The River: The Rafter Clyde, negotiating the purchase — then bringing her up the Ohio River to home

The riverboat captain is a storyteller, and Captain Don Sanders will be sharing the stories of his long association with the river — from discovery to a way of love and life. This a part of a long and continuing story.

By Capt. Don Sanders
Special to NKyTribune

Some six years ago, Aaron Richardson, a river pal and the owner of the ELIZABETH LEA, once a small tugboat originally named the JOS. THROCKMORTON, belonging to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers as an assist vessel for the Upper Mississippi River dredge, the WILLIAM A. THOMPSON, surprised me saying a small paddlewheeler was for sale in the neighborhood near where the THOMPSON once pumped sand.

An internet link soon introduced me to the CLYDE., an authentic sternwheel houseboat built in the backyard of Ed Newcomb along the northern shore of Lake Pepin, a naturally-occurring lake with the Mississippi River flowing through it.

Quickly, a series of emails flew between Ed and me starting on the 13th of February, 2012 as follows:

The ELIZABETH LEA, once a small tugboat originally named the JOS. THROCKMORTON, belonging to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Hello, I’m Captain Don Sanders and a friend of Aaron Richardson who said to ‘give you a shout’ about your boat, the CLYDE, he believes is for sale.

I have the particulars from the American Sternwheel Assn. website, but I’m interested in the condition of the hull, engine, and other mechanicals. She’s a looker, alright.

Aaron also said you’re extremely interested in steamboats, and your grandfather was on the original Rafter CLYDE. . Rafting has always captured my imagination. I missed out on that exciting phase of river adventures, but I did get to participate in the ‘tail-end’ of the steamboat era. My first trip on the Upper Mississippi was as a deckhand on the Steamer AVALON in 1959.

Before I was 30, I was the Captain of the DELTA QUEEN, but prior to my steamboatin’ days, I grew up on the sternwheeler MARJESS, our family paddlewheeler on the Ohio River in the Cincinnati stretch of the river.

The CLYDE is the prettiest small sternwheeler I’ve seen since the MARJESS and the steam towboat LONE STAR that ran in Quad City harbor for many years and is now on display in Le Claire, Iowa. The HUCKLEBERRY, on the Illinois River, was right-smart, too. The HUCK was a sister to Captain Fred Way’s LADY GRACE # 7.

Like Aaron, I am interested in your boat and would appreciate hearing from you.”

On Tuesday, 03 April 2012, Ed Newcomb sent this reply:

“Hey Cap, Good to hear from you. First steamboat I ever rode was the AVALON back in 1955, or so. Mom took me for an afternoon trip out of Alma, WI when she was tramping on the Upper Miss. Think it cost a quarter, back in those days. Guess I never got over it. Most of Dad’s family worked on the original CLYDE. during the rafting days. Dad’s Uncle Ike was Captain. Grandad was pilot and bow-boat captain. Uncle Milt was an engineer, and all the cousins and practically everyone else in Pepin worked on the rafting crews. She ran rafts primarily from Stillwater, Minnesota to Fort Madison, Iowa.

After rafting ended in 1915, Capt Frank Fugina used her to tow rock for the Army until 1925, and then she was sold south and ended up towing lumber for the Arrow Transportation Company on the Tennessee River. Cut down to a single deck and given a whale of a pilot house; she lasted until the end of the Second World War… never was able to find what happened to her.

I built my CLYDE. on a Whitcraft (houseboat) steel hull. Took 11 years to build and we launched her in 2011.  Worked pretty much from pictures of the real CLYDE., and tried to get the look about right. Currently, she is on the bank at Great River Harbor below Alma, WI. Should have her back in the water by mid to late April.

She is powered by a 36 hp Kubota diesel driving a variable displacement Eaton hydraulic pump.  This powers two Eaton 6000 hydraulic motors on the paddlewheel, driving through chains. The set-up gives you forward, reverse, and wheel speed all on one lever. Speed with the engine at idle is 4.5 mph, and top-end is about 7.50 to 8.00 mph.

