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FAQ / Triad History / River Boats

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Last updated 25th March 2007 by Bree

River Boat Layout

Article by: Jane

Although there had always been rudimentary river traffic since the first settlement of the Southern Continent, the riverboats plying their trade on the river now are the result of AIVAS' files on ancient paddlesteamers.

They are 200ft long, 45ft wide, wooden-hulled (steel reinforced), shallow-draft (4ft when laden). The most impressive features are the cast iron 'stacks' towering above the structure sending plumes of smoke into the sky - and the stern mounted paddlewheel. The entire main deck (apart from the space given over to the boilers and engines) is designed for cargo and the single or double level wooden superstructure above provides crew accommodation (first deck or aft on a single deck) and passenger accommodation (second deck or forward).

The average riverboat on the river carries a family of 30 – 55 people who act as the crew, so at least half of them need to be physically able adults. As well as the rooms for the 'crew', there is accommodation for as many passengers, and room on the main deck for 300 tons of freight.

Typical accommodation aboard is in small (12ft x 10ft) standard staterooms with each with a entrance door off the 5ft wide balcony that provides the main access anywhere on each deck. The rooms have two layouts, usually referred to 'double' and 'single' though all staterooms are the same size. Double staterooms are set up with a lofted double bed beside the entrance door, and one set of two bunk-beds taking up the room from the foot of the double bed to the internal wall. The upper bunk is fixed in place but the lower one may be dismantled and stored against the wall if not required by the resident family. A single stateroom has two sets of two bunk-beds. These rooms are used for single adults or for children. When used for children the 'adjoining door' between a double stateroom on one side of the riverboat and a single stateroom on the other is removed giving the family one continuous area living with two external doors.

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Referenced By: River Boat Location Information

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