Scale 1870 Mississippi Paddle Wheel Steamer (Massachusetts)

[dweeb7944]

Hi guys,

I am selling a 15' giant scale model paddle wheel boat that was built by my father. He has since passed. The paddle wheeler has been balanced, and was setup to be remote controlled, but he never put it in. I am now looking for a buyer, and are in the process of contacting boat museums to see if they would be interested. Please forward this link on to anyone who you may believe would be interested. I can send more photos and history upon request.

You can find more information here:
http://worcester.craigslist.org/for/870488012.html

Thanks for reading,

Dweeb7944 :)

[Kmot]

That is utterly mind boggling! What a magnificent boat.

[dweeb7944]

Per request, here are more detailed photos.

Thanks :)

[dweeb7944]

Here are some of the build photographs. The boat took about 8 years to complete. Enjoy.

:)

Thanks.

[herrmill]

Magnificent doesn't do justice! Thank you for posting. :)

I know a few die-hard steamboat fans who I'll send this to. Regarding museums, are you interested in donating or loaning the model, or is this only for sale?

Chuck

[patmat2350]

Howard Steamboat Museum would love such a donation, I'm sure!

http://www.steamboatmuseum.org/

[dweeb7944]

Actually, donating the boat is out of the question. Before this boat, my father had built a 10' Schooner. Again, he built it exactly the way they built them in the day with the peg nails, etc... The only modern thing he put in the boat was an engine because if there was no wind, he didnt' want to row out to retrieve the boat. He named this boat the 'PATCHET'. The boat was named after my Aunt Pat and my dads best friend Chet, both whom had passed in the early 90's. It took him about 4 or 5 years to complete the boat. Beautiful boat, which we sailed a few times.

My dad came up with an idea to donate the boat to a local boating museum. His intension was, in the future, he would bring his grandchildren to see the boat the papa built. The museum was very happy to accept the boat and said they would immediately begin donations for a glass case to be made. The boat was placed in the attic of the museum. Each year, my father would take the 2 1/2 hour ride to the museum, to see his boat, which was never displayed. About 6 or 7 years had pasted, my dad now had grandchildren, and still no boat on display. Over the years, my father contacted the museum serveral times to question why this is. He contacted a lawyer to try to get the boat back, but because it was donated...well.

Finally, he found out that the boat was now missing, and the museum had no record of receiving the boat. The currater had left, and that was that. That tore my father up. About a year ago, my father contacted the museum, and the 'new' curator, and was very pleased to find out that the new curator had found my dads boat, in the attic. As far as I know the boat is still not on display. My brother and I plan on taking a trip to the musuem, to verify if it is on display, or when it will be.

So you can see why I say donating a 15' paddle wheeler to any museum is out of the question. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Besides, the money raised for the boat will really help my mom out with her current expenses. I'll post pictures of the patchet in another thread.

:o

[Kmot]

dweeb:

There are wealthy collectors all over the world. Someone may want this, and a $3000 shipping charge would be of no concern to someone like that. But you need to get this out where these wealthy collectors look.

I suggest contacting a major auction house, and no, not ebay. I mean like Sotheby's. They have the customer base, the knowledge, and the resources to handle everything. All you do is give them their cut of the sale.

http://www.sothebys.com/

[Kmot]

Direct link to Sotheby's "How to sell":

http://www.sothebys.com/help/sell/index.html

[keith S]

WOW!!!! If I had the $$ i would be all for it.

[dweeb7944]

Attached is a picture of the 'Patchet' boat that I spoke about in the Post above...