Talk:Paddle steamer

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Contents 1 History of Paddle Wheel Boat 2 Miscellaneous 3 Steamer classes 4 How is a sternwheeler steered? 5 Types of Paddle Steamer

[edit] History of Paddle Wheel Boat

I took the following paragraph out, because its reference clearly lacks solid proof: The use of paddle wheels to power boats goes back to ancient times, with the Roman army under Claudius Codex reportedly being transported to Sicily in boats propelled by wheels moved by oxen, and wheels in paddles later being used to propel galleys.

John Macgregor, Esq., barrister at law, London, in 'Notes on the Progress of the Paddle and Screw', Scientific American Volume 14, Issue 11, Nov 20, 1858: Pancirollus, who wrote in 1587, says he saw an old bas-relief representing an Illyrian galley propelled by three wheels on each side turned by oxen. The same author, and several others, refer to Vitruvius for a notice of the paddle-wheel, but I find, in five editions of Vitruvius, the drawings represent merely a wheel turned by the water, and used as a log to measure the speed.

Again, Claudius Codex is said to have employed paddle-wheels in the invasion of Sicily in the third century before Christ, and some MSS. in the King of France's library (which I have not been able as yet to inspect), are referred to for this statement, but after diligent inquiry, I can find no confirmation of it in any accredited authority.

[edit] Miscellaneous

I listed Steamboat, Steamship, and Paddle steamer, as well as the redirect Steamer on the Wikipedia:Duplicate articles page. I think that the first 2 terms are interchangeable based on the "What links here" lists, and although paddle steamer is ok as a separate article, there's some overlap with what's in the other 2 articles. I think there shd be only steamboat or steamship but not both. But I'm not a ship-boat expert, so I'm not going to decide or attempt to merge the text appropriately. Elf | Talk 05:26, 16 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Merge tag removed as discussion at steamboat. ...dave souza, talk 00:43, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Steamer classes

While I'm not uninterested in oceangoing types, shouldn't paddle steamer include river & lake types? For instance, Walk in the Water, on the Buffalo-Detroit route, first steamer on the Great Lakes. Trekphiler 12:09, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

I disagree. While some of the steamboat and steamships were paddlwheelers. I still think that the subject is broad enough of its own right to be a seprarate subject. iranon1661 16:23, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

The above comments are a bit puzzling: Trekphiler, the article clearly includes river and lake paddle steamers – there's not much ocean in Switzerland. Seagoing paddle steamers are unusual enough now to have their own section: it could be possible to reorganise things to provide a non-seagoing section. iranon1661, presumably you're commenting on the suggestion of a merger: this looks pretty old with no consensus to merge, and I propose that the merge tags be removed. ...dave souza 00:43, 19 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How is a sternwheeler steered?

I looked up this reference because I wanteed to know how a sternwheeler is steered, but there is no information here.

—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 216.18.6.107 (talk • contribs) 22:48, 16 May 2006.

Now you come to mention it, I'd like to know too!

EdJogg 13:57, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

They're steered by rudders - see information at http://users.wirefire.com/gemort/rudders%20and%20steering.htm Pinot 17.45, 6 December 2007 (NZ) —Preceding comment was added at 04:46, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Types of Paddle Steamer

This entry states: "a side-wheeler has extra maneuverability since the power may be directed to one wheel at a time." I believe this is misleading as I can find no refference to any of the Steamers on the Murray Darling River System having this ability. Certainly none of ones I have photographed are capable of having the wheels driven independently. Perhaps this ability was limited to larger boats. (I am very new at this Wikipedia Stuff) RDUNC 10:38, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Re differential paddle rotation, I don't absolutely know for sure if all side-wheelers could do this but some certainly could. The old Woowich Free Ferry boats (in London) could do this, and it was also a feature of the Admiralty tugs. For these ships it was a normal operational procedure for manoeuvuring in tight places, similar to but more effective than the similar ability in twin-screw boats where you can reverse one propellor while going ahead on the other. I expect it was pretty much a standard capability for side-wheelers. Pinot 22:33, 19 July 2007 (NZ)