Topic starter
09/10/2010 6:15 pm
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Once a year in this country the President of the United States gives a
State Of The Union adress to both houses of Congress and to not only the people of the United States but to the people of the world as well . In this adress the President gives his opinions , ideas , plans , and thoughts on the current status of the country and where he hopes to see this country go .
Having said that , what would you say is the State Of The Union for steamboating in general ?
In my opinion , it is on life support and with every passing day I see on this web page another steamboat either going out of business or up for sale .
I have often wondered , just what does it take for a steamboat company to survive in this present economic climate and what is the recipe for success .
A few months ago I had dinner with the likes of Capt. Doc Hawley , Capt. Don Summers , Capt. Vern Streckfus and others and one of the topics of discussion was simply what does it take for a steamboat company to survive ?
The general answer to this question was basically you had to have three key ingredients .
1. Location
2. A Good Product
3. Good Marketing
Lets use the Str. Natchez for a test subject .
1. Location , New Orleans , the French Quarter , a tourist city and
a steady flow of conventions .
2. A Good Product , the Str. Natchez , attractive , steam operated and a
steel supers structure to comply with all Coast Guard
rules and regualtions .
3.Marketing , its been my observation that there is little or no televison or
radio advertisment but in almost every hotel ad motel you can
find a brochure on the Natchez and if nothing else as a tourist
in the French Quarter you will hear her whistle and caliope .
To take this concept one step further , would the Str. Delta
Queen succeeded without the likes of a Betty Blake ??
I have also often wondered why other steamboats have not succeeded such as the Cotton Blossom on the north shore of New Orleans , on the Tchefuncta River . In my opinion , Frank Crane had a good product , the Cotton BLossom , a good location , the entire North Shore of the New Orleans area , but I don't believe that he marketed the boat as well and as necessary as he should and could have .
One other thing that concerns me is how many people really care about steamboats and for that matter the river in general ? I think at one time the river and steamboats was a form of entertainmeent but not any more . Think of all the different venues of entertainment that are out there today for the population in general to take advantage of ! When the Str. Island Queen would pull into Pittsburg , with Capt. Wagner on board , people would flock to come aboard for a cruise and what other form of entertainment was at their disposal ? No game boys , no I pods , no cell phones , no text messageing , very few theatres and none of the now modern day gizmos that now occupy most people's time .
One other issue I have is what is the average age of the current steamboater or anyone for that matter that is really interested in the world of steamboats and the river ?? I just turned sixty , many of my friends that post here are older and many are younger , but will there be a next generation of steamboaters that are really interested in this love of the river and its life style ?? With very few river boats to entice them to ride come take a ride on the river , what would be the draw ? The Str. Delta Queen is now a hotel , the Str. American Queen is in moth balls and the Str. Mississippi Queen is in a state of limbo !
Food for thought folks , will there be another generation of steamboaters and will this whole mind set just be a vagrant thought in a dusty history book ?
You tell me what th future holds ??
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
09/10/2010 9:49 pm
I'm 32 and have interest in steamboats. I gew up in Louisville around the Belle and watched many years of the steamboat race with the DQ. I attended Tall Stacks in '92, and just spent a night on the DQ on Sept 28.
09/10/2010 10:58 pm
Ted Davisson;23376 wrote: what would you say is the State Of The Union for steamboating in general ?
I would mention the demise of the Mississippi Queen, the Becky Thatcher, and the Lt. Robt. E. Lee, all within a few weeks!!!
The economy is a big part of the problem, as a lot of people who would travel for fun by boat cannot afford to now. I'm one of them. But, the competition from electronic games, movies, and TV are a permanent distraction. We will never again be able to catch a packet to get to the next town. 'Wish I could've been around in those days, but they passed some 25 years before I was born, with the loss of a number of working boats in the 1930s.
When I was on the DQ in 1970, we passed the dredge Ste. Genevieve (now gone), the Graco (now gone), and several other boats. We went through Lock 48 (Ohio River, now gone). That era has passed and will only exist again for me in my paintings and on my model railroad layout.
Lee Anne
10/10/2010 6:00 am
Lee Anne,
I hate to correct you...but the GRACO is still around and doing well. She is running for Madison Coal and Supply in Charleston, WV. Her name now is the LADY LOIS.
