The M.V. 'Lilly Belle'
Boat Name: LILLY BELLE (1958)
Owner: National Audubon Society
Phone: E-mail:
Home Port:
Hull Information :
SCOW BOW- STEEL HULL- 4 COMPARTMENTS
Hull Size (length, width, depth and draft):
50 Feet x 12 Feet x 3 Feet........... Draft (varies depending on 'Bar stock')
Paddlewheel Information :
ALUMINUM 12' X 10' , 12 BUCKETS, 14" HIGH, WHITE OAK , SPLIT WHEEL
Engine Information :
DEUTZ DIESEL - 5 CYLINDER - AIR COOLED 75 HP
Drive Train Information :
TANDEM HYDRAULIC PUMPS BEHIND DIESEL - POCLAIN HYDROSTATIC MOTORS ON END OF EACH WHEEL
Builder Information :
¾ OF HULL WELDED BY DUBUQUE BOAT & BOILER, DUBUQUE, IOWA; REST OF HULL, OUTRIGGERS & WHEELS & SUPERSTRUCTURE BY IKE HASTINGS
Superstructure Information :
WOOD SUPERSTRUCTURE, SLEEPS SEVEN COMFORTABLY, MOSTLY OPEN DESIGN INSIDE WITH FRONT SUN PORCH, FULL GALLEY, SOLAR SHOWER ON SIDE DECK, COMPLETE WITH PIANO FOR ENTERTAINMENT
Misc. Information :
GAS GENERATOR, DIESEL GENERATOR, 300 GALLON WATER CAPACITY, 500+ DIESEL FUEL CAPACITY, AIR CONDITIONED, AND A UTOMATIC GAS FURNACE FOR COLD IOWA WINTERS
General Information:
THIS WAS THE 23RD BOAT I'D BUILT AND AT THE TIME, OUR FAMILY JUST NEEDED MORE ROOM. I PUT OVER 5000 MILES A YEAR ON IT WHEN I GO UP THE OHIO RIVER. I JUST COMPLETED ANOTHER BARGE TO PUSH AHEAD WHICH SERVES AS AIRPORT FOR HOMEBUILT SEAPLANE, BEGONIA FLOWER POTS, TOMATOES AND PORCH SWINGS. (NOW ANOTHER NEW MOTORCYCLE.) IT HANDLES GREAT WITH JOY STICK CONTROLS FOR THE TWO PADDLEWHEELS. IT USED TO BE TOUGH IN TIGHT HARBORS, BUT NOW IT'S EASY TO MANEUVER. I'M IN MY 22ND YEAR OF RETIREMENT, AND SPENDING MOST OF MY LIFE ON THE WATER IS SOMETHING I'D DO AGAIN!!