel had to be a copy of the DQ's wheel. How well it worked I do not know. By the way, I have the Ward plans of the original Tecumseh. If anyone wants prints, contact me for a price quote.

Oil Engine?

We've done bought and paid for our usual order of at least two calendars, and yes, we still wait for each new month to pass and we turn the page before looking at the featured picture for that month. It like getting a b'day gift twelve times a year, and something to look forward to each 30-31 days.

I have a question... What is an "Oil-Engine"? I imagine they use oil, heavier than diesel, for fuel. What weight oil? Number six? And what about waste motor oil- would that burn in such an engine? Sounds interesting with my interest and background in recycling. Tell me more.

Sam, I always thought "oil engine" referred to an internal combustion engine that ran on fuel other than gasoline. On USCG form 2692, when filling out the report on a towboat, where it asks for "propulsion" I was always instructed to write "Oil Screw" -- an "oil" engine and screw propulsion. I don't know how this designation got started.

Bob's explanation is about the same as what I've read. Once-upon-a-time early Diesel engines were also referred to as "Oil engines", or "Diesel oil engines". For example, the operator's manual for the Barbara H's 1940 Fairbanks-Morse (published in 1936) explains the other types of oils (other than "Diesel Oil") that the engine can burn, one of those being oil derived from whale fat!!

Basically combustion is created from the compression of an oil, rather than aspritating a vapor from a more flammable source, such as gasoline. And since it's done by compression, an ignition system with sparks plugs and magneto is not needed.

I only used the Oil Engine term for this calendar as a different way to say these were not steam sternwheel towboats, without having to use the word "Diesel" again.

Sam, your 2 calendars shipped today. Thanks for the order! Now lets see how long the postal service takes to get your package only 38(?) miles down the road to you!

Mr. D's Machine

During the Second World War, the Japs and Jerrys (PC?) developed engines that ran on about any liquid that could burn and push a piston. So.... I imagined early "oil" engine ingenuity that ran on heavy oils, even waste or crude. Why not?

It's been said that Herr Diesel (actually born in Paris) was interested in using powdered coal, vegetable and peanut oils to fuel his first compression engines, but they were not popular. Only recently, with the rising costs of petroleum-derived diesel fuel has interest shifted back to utilizing other energy sources to drive Rudy D's invention. Interestingly enough, Aldolphus Busch, the St. Louis beer baron, was said to have bankrolled the first practical diesel engine made in this country.

We'll keep a lookout for the USPS delivery of your celebrated calendar. Are they still using the same old grey mules on the Ohio River mail route?

Just a friendly reminder that we still have plenty of 2010 Sternwheel Towboat Calendars in stock, for those who plan to order, and are looking for a unique & practical gift item.

Proceeds from these calendar sales significantly help our non-profit maintain this +86 year-old vessel.

(see 1st message in this thread for ordering info).

Thank you!

a lot of early boats and ships, ran on black oil or " bunker C " , what was left after all the good stuff was taken out. It had to be heated with steam to even get it to flow. Am I right ?

Case Study: 9 Lives of the M/V KANAWHA

One of the featured boats in the 2010 calendar in the M/V KANAWHA. This diesel-electric sternwheel towboat was built by Howard Shipyard in 1924 for the U.S. Engineers. (photo #1, courtesy of Dan Owen)

In 1958 the KANAWHA was sold to Dr. Walter Johnston of Vicksburg, who converted her into an excursion boat. Dr. Johnston had been instrumental in bringing the SPRAGUE to Vicksburg for the sum of $1, in 1948. He died tragically in 1964 during his salvage efforts of the Civil War gunboat CAIRO.

After Dr. Johnston's 1961 rebuild, the boat initially retained the name KANAWHA, but was renamed BELLE CAROL a few years later (photo #2). Following Dr. Johnston's death, Capt. Oscar Woods took the boat to Del Ray Beach, Florida to run excursions. The venture was a failure and the BELLE CAROL returned to Vicksburg by 1968.

The boat changed ownership, names and locations several times over the next 40 years. (the 2010 Calendar has all the details)

Surprisingly enough, this boat still exists today as the TARLAN ROSE, beached on the Atlantic coast near the Hampton Inn at West Atlantic City (photo #3). You can see where various owners have added freeboard to the hull over the years. Not sure how long she will last beached in saltwater!

Captain Lou Plumlee

The BELLE CAROL was in Nashville when the DELTA QUEEN landed there in 1970. The BELLE's skipper was Cap'n Hawley's and my good friend, Captain Lou Plumlee who started his long and illustrious river career rafting on the Cumberland River in 1904. Cap'n Lou filled in as Mate on the AVALON, at times, and I had the distinct honor of working for him when he was there in those later AVALON days.

There's a name I hadn't heard in a while, but I certainly do remember Capt. Plumlee, who visited aboard the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE a few times and was kindly.

The new Sternwheel Towboat Calendar arrived at my landing and, as usual, is a dandy! Thanks very much -- and well done thou faithful servants!

Hey Steve thanks for the calender, great turn around time. I had it in a couple days. Have you got the book on John Beatty?

Thanks Mel, glad to hear U.S. Mail boat is running on a fast bell.

Unfortunately we have sold out of Barbara's Beatty's Navy book very recently. I don't know if there are plans for a second printing or not. You might check bookfinders.com. Used copies turn up now and then.

Sam, I've added this info to my "BELLE CAROL" file. Thanks!

Dan Owen also shared a photo from his collection of the KANAWHA at Del Ray Beach, Florida. It's probably circa 1964 when she is still the KANAWHA, but would be renamed BELLE CAROL in the not too distant future.