Travis
10/10/2010 2:13 pm
Ted: I do not disagree with any of your findings. But I would add another factor: Reasonable price. The packet boats had an answer to those with little money...deck passage. I think that the DQ even had it when it lived in California. That all ended when the Greenes got hold of her and tore out their venue in order to put a new "Mississippi River Boat" front on her. Before and after we were married, Miss Carol and I usta go to Cincy to see the DQ arrive and leave. Any cruising on her WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE QUESTION due to our financial situation. We finally figured that the Derby Cruise on the DQ was what we could afford. We were on the waiting list for OVER TEN YEARS and finally gave up. You could ride the Island Queen back the the 40s or the NATCHEZ and BOL even yet without breaking the bank. I have found that for less than the price of a ten-day cruise on the DQ, MQ or AQ, I could buy and maintain and run my own little steamer I did just that! Of course, I and my First Mate must "do it all" but THAT is most of the fun. Cap'n Walnut
10/10/2010 3:44 pm
[QUOTE=Ted Davisson;23376]
One other issue I have is what is the average age of the current steamboater or anyone for that matter that is really interested in the world of steamboats and the river ?? I just turned sixty , many of my friends that post here are older and many are younger , but will there be a next generation of steamboaters that are really interested in this love of the river and its life style ??
Mr. Davisson,
I am 21 years old, and boating, especially steamboatin', is a lot of what I've known in my life. I grew up on the NATCHEZ and the MINNE, and I'm even going to Maine Maritime Academy to do this as a living and keep the steam tradition going for another generation to enjoy, so to answer your question very bluntly: yes.
10/10/2010 4:48 pm
AMEN. Matt....we are all counting on you and the rest of the guys and gals your age to keep it alive for when we are old and want somewhere to live our dreams on a REAL steamboat!
10/10/2010 4:48 pm
AMEN! Matt....we are all counting on you and the rest of the guys and gals your age to keep it alive for when we are old and want somewhere to live our dreams on a REAL steamboat! No pressure!
10/10/2010 5:57 pm
You could still get deck passage on the DQ after the Greenes got her. Just get a job as a "Deck" hand. Actually, I have known of people who just walked on and paid to ride to the next town. They had to bed down in the aft cabin lounge. I doubt if they paid the full fare. So that would be "deck passage", right?
Topic starter
11/10/2010 1:25 pm
I Salute You !
Greetings From New Orleans ,
Matthew , I Salute You !! Furthermore , if there is any thing that I can do to help or assist you with your endeavors please let me know !
I only wish there would be more like you and I hope that there will be any steamboats to arrive when you reach that point in your career that you will hope to work on a steamboat .
Its also my understanding that one of the few American , steam ships in service today , the Coast Range will soon be headed to the scrap yards .
If you'd care to come to New Orleans and ride ships to help with acquiring an un limited Coast Guard license , please do so !
Welcome Aboard !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Matthew Dow;23389 wrote: [QUOTE=Ted Davisson;23376]
One other issue I have is what is the average age of the current steamboater or anyone for that matter that is really interested in the world of steamboats and the river ?? I just turned sixty , many of my friends that post here are older and many are younger , but will there be a next generation of steamboaters that are really interested in this love of the river and its life style ??Mr. Davisson,
I am 21 years old, and boating, especially steamboatin', is a lot of what I've known in my life. I grew up on the NATCHEZ and the MINNE, and I'm even going to Maine Maritime Academy to do this as a living and keep the steam tradition going for another generation to enjoy, so to answer your question very bluntly: yes.
11/10/2010 5:27 pm
They sure din't advertise that, probably for obvious reasons. Had I known of it, I'd have done it! Cap'n Walnut
11/10/2010 8:15 pm
Matt Dow and steamboats
"I only wish there would be more like you and I hope that there will be any steamboats to arrive when you reach that point in your career that you will hope to work on a steamboat ."
Uh, Matt has been working on steamboats already, both in New Orleans and at Lake George, and I suspect that he will gladly continue the Dow family business, that is, owning and operating a fine fleet of steamboats and diesel excursion boats in New Orleans and on Lake George. (His older brother Luke is already a fulltime employee of the Lake George Company.)
11/10/2010 11:47 pm
And you could have. I remember we had a guy whose lifelong dream was to ride the DQ. His wife gave him, as an anniversary present, I believe, a trip from St. Louis to Cairo, one night aboard. They could not afford for both of them to go, so she gave him that trip as a gift; I do think he had a stateroom and, of course, his meals. He was on board for about 20 hours, and was beside himself the whole time. What a wonderful gesture on her part!
12/10/2010 1:44 am
Bob: And, so it was a fine gesture on her part. Thanks for an uplifting story. Cap'n Walnut