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