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The Spirit of Dubuque
The SPIRIT of Dubuque, an authentic dual paddle wheeler, was designed by Robert Kehl with the help of the New Orleans marine engineering firm of Ross Kramer, Inc. Construction began on the vessel on July 1, 1976 by the Morgan City based Scully Brothers Company. It was the first paddle wheeler the Brothers had made; their specialty was tug boat construction. The SPIRIT was designed to be powered by two Detroit diesel 6-71 engines (200 horsepower apiece) and to carry 377 passengers, with a minimum of four crew members, for the total capacity of 381. The 93-by-28-foot boat draws three feet of water and features an enclosed, air-conditioned dining deck and an open upper deck for sightseeing.
In 2004, the SPIRIT experienced some very important mechanical renovations. She was completely re-powered with the addition of new foundations for the paddle wheels along with the installation of new John Deere engines and a new hydraulic drive. This new boost reduced the weight of the stern, making the vessel much quieter and more efficient.
The Miss Dubuque
The Miss Dubuque is a sleek world-class motor yacht and is proud to call the Port of Dubuque her home. Owners Walt and Nancy Webster purchased the vessel in the fall of 2001 and renamed her the “Miss Dubuque.”
“We were looking for a boat to fill the smaller charter and wedding market, and this one fills all our needs,” Nancy Webster said.
The Miss Dubuque was constructed by Skipperliner in LaCrosse, WI, for Mike Rivers of Winona, MN in 1994 and was named Winona Island Princess. Construction of the vessel took about 6 months. The yacht is 80 ft. long and 20 ft. wide at the beam. She was the first vessel to have a bow thruster and first to have the larger 210 HP 3116 Caterpillar engines. Electricity is provided by a 87 HP Cummins 4b mated to a 40 kw, 240 volt, single phase generator. Total capacity is 150 Passengers and a minimum crew of 3, consisting of a Captain, Senior Deck Hand and a Deck Hand. The hull was designed by Tim Graul of TGMD, Naval Architects of Sturgeon Bay, WI and the Deck areas were designed by Skipperliner.
The Miss Dubuque adds another dimension to Dubuque’s tourism mix. The World Class design of the Island Girl VII series gives this sleek and sophiscated vessel a different atmosphere than the traditional paddlewheeler.
The lovely glass enclosed, lower deck can accommodate 64 for a seated dinner. The Admiral’s Cabin on the upper deck can seat 24 very comfortably. In addition, the upper deck patio is the perfect place for those who want to get some fresh air or look at the stars on moonlit night. For a cocktail cruise the Miss Dubuque can carry up to 110 passengers. The boat is climate controlled during its cruising season for passenger’s optimum comfort.
All catering for the Miss Dubuque’s delicious meals is prepared fresh daily by the culinary staff of Dubuque River Rides for all cruises and special occasions. A variety of menus abound, and the staff always has wonderful new ideas to make events and occasions anything but ordinary.
Elegance is everything aboard the Miss Dubuque. Guests are awestruck at the beautiful views while dining during wedding events, small private parties, corporate and corporate charters. As well as wedding on water (WOW), small private parties, corporate events, the Miss Dubuque also hosts a murder mystery cruise that allows guests to play part in dinner/theater production that leaves everyone wondering “Who Done It?”