Susquehanna Riverboat Society breaks ground at future dock site

Rick Dandes, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 18—NORTHUMBERLAND — The eight-year vision of several dedicated area residents to launch a central Susquehanna Riverboat from Pineknotter Park took a step forward with a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday morning at the future site of the dock.

"There were so many obstacles getting to this moment," said Central Susquehanna Riverboat Society Board Vice President Angela Troutman. "So many obstacles, so much red tape, so many hurdles. It just took time. We could easily have thrown in the towel, especially when we realized it would take three more years to get DCNR approval for us to be at our chosen site. There were lots of delays.

"But then, we asked the borough and almost immediately, we had their support. Now, thanks to the Degenstein grant of about $350,000, we're finally getting some money."

Troutman said everything just fell in line at once.

"It's been a whirlwind ever since," she said. "We're moving fast."

The Degenstein grant was the spark that got the group started, said Northumberland Borough Councilman Chuck Stroup.

"It was Feb. 8, 2016, when the idea came to me, a concept," said Susquehanna Valley Riverboat Society Board President Bob Lagerman. "I had a boat, and I spent a lot of time on the river. I thought this was a nice body of water. We should have a riverboat."

Lagerman ran the idea by John Shipman, who was then chair of SPARC (the Sunbury Pride and Renaissance Coalition).

"I thought it might be somewhat of an economic boost to the area, and the community," Lagerman said.

Behind the scenes, much of the time since incorporation was spent finding an existing boat — one they could afford, Lagerman said.

"We did a national search for a boat," he said. "The boat would go up the river as far as the powerlines and downstream to the dam."

Ultimately, the society worked with an architect and the Coast Guard to project the number of passengers such a boat could accommodate: 120.

"We don't want to reinvent the wheel," Lagerman said. "Heck, we'll have a nice boat, built very much like the boats in Williamsport and Harrisburg. We'll do what they do with their boats."

There are also plans for a recreation area near the dock, a ticket booth, a small building perhaps, and a walking track.

"We now have a verbal agreement with a heavy hauler to transport the complete 20-ft. wide hull here," Lagerman said. "Once the hull is here we are going to have to build the ship.

"Everything on top of the hull will be our responsibility. The diesel motors will be shipped separately. We will have to install those on-site. Everything will be pre-drilled, so that we can put the deck back on."

The target date for launch is sometime in Summer 2025.