Northwest Steam Society to return on August 7

In 2011 the Northwest Steam Society came here for their first annual steam meet at Cathlamet. The Society has an annual steam meet each year that moves up and down the I-5 corridor to be somewhat close to members' home towns each year. This year it is back at the south end of the circuit again where the members had such a great time in 2011. The boats will start arriving Friday August 7 and most will be leaving by Sunday afternoon, August 9.

At the last meet they brought 16 steam boats and an old fashioned steam donkey, which got a lot of old timers reminiscing. While it won't be with us this year, there will be more steamboats, 23 are registered to attend.

The oldest boat in the fleet is Uno. She started out with a mast and oars on Lopez Island in 1894. Through the years she lost the mast and centerboard and picked up a steam engine and boiler. She is well maintained by her skipper, a tug captain from days gone by. One of the new boats that will be here in Cathlamet will be the Catalyst. While a bit newer, she still has the style of days gone by. Her owner built the twin cylinder engine that moves her around.

Another boat returning is the Vital Spark – strange name for a boat that has no spark plug.

The various boats and engines vary in length from 15 to 40 feet, some single cylinder some double, some simple and some compound. (If you don't know what those terms mean, come on down to the docks and find out.)

Those that were here at the 2011 steam meet may well remember the Cheng Tze, a tall stern wheel paddle boat with twin engines having a 3.5 inch bores and 18 inch strokes pushing a six foot diameter paddle wheel. She is coming again. She has been a most popular boat at the various meets.

Another returning boat is the Rose, with a very classic "yachty" looking mahagony hull.

The largest boat is a 1937 steel hulled tugboat that is being refurbished in St Helens. She is the only boat that will be steaming to the meet. All the rest will be coming on trailers.

The only scheduled event will be the boat parade. Last time they went up Birnie Slough and came back down the Cathlamet channel. After a boat recon trip the decision has been made to go up Birnie Slough to the Hwy 409 bridge and then return downstream and back across to Elochoman Marina. Tentatively the parade will be on Saturday morning around 9:00 a.m., to have favorable tide for the shallower parts of the slough.

The rest of the time will be spent just steaming, a favorite thing for the steamers. All with an interest in steam are invited to come to the docks, chat with boat owners, take pictures and, space available when boats leave the dock, catch a ride.