Elenco Paddleboat - Manual (Page 9)

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In the 19th Century paddle steamers were driven by steam engines that also employed
one or more paddle wheels. The wheels were large and fitted with paddle blades called
floats or buckets upon the outer edge. Rotation of the paddle wheel produced thrust
to move the boat forward or backward as required. The lower quarter of the wheel
operates under water and the upper section was normally enclosed in a paddle box to
minimize splashing.
Later Use of Paddle Boats
Types of Paddle Steamers
19th Century Steam Boat
There are two basic ways to mount paddle wheels on a ship. One is as a single wheel
on the rear of a boat, known as a stern-wheeler. The other mount has a paddle wheel
on each side of the hull and is known as a side-wheeler.
Stern-wheelers had generally been used as riverboats, while side-wheelers were
sometimes used as riverboats, but also as coastal craft. While wider than a stern-
wheeler, due to the extra width of the paddle wheels and their enclosing sponsons,
side-wheelers have extra maneuverability.