Cart boat

Cart boats are river barges powered by paddle-wheels, one on each side. The name derives from their visual similarity to a two-wheeled cart.
The two wheels are connected by a shared axle through the center of the boat. A series of spokes are embedded along the axle, providing leverage for the crew to turn it. Depending on the period, these might be powered by hired, slave, or convict labor.
Cart boats are prevalent in the valley of the Great Father, particularly to connect Kanflu and the cities of the Fetr'andt Delta. They are mostly used to transport cargo as a small crew can move a massive amount of goods over a long distance. Due to their flat bottoms, they are not well suited to travel on the open ocean.

Use in war

In war, they can be used as troop transports but tend to struggle against more mobile sailing and oared ships when it comes to actual combat. They excel for logistics purposes but generally need some form of protection.
Some clever admirals have used a group of cart boats statically to block off a waterway, be that a river or harbor entrance. By anchoring them in a single or double line, they create a platform where troops can fight as if on land. Their large size makes them difficult to move or destroy by an attacker.

Maintenance

The paddle wheel, axle, and turning spokes are a complex and fragile mechanism. Most boats will have a trained carpenter as a member of the crew to fix the inevitable breakages. Most large towns along the river also have carpenters skilled in the maintenance and repair of cart boats. Despite these costs, cart boats remain the most common way of moving bulk goods for long distances since they are more efficient than other modes of propulsion for largest barges.

Complement / Crew

20

Cargo & Passenger Capacity

150 tons