QOTM paddlewheel

Where on Facebook?

So what is the name of the page where you saw these pix? Is there a pix of the stage? Doc said the end of it is attached to a pivoting device rather than being free-floating. I'm wondering if that is verifiable from the pix you saw.

Judy,

Here are the most recent pictures I have seen of the QOTM. They don't show the wheel or the device the stage is fixed to. However, they do show a number of the details heretofore unseen.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.339630416121126.82057.101341839949986&type=1

Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.430621016981270.94321.135202456523129&type=1

After looking at the links Aaron provided, the wheel seems not to be hooked up yet to the hydraulic drive system. It appears to be a Haaglund. As far as the stage goes, that, too, appears to be like Doc said - attached to a big pinned/pivoting circle on the deck.

A properly rigged stage and a crew that know show to handle it is much more versatile than one of those where the heel remains attached to the deck. I've never understood why some operators do it.

The pictures Travis provided the link to are very interesting as well. Looks like a very nice boat inside. I will bet that it won't be six months before they change that searchlight control, though...there's gonna be some VERY tired arms after 6 hours using that thing!!!

I see they were up at the Julia St area - was it for a special event or is it there until they start up?

Does it appear that the running Port running light on the Pilothouse gingerbread is not screened? All I can see is red gingerbread and a dark object which appears to have a lens.

Oops

I hadn't looked at Aaron's link yet. I see it was at that dock for its inaugural cruise Saturday. I had to laugh at one of the postings - a TA said she had to wait for TA rates next year so she could ride and then pass on her experience to her wonderful clients - its OK for them to fork over the big bucks, but not for her, eh?
Regarding that stage setup - will it lift up on that connection so the stage could be angled down to landings? Not all landings are even with the bow...

Looks like you're right there, Jimmer. It does appear the gingerbread would serve as the screen, but don't regulations still require that the screen be painted black?

Judy, hard to tell about the heel of the stage. It appears to have a big hinge on the very heel which will be the pivot point. The biggest drawback I've always seen to those fixed stages is that the boat cannot lay parallel to the bank and still use the thing without folks having to be really careful they don't walk off the end of it when they board the boat.

AJ Richardson;30424 wrote: Hi All,

Just took a good hard look at some new pictures of the QOTM on Facebook and to my eyes it appears that the paddlewheel hydraulics still are not hooked up. Hoping someone in New Orleans could confirm that if she's out wandering the harbor prior to her first trip.

Aaron

AJ- you may find it surprising to know that her paddlewheel is just a decoration. The hydraulics make it turn and appear to propel the vessel while she is actually propelled by two Azimuth drives.

Hey Brian,

I hope the wheel isn't simply a decoration as if that is the case they shouldn't have spent the money on the hydraulic system that isn't currently hooked up to the wheel. Even a wheel aided by props that works is better then simply dragging a wheel through prop wash. I hope they will get the wheel functional even if she does operate mostly on the props.

Thanks for your comments.

Aaron