JBS Aluminum

Her superstructure is aluminum.

Matthew Cooper;28909 wrote: Is Julia Belle Swain made of Aluminum

Matt,

Her pilothouse and texas cabin are aluminum; the boiler deck cabin and main deck, as well as all structural members are steel. The boat, especially in the days when she was still allowed 400 passengers, was notoriously "tender" when her helm was hard over. Capt. Trone, a modern-day marine architect of some note, specified aluminum for her upper decks for that very reason. Only after her passenger capacity was cut below 200 did the problem become less prominent. I suspect that the either Capt. Trone or the USCG were the instigators for lowering her passenger capacity.

I'll be darned! You learn something new every day. I thought her entire superstructure was aluminum, thanks.

Lower capacity

I think the reason for the lower capacity was the longer trips she was making between LeClaire and Dubuque, rather than the short Peoria harbor trips.

I belive while in Peoria her capacity was 400 only for sightseeing and dance cruises, and, about 200 for dinners and Starved Rock cruises. When the term "tender" is used, does that mean unresponsive handling or top heavy listing, I am somewhat new, and, still learning the terms.

I wonder how long her hull can last until it rusts.

Tender

Top heavy or listing or both, especially when making a sharp turn, or when everybody goes to one side. Not enough stability for the load, so the boat rocks or lists more than it should. A canoe is tender, a jumbo barge is stable.

G'day all. Capt Dennis made the decision to dedicate all cruise iteneraries to the "overnight" concept as the multi-purpose shedules were likely a pain to forecast costs/crew/food/etc. To ensure passengers had space for lounging on her promenade a balance was saught and found where folks could spend 2 days and not feel cramped and the crew could mangae meals, etc. With the downsized passenger roster Capt Dennis could re-fit the JBS with wood giving the vessel the feel of an authentic steamboat. USCG has strict guidelines about allowing wood on a passenger vessel...more wood, less passengers allowed per square foot of useable deck. When the Twilight was built this "formula" was in her design...though the Twilight had more useable deck space than the JBS, her passenger allowment was appx. 150 people due to wood used in her construction. Capt Dennis found the right balance of cruise itenerary, passenger comfort and esthetics that transformed a steel hulled vessel into a beautiful work of naval architecture ensure passenger satisfaction and a successful operation.

Thanks Luke

Thanks for that great inside information. Yes the TWILIGHT has more outside deck space, which was in very short supply on the JBS. This is another example of Capt. Trone's brilliance - he recognized that need and made the appropriate adjustments when building the TWILIGHT.

Is her hull Aluminum even though that would be a smart place to put it?

No, Matthew. Steel hull.

*RE: JBS aluminum to steel construction*

Steamboating colleagues:
Interesting topic with insights on JBS aluminum upperworks with steel hull. The old system of plate bucking with rivets along out due to action of both fresh and saline sea water with corrosion. The DELTA QUEEN riveted hull was triple galvanized but in time this wore off. Even by World War II the DQ had problems with her bow needing replacement due to age, corrosion, interior dampness twenty years after her construction.

For years it was a no, no in welding aluminum to steel for various reasons until the technology was refined. The CUNARD liner QE-2 in 1968 had her aluminum superstructure welded to her steel hull. A lot of naysayers thought it wouldn't work due to electrolosis in sea air and water. Welding techniques today on steel and aluminum use different temperatures in either 'open' air or a closed vacuum. Experts say, "What goes wrong in welding steel just magnify ten fold with aluminum." Aluminum is great but at times hard to work with. The late Alan Bates also opined on here--and in letters to me--the fire temperature melting factor of aluminum. Well, what do I know? Off to sea tomorrow for several weeks. Will check E=Mails aboard ship. Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

G'eve all. The Twilight also had aluminum upper works...I believe the 3rd deck bulkheads, wheelhouse, stacks and jackstaffs/spars were aluminum to knock weight down. The design of the hull was to be as least resistance as possible so not to "plow along" ...when you see the Twilight in drydock she looked like a sailboat...very shear with easy lines. Capt Dennis knew that in narrowing the hull on a tall boat he needed to find allowances on the upper decks, so he went with aluminum. I remember seeing the Twilight for the first time head on and wondered what held her up as by my towboat background she looked way too skinny. But with her centerline weight pushed down she sat upright and straight. Capt Dennis' naval architect training was in the Navy and his love of shear lines shown through in his drawings. I worked with Denny building a 150' bark in Bath Illinois during the off-season...made out of 3/8" plate steel. He was able to finish appx. 90' of the hull and was completed using come-alongs and a 250 amp stick welder but when the decision was made to build the Twilight the world sailer was put on the back burner. If your ever in Bath the hull lies in the weeds and mud just 200' down river from the floating bar. Last time I saw Denny I asked him about his sail boat and he
said..." Hey Lukey...you wanna buy it?" So there she lay...an unfinished triple masted barkentine in Bath, Illinois. The good Lord knows I miss him.