The CLYDE., an authentic sternwheel houseboat built in the backyard of Ed Newcomb along the northern shore of Lake Pepin.

Fuel consumption is about a gallon per hour at idle and twice that at fuel throttle.

Steering is twin rudders ahead of the wheel – also hydraulic.  And there is an 8″ hydraulic bow thruster. Which almost makes it look like I know what I am doing when docking.

Seriously, she handles pretty well. With the bow thruster and locking cleats on the roof, I can lock thru when I am on the boat alone.

The hull is in fair shape. Had her sandblasted and coal-tarred 5 years ago; so she is about due for it again. Decks are steel and everything above that is wood.  She has vinyl siding and a rubber membrane roof, which has worked out pretty well. The engine is under a hatch in the main cabin directly inside the double doors.

I am selling her because my son is out and on his own now, so she is a whole lot more boat than is needed for just Cindy and me.

Being a sternwheeler, the CLYDE. Is not the boat for everyone, but she is a dandy.  She is pretty much a part of the family, so I kind of want her to go to a good home.

Let me know if I can supply any additional information.

Best Regards. Ed Newcomb”

But I already owned a lovely houseboat, the SUN*FISH, another custom-built Wisconsin beauty that started life out as a tug and workboat around a power plant near Genoa on the Upper.

Why would I want another headache?  Still, more than a spark of interest was kindled after I read Ed’s description of his boat and viewed his photos of the most authentic looking small sternwheeler existing anywhere on the river. There was a demand by sternwheel aficionados from all over the country for the CLYDE. To keep Ed from letting her go before I made up my mind to travel the long drive to Alma, I sent another email his way:

(Sunday, April 08, 2012. 3:39 PM) “ED – Just a reminder that I am still interested. I have court duty next week, but after that, I’ll let you know what I plan to do about coming up to see the CLYDE.

Also:
* Who carries your insurance on the CLYDE? How much per year? Coverage? Transferable?
* Does boat have a holding tank for black water?
* Fuel aboard? How much?
* Do you feel competent the CLYDE can make a trip almost to Cincinnati on the river?
* Could she, if need be, be hauled overland? Pilothouse removable?”

While Ed Newcomb and I pondered the possibility of my arrival at the Alma, Wisconsin boatyard,  Everett “Ev” Dameron, another friend and self-described “boatnerd,” and I, inaugurated an online dialogue considering the possibility of him buying the SUN*FISH so I could take the CLYDE. off Ed’s hands:

Everett: (Thursday, April 5, 2012. 9:27 AM) “Do you have any thoughts about selling the SUN*FISH?”

Me: (Sat, Apr 7, 2012. 9:24 pm) “ Actually, I’ve been mulling it over in my head, lately. It would be a hard decision, but I cannot keep up two boats. The FISH is a heavier-built boat. What are you thinking?”

Everett: (Sunday, April 8, 2012. 12:25 PM) “If you sold the Fish, you could handle the CLYDE., your dreamboat, on your own.  We could crew for each other when needed. It would depend on how much you need to get for the FISH, and if I could come up with the $$. The trip here, on both boats, would be great fun. Also, it looks like I can’t get away for any length of time until after the first weekend in May.”

Me: (Sun, Apr 8, 2012. 4:19 pm) “I paid 30K for the FISH and have another 10K in for bottom prep, prop, cathodes, 2-part paint, Type-1 life preservers, etc. I could throw in the improvements and let her go for about the original purchase price. There’s 150 gallons of # 2 diesel aboard. The main deck needs repainting, and I want to replace the fuel lift pump and have a mechanic get her running tip-top.

She has a lovely 120 HP Ford Lehman, 330-cu in, diesel engine, hydraulic steering, AC, and more. I was going to remove the gasoline 7 KW generator. There a small portable gen-set that goes with it at my house. Certain personal items such as the ‘Fish Oil Lamp’ given to me by the ‘Fish’, herself, before she died. The pilotwheel mirror, kerosene lights, running lights, and bells from my other boats won’t stay. I have tons of line (rope) that can be divided between the two boats. We need our own harbor. (Smiley Face)”

Everett: (Monday, 09 April 2012. 10:02 AM) “I understand about the personal gear and the collectibles, but the running lights?  I noticed in some of the pictures all the line you have. The Ford Lehman is a great engine. Is the new gen set a Honda?  Is the AC reversible for heat? Timing may be an issue for you to move on the CLYDE..”

