| For centuries man employed the power of
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| | those wonderful old master tradesman who
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| steam to propel mighty steamboats along
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| | knew the intimate shipwright secrets, and
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| the big rivers of the world in an effort
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| | how best to use these valuable old
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| to transport & deliver goods & materials
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| | skills.
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| to the early Pioneer settlers spread
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| | So what now for the present day steam
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| along the great river valleys.
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| | boat restorer? I guess in all fairness
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| Steamboat travel was once as common as is
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| | there are still people around who have
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| boarding a high-speed train today. But
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| | been lucky enough to learn the trade
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| the aura and romanticism of steamboat
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| | secrets from the old masters and that is
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| travel still captures the hearts of
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| | a real bonus, otherwise can you imagine
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| people as much today as it did back in
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| | the research and relearning that would
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| the mid 1800s - & early 1900s.
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| | need to take place if that wasn't the
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| Take a look around any river port today
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| | case. Where would you find the skilled
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| where these might steamers once plied
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| | people to build the timber boat hulls -
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| their trade and you will now see a
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| | the intricate steel fabrication - the
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| flourishing collection of paddle
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| | rebuilding of steam engines and boilers -
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| steamboat operators ferrying the many
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| | the recasting of name plates - special
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| tourists who flock to the historic steam
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| | bronze and aluminium boat parts...so much
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| ports to soak up the atmosphere of these
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| | to do...so much to learn... But, did you
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| majestic old steamboats.
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| | ever stop to think that the keen restorer
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| Have you ever stopped to think why there
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| | and steamboat rebuilder can in fact learn
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| are now so many of these beautiful old
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| | many of the trades of yesteryear.
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| vessels plying the major inland rivers
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| | For the steam enthusiast to remake
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| and ports where these old boats were
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| | replica cast metal parts, all they need
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| piloted daily along the rivers? The old
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| | to do is master the foundry skills used
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| derelict steam boats, have now been
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| | back in the late 1800s & early 1900s to
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| lovingly totally rebuilt & restored from
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| | reproduce obsolete parts, the skills are
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| the ground up by a band of totally
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| | not that difficult to learn, the tools &
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| dedicated steamboat enthusiasts.
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| | equipment can be easily built if you know
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| Even as you read this, there are huge
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| | how to use a welder, and you enjoy
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| restoration projects underway to bring
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| | working with metal.
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| more of these old boats back to their
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| | Perhaps you are one of the many thousands
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| former glory; such is the demand and
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| | of baby boomers looking for practical
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| interest in steam. But what about the old
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| | hobbies & interests to help provide new
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| skills that are required to construct
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| | challenges, and an outlet where you can
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| these old vessels, where are all of the
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| | interact & socialise with other
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| skilled shipwrights?
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| | like-minded people, the retirement years
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| You would have little luck finding them
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| | can be one of the most frustrating times
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| simply by placing an advert in the paper
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| | for people in their late fifties and
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| to find the Shipwrights, blacksmiths, old
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| | early sixties, but if you make the effort
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| time ship chandlery makers, experts on
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| | to immerse yourself in rewarding
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| building & restoring steam engines, or
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| | practical hobbies, you just won't believe
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| people who know how to use old time
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| | the huge amount of enjoyment & rewards
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| foundry skills to remake all kinds of
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| | that are awaiting you. To learn more
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| brass & bronze items to refurbish the
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| | about how to get involved in practical
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| parts used for the restoration.
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| | metal craft hobbies visit our web site
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| Many of the skills of yesteryear have,
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| | soon.
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| unfortunately, gone to the grave with
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