The Charles F. Mercer includes superstructure features typical of the double decked packet boats that plied the C&O during 19th and early 20th centuries.
These features include an enclosed cabin and deckhouses running substantially the length of the boat with an additional topside, day deck built into the cabin roof and, in turn, covered by a single continuous, canvas canopy.
For purposes of longevity and maintenance, the Mercer is built on a painted aluminum hull with wooden rails and a fully cedar super-structure. The Mercer is 57′ at water line with a beam of 13′.
Twenty to thirty feet shorter than the maximum waterline length permitted by the depth of the C&O lift locks (about 85′), these dimensions are authentic to packet boats of the era which were typically smaller, lighter and faster than contemporary freight and line boats.
In addition, the 57 foot length permits the boat to be turned 180° in the canal waters proximate to Lock 20. This fact, in turn, permitted the boat to built on a single rudder design, in fact more common to the packet boats of the Canal’s most active era.
J.C. Tagged me for this meme.
Here are the rules: Open a document or photo folder, choose the 5th folder and then the 5th photo in the folder, do a post describing the photo, tag five friends to do the meme.
here is the hard part of the meme,I cannot think of 5 people that I want to tag.So I am asking 5 people to do this meme volentary.Let me know in your comments that you are going to do this meme,and I will be over to see it when it is done.