The original Rafter CLYDE.

Me: (Monday, 09 Apr 2012 at 12:19 PM) “I should have made myself more clear… I have parts from the MARJESS and the JOHN HENRY aboard. They were former boats of mine and my family’s. The running lights I speak of are in the closet, but the running lights for the SUN*FISH are in place and they do work.

No, the gen set may have been made by Sears. The large 7 KW Onan, gasoline generator can probably be put into service. It’s on the roof under the stairs to the Fly Bridge. It’s the one I’d like to replace with a quiet, efficient, air-cooled diesel type.

Some line is Specter and the other is nylon, three-strand. As a boatman, I firmly believe, ‘You cannot have too much line…’ It all came from the GVII.

The AC is just a little window model for the Pilothouse. There is a bottle gas heater in the kitchen, but when I tried to light it, I burned out the starter thingy that ‘sparks’ (shouldn’t be hard to replace the part I screwed-up). I used ‘Micro-furnaces’ for all the heat I ever needed. One will get the PH toastie, and one in the kitchen makes it warm-enough… I don’t heat the bunk room as I sleep in the PH. What is your foreseeable timeline?”

That evening, Monday, 09 Apr 2012 at 08:43 PM, Ed Newcomb had plenty to say:

“Weather has turned cold here, so no one is in any roaring rush to launch boats.  Had a carpenter on the boat today and we replaced the plywood on the transom and replaced some framing while we were at it.  Going to be painting this weekend if the weather improves. Not sure if I will have time to coal-tar the bottom or if that will be up to the next owner.

I expect the CLYDE. would make the trip down the river if you have the time. We never got farther than Lansing, Iowa during the Grand Excursion, but that was pretty much due to not being able to get enough time off from my business for extended boat trips.

The CLYDE. would transport on a hauler. We did so when we moved her from my yard in Pepin, where she was built, to Alma for launching. I had a fellow with a crane lift the pilot house off and set it on the bow for the trip. Once in the slip, he set it back in place, and we bolted it down.  I did have all the wiring set up to remove along with the hydraulics. That was back in 2001, so it might be a bit more involved now with changes made over the years, but probably still pretty easy to do. Hog chains and stacks are for looks only, so are easy unbolt and get off.

Let me know if you decide to come up this way.”

I replied to Ed Newcomb on Thursday, April 12, 2012. 6:59 AM: “Weather is more seasonable here, too. Cold nights (not THAT cold) and cool to mild days… actually lovely. Jury duty this coming week. A friend expressed interest in seeing the CLYDE, too, but he is not available until after May the 8th… which is not too far off, actually.

After rafting ended in 1915, Capt Frank Fugina used her to tow rock for the Army until 1925, and then she was sold south and ended up towing lumber for the Arrow Transportation Company on the Tennessee River.

It would be grand to coal-tar the bottom while the boat’s outta water and pass the cost on to the next owner. I’ll keep in touch. Don”

Then, on Tuesday, 17 April 2012. 5:23 PM, Mr. Newcomb informed me of several essential improvements he made on the CLYDE.:

“We got the transom rebuilt and painted this weekend. (80 degrees Sunday and a snowstorm on Monday).  Looks like the Marina will want to launch the boat around the first of May so we will probably already be in by the time you can get up here.  Had a couple of guys looking her over pretty seriously this weekend, but you never know. Looks like I will not have the time or manpower to get the bottom coal-tarred before we launch her.”

The next day, 18 Apr 2012 at 11:07 AM, I gave Ed a reply:

“Hi, Ed – Sounds like you been busy…my friend (Ev) cannot get away until after the 7th of May. What’s the chance of holding the CLYDE. out of the water until we look at her? Will notify you of any change of plans. Don”

Ed was eager for me to visit Alma and was trying to be as cooperative as possible when he answered:

(Wednesday, April 18, 2012. 11:52 AM) “I will talk to the marina owners this weekend and see if we can arrange to keep it out. I will let you know.”

