Can anyone figure out what the vertical posts on the side of this vessel are for?
The ones forward don’t extend into the water, the posts that due are bent back toward the stern. Interesting picture from Shorpy of a side-wheel paddlesteamer.
Thanks
From the way that they’re swept back by the water, I’d venture that they’re just fenders to keep it from being damaged from bumping into the dock or other boats.
Yep. Those protect all the railings that stick out from the ship from bashing against the docks.
makes sense. and they are pivoted so that they don’t provide too much resistance when they dip into the water. Seems kind of not very efficient to me, but it is a river boat and so heeling over would not be a big problem.