Dane's Notes on Boats: The "SHOWBOAT BRANSON BELLE"

For years I've seen advertisements for the BRANSON BELLE showboat. I thought, another fake steamboat with dummy paddle wheels and a diesel powered prop. The kind that is a dance boat, but with folding tables is a dinner boat that serves rubber chicken. The BRANSON BELLE is anything but fake.

Billed as "Americas Largest Ship Built On A Land-locked Lake." Its grandeur is reminiscent of the by-gone days of traveling showboats. This stern wheeler is impressive. Built and launched on site, she is equipped with the latest in marine technology. Her 24 foot paddle wheels are powered by two electric motors developing 400 horsepower each. Each paddle wheel can work independently of the other at different speeds or even have one in reverse and one in forward. Maneuverability is further enhanced by the 350 horsepower fore and aft bow thrusters. Port and starboard wing stations make docking easy on either side. Three diesel powered generators provide 480 volt 60Hz three phase electricity for the propulsion and the ships electrical systems including the galley and the theater.

The 10 foot, solid maple captains wheel is from the C.C. SLIDER, a stern wheeler that worked the Ohio River between 1928 and 1952. The motor and thruster controls are housed in a brass control unit similar to an old ships telegraph.
Launched April 13, 1995, her nine second slide into Table Rock Lake reached 14 M.P.H., faster than she would ever travel on water. The skids were lubricated with bananas, a non-polluting, biodegradable alternative to the standard grease.

She is a Showboat, with a huge 700 seat multi-tiered theater and galley serving gourmet meals. (Up to 2800 meals each day.) The SHOWBOAT BRANSON BELLE is operated by Silver Dollar City Entertainment. For information on lunch or dinner cruises visit http://www.showboatbransonbelle.com/
I am happy to say I was impressed. If you want rubber chicken you'll have to find it elsewere