Topic starter
18/12/2007 1:54 am
Greetings From New Orleans ,
From the first time I stood and looked in awe at the sheer size of the Str. Sprague's paddlewheel , as I stood on the Sun Deck ( the top deck ) of the Delta Queen and looked UP at the Sprague's wheel , I have often wondered just what factors dictated the deminsions and style of a steamboat's paddlewheel . Also , from my early days on the Str. Delta Queen when I was a deckhand and a actual working Mate on the boat , I spent countless hours in the Queen's wheel either replacing bucket boards or wheel arms and even then I wondered why the wheel was designed as it was and to meet what needs ? I believe its safe to say that on some boats the wheel just doesn't fit or look right such as the MQ's and I often wondered what engineer dreamed up this disaster ?? Also , I recall on the Str. Mississippi Queen , we had real issues with her wheel at first because on many occasions we experienced broken windows and terrified passengers from the drift wood that the wheel threw through those Paddlewheel Bar windows . From my early days on the Delta Queen , I would listen intently as those old and crusty pilots would often discuss what they considered what a perfect and all purpose paddlewheel should be and the general consenus was that a " Square " wheel was the ideal design for a boat's propulsion system . These same old Pilots also discussed both the merits and shortfalls of Split Wheels , Herring Bone Wheels and even the type of wood and materisls that should go into the makeup of an efficient and proper paddlewheel . Also , was the wheel's weight a contributing factor when it was first laid out on the boat's blueprints and did those early engineers also take into account the inevitable sinking of the stern over the lifetime of the boat ? My question for this board , was the paddlewheel designed for a specific need such as speed or backing ability or simply just any size and design that would " fit " on the fantail of the boat ?? Food for thought ?
Smoothe Sailing !
Ted Davisson
27/12/2007 5:28 pm
A Square Wheel? I assume you mean that the Diameter is equal to the Width... My former boss is restoring the paddlewheeler used in the John Wayne Movie "Blood Alley" (ex Spirit of Sacramento) and when I watch that paddle turn it looks like that boat is throwing the water all over the place. Maybe the Buckets were too deep or perhaps she needs a bigger wheel all together.
I agree that there needs to be proportion. When you look at these fake paddle wheels on the dinner boats I always thought... Why even bother.
As for a split wheel verses a single... I can't speak for piloting a steam boat on the Mississppi, but I have been sweating bullets heading through Hunter's Cut on the Sacramento Delta and I am so glad I had more control over that stern when the wind was taking me one way and the current wanting to put me on the rocks. But a single wheel would me more efficent to be sure. Given the choice I'll take the split, but then again I have never been to picky when I have been looking for a ship.
08/02/2008 4:45 am
Of all the Paddlewheels I have had privvy to see, I must admit that I like the MQ and Julia Belle Swains wheels the best! No one WANTED a Double Deck GLASS saloon verses a SPLASH BOARD! but esthetically it looked really neat! Since the DQ got her bigger hull she looks like a fat Japanese lady packing that little pillow thing on her rear end. I don't know the propper term for that particular dress piece but you get my drift. As for the poor old AQ's wheel it looks like a huge barge being pushed by a bicycle wheel. Oh Well!! Just my 2 cent's worth. All of us river rats tried to tell them what would work. But 20th/21st century technology must be better than the old PRVEN technologies.