Copyright 1997-2010 Valley Gem, Inc. First Mate Kate All Rights Reserved
Valley Gem Sternwheeler call: 740.373.7862 physical location: 601 Front St. Marietta, OH 45750
Fast Facts
- What is a sternwheeler? A Sternwheeler is a boat with a wheel at the back, or stern,
of the boat.
What is a paddleboat? A boat with one or more wheels. The two types of paddlewheelers are sternwheelers and sidewheelers. Some paddlewheels are just for show. The wheel on the Valley Gem is the real deal. - Size of the Valley Gem: 157 ft. long, 24 1/2 feet wide, weighs 55 net tons, and 80 gross
- The Valley Gem is solely propelled via the paddlewheel and has no propellers or thrusters
- Paddlewheels are efficient: The Valley Gem is 87% efficient and burns less than 5 gallons of diesel fuel per hour while cruising at 7MPH.
- The Valley Gem is powered by a 500 HP 60 Series Detroit Diesel, and electricity is provided by a 40 KW John Deere generator.
- The very first Valley Gem (1898 to 1918) was one of the most successful Sternwheel packets to ply the Muskingum River.
- Packet (think “pack it”) boats carried people, animals, mail, and goods up and down the river.
- People often ask if we have GPS on the boat. The direction of travel on the river is always indicated as Northbound or Southbound also know as up river and down river. The river is relatively narrow and we only travel at 7 miles per hour, so it is hard to get “lost”.
The Valley Gem was built 1988-89 by Ivan Arnold and was designed by James E. Sands. The Valley Gem is 157’ x 25’ (hull 102’ x 24.5’) and weighs 100 tons. The sternwheel is driven by a 12.7 Litre Series 60 Detroit Diesel, which produces 500HP @ 2300 RPM. The engine is coupled to a ZF W325 electronic marine transmission. Total reduction from engine to wheel is 60:1. A 4039 John Deere 40 KW Marathon generator provides electricity. The Valley Gem is air conditioned by two 5 ton Carrier units, and is baseboard heated. She carries 1700 gallons of diesel, and 360 gallons of fresh water.
The boat and barge were drydocked for the 5 year hull inspections November 2007.