Thursday 27 October 2016

FREEBOARD - 11 FT.

It was stated at the Inquiry that Yongala departed Flat-Top with a clear side of 10 ft.. This is freeboard and in terms of a steamer with a depth of hull of 30.5 ft. gives us an average draft of 20.5 ft. final voyage which did not correlate with the same Inquiry's claim of 19.75 ft..

To further complicate matters:


The West Australian, Tuesday 13 June, 1911.

He (Henry Adamson, superintending engineer, 
Adelaide Steamship Co) estimated that at the 
time of the disaster the Yongala had a freeboard 
of 11ft. to the weather deck.

If we use this expert assessment it gives us an average draught of around 19.5 ft. which was more in keeping with the official draft figures.

A steamer the size of Yongala should generally have had a freeboard of 8.75 ft.. The actual freeboard of 11 ft. difference 2.25 ft. does suggest a tender steamer.



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