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Steamboat Halsey (sinkable)

The Steamboat Halsey would be built by shipwright Alonzo Springstead for the relatively new Crooked Lake Navigation Company founded in 1882. The Vessel would be named after the founder of the company, William L. Halsey, who had tragically passed away in 1884 leaving his widowed wife Helen Halsey, and company Partner Theodore O. Hamlin to manage the company. Launched in 1887, and taking her maiden voyage in June of the same year, the Halsey would be practically a complete identical sister ship to her running mate the “Farley Holmes”, despite being around 10 ft greater in length. With the Halsey and the “Holmes” now both running together between Penn Yan and Hammondsport, the Crooked Lake Navigation company would steal the title of having the fastest steamers on the lake, increasing the rivalry between the Old Keuka Lake Steamboat Company, still present with steamers such as the “Lulu” and “Urbana”. It’s during this period known as the “Third Steamboat War” that both companies would have minor feuds over passengers and ports, with races often occurring between rival steamers to reach the closest steamboat landing on the lake. The Halsey would prove to be invaluable in this role as she was the fastest steamer on the lake, while also being novel, gaining the most popularity. Best example of this was during the 1888 season, when she would carry over 2,300 paying passengers on the Fourth of July alone. She would continue under the Crooked Lake Navigation Company till 1892 when the company was bought out by Mr. Charles Drake who would build a steam navigation monopoly on Keuka Lake. From then on the Halsey would peacefully continue under ‘Drake’s Line’ until 1897, when she would accidentally ram the steamer “Holmes” after a miscommunication in navigation. The Halsey’s bow would be crushed in, and she would have to be grounded on the nearby shore to prevent herself from sinking. After repairs, tragedy struck again in 1899 as twenty-nine-year-old John Bertholf of Elmira NY was crushed to death after getting too close to the Walking Beam engine while intoxicated. This event would occur again in August of 1906 when Fireman Edward Bert of Hammondsport New York was crushed by the engine while performing maintenance. The Halsey, along with the rest of the Keuka Lake steamboat fleet was sold off to the Erie Railroad by Charles Drake in 1904, where the Halsey would be renamed the “Steuben” and would continue with her running mate “Yates” (originally the “Holmes”) till 1911. In 1911 the “Steuben” would sink at her dock in Hammondsport due to being left in a state of disrepair. Being refloated, she would continue part-time service until 1915, being tied up and left to rot by the Erie Railroad. The Steuben would once again sink at her dock at Hammondsport while being prepared to be condemned; however, due to priorities being focused on America’s war effort in The Great War, the “Steuben” was quite literally forgotten. It was only till the early 1960s that her wreck was rediscovered, sitting at around 60 ft at the bottom of Keuka Lake. In 1972, the “Steuben” was reported by divers to be buried under the sediment of the lake, however, up to this date, no further exploration of the wreck has occurred.

General Characteristics:
Length - 44.0m
Width - 12.25m
Paddle Overhang - 2.00m
Draft - 1.75m
Speed - 13 Knots

Features:

Full operational walking beam paddle engine, with accurate engine room
Full detailed interior including, Passenger Suite Cabins, Passenger Saloon, Lower Dining Room, Galley, Engine Room/Boiler Room, Crew Quarters, and Cargo Hold
Two motorized lifeboats with swing-out davits
Working whistle and bell distress system
Scripted scuttle/boiler explosion scuttle
GPS and Autopilot systems, along with handheld equipment in Pilot House
Tow Lines with connectors for canal vessels

Startup:
Make your way to the Boiler Room between the Galley and the Officer's Quarters
Press the button titled “Light Boiler”
Wait a few minutes for the engine to build up pressure
The throttle is controllable from Aft Engine Room and Helm in the Pilot House

Scuttle:
Go into the Pilothouse
Look behind the helm opposite the GPS desk
Two Buttons are pressable:
Scuttle: Just your normal scuttle
Explosion + Scuttle: Just a scuttle but with a boiler explosion
Both scuttles sink the vessel down by the head
WARNING: Once pressing these buttons there is no going back.

Distress System:
Press the button below the starboard light buttons titled “Bell Distress system”
The bell onboard should start to ring and will send out an emergency message for rescuers
Flares are also available for emergencies

Notes/Clarifying:
This Vessel has multiple physics parts, so it’s best to run the Halsey on medium to low physics for good performance
Be careful in waves as the vessel has a tendency to capsize when being hit purely on her broadside
Credit for the GPS system/chart map goes to GBDanny which is used via his permission. You can find his GPS system in this creation here: https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2590300203
The JN-4 Jenny seen within some of the screenshots of the creation is made by Thales. You can find this creation here: https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1989697423
Finally, many thanks to Acemaster06 for helping out with the steam engine onboard. It’s been really fun collaboratively working on Keuka Lake Steamers together and I recommend everyone to go check out Halsey’s rival the lulu made by him here: https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2736143941

Many thanks to all who support my work. This build has truly been grand, and it’s great to branch out to more amazing vessels along the Finger Lakes that I hope you will all enjoy. It’s been a hell of a time working on the Halsey, a creation that’s one of my best builds yet. (: