Page 7: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 1986)

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Sidewheeler Andrew Fletcher is authentic replica of the steam-powered vessels that flour- ished in New York Harbor and environs at the turn of the century.

Unique Sidewheeler Replica Craft

Completed By Offshore Shipbuilding

Offshore Shipbuilding of Palatka,

Fla., has delivered the paddlewheel passenger vessel Andrew Fletcher, a replica of the steam-driven side- wheelers that flourished at the turn of the century. The new vessel, how- ever, is powered by two Detroit Die- sel engines driving the port and starboard paddlewheels by means of hydraulic pumps and hydraulic mo- tors, the latter attached directly to each of the axle shafts of the paddle- wheels. With an overall length of 125 feet, beam of 46 feet, depth of 9.6 feet, and mean draft of 5.7 feet, the vessel is U.S. Coast Guard certi- fied to carry 400 passengers. She is managed by Seaport Line and oper- ates out of a refurbished pier at

South Street Seaport in New York

City.

Control is accomplished by oper- ating a lever built into each pump that regulates the direction and vol- ume of the pump flow. The paddle- wheels are independent of each oth- er and may be operated one forward and one reverse, providing precise maneuvering. The rudder aft is controlled by a separate hydraulic cylinder powered by a motor-driven pump. Both of the paddlewheels and the rudder are operable from the pilothouse and from control sta- tions on the upper deck, port and starboard, for safe maneuvering when docking and undocking.

The historic steam paddlewheel- ers had only a limited need for elec- tric power for lighting, and this was provided by a small dynamo that was driven by a vertical, single- cylinder steam engine. The electric plant of the Fletcher is considerably larger due to the need for power for air conditioning, refrigeration, heat- ing, and cooking, as well as the many lights and modern navigation and communications equipment.

Elecric power is provided by three

Delco generators driven by Detroit

Diesel engines. Power is distributed through a modern-design switch- board in the engine room.

For generations, sidewheelers were a highly practical and popular form of propulsion for steamboats plying the waters of New York Har- bor, the Hudson River and Long

Island Sound. It all began with Rob-

Operated by Seaport Line in New York City, vessel was christened by Leise Isbrandtsen of the well-known shipping family. Looking on are (L to R): Tony Bucknole, general manager of Offshore Shipbuilding; William

Muller, marine artist who worked on design of the vessel; and Jacob Isbrandtsen, foun- der and a trustee of the South Street Sea- port Museum.

ANDREW FLETCHER

Major Suppliers

Main engines (2) . . . . Detroit Diesel

Paddlewheel motors (2) . . Hagland-Manathan

Paddlewheel pumps (2) ... Sunstand

Main generators (2) . . Detroit/Delco

Switchboard . . . . . . Power Panels

Engine controls . . .Hydrokinetics

Steering system . SSI

Air compressors . Quincy

Fire & bilge pumps Flow Max

Air conditioning Carrier

In-port generator . . Detroit/Delco

Radar Furuno

Radio Horizon

P.A. & intercom systems .... Audio Environments

Galley equipment . . . . Basic Leasing

Electric system . . .Beacon Electric

Rescue boat . Durocraft ert Fulton, who attained his goal by placing a paddlewheel on each side of the hull of his pioneer vessel in 1807. From then through 1971, there was always a sidewheeler in

New York, and in bygone days there was a great fleet of them.

Considerable effort was expended on the Andrew Fletcher towards re- creating the flavor of the colorful and charming sidewheelers that flourished in the Port of New York at the turn of the century. From her tall smokestack with its brass whistle, to her twin two-deck-high paddlewheels, the vessel provides a unique ambiance recalling an ear- lier, more gracious era.

The well-known marine artist,

William G. Muller, was commis- sioned to help in the design of the vessel, drawing from his expertise on American sidewheeler architec- ture and from personal experience gained from his youthful employ- ment aboard the last of the great

Hudson River sidewheelers. Repro- ductions of historical paintings by the artist, depicting some of New

York's notable sidewheeler steam- boats, decorate portions of the

Fletcher's interior.

For additional information on the

Andrew Fletcher's operations and availability, contact Seaport Line, 19 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038; (212) 406-3434.

ABS Elects John Borum

Senior Vice President

John F. Borum, vice president,

Operations Division of American

Bureau of Shipping (ABS), was re- cently elected senior vice president at the semiannual meeting of the board of managers of the ship classi- fication society. The announcement of the election was made by Wil- liam N. Johnston, chairman and president.

Mr. Borum joined ABS in 1958 as a surveyor in Newport News, Va.

Later that year he was transferred to Japan, and in 1963 was appointed senior surveyor for the Kure, Japan district. In 1967 he was appointed principal surveyor. Five years later he was transferred to Yokohama as principal surveyor and 1973 he was transferred to Genoa, Italy, as prin- cipal surveyor for the Mediterra- nean and Middle East Area. In 1978 he returned to ABS headquarters in New York and was elected assis- tant vice president. In 1982 he was elected vice president, Operations

Division.

McElroy Anchor Winch

Delivered For McCall Boat —Literature Available

McElroy Machine & Manufactur- ing Company of Gulfport, Miss., re- cently delivered a Model 533 HAW anchor winch to Gulf Craft, Inc. of

Patterson, La. The winch will be installed on the soon to be delivered

Caleb McCall, under construction for McCall Boat Rental of Cameron,

La.

The hydraulically operated winch features aluminum frame and drum, drum brake with stainless or brass fasteners. The hydraulic gear motor is heavily zinc coated, all adding up to a highly corrosion-resistant piece of equipment.

For free literature on McElroy winches and other deck equipment,

Circle 19 on Reader Service Card

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Circle 182 on Reader Service Card 9