I thanked Ed, and it was a week later before we communicated again:

(Wednesday, 25 April 2012. 12:03 PM) “Ed, I’m still here thinking about coming up after May 7th with Everett Dameron, a friend, to look at CLYDE.. Just a reminder. Don”

It took Ed Newcomb only over an hour to answer my last email:

“Don – Haven’t forgotten about you.  Been trying to get everything cleaned up and painted-up on the boat.  (My old man used to say that ‘steamboats were a lot like ladies of the evening… they usually looked better from a distance…and a lot of their beauty was due to the liberal application of cheap paint!’)

Have had a couple of local guys looking at the boat, but I haven’t seen anyone write out any checks yet.  Still trying to keep her out of the water until you get here, but the marina operators are starting to get quite a few boats in, so they are getting kind of serious about dropping her in.
Will keep you posted. Ed”

I quickly fired back on 25 Apr 2012 at. 6:05 PM:

“Okay. Sounds ‘sweet’ as they say, down South.

What’s the big rush with the marina operators…. they put all the boats in at the same time? For car parking? Paint keeps em looking good and even…afloat. Thanks for the report.”

Another twelve days passed before Ed and I communicated again as I went to visit the SUN*FISH at her dock at Jay’s Landing Marina on General Joseph Wheeler Lake at Decatur, Alabama.

But I already owned a lovely houseboat, the SUN*FISH, another custom-built Wisconsin beauty.

On Sunday, 06 May 2012 at 3:24 PM, Mr Newcomb received this note from me:

“Just got in last night from a week on the SUN*FISH. Hot a few days, and surprisingly, it was cool at night for good sleeping weather… even got out the wool blanket around 3 AM. I’ve got to get my plans coordinated for a trip your way, soon. How’s the CLYDE?  I’ll let you know more soon.

I was talking to Capt. Ike Hastings on the phone. He said he just got back from Mobile where he took the LILLY BELLE. Said the new owner had considered the CLYDE. but chose the LILLY as bigger and faster.”

Later that day, Ed answered:

(Sunday, May 6, 2012. 11:39 PM) “I haven’t put the boat in the water yet, waiting for your schedule. I did coal-tar the bottom, so the price just jumped by $225.00 plus a couple of cases of beer for the applicator (myself).

Had the engine running this morning and am waiting a couple of days of dry weather (short supply here lately) to get the decks painted. Have had quite a few lookers so far this spring. Let me know your plans.”

The next morning, Ed found this note in his inbox:

(Monday, May 07, 2012. 10:24 AM) “Great to hear, Ed… As soon as I get things worked out, I get right back. How’s the river up there? The Ohio has decided to reclaim old land… and is rising. My beautiful Tennessee River is carefully controlled by TVA dams at this time of year. Don”

A little over twelve hours later, this message was waiting for me:

(Monday, May 7, 2012. 10:16 PM) “Don, We had NO spring raise. The river was at low summer water until rains this week, then the Chippewa and a couple of other feeders came up and we had a foot or two of raise. Doubt it will last long. Ed”

And…

(Thursday, May 10, 2012. 9:08 AM) “Don, Just an update:  Looks like the Clyde. will be going back in the river on Friday. Best Regards – Ed.”

It took me just over two hours to reply:

Worked pretty much from pictures of the real CLYDE., and tried to get the look about right. Currently, she is on the bank at Great River Harbor below Alma, WI.

Thursday, 10 May 2012. 11:04 AM) “That’s fine… got the bottom coal-tarred, anyway. How’d it look? We’re thinking about leaving here on Tuesday. I have a slight problem that I need to have corrected,; so I’ll need Monday for that. What’s the quickest route from Indianapolis? I’d like to stop by Dubuque to see the museum and look up Cap’n Ike.”

