Post by brokennock on Jul 7, 2020 13:52:16 GMT -7
Am I mistaken or does this entry from the journal of James Kenny describe an 18th century paddle boat? The 1st maybe?
"A young man Call'd Wm Bamsey has made t\^o
little Boats being squair at y sterns & joined together
at y sterns by a Swivel makes ye two in form of one
Batoe, but will turn round shorter than a boat of ye
same length, or raise with more safty in falls & in case
of stricking Bocks; he has also made an Engine that
goes with Wheels inclose'd in a Box to be worked by
one Man by sitting on ye end of ye Box & treding on
Traddles at bottom with his feet setts y wheels agoing
which works scullers or short Paddles fixed over y*
gunnels turning them Bound ye under ones always
laying hold in ye water will make ye Battoe goe as if two
men Bowed & he can steer at ye same time by lines like
plow lines."
"A young man Call'd Wm Bamsey has made t\^o
little Boats being squair at y sterns & joined together
at y sterns by a Swivel makes ye two in form of one
Batoe, but will turn round shorter than a boat of ye
same length, or raise with more safty in falls & in case
of stricking Bocks; he has also made an Engine that
goes with Wheels inclose'd in a Box to be worked by
one Man by sitting on ye end of ye Box & treding on
Traddles at bottom with his feet setts y wheels agoing
which works scullers or short Paddles fixed over y*
gunnels turning them Bound ye under ones always
laying hold in ye water will make ye Battoe goe as if two
men Bowed & he can steer at ye same time by lines like
plow lines."
