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This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Monarch
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
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.
For bookings and information:
www.leisuresteam.co.uk
. Note that
Monarch (3)
was the second preserved paddle steamer to start operating in Kent, the other being the
Kingswear Castle
at Chatham on the River Medway.
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 Photographs
- Leaving Sandwich: 30th October 2004
Monarch (3) 2004 Photographs
- Arriving at Sandwich: 30th October 2004
Monarch (3) 2004 Photographs
- 50th Birthday Charter Cruise: 30th October 2004
Monarch (3) 2006 Photographs
- Cruise from Grove Ferry: 29th April 2006
Monarch (3) 2008 Photographs
- Isle of Wight: 5th June 2008
- new!
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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Monarch Photographs
Leaving Sandwich Town Quay
30th October 2004
Monarch (3)
leaving Sandwich Town Quay on a public sailing.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
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.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
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).
Monarch (3)
arriving at Sandwich Town Quay, prior to the charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Leaving Sandwich Town Quay.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Leaving Sandwich Town Quay.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Leaving Sandwich Town Quay.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Alastair on watch for debris.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
On the River Stour.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
On the River Stour.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Drinking champagne whilst passing the Pfizer chemical works.
(Ian Greig, Ian Boyle & Mike Tedstone).
Photo: © Alastair Boyle, 30th October 2004
Photo: © Alastair Boyle, 30th October 2004
The saloon - not needed in the glorious weather.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
The engines.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
WW1 barge near the Richborough Military Port (possibly built locally).
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
The main quay for Richborough Military Port.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
The remains of the train ferry berth at Richborough Military Port.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
The remains of the train ferry berth at Richborough Military Port.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
The remains of the train ferry berth at Richborough Military Port.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Almost at sea at Pegwell Bay, with Ramsgate in the distance.
The marsh bird life is on the right, and seals were seen in the estuary, close to the steamer.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
On our way back to Sandwich.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Mike Tedstone & Ian Greig inspecting the engines.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Mike Tedstone & Ian Greig inspecting the engines.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Approaching Sandwich on our return.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Sandwich Town Quay.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Sandwich Town Quay.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Monarch (3)
leaving Sandwich Town Quay, on a public sailing after the charter.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Lady Jane
- the other Stour River Bus based at Sandwich Town Quay.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th October 2004.
Cruise from Grove Ferry
29th 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.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th April 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th April 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th April 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th April 2006
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Photo: © Ian Boyle, 29th April 2006
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