Old Boat Column

A look back into the rich history of the inland waterways transportation industry. From the earliest steam paddlewheelers to the grand sternwheel and sidewheel packets, and the eventual transition from steam to diesel, you’ll find fascinating stories and photos of a different steamboat every week.

Built To Help Win A War More Than 80 Years Ago And Still Working The Str. Guam new at Marietta Manufacturing Company from an ad in the August 20, 1949, WJ. (Photo from the author’s collection)

The Str. Guam new at Marietta Manufacturing Company from an ad in the August 20, 1949, WJ. (Photo from the author’s collection)

Built To Help Win A War More Than 80 Years Ago And Still Working

June 12, 2026

Given that the Allied landings on D-Day at Normandy occurred 82 years ago last week and that this is a special dredging issue, it is only fitting that this… Read More

The Arthur J. Dyer Was Notable In 1951 A shipyard glamour shot of the Arthur J. Dyer new at Nashville, Tenn., in 1951. (Photo from the Capt. Bill Judd collection)

A shipyard glamour shot of the Arthur J. Dyer new at Nashville, Tenn., in 1951. (Photo from the Capt. Bill Judd collection)

The Arthur J. Dyer Was Notable In 1951

June 5, 2026

In recent columns we have looked at vessels built by the Nashville Bridge Company (NABRICO) since the popular Inland Marine Expo (IMX) was held May 27–29 in Nashville, Tenn. Read More

The Harry Dyer Had A Bright Start And Dramatic End The Harry Dyer new at Nashville as shown in the June 11, 1949 issue of the WJ.

The Harry Dyer Had A Bright Start And Dramatic End

May 29, 2026

The Harry Dyer new at Nashville as shown in the June 11, 1949 issue of the WJ. While researching last week’s column, Capt. Jeff Yates sent me some material… Read More

NABRICO Towwboat Designs Made Great Strides Over a Decade The new Lin Smith at Nashville September 12, 1947. (Photo courtesy of the Dan Owen Boat Photo Museum collection)

The new Lin Smith at Nashville September 12, 1947. (Photo courtesy of the Dan Owen Boat Photo Museum collection)

NABRICO Towwboat Designs Made Great Strides Over a Decade

May 22, 2026

With the popular Inland Marine Expo taking place this week at Nashville, Tenn., this column has been detailing towboats built by the Nashville Bridge Company (NABRICO). The last column… Read More

The Dixie Was The Last Sternwheel Towboat Built By Nashville Bridge The new Dixie shown in a Fairbanks-Morse ad on front cover of the November 6, 1937 WJ. (Photo from the author’s collection)

The new Dixie shown in a Fairbanks-Morse ad on front cover of the November 6, 1937 WJ. (Photo from the author’s collection)

The Dixie Was The Last Sternwheel Towboat Built By Nashville Bridge

May 15, 2026

As with prior years, with the approach of the Inland Marine Expo (IMX) to be held at Nashville May 27-29, 2026, the Old Boat column will feature boats built… Read More

The Dravo 41 And Dravo 42

May 8, 2026

In the March 23, 2022, issue of The Waterways Journal, we looked at the Pioneer, built by Dravo in 1934 and retrofitted with the first installation of the kort… Read More

A Tragedy Greatly Unnoticed Famous (and only known) photo of the crowded steamer Sultana at Helena, Ark. April 26, 1865. Library of Congress. (Photo by Helena photographer T.W. Bankes)

Famous (and only known) photo of the crowded steamer Sultana at Helena, Ark. April 26, 1865. Library of Congress. (Photo by Helena photographer T.W. Bankes)

A Tragedy Greatly Unnoticed

May 1, 2026

Mid-to-late April 1865 was full of news. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the hunt for and eventual killing of his assassin, John Wilkes Booth, was ongoing, and the Civil… Read More

The Admiral Was A St. Louis Destination For 40 Years Under construction as pictured in the January 8, 1938 The Waterways Journal. (Photo from the author’s collection)

Under construction as pictured in the January 8, 1938 The Waterways Journal. (Photo from the author’s collection)

The Admiral Was A St. Louis Destination For 40 Years

April 24, 2026

A piece by David Murray in the March 26 issue of The Waterways Journal told of a large-scale model of the excursion boat Admiral on exhibit at the National… Read More

The Indiana Helped Usher In A New Era The steamer Indiana in a Ward ad in the November 15, 1930 WJ. (From the author’s collection.)

The Indiana Helped Usher In A New Era

April 17, 2026

The last column was inspired by a near century old pay ledger that had been repurposed into a scrapbook by riverman Palmer Fisher, a friend of many years to… Read More

A Treasured Scrapbook Inspired Some Research Str. Margaret in1915. Unknown location or photographer. (Photo courtesy of Capt. Bill Judd )

A Treasured Scrapbook Inspired Some Research

April 10, 2026

Richard Dale James, formerly of Baden, Ohio, near Gallipolis, and now a resident of Wyandotte, Okla., was in the area recently to visit his parents. During his stay a… Read More

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