JBS Sold / Returning to service

Great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a great step!

Just like Nick's posting about the DQ bill passing committee, this purchase is a step toward running again - but read the article carefully. They have bought the JBS and are returning her to the riverfront to be displayed while trying to raise a million for her repairs - so yes its great news, but now the nitty-gritting of fund-raising!

Hmm...

I should become a non-profit. They always seem to have all the money.
I am a for profit but don't profit like this that's for sure. (can I have an amen)

Let's see.

Ron.org.... Has a nice ring

Amen!
Most folks don't understand that "non-profit" is a tax classification, indicating that no individual benefits from the "non-profit's" activities (instead, an institution does, be it an historic house, steamboat, etc. etc--even a hospital!). A non-profit must make a profit, or it goes bankrupt, just like you or me (unlike the gov't, who apparently can print its own money).
So, I encourage everyone to donate to the INM Dewey foundation! Oh, you want to know what INM stands for, RATS--I Need Money. OK, there must be some multi-level pyramid marketing scheme out that that I can get in on the ground floor. . . .

ROTFLMSO!

The "S" is for Steam.

Non Profit Humor...

Reminds me of the I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel create the "Ladies Overseas Aid Society" to raise money to go the Europe with Ricky and the band. When asked about the idea, Lucy explains "we're Ladies who want to go Overseas, and boy do we need Aid!"

Wesley

From Eric Dykman, pilot of the Julia Belle Swain, on Facebook about 2 hours ago:

"Gentlemen, the paperwork has been signed, and money forwarded to Bob Kalhagen.
The JBS now has become property of the Julia Belle Swain Foundation."

Greetings from Florida,

HUZZAH!!! Now, a foundation will most probably need our financial support. Any information on its tax exempt status?

*Read the fine print*
Morning Frank & Steamboating colleagues:
The scenario of a foundation on behalf of the JBS sounds interesting, promising, intriguing. I think Frank has distilled the thinking of a number here on the possibility of impending financial support and the ramifications of tax exempt, legal, business status. Foundation or not, it's still a business. First, we all should read the final, formal draft of the foundation incorporation, prospectus focusing on the 'fine print.' I've found in the past there isn't really fine print with it being stated loud and clear.

Ah, so many boats now demanding so much of our attention with so much money in so little time. Well. what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Summer: Northern shores of Lake Michigan.

Great News

Now we need to throw our financial support the the JBS. Here are several things I would do to improve the JBS for future service.

1. Ask Mrs. Trone for the original whistles and return the true voice of the JBS. At the very least get duplicates.

2. Return the gold "T" to the cross bar, the JBS should as it did in its glory days.

3. Rename the second deck the Captain Dennis R. Trone deck. Have a paitning commissioned.

4. Rename the third deck the Captain John Hartford deck. Have a painting commissioned.

5. Return the name Sangamon Packet Company to the boards over the stairs near the gangway. It may not be the name of the foundation, but it wouild be returning the JBS to best days under the Trone family operation.

6. Hopefully Jon and Travis and others can get the calliope operating once again.

7. This is more complicated. I worked in an office building where the 100 year old plus steam plant was replaced. They cut up the boilers and hauled them out in pieces over an entire summer. They replaced them with two state of the art German boilers that were all stainless steal. They were about the size of small phone booth. They reduced the energy consumption to less than five percent of the old boilers. They had two boilers, but only run one, the other is a backup. They have the option of running in several different modes, including natural gas. The JBS could be much more cost effective with a new boiler system. It will take a great deal of money, but in the long run it wll save lots of money in operating costs and give her a chance at long term economic stability.

8. Paint, sanding, paint, more paint and lots of TLC.

9. Where do we send the check? Have paintbrush will travel from Washington state to help.

Stainless steel is a relatively poor conductor of heat. I'd want to see the fine print on the efficiency of those boilers! Cap'n Walnut.

Though not at all privy to the needed items for restoration of the JBS, it is my understanding that she needs a good deal more than sanding and painting, though that will certainly be a big job, too. As far as boilers go, originally she had a VaPower boiler
Vapor Power International - Home
a very efficient plant that allowed steam to be raised in about 15 minutes. As boilers go, my understanding is that it was a pretty efficient plant, though I'll be willing to bet there are more efficient boilers now, possibly even from the same manufacturer.

Hull work: I understand she needs hull work, especially in the stern rake area. After sitting unattended for several years, much more needed work is likely that just the stern rake.

Generator sets: Probably will need two brand new ones.

I also understand there is quite a bit of structural work needed on the cabins in the way of aluminum and steel repair, as well as repair to other metal parts that are basically decorative. The engines will likely require a complete overhaul. Piping will have to be tested and replaced/repaired as necessary. Same for wiring. She'll need a new steering cable, maybe new bushings on the rudders. If it were my boat, I'd want the whole thing sandblasted, primed and painted at a shipyard. The hull, after repair, should be coated with coal tar before paint, along with new anodes. None of this takes into account small things like replacement of any broken glass, replacement of rusted bolts, re-doing all running rigging, etc., etc. This list surely goes on from there.

I'm thrilled the boat has a new lease on life, and I'm convinced the new owners can get her running again, but it will take a great deal of hard work and money and time. After all of the above gets done, THEN you can worry about the whistle, calliope, nameboards and such -- small stuff, really. I hope it happens, I really do.

Bob, I certainly could not have said it any better myself. You hit the proverbial nail on the head. The new owners of the JULIA BELLE have a monumental task ahead, and their first step should be to contact the U.S.Coast Guard to enquire about their historic vessel inspection program. Bringing the Coast Guard in right away can give everyone an idea of what it will take to be done for her to get a COI and the money that will entail. Also once the decision is made to raise steam find a good steam engineer to survey the engines. Years ago there was a lot of lost motion in her machinery. Over the many many years of use those engines have seen a lot of wear, and as Bob mentioned they need a thorough overhaul. When the Trones operated the boat many of the engines' brasses and bushings were out of shape and worn. Tending to these would increase efficiency and greatly lessen the chance of future serious engine problems.

What lies ahead is not uncharted territory. Jefferson County faced many of the same hurdles when they purchased the AVALON. After W.W. II the GOLDEN EAGLE was returned to service, with new boilers, after an extended lay up. There are certainly parallels with what Tom Greene had on his plate after taking the DELTA QUEEN to Dravo and what Cornell Martin and the Ingrams potentially face with the DQ now.

I too hope to hear the JULIA BELLE's whistle echoes once again off the bluffs of the Upper Miss. It will take patience, plenty of money, some luck, hard work and a population to support her as a lot of money is being spent without visible signs of those outlays. The good news is that it can be done, and it has been done. I pray that the JULIA BELLE's new owners do it again!

I'd like to add my good wishes to these two. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to get it done...just know who to listen to...and the resources to do it! Bob and Frank would be at the top of my list! Cap'n Walnut.

Stainless is a very poor choice of boiler material. The chemistry inside a boiler causes some of the alloying metal in the stainless to break down and eventually you have a porous boiler. I don't know where to find this info, but it is well documented. I'm only informed on it as I had a steam car with a stainless boiler and was made well-aware of it's shortcomings!
Modern boiler packages are not always what is needed on "antique" steam equipment that has a much different variable steam demand than modern stationary steam plants. This is why I worry when I hear of installing package steam plants in our historic boats. The over design to extremes that the DQ & DK had in their boilers served the DQ very well! I realize the over design was due to a fluke, but what a blessing it has been!
S'
David D.