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64 BELFONT—River Towboat—Stern Wheel—Diesel Name—BELFONT Owner—Indiana-Belfont Transp. Co. Builder—Marietta Mfg. Co. Naval Architect—Marietta Mfg. Co. Completed—May, 1926 Classification—Western Rivers Towboat HULL PARTICULARS Length overall, 120 feet; length between per- pendiculars, 100 feet; breadth molded, 24 feet; depth molded, 4 feet 4 inches; draft, 3 feet 4 inches; gross tonnage, 160. MACHINERY PARTICULARS Main Engine—One, full diesel, 6-cylinder, 14- inch diameter x 17-inch stroke, 2-cycle, solid injection, Fairbanks Morse engine of 360 brake horsepower; direct connected to longitudinal shafting transmitting power to the stern wheel. AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT Manufacturers of: Pumps—Fairbanks Morse & Co. Electric Generators—Fairbanks Morse & Co. Telegraphs—Chas. Cory & Son Ince. Valves—Lunkenheimer Co. Capstans—American Engineering Co. The BELFONT is one of the largest stern’ wheel diesel engine driven towboats using a center wheel gear drive, on the inland waters in this DESCRIPTION The sternwheel die- sel river towboat BEL- FONT is built of steel and is one of the larg- est boats of this type driven by means of a center wheel gear. For the shallow draft under which _ these boats must operate, the paddle wheel gives good results. country. Power is transmitted from the main engine through an extension of the crankshaft to a spur reduction unit near the after end of the hull and from this reduction unit through more shafting and flexible couplings to a bevel gear reduction mounted on the center of the stern paddle wheel shaft. The paddle wheel is split in the center and the buckets are staggered. The BELFONT, com- pleted in May last year is engaged in service for the Indiana-Belfont Transportation Co. tow- ing barges loaded with pig iron, steel wire and nails from Ironton, O., to Cincinnati, Louisville, Evansville and Memphis. Return cargoes of hardwood lumber are car- ried from Memphis to Coal Grove, O., near Ironton. Reports show that the BELFONT is economical in fuel consumption and consequent- ly her operating costs are exceptionally low. In the time, in which this vessel has been in operation which is now a matter of nearly a year, she has proved highly satisfactory in this service. The particularly unique and interesting fea- ture in connection with this towboat is in keep- ing the stern wheel and in going to the diesel engines for power. i ee wt DAN COO ht COO OOCE S) ee Pe a ee % rs “ i ee Soe te ee dX 12s ALF a Sen © Ve [aaa eee | ioe 7 are si = ° ay + a ees, Wetec wear ee = ‘ oe : ie 1 cr er MARINE REVIEW—April, 1927