Winona Steamboat Historical Society Steamboat Construction Race Rules Boats will be constructed to the scale of 1/4" equals one foot. 1:48 Scale. 1:48 scale was selected because the size of the finished model in within the dimensions of standard construction grade materials. A 320 foot steamboat will be modelled to 6'-8" inches or 80 inches( this is a suitably large boat to give a satisfying appearance to the spectator). Also 1/4 inch is readily available on all standard carpentry tapes and rules. And is devisible into 3" segments of 1/16". Well beyond most casual scrutiny. Thus: True Dimension / 48 = Scale dimension and, 1/4 Inch equals one foot. 1/8 6 inches 1/16 3 inches Example: 320 Feet* 1/48 = 320/48 = 6.66 Feet or x 12 = 80 inches. also: 320 ft * 1/4 inches/foot = 320/4 = 80 inches (Divide feet by four to get scale inches) Some Steamboat Sizes: White Swan (never built) 425 x (?) 106 x Grand Republic (Largest MSS Steamboat of era) (?)x(?) J.M. White 320 x 91 Feet => 80 Inches x 23 inches City of Vicksburg 275 x 45 70 x 10.1 City of Bayou Sara 300 x 50 75 x 12.5 Delta Queen 285 x 58 71 x 14.5 Boat Names: All boats entering the race will be named. No two boats will have same name. In the event of two or more boats carrying the same name the boats will be assigned numbers in the order of registration, the first boat registered will not be required to carry a number. Awards will be to owner's registered name without bearing racing number. Any name may be used as long as it is not objectionable, profane, or in bad taste. Race committee's decision is final. Boat names must be prominently diplayed on both sides, and either forward or stearn positions (on two sides and at least one end). Paddlewheels: All Steamboats will have operating functional paddlewheel(s). (no sails, propellors, jets, or thrusters will be allowed into competition, but are welcomed to the static display events and all of the non-competitive racing activities) Engines: Power is owner's choice, electric, gas, diesel, or steam. (Steam operated boats will require licensed boiler operators to accompany boat at all times... and have gauge verifiable pop off safety cocks at 30 psi) As a Steamboat race will require approximately three hours racing time, gasoline engines or car battery sources are anticipated to be the favorite. Refueling or recharging will be allowed only at the designated landings or after shoreline is attained, no in voyage refueling is allowed, boats running out of fuel or otherwise becoming disabled enroute will be required to drift ashore before refueling or effecting repairs, unless pushed ashore buy another boat fulfilling all the requirements of these rules and registered with the race committee. (A gentleman pilot may push you to shore provided he has entered the race.) Intentional ramming, conflicting with paddle, or otherwise deliberate fouling of another boat will result in disqualification if the victimized boat is damaged in any way. One unintentional conflict is allowed, two will cause disqualification. The boat which is ahead of the second boat has the right of way. A boat overtaking another boat has the right of way upon gaining the lead, In events which involve racing in the current, the boat running down stream has the right of way. Boats shall pass on the right of a boat going the same direction, or to the right of oncoming boats, (keep right). A boat may overtake another boat on the left only if the slower boat is hugging the shore too close to pass. The faster boat would thus be exposed to swifter current, presumably. Sound Systems: IR or otherwise remote controlled CD players with Hi fidelity amplifiers and speakers are awarded additional points. the boats are essentially point sounds sources no additional points are awarded for stereophonic reproduction, although added realism is expected to be achieved though the use of stereophonic equipment. Sound must be able to be turned off from shore at race commitees request. Lights Lighting of decks, ballrooms and running lights are awarded points and searchlight competition is judged by illumination of fixed point objects. Equipment: Radios of 2 or more channels are allowed. Multiple recievers are allowed if frequency is available. Otherwise the non-primary frequency will not be allowed. Two channels are required for competition ... direction and motor control. Additional channels would be for lighting sound or smoke systems. All radios must be registered prior to racing for frequency assignments register early! In the event of excess radio channels being required two separate races will be run with a final race consisting of the top four from each match race being allowed to enter the final race determining the winner. In the event one of the top four boats from either division is unable to run; then, the next boat in that division will be allowed to enter the final event. Motors Speed 280 or 400 gear reduction, driving quartered wheel(s) seems appropriate. Sidewinders will of neccesity require additional quartering of wheels to prevent stalling at end of stroke or if using common shaft paddlewheels will require rudders. Batteries Car or motorcycle batteries for rechargability and duration seem most appropriate. These are available 6 or 12 volts. NiCds will be too expensive for most participants, and with this size of a boat weight will not be a great factor other than trim. Batteries may be recharged or replaced during racing at landing points only after touching shoreline. Rudder and steering Sidewinders can use proportional control of motors, or rudders, sternwheelers will require rudders, no thrusters allowed on race boats. Essentials of design: The steamboat is essentially a shallow draft keelboat, Steam engines and boiler are mounted on the first deck, paddle wheel(s) are mounted stearnwheeler or sidewheeler and require little draft due to nature of paddle wheel and can in fact (and did, on occasion) push mud. The second deck was built to increase deck area and was the texas deck, generally a third story was added for increased cabin area, and often a fourth, The pilot house and Captain's quarters were usually placed ontop. Laundry and kitchen and crew quarters were behind and above the boiler room on the first and second floors. Noisey ... hot. An interesting design element of the large steamboats was the rigging they carried. Besides the blocks and tackle to haul aboard freight, they were often, usually, tension rigged longitudinally to distribute load to the entire hull. Similar to an upside down suspension bridge. The steamboats were of fragile design by todays standard, There hulls were extremely light to increase payload and thin to save expense, they could easily be punctured on rocks, and sunken stumps, even submerged floating logs could be disasterous. The rigging increased the load carrying capacity to the very limits of displacement. Steamboats would often load the decks until the gunnels were awash, pumping out excess sloppage as it traveled, truely earning thier keep!. Deaths were relatively rare on the river other than the ocassional boiler explosion (rare after the civil war, due to increased experience, training and knowledge), or drowning. The boats were rarely very far from shore, nor in deep water, and could easily make land before disaster occured due to flooding and subsequent sinking. Fire and wind were thier worst enemies! Fire, due to the cotton and oil they hauled aboard a wood or coal fired steam boiler, and wind due to its power and force on the fragile craft, and its inescapable nature. The steamboat trade was competitive to the maximum, but always carried a mutual admiration, and commeraderie for braving the nature of the river. Boats would take shortcuts during high water to save time, skirting plantations and traveling along fence rows through forests, and over roads! At low water they would skirt sand bars and reefs, so close as to plow ever so gently over the shallows ... and always thier knowledge of the river was shared amoung boatmen, all knowing they will be next to face the challenge. References: Life on the Mississippi Mark Twain An interesting version of operation of steamboats on the Mississippi at low and high water. Relates operation through plantations, along roadways, running the currents, and near misses with rafters and many personalities and towns including Winona. The Mississippi Steamboat Era Gandy and Gandy Available from Winona Public Library A wonderful collection of photos from the era, including many boats and the Anchor Line with dimensions of some boats. Wheel sizes are mentioned for a few. The Delta Queen Winona Public Library The story of the Delta Queen with historical background, interesting book for its good photos of earlier boats, the story of the Delta Queen, and life aboard the boat during the "sixties" ...... 1960 that is.