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Construction of the "Ouachita Belle"
by
Kenny and Mary Arnold
You all will probably wonder why a couple of Arkansas Hillbillies are wanting to build a Sternwheeler. My wife and I love the water and love traveling in a laid back sort of way. After looking at some run down houseboats and dealing with boat motors we decided to take a look at live-aboard sternwheelers. As a boy of five years old in 1952, my family moved to Rising Sun, Indiana, where I saw my first sternwheeler pushing barges of coal on the Ohio River. Since that time I have always liked them. I own a large machine shop and welding shop in the oil fields of south Arkansas and I'm getting ready to retire, so now is the time to build my own sternwheeler. I like to build unique things. We live in a 2300 sq. ft. log house. I cut the logs, peeled them by hand, and built the house myself. I drive a 1933 Chevy Coupe that I built with all modern conveniences and drive train. So now, why not build a sternwheeler?
In the fall of 2006, after delivering a job to South Bend, Indiana, we took the opportunity to see several sternwheelers first hand at a regatta in Charleston, WV. We needed to find out if we really wanted to get into this, and if it was feasible to build what we wanted. It was exciting to see all the sternwheelers lined up at the dock; just what we were hoping for. We introduced ourselves to a fellow on one of the boats, Denny Dawson of the Hobby III, we met co-owner J.D. later. He gave us a tour of his boat and some of the others. Everyone we met was great; like one big family! We want to join them with a sternwheeler of our own.
We started some serious research, gathering books on river boats, pictures and descriptions of all the sternwheelers we could find, and talking to everyone we could think of that knew anything about boats. I spent about three months getting a design together and started looking for an engine, a transmission and a gear box. On the ASA website, we saw the notice of the 4th. of July 2007 regatta at St. Albans and decided to gather our drawings, pictures and information and make the 900 mile trip. We met with Denny and J. D. aboard the Hobby III to discuss our project. J. D. told us that the biggest problem he saw with it was that "it wasn't on the water yet". We visited with other owners, toured their boats with camera in hand, and had a great time. With the encouragement of everyone we talked to, it was decided, we would build the Ouachita Belle. I know it will be a bit of work, but anything worthwhile usually is. We enjoyed the festivities of the 4th.
We had to start someplace so we started with a 'building platform'. The picture below shows it with the 'deck edging pipe' in place.
Deck edging in place on 'building platform'
Once this was done, we started forming the hull plates. We wanted to form a 'soft chine' without any more welding than was necessary. To help, we built a 'chine forming' jig and broke six foot wide by twenty foot long sheets with chine and sides and bottom 'all in one'.
The picture below shows the jig being used.
Plate being broken with chine and side all in one
We settled on a seven inch radius chine. The picture below shows a completed hull plate in the jig.
Finished hull plate in jig
Of course, we're adding bulkheads for safety. The picture below shows the first section of hull plate in place with the aft bulkhead.
Aft bulkhead in place
Then we added the stern rake plate and decided maybe we'd better fill in the corners sometime.
Stern rake in place
More hull plates are added and now we, at least, have some shade or we can get in out of the rain.
It's coming together
The jig 'seems' to work pretty well as shown by the seams. I think that's on old welders joke and I am an old welder.
(Editor's note: even a blind welder could weld these seams)
We love it when a plan comes together
It's kind of like an 'erector set'; we just keep adding pieces.
Looks like someone's getting behind
After the main portion of the hull was complete, we worked on the stern rake and filled in those 'corners'. We're hoping the rake's enough to 'feed the paddlewheel' and make enough room for the main/flanking rudders.
Completed stern rake
Now the tough parts starts; we just had to have a model bow and we decided to make it out of 1/4 inch steel. You never know when you might run into something.
Things come to a 'head' (there I go again)
When working with steel, a man can do anything with a welder, cutting torch and grinder.
Not bad for a couple hours work
Do you think this will 'cut the water'?
Well, that's all for now............we've had to slow down somewhat; it's winter here in south Arkansas and the temperature is only 50 degrees this January. :(
To Be Continued
Kenny and Mary can be reached at: arnoldtool@yahoo.com