Why a Paddlewheeler

Better yet, why a sidewheeler. Two reasons really. Firstly, although there are only alittle over 100 personal paddlewheelers in this country, only a small fraction of those are sidewheelers. Aside from Disneyworld, I have only been aboard one called the 'Lida Ann' and know of only two others in California and Alaska. I would like to build something unique.
Secondly, where we live on the Ouachita River near Camden AR, we are at the head of the navigable portion of this snakey river. In the summer months the river north of our location typically drops to less than 80 feet wide, often much less in spots. One of the major advantages of a sidewheeler over a sternwheeler is it's maneuverability. The Shirley Ann won't turn on a dime, but 25¢ will do.

Year 3: January 2012

Well Bending the steel in December was a bust. It looks like this month will be as well. Due to the weather here lately, the forklift sinks when we try to pick up the steel. We're going to have to have at least a week without rain to give it a retry.

December 2011

TRUCK UPDATE: Two new batteries and 5 gallons of fuel to replace the little that was drained from the fuel tank and it's running. I couldn't believe how easy it was to start. After 3 or 4 "Clicks" from a stuck starter bendix and it turned over twice and fired up on the old fuel in the fuel filter. This old monster runs sweet. The power steering doesn't seem to work and the tank with some fittings are missing from the air lines to the back axles. After at least fixing the air problems I can get it to the build site.

November 2011

Don't even ask A friend knew I am in the market for an engine for the boat and worked on the owner to get a rock bottom price stating that to get the thing running and the breaks working would cost a fortune. He may have been right. I'm told it has a Cummins 250 in it that has had a complete overhaul and around 5-600 hours on it after the rebuild. I believe it but you wouldn't know it to look at the truck but you could almost eat off the motor. The truck itself is an Autocar Duece & a half long bed and has set up for 8 - 10 years. Running when parked and a 'Workover Rig' removed from the bed, it spent its last 17 years in the local oilfields. Untitled, I am guessing it's a 1953 model. Nearly as old as I am. I have been in contact with Autocar and now know where to find the stamped model info on the frame. He doesn't know it yet, but I intend to drag a friend who is more familiar with big diesels to go work on it this weekend to drain the old fuel and see if we can get it running. Current plans are to use it as a pole truck during construction of the Shirley Ann. Whether I use the heavy engine in it remains to be seen. Cost: $500 + $220 in new batteries + dinner for 4
We are scheduled to start bending the hull plate in December.

Fall 2011

Larger expenses this fall. I now have topped $12,000 on the project. The #1 purchase which I consider a major find is the nearly complete setup for the hydraulics(less the hoses). But this will require a good deal of changes to the plans. One day while driving to the next town I came across a site where they were salvaging the cement trucks from a local you had retired. Originally he had 10 but had managed to sell only 4. Needless to say, I am now the proud owner of 5 HD hyrdaulic pumps, 5 hydraulic motors (I like spares) and 2 of the gearboxes that rotate the cement container itself. Guess what I'll use them for. All but one pump are in good working order. Unfortunately, I was too late to the site to keep them from cutting the driveshaft of that one in order to quickly remove it. I could also have had my pick of the 6 Cummins L10 diesel engines But unfortunately I have no place to store one at the moment. After some research, that may be the motor I would want for the Shirly Ann - Light, powerful and good fuel ecomony. Total cost for the Hydraulics: $900

Year 2: Spring - Summer 2011

Throughout the year, I picked up odds and ends that I would need in the construction. Where I work, they have torn down and rebuilt a section of the facility. Buildings, covered walkways etc. A good source of scrap metal for use in supports, scantlings and fixturing. I purchased from the contractor about 2.5 tons of the stuff at or below scrap prices.
I also picked up a large fan and a small generator for the worksite. Late summer I came across an older Craftsman lathe at a garage sale that I couldn't pass up. I built a stand for it and now need to clean it up for use. I am keeping my eyes open for a mig welder and especially a plasma cutter for the steel work. I think I am going to have to build a shop before this project is finished.

Alternate sources of the 3" well pipe I plan to use for the gunwales have still allude me. I may have to make changes the plans.

Fall 2010

This welder is probably as old as I am. Thankfully it was loaned to me for this project by Kenny Arnold (Ouachita Belle) when the guy that was to help me with the welding(and provide the welder) had to back out.

A rebuilt magneto, some charging system tweaks and alittle gas, had this puppy up and running.

The charging system tweaks didn't work out - bad ancient regulator. I have a modern one that I have to figure out how to wire in. But at least the welder runs good.

Fall 2010 - Primary Building Site

The primary building site is located near our home on an old railroad bed that runs through out property. With the site bush hogged and the brush/saplings cleared it made a perfect level building site.

I hauled several loads of cinderblock to build stands to place the building frame on. The stands will be 3 tiers of 2 blocks spaced 12 - ft apart down either side of the frame.

In July I acquired 200 ft of 2" steel pipe in varying lengths to construct the welding frame.

Year 1: Summer 2010 - Steel for Hull Delivered

At long last, the first building materials have been ordered and delivered. With the price of steel rising constanly, now was the time to buy.

It's hard to believe that this is a 18,000 lb. pile of steel that will become the hull.

The 20 foot 1/4" and 3/16" thick steel plates will be bent into shape for the hull sections using the same method Kenny Arnold used in construction of the 'Ouachita Belle'

All that remains for construction to start is delivery of the pipe that will be used for the hull frame, outboard deck support and the frame to build the hull on.