Related Links

Featured Links





Recommended Products



 

 
Featured Articles

Alexander Restaurant - One Of Cabo'S Best
ALEXANDER RESTAURANT - CABO SAN LUCAS - ONE OF CABO'S BEST Situated on the marina in Cabo San Lucas, nestled amongst the many restaurants and bars at Plaza Bonita, sits a lively little restaurant where flaming pans light up the night. By Richard Chudy ...

Monumental Houseboating on Lake Powell
Monumental Houseboating on Lake PowellRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.comhttp://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cruise02/hboats02/powell.htmlMILLIONAIRE STRIPERSOur weekend party boat pulled out from the Wahweap Marina fully ...

Rv Vacations: Ten Tips
Perhaps you have wondered about taking an RV vacation. It seems like fun and you'd like to try it, but you aren't sure if it's for you. Well, it's a growing industry. Annual RV retail sales topped $14 billion in 2004. As baby boomers take to the road, the ...


Google
Paddle Steamers - Giving Pleasure around the World.
 
floating casino.

And why not indeed! This is exactly the role paddle steamers played in the American south in the 19th century. Along with vital passenger transport, swift reliable cargo delivery, there are the memories of rollicking music and a froth of excitement and intrigue as gamblers rich and poor played poker, craps and roulette in the plush smoke filled onboard casino.

However did you know that paddle steamers plied the waters of a number of continents, including Australia, South America and Europe? In fact, plans are currently underway to raise one of Switzerland's first passenger steamboats from its watery grave at the bottom of Lake Thun. The vintage paddle steamer, the Bellevue, has lain undisturbed on the lakebed since sinking in a storm in 1864. Its exact location had remained a mystery until an underwater search team found the vessel last summer. The boat was laying a few hundred metres from the landing at Oberhofen, 100 metres below the surface and almost entirely covered by sediment.

As a matter of fact, as


the first passenger boat on Lake Thun when it made its maiden voyage in 1835, the Bellevue was credited with launching the tourist industry in this region of Switzerland.

Blue Water Search, which found the paddle steamer, is now discussing how to raise the necessary funds in order to bring the boat back to the surface and into the spotlight once again. Using underwater cameras, sonar and magnetic detectors, the team deployed the latest technology to locate the vessel. They also required a lot of patience and luck. Hidden treasure "The main problem really was that 90 per cent of the vessel was covered with sediment," explained Tommy Peck, one of the team leaders.

"It may well have been that it was once fully covered by sediment and eventually uncovered partially by underwater currents."

The oxygen poor sediment may prove to be a blessing in disguise now that the boat has been located. Peck hopes that it has helped preserve the vessel, or rather what is left of it.

When it went down in the spring storm, the boat was carrying a load of salt and one sailor, whose body has never been found.

Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same

About the author:

None

News



First Coast News

Boaters urged to be safe during big boating weekend
First Coast News
The Memorial Day holiday weekend is the kickoff to the boating season and law enforcement wants boaters to know they will be out enforcing boating laws during this busy weekend on the water. This holiday weekend is one of the three biggest boating ...

and more »

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Boats in fatal Iowa crash were shuttling partiers
Atlanta Journal Constitution
By DAVID PITT AP DES MOINES, Iowa — The late-night boat crash that killed four people along the Mississippi River over the weekend involved two small fishing boats that were shuttling partiers to shore in southeast Iowa, authorities said Monday.
3 bodies found after boat crash on Iowa riverSeattle Post Intelligencer
Boats in fatal crash were shuttling partiersMason City Globe Gazette

all 777 news articles »

MLive.com

Michigan boating industry shows signs of improvements
MLive.com
According to Josh Thayer of Bay City they put 15-16 boats in the water each day. Preparing boats for summer gallery (8 photos) s profits from another form of transportation have been on the rise. According to the National Marine Manufacturing ...


BBC News

Philippines Accuses China of Sending More Boats to Disputed Island
Voice of America (blog)
The Philippines is accusing China of sending more government ships and fishing boats to a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, in a move Manila says is escalating a two-month long standoff. Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez said ...
Navy monitors 79 Chinese boats near shoalPhilippine Star
92 China ships now in Panatag Shoal; tensions upInquirer.net (blog)
Chinese increase Scarborough presenceMalaya
Wall Street Journal (blog) -ABS CBN News -AFP
all 190 news articles »

Light 8 boat pulling weight for UA boys
ThisWeekNews
By JARROD ULREY During his nearly 20 years as Upper Arlington High School boys rowing coach, Chris Swartz has guided lightweight 8 boats featuring more physically imposing athletes than the ones he's working with this season.
Prep crew: 2 MHS Lady Tiger Navy boats at NationalsMarietta Times

all 2 news articles »