Ed Newcomb:

(Thursday, May 10, 2012. 11:35 AM) “Don, Sounds good.  If you are coming straight up here, the best bet is up I-90/94 to Tomah, WI. Then take I-90 across into Minnesota; near Winona take Highway 61 which is 4-lane to Wabasha. If you go to Dubuque first, you will end up on Highway 35 North which is a nice drive, but all two lanes with a lot of river towns.  If you see Ike, tell him ‘HI’ for me. We haven’t had a chance to get together in the last few years, I did pass his new boat at Wabasha last year. Quite a rig.

You definitely want to see Dubuque.  Hell of a museum (and a picture or two of the real Clyde. first iron-hulled boat built there. Ed”

Me:

(May 10, 2012. 12:54 PM) “Thanks, Ed. The car has been rented. I’ll be with a friend, Everett Dameron, a self-proclaimed ‘boat nut,’ and hopefully, my son Jonathan.

We’ll continue planning…. and I’ll stay in touch. I called your plant from Alabama, but do not have another number for you.

Ah, those names of towns I remember so well, but haven’t visited in years! I hope I can get to Genoa, WI while I’m up there to see where my SUN*FISH was built.”

Around Monday the 14th of May, a brilliant-orange Dodge Charger rental car was billed to my credit card, and as soon as Everett showed up, we set out for Alma to inspect the CLYDE.. After five, or so, hours on the highway, we pulled into a motel recommended by Ed Newcomb in nearby Wabasha, Minnesota. After checking in for the night, I called Ed and let him know we arrived and agreed to meet at the Great River Harbor below Alma, Wisconsin in the morning.

As soon as I saw the CLYDE. for the first time, other than in photos on the internet, I imagined being transported back in time, to the late-19th Century; she was that authentic!  Somehow, during the five weeks which passed since Everett and I discussed him taking the SUN*FISH off my hands and me acquiring the CLYDE., our priorities reversed. Now it was Ev who was interested in buying the sternwheeler, while I decided to hang onto the FISH.

As soon as I saw the CLYDE. for the first time, other than in photos on the internet, I imagined being transported back in time, to the late-19th Century; she was that authentic!

Ed Newcomb, the owner and builder of the CLYDE., soon proved to be a genial host as he showed us the features of his paddlewheeler. I noticed that the boat needed a good “soogin’,” as we steamboatm’n called “scrubbing,” but the CLYDE. had been ashore “on the hard” for some time without attention which explained the grunge.

“Wanna see how she handles?” Ed asked as he opened the hatch and showed us the routine of preparing to start the four-cylinder, 35 hp, diesel Kubota engine.

After checking the engine oil, inspecting the raw water intake filter, and looking down the throat of the coolant filler tube, it took but one turn of the ignition key and the tiny engine awoke from its slumber and rattled awake. A look over the port side found sufficient raw river water mixed with the engine exhaust. Everything was ready for a ride. As soon as Ed gave the command, “Turn her loose,” I let the last line go and the CLYDE. began backing away from the dock and we were underway.

The Mississippi River was higher than average from the hard rains that had fallen before we arrived. The current of the river was formidable, but the paddlewheel pushed the CLYDE. against the might of the Mississippi slowly and surely as Ed put his sternwheel masterpiece through its paces. When it was my turn to take the sizeable wooden steering wheel, I found as I later noted, “the CLYDE. appears to ‘handle’ much like the ‘old-time’ steamboats I had been on.”

After returning to the marina, Ed turned the paddlewheeler sideways to the swift current which ran all the way to the shoreline, and with the hand of a veteran boat-handler, shoved the CLYDE. into its slip abeam to the rushing water.

“Gonna buy it?” Ed asked me several times.

I knew that several others had looked at the boat before me, but failed the builder’s careful scrutiny as a potential new owner and were turned away with Mr. Newcomb’s admonition:

“Not the boat for you…not the boat for you!”

At day’s end, Ev and I returned to the motel without either of us making a commitment to the acquisition of the CLYDE.. As it was a Tuesday, the coming weekend would find a party of Charleston, West Virginian “sternwheelers” arriving to take their turns scrutinizing the CLYDE.; so Ed would have other potential buyers to take our place.

