Topic starter
16/04/2007 2:19 am
Just got back from a lovely weekend in Oxnard, Ca....Just down the street from our Hotel was a boat yard with a Paddle Wheel steam boat...Driving by several times, we decided to stop and take some pictures...I started talking to one of the workers and he told me the name of the boat was the scarlett Belle, and she did have sister boats around the country...The boat was under a complete remodle, and almost done..The man told me it was for charters and held 150 passengers.
Does anyone know how old this paddle boat is? I believe it will do charters around the channel islands..Could it be a sister boat to the Louisville Belle?
Sandy
16/04/2007 3:30 am
Sandy,
Not familiar with it, but from that location, it could be a creation of Chad O'conner. Real steam?? Post the photos!
I'd think this boat would have been discussed at one of the Fall Delta Steamboat Meets (see photos) The docks, one of two steam sternwheelers at this meet, and one showing lowering the stack to clear the bridge (which can be requested to be opened. The other sternwheeler was all hardwoods and cut glass, very fancy, gotta find those pics!
16/04/2007 3:41 am
three more photos of the 2006 steamboat meet, The other end of the dock. The boat in front is the "Fake-a-Loo" named because so few believed it real when first built (this boat has been around since at least the 1960s, I've known it since '72, and it was considered old then. Currently has a three cylinder poppet valve engine (I have its original home-built two cylinder compound engine--she threw a low pressure piston through one end! And, yes, it is fixable, someday!) and a B&W stationary type boiler. Enough tech talk!
Second photo is onboard the "Fake" as we call her, almost a full head of steam and we're headed out.
Last, a look back at the docs as we head out into the Delta!
Hope y'all enjoyed these photos of a smaller version of steamboatin'.
S'
David D.
Topic starter
16/04/2007 4:10 am
David...Here is a link I found to their website... http://www.scarlettbelle.com/
The boat is quite beutiful...I loved the fancy windows...I'll try to figure out how to post pictures tomorrow.
Sandy
16/04/2007 7:03 am
Ah, well, doesn't look like any boilers nor pitmans on the wheel. RATS. Too much to wish for, I guess!
S'
David.
PS when one of my friend's son was in second grade, his teacher refused to believe that there were any steamboats left, let alone his family having one. He had to take it to the school to prove that his son wasn't a liar! (Hmm, this would have been around '63 or so.)
16/04/2007 12:12 pm
Dave,
I think the sternwheel steamboat in your Delta Steamboat Meet photos is the RIO COLORADO. Here is a link to some dated photos. It sold a few years ago and was remodeled a bit: http://www.stanleysteamers.com/5.htm
16/04/2007 3:00 pm
Steve,
Similar, but I don't think so, as the hull looks very different, here's a link to some more pics, also taken at the B&W meet, ID'd as the S. L. Lauren from Sacramento. Let me know what you think.
S'
David
http://www.stanleysteamers.com/b&w_2006.htm
17/04/2007 1:39 am
Sandy,
The side elevation drawing of the Scarlett Belle looks very much like a design by Bill Preston, marine architect of Gulf Breeze, FL. His company is called Marine Design. Bill is one of the few persons who knows how to design a good looking modern sternwheel boat.
17/04/2007 1:46 am
Naw, no way. It's definitely one of Crazy Clifford's designs from the Rabbit Hash Shipyard. Right Sam ??
17/04/2007 3:27 am
Definitely a CC original... maybe. Yea. Mmmmm... not totally sure, but perhaps. Sure is some fine-looking hull.
17/04/2007 4:18 am
John,
I saw that design/style myself...she looks like Bill's MARINA JACK II from back in 1978....which I might add, was last seen headed up the Illinois River over a year ago and seemingly disappeared at Ottawa, IL. For from there she never locked thru again and no one up there has seen her or knows of her disposition. I followed her progress on the Navdata website and she virtually disappeared.
Bill Preston is the only person I know of who could make an attractive excursion boat out of a pool-style towboat design...or a barge look more like an authentic sidewheeler (Lady Luck Casino at Natchez, MS) than the Str. JM WHITE herself!
Of course, when it comes to talented Marine Architects, one can't finish this subject with out Most Honorable Mention to Capt. Alan Bates and Capt. Dennis Trone. Two great intellects of our time who have forever left a mark both the Howards and Dubuque Boat and Boiler respectivly would stand proud for.
Now if we could only get the three together on the design of a steam-powered overnight boat.....nah, they'd probably kill each other in the process!
Well, there's my two cents worth on this subject.
~Travis~
17/04/2007 1:44 pm
David,
I think you're right. It must be the S.L. Lauren.