Topic starter
23/10/2008 12:38 pm
Capt. Bill Ray, formerly on the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE and now with Gateway Arch Riverboats, phoned from the St. Louis riverfront this morning. The Str. PRESIDENT, currently tied up at Alton awaiting the next step in the project, is much in the news and media interviewed Capt. Bill Streckfus at the St. Louis levee yesterday. The TOM SAWYER and BECKY THATCHER are still running sightseeing cruises and the weather on the waterfront today is a chilly 50 degrees, with a 10 mph onshore wind. The river gauge gives the stage of the Mississippi at 6.2 feet and falling.
PRESIDENT photos (October 10, 2008) courtesy of Dan Owen.
24/10/2008 1:33 am
OK, I gotta ask...
Why is the President being towed backwards, why is she being pushed from the front? A bit ago I thought I knew, but my reason, I realized later, made no sense for a sidewheeler...
Is there a reason? Something to do with available davits?
24/10/2008 1:52 pm
Bruno the President is being pushed at the stern of the boat. The first photo shows the blue and white towboat on her stern. The second photo shows a smaller boat acting as a bow boat for steering and visibility. At least that's how I see it.
24/10/2008 5:30 pm
Thanks, Bill. After flipping the two pictures back and forth eleventy-seven times, the difference is now clearer. Especially in the first picture where what I think is the remains of the calliope can be seen at the roof, assuming the calliope is at the stern, typically?
24/10/2008 10:26 pm
Yes, and yes, Bruno and Bill. Bruno, the PRESIDENT is basically a "round" boat if viewed from above. A straight line on that boat is hard indeed to find.
For the record, a davit is a device for lowering and raising a life boat. I think you may have meant "kevels".
25/10/2008 1:05 am
Bob, thanks...I knew that, too. A mind is a terrible thing to lose...