Carlz Boats: Paddle Boat P.S. DECOY

Carlz Boats: Paddle Boat P.S. DECOY: Here we were standing at a lookout at Kings Park overlooking the majestic skyline of Perth, Western Australia, and as I panned with my bi...

Paddle Steamer DECOY (Revised)

Here we were standing at a lookout at Kings Park overlooking the majestic skyline of Perth, Western Australia, and as I panned with my binoculars along the shoreline of the very wide Swan River below us for a moment I couldn't believe my eyes. In fact I thought to myself, 'is that a paddle boat down there?' It certainly was and as I tried to focus in to see the it's name, P.S. DECOY, but what stood out more on what appeared to be an authentic side-wheeler paddle boat, were the words "FOR SALE" c):-(( . Sure enough as shown clear as day on my photo from atop Kings Park and this one showing her docked along the south shore of the Swan, the proud steamer DECOY was on the market. 

While researching this little beauty's background, I found that there was a paddle steamer named DECOY that was built in Scotland in 1878 and shipped in crates for re-assembly in Melbourne along  the Yarra River. From there she began her career as a tow boat for barges along the Murray River and ports along the South Australia coast. Apparently in 1905 she changed owners and was used to transport miners along the Great Australian Bight to Fremantle bound for the goldfields of Western Australia. Soon after a second deck was added to carry passengers for the excursion river trade along the Murray until 1932 when the ship was then gutted and turned into a houseboat. 
So is the impressive looking paddle boat I photographed last week in Perth, WA a replica of the famous excursion and tow boat or is it the "Real McCoy"? c):-o Beats me, but if you're in area, you may call the number below the 'for sale' signs (9534 7338) to find out for sure, and please feel free to let me know, okay! c):-D

 May 18, 2018 - Well, no one ever updated me about her goings on, but while waiting for another kidney stone to pass today, I read that the DECOY we saw in Perth in 2012, was actually a replica of the "Real McCoy" and built in 1986 in Fremantle, the Indian Ocean seaport located just down the Swan River. Paddle Steamer DECOY is powered by a salvaged and restored 1905 Ransome Sims and Jefferies twin cylinder steam engine, which was totally rebuilt in 1986 with a new oil fired burner and maxitherm boiler fitted. While she was up for sale back during our visit down-under, P.S DECOY is still active and operating as an excursion and party boat that cruises along the beautiful Swan River. Looking forward to seeing her again during our next visit to Perth, Western Australia. Meanwhile, she has a "Jazzy" 🎷🎺🎹 Facebook page. Check it out: (https://www.facebook.com/psdecoy/ )  

Carlz Boats: Excursion Boat JAGUER II

Carlz Boats: Excursion Boat JAGUER II: He he,,  Hey hey!! I've been married 38 years TODAY!! So what should we do for a little  excitement on this special day? The Mrs. has talk...

Excursion Boat JAGUER II

He he,, Hey hey!! I've been married 38 years TODAY!! So what should we do for a little excitement on this special day? The Mrs. has talked about a European river cruise for our 40th anniversary so this year why not an excursion around the bay on the JAGUAR II. Well that's not going to happened because the last time I heard the JAGUAR II was situated along the west wall in Port Dover ON as shown in the above photo taken by my BIL Mark. If you GoogleEarth Port Dover, you'll see her there along the wall all by her lone self. Sorry skipper but you'll have start your three hour cruise without us because the wifey and I still confined to quarters near Perth, Australia more than 9,813 nautical miles away. Meanwhile many visitors of Canada's largest city may have enjoyed an excursion around Toronto Island on JAGUAR II. Like any marriage, there are good times and there are bad times but if you have faith in each other things can work out for the best. Such appears to be the case for the 29 metre JAGUAR II which was built in 1968 in Louisville LA, when I found her tied off to the tugboat SALVAGE MONARCH on a cold day in January 2009 at Ramey's Bend in Port Colborne, a place that is more known for breaking ship apart than offering a safe haven. Two years later she found sitting pretty and proud in Port Dover. Life can be good if you work it. Enough blogging, time to go walkabout. 

Carlz Boats: Self Unloader ALGOWOOD

Carlz Boats: Self Unloader ALGOWOOD: There's nothing worse for a boat lubber like me than driving all the way down to Port Colborne and see a not single ship pass through t...

Self Unloader ALGOWOOD

There's nothing worse for a boatnerd like me than driving all the way down to Port Colborne and see not a single ship pass through the canal all weekend long especially during Canal Days. That was not a problem this year and one familiar sailpast participant was the 740' self unloader ALGOWOOD which offered more than one interesting photo op. 
First I caught her slowly creeping out of Lock 8 along the east wall while passing her Algoma Central fleetmate, the gearless bulk carrier ALGOMA GUARDIAN, which was waiting her turn to enter the lock and then continue her way downbound. I then got her pass beneath Bridge 21 which I use to ride up with my dad when he worked on the Seaway, and then I got her again that day making the bend passed the IMS boneyard at the Canal's Lake Erie entrance.

That would be the third time that I've photographed the ALGOWOOD in just over a year. The first being on a snowy January 2, 2011 during winter layup near Ramey's Bend in old Humberstone, and then I got her again motoring downbound on July 29th on the  upper St. Lawrence River, near Prescott, Ontario. 

The ALGOWOOD was launched in October 1980 at the Collingwood Shipyards in Collingwood, Ontario, the community that the ship was named after. With cargos such as coal/coke, aggregate, slag, iron ore, salt, fertilizer, grain products and more, the ALGOWOOD is able to operate on coastal waters and the Great Lakes just like when after the usual ceremonial Canal Days salutes, she continued along her way upbound into Lake Erie. Meanwhile, I'm still in Australia to visit family so lookout for upcoming posts from the port of Fremantle in a Carlz Boats near you. Oh YAAA c);-b

Carlz Boats: Cargo Vessel MÉLISSA DESGAGNÉS

Carlz Boats: Cargo Vessel MÉLISSA DESGAGNÉS: After seeing the ALGOSEA and HHL AMAZON pass us by below Iroquois Lock, we decided to head on down to catch a couple of upbounds at the Be...