Detroit Princess and another unknown boat

Carmen;

Couldn't get a good link to the photo of the Ste. Clair.
As I recall. the Bob-Lo amusement park operation had two propeller driven steamers wjicj went back to about the turn of the century(20th century). One was the Str. Columbia and the other was the Str. Ste. Clair. The last that I knew a few years ago was that at least one of the two was undergoing restoration.
Dan

Carmen;
Further research reveals that both of the Bob-Lo boats still exist and apparently both will undergo restoration. It appears that both boats are still in the Detroit area although the Columbia is soon to be moved to the Hudson River.
Dan

Dan,

It´s definitely not the steam ferry CLAIRE. It´s a small sternwheel excursion boat. Hope this link works

Carmen

I just got some "larger" photos and that nice little sternwheeler is called "River Queen" (it´s not the Au Sable River Queen which is a sidewheeler). My friend also sent me a photo of the steam ferry CLAIRE.

Carmen

PRB Casino #1

Those Leevac boat were built in Jennings, LA, on the Mermentau River, as a series of gamlin' boats. This one may have been PLAYERS RIVERBOAT CASINO II, designed by marine architect Rodney Lay of Florida. Originally built as a sternwheeler for the Lake Charles Players Casino, the wheel was removed and the boat was taken to Metropolis, IL where it replaced the original Lay-designed casino boat and become known as PLAYERS RB Casino II.

I was Master/ Mate on PRBC #1, but left before it was replaced by Sister Number Two. Notice the Texas on the DETROIT PRINCESS, the first copy had the pilothouse sitting on a broad expansive Hurricane Roof and had to be raised at least 12 feet for the pilot to see over the forward handrailing. The additional cabin space allowed for more "gaming positions", and hence additional revenue; so the second version made the first obsolete as far as gambling went, but the first was the favorite of the boat crews. Tiny Mercedes engines, designed for yachts, drove P#1 along at a fast clip, and she was a fine boat to handle. I was aboard the deliver run from Jennings to Metropolis and have fond memories of the trip.

The COLUMBIA QUEEN, as I heard the story told, was built as a stock casino boat in anticipation of it being purchased by a casino, but when that didn't happen it was bought and taken to the Columbia where it operates today.

Harrah's bought out the Fishman brothers, chief stockholders of Players. Merv Griffin was the front man for Players. My pal and former Pilothouse buddy, Captain Ken Horner, who cut his teeth and got his license on the Boblo steamboats, was originally set to skipper the Detroit cutie, but has since gone back to the slot machine trade. I'm surprised, and delighted, that the DP is finally in operation. They do have great coffee cups, and I treasure mine.

Carmen,

The sternwheeler looks like a boat that was originally called the Marina Jack II. Built originally for someplace in Florida. There's definetly a picture of this boat in an older reflector with her original name.

Aaron

Carmen, I don't know anything about that little River Queen sternwheeler, but is is definately a design of marine architect Wm. Preston.

Here´s an old thread I´ve found

http://www.steamboats.org/talkshop/messages/878.html

Obviously the MARINA JACK II/RIVER QUEEN was on her way from Florida up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers in 2002.

I haven´t been able to find a website offering cruises.

Carmen

carmen,

This vessel IS the Wm Preston designed MARINA JACK II. I have wondered what ever happened to this beautiful replica of a upper Ohio River pool-styled towboat/excursion boat.

She would be perfect for a dream I have floating in my mind.

~Travis~

Cute, but she looks like she needs a passenger barge out front. Just goes to show what does and does not necessarily work for an excursion boat. There's no outside deck for the paxs to sit and enjoy the cruise... everyone standing up on the bow and around the outside of the pilothouse gasping for air. But she is an attractive boat. Great pilothouse and wheel.

Detroit Princess and unknown

I agree its a Bill Preston design but the big question where was the photo taken at. Carmem's post said Detriot. A quick check with my Detroit U.S. C.G contacts found no such boat operating in their sector. Same for Cleveland and Toledo. The name is not River Queen on her side, loooks like U.T. ?????
Anybody know where this boat presently is??

Bill,

It´s definitely "River Queen". My friend sent me a larger copy of the pic where you can read the name. I just asked him if he remembers the exact location where he took that picture. He´s still in the US returning when we´re flying to the US. So I don´t know when I will get an answer.

Carmen

The photo was made last weekend in Detroit, MI, Detroit river close to Lake St. Clair.

Carmen

Carmen,

I have been wondering what happened to that boat since she left Sarasota, Florida years ago.

The dream I have is to make an old fashioned showboat and she would be the push boat. So you would effectively have two vessels operating simultaniously in the same operation. Dinner cruises on the boat and shows on the barge. The barge would have the living accomodations for the crew and entertainers as well as the kitchen and machine shop.

Think of how much money could be made if both were operating at the same time! Small town Ohio Rver and Upper Mississipi River would be the ports of call. I have put too much time, thought, and planning in this one for it not to ever happen.

This said, I wonder where I would find investors to buy the RIVER QUEEN and to get the barge built?

Looks like I might have alot of time on my hands in the coming years....so now is the time to start planning!

Now all I need is money!

~Travis~