Paddle Steamer Monarch - 2004 Photographs



This page is devoted to photographs from 2004 of the small paddle steamer Monarch - the third paddle steamer of this name, following two others owned by Cosens & Co. Monarch carries only 12 passengers due to her small size. The economics of her operation do not seem to be easy, since she has worked at four locations without great success - at Sandwich and Grove Ferry on the Kent Stour, on the River Medina on the Isle of Wight and on the River Tamar in Cornwall. Recent information suggests that she will be moved to Wareham in Dorset for restoration.

Monarch was designed and built by her owner, Brian Waters, and is named after the first Monarch. In 2004 she operated on the Stour River Bus service in Kent with the Lady Jane. Monarch (3) carries twelve passengers with seating space on deck and also in a comfortable saloon aft. She has taken almost 20 years to build, entering commercial service in 2004, running charters and some public sailings from Sandwich. Two friends and myself chartered the Monarch (3) on 30th October 2004, to celebrate our 50th birthdays. Pictures from this charter are shown below. This was an extremely successful event, and the charter of Monarch (3) for small parties (maximum 12 passengers) is strongly recommended. For 2005 operations shifted to Grove Ferry (9 miles upstream). In 2006 it was suggested that she would be offered for sale, to be replaced by a new motor-powered stern-wheeled vessel. This was not completed in time to run in 2007, and Monarch continued at Grove Ferry. Monarch was sold before the 2008 season and moved to Island Harbour on the River Medina between Newport and Cowes in the Isle of Wight. She then moved to the River Tamar in Cornwall.


The following details, written by the designer, were taken from:- paddlesteamers.com

The construction Monarch (3) started in 1984 when the keel was laid and the hull constructed at Hoo near Rochester, by Bob Deards of Stargate Marine. The hull was later moved to Chatham Historic Dockyard, where it was fitted out with everything except machinery. Monarch (3) was launched successfully in the summer of 1994, by Brian's niece Karen Dandy.

Monarch (3) has a steel hull with wooden decks and superstructure. She 42 feet long with a beam of 7ft 9ins across the hull (13ft 10ins across the sponsons). Her draught is 21 inches. She is powered by a compound diagonal paddle engine which started life as an air pump at the Ness Tarworks at Caerphilly. Conversion to a marine engine and construction of auxiliary pumps was undertaken by Staniforth Engineering of Rochester. Engine controls and instrumentation are in the wheelhouse. Steam is produced from a compact horizontal boiler at 180 psi constructed by Peter Phillips at Chatham Steam Ltd., Higham, and oil fired by a Nuway burner with automatic controls and safety systems.

The paddle wheels are of the feathering type, 4 feet in diameter, with seven curved steel floats pivoted on PTFE bearings, which are lubricated by the river water itself. The wheel structure is a very simple seven spoke design using box section steel. In the machinery space is a shaft driven 12 volt alternator driven by a series of belts and pulleys. Also driven by a layshaft geared to the engine are the reciprocating boiler feed pump and vacuum pump. The circulating pump which cools the condenser is driven from the generator pulley system. An electric pump also serves as a circulating pump when the engine is not turning. There is a reciprocating steam Weir pump which acts as a standby for the engine driven feed pump. Exhaust steam is converted into feedwater using a Savery vertical tube condenser. Steering is by hydraulic ram which actuates the rudder.

When planning the layout of this steamer the idea was that she would resemble a full sized paddle steamer in her appearance and proportions, resulting in a small ship rather than a steam launch.


Sections on This Page:-
Monarch (3) 2004 - Leaving Sandwich: 30th October 2004
Monarch (3) 2004 - Arriving at Sandwich: 30th October 2004
Monarch (3) 2004 - 50th Birthday Charter Cruise: 30th October 2004
Monarch (3) 2006 - Cruise from Grove Ferry: 29th April 2006
Monarch (3) 2008 - Isle of Wight: 5th June 2008
Monarch (3) 2009 - Isle of Wight: 7th June 2009
Monarch (3) 2010 - Isle of Wight: 6th March 2010

Associated Pages:-
www.leisuresteam.co.uk - Monarch (3) official website
Cosens & Co - Owners of the first two Monarchs
Monarch (1) - Cosens: 1888-1950
Monarch (2) - Cosens: 1951-1960
Nuneham - Preserved steam launch: 2004 photos
Kingswear Castle - Preserved paddle steamer in Kent - official website
Shieldhall - Preserved sludge boat: 2004 photos
Waverley - Preserved paddle steamer: 2004 photos
Ferry Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

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powered by FreeFind Monarch Photographs Monarch Leaving Sandwich Town Quay 30th October 2004 Monarch (3) leaving Sandwich Town Quay on a public sailing. Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004 - all images link to larger copies Monarch Arriving at Sandwich Town Quay 30th October 2004 Monarch (3) arriving at Sandwich Town Quay prior to our charter Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004 - all images link to larger copies Monarch 50th Birthday Charter Cruise
30th October 2004

Myself and two friends, Ian Greig and Mike Tedstone, all celebrated our 50th birthdays in 2004. We chartered Monarch (3) for a 2-hour cruise towards the sea on 30th October 2004. The weather was perfect, and the cruise was idyllic. My thanks to Mike for having the idea and arranging the charter. All photos: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004 (unless noted otherwise). Lady Jane at Sandwich Town Quay, used on the Sandwich River Bus Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004 - all images link to larger copies Monarch leaving Sandwich Town Quay on our charter Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004 - all images link to larger copies Monarch passing the remains of Richborough Military Port, including the train ferry dock Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004 - all images link to larger copies Monarch returning towards Sandwich Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004 - all images link to larger copies Monarch at Grove Ferry29th April 2006
For 2005, operations shifted to Grove Ferry (9 miles upstream) on the Kent Stour. In 2006 it was suggested that she would be offered for sale, to be replaced by a new motor-powered stern-wheeled vessel. This was not completed in time to run in 2007, and Monarch continued at Grove Ferry. Monarch was sold before the 2008 season and moved to Island Harbour on the River Medina between Newport and Cowes in the Isle of Wight. Monarch at Grove Ferry Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th April 2006 - all images link to larger copies Monarch cruise from Grove Ferry Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th April 2006 - all images link to larger copies Monarch at Island Harbour - Isle of Wight5th June 2008 Monarch was sold before the 2008 season and moved to Island Harbour on the River Medina between Newport and Cowes in the Isle of Wight. PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008 - all images link to larger copies Monarch at Cowes 27th June 2009 Monarch at Cowes, looking extremely smart - seen from MV Balmoral Photo: © Ian Boyle, 27th June 2009 - all images link to larger copies Monarch PSPS Wessex Branch Charter from Cowes 6th March 2010 Monarch ran two charters for the Coastal Cruising Association in connection with an AGM Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th March 2010 - all images link to larger copies Monarch seen from a Red Funnel ferry on the second charter Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th March 2010 - all images link to larger copies Alaska - Kingswear Castle - Nuneham - Shieldhall - Waverley - Windsor BelleFerry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page ©1999-2011 Copyright Ian Boyle/Simplon Postcards (all pages on web site) All Rights Reserved Free Web Counter Times viewed since 12/05/2005: