In what years were steamships most commonly used (and other boat questions)?

Question

Were they used for passengers?

What would be suitable names for a steamship?

Steamboat and steamship is the same thing, or no?

Could they travel long distances?

What type of ship was used in the 1970s to 90s that would would carry no more than a dozen passengers to Ecudor/South America from the United States?

Thanks. =) I need this information for a play I am writing.

Answer 1

Steam boats were used on the inland rivers of the USA! Steam ships were used mainly on large lakes, oceans, or other bodies of water!

  A steam ship would carry enough coal or fuel oil to make it across an ocean, port to port.

  A steam boat on the rivers, would carry wood or coal to fire the boilers.  But, they had to stop often to load up on fire-wood or coal.  Sometimes, they would tie a barge alongside the boat, to carry wood or coal for the boilers.

  Those old boats were all made of wood, mainly, and a fire on board would be mighty dangerous for any folks on board, although, if they could, they would beach the boat, and jump off of it!  Some times, the boilers would explode, and folks didn't have time to get the boat to shore, and many drowned!

  Back in the 1840's and up, there weren't many folks who knew how to swim, so they perished, if push came to jump!

Answer 2

Quick answers:

Most commonly used beginning in the early 1800's to early 1900's - and:

1. Yes they were used for passengers.

2. Most were named after cities, states, bends in the river, Presidents, Generals, and women.

3. Steamboat, Steamship, Riverboat, Sternwheeler... yes they were the same thing - all "steam powerered" vessels.

4. Although originally used primarily as "Riverboats"  Yes, they traveled long distances... many in fact from US East coast - around So. America - to US West Coast... Some others in fact traveled to China.

Strongly suggest you visit the "history" page at:

www.boatwrights.org

It has brief and wonderful history on these boats that uniquely ties interesting events together...

Expanded anwer:

Commercial steamboats quickly became popular in the early 1800's... They were indeed the very first "engine" powered vessels of any kind.  The very first steamboat on the Mississippi River was the built by Robert Fulton and named the "New Orleans".  By 1816, the fleet of passenger and freight paddle-wheeled steamboats operating on the Mississippi River and its tributaries totaled shipping nearly a half million tons of freight, supplying economical and fast transportation of freight and people.

So popular were these vessels in fact, that in every year between 1835 and 1861 (outbreak of our Civil War) the annual totals and aggregate tonnage of freight shipped downstream on the Mississippi to New Orleans was greater than all the freight transported by all the ships in the British Empire.

The paddle-wheeled steamboat is credited with being the single largest influence for the successful and expeditious opening of all territory west of the Mississippi, and for settlements north and south along the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers. Mostly, these vessels took people north on the Mississippi, and brought freight (wheat, corn, etc.) down the Mississippi.

In 1848 - Gold discovered in California, and by 1849 (ie: the term - the 49er's) over 80,000 prospectors arrive in California.  Most were delivered from the east by way of steamboats and the boats began being referred to as "Riverboat Gamblers" as "Gamblers" began making the trips to and from gold mining camps.  Also in 1849 - St. Louis, Mo alone, reported being visited by three thousand different steamboats; and the City's population soared from 3,000 to over 77,000 as it become the second largest Port in the country.

Be sure to visit the "history page" on: www.boatwrights.org

especially if your writing a play... you'll be glad you did.

Answer 3

Steamships were very common up until the mid 80's and there are still lots in the the water today. The Passenger boats along with cargo ships were mostly powered by steam. Wasn't until the mid 80's that ships were starting to see more diesels. Now of course the majority is diesel. I have seen boats named after Hawain island and US presidents. Technically steamboat and steamships are the same, but steamboats usually refer to the paddle wheel boat and steamships refer to steam powered turbine used to drive a propeller. In the 70's Delta lines had steam ships known as the "M" ships that took cargo and small number of passengers to South America. They were the Santa Maria, Santa Mariana, Santa Magdalena, Santa Mercedes. Steamships can very easily travel long distance. Just as long a distance as diesel ships to today.

Answer 4

I sailed in various steamships as a deck officer from 1966 to 1990. We sailed across both the Atlantic and Pacific.