There is a tremendous variety of true paddlewheel boats in use today. Commercial vessels Large commercial passenger vessels actually propelled by paddle wheels are still being built. I think at least three big steamboats, the Mississippi Queen , the Natchez , and the Julia Belle Swain , were built in America in the 1970's and 80's. The American Queen and an overnight steamboat built in Holland were added to the roster in the 1990's. These are generally 45 to 80 feet in length with flat bottom steel hulls.
Power is usually a diesel engine, marine transmission to belt, jack shaft, and chain final drive.
Because Coast Guard regulations for passenger vessels are complex, such a boat should not be a first project. There are still a few sternwheel towboats working in the Ohio and Kanawha River valleys. The cruising boats in the ASA fleet begin in two ways. One is the adaptation or rebuilding of an old boat, the other is construction starting with a new hull. Both cover a wide range of boats.