At dinner that evening, Everett confessed that his attempts to raise capital for the purchase of the CLYDE. had been unsuccessful. But for some unexplained reason, however, before we left home, I sold some unproductive stocks in the amount Ed was asking for his boat and transferred the cash into my checking account. That night as I lay in bed, I mulled over my possibilities before sleep eventually blanketed me into its languor.

When it was my turn to take the sizeable wooden steering wheel, I found as I later noted, “the CLYDE. appears to ‘handle’ much like the ‘old-time’ steamboats I had been on.”

Early the next morning, Wednesday,16 May 2012, as Everett and I were packing our luggage into the trunk of the Dodge when I asked:

“Whatta ya’ say we look at the boat one more time on our way home?”

“Sure, why not? Ev answered.

So, instead of going down the Minnesota side of the river directly to Winona and picking up Interstate 90 towards home, we crossed over the Mississippi at Wabasha to Wisconsin Route 35 and doubled-back to the Great River Harbor for another look at the CLYDE.

Once back aboard, there was no way I was going to let the graceful sternwheeler get away from me, so I called Ed Newcomb and told him I was buying his boat. Ed related that he was unable to meet us until the next morning and wondered if we were going to return to the motel.

“We want to stay overnight on the CLYDE.,” I replied.

“Well, if you’re buying it, you might as well stay the night on her.”

Ev and I spent most of the remainder of the day with soogie water and rags scrubbing the galley area of the boat. When Ed arrived with a parcel of papers for me to sign the next morning, he looked around carefully and saw a cleaner boat, but he never mentioned a word about what we had accomplished. In a matter of minutes, I exchanged my check for his receipt and title and the CLYDE. had a new owner… that simple.

According to a later log entry:

“ Ev and I spent three days aboard and scrubbed-down the boat. With Ed, we made two short rides. We left the boat in Ed’s care, who, since, has made various improvements to the CLYDE. (after selling it).

Since returning to our respective homes in Aurora and Covington, Ev and I have accumulated various items to take back North. Several things came from my other boat, the SUN*FISH in Alabama. We plan to return on Sunday, 03 June 2012.”

Once returning home, I composed the following email to the CLYDE.’s former owner:

Everett Dameron, a self-proclaimed “boat nut.”

(May 22, 2012. 12:20 AM) “Ed. Ev and I both had a great time. We arrived safely at his place around 8 PM, EDST. I drove all the way, and it was a pleasant drive with light to moderate traffic. I want to thank you and your family for the genial hospitality extended to a pair of ‘good-ole Southern boys.’

Received some email and FB response from the Charleston group… polite, but I felt underlying feelings of disappointment. But, that is understandable.

BTW. Your portable screw gun is under the pillow on the starboard bunk, aft.

Everett and I are going to start planning. He would like to return early in June, and so far I do not see ‘why not.’ I want to accommodate your schedule, and if you can go with ‘your’ CLYDE. as far as Paducah on the Ohio, or beyond, it would be an excellent trip for us all and further ensure the safe passage of the stout little sternwheeler.

I’ll keep in touch.  What a great time was had by all!

Best Wishes. Cap’n Don”

After Ev and I returned to the CLYDE. on 03 June to prepare for the long and uncertain 1,300 mile trip down the Upper Mississippi and up the Ohio River to home, river conditions and waiting for Ed to be able to accompany us, kept us at the Grand River Harbor until the 12th of June at 11:25 a.m. when the CLYDE. slipped her lines a final time and headed, as my dear friend John Hartford once noted, “down into the mystery below.”

Captain Don Sanders is a river man. He has been a riverboat captain with the Delta Queen Steamboat Company and with Rising Star Casino. He learned to fly an airplane before he learned to drive a “machine” and became a captain in the USAF. He is an adventurer, a historian, and a storyteller. Now, he is a columnist for the NKyTribune and will share his stories of growing up in Covington and his stories of the river. Hang on for the ride — the river never looked so good.