St Johns Rivership Company, LLC

433 N Palmetto Ave., Sanford, FL 32771
321-44">The Barbara-Lee
The Rivership Barbara-Lee is an authentic sternwheel paddleboat. The steel hull is propelled by two paddlewheels at the rear of the vessel. The wheels can turn forward or backward independently of each other, allowing the ship to maneuver easily in very tight quarters.
The 105-foot ship was built in 1986 and was extensively refurbished prior to entering service in Sanford. The ornate wrought iron railings and wooden wheels recall the elegance of the steamers that once plied the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and Sanford.
The Barbara-Lee is well set-up and you can charter part or all of the ship for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, business meetings and special events.
The ship has five decks: An open-air top deck, a covered open-air "paddlewheel deck" overlooking the wheels, an enclosed upper deck that seats 60 diners with its own dance floor, a mezzanine deck that seats 40 and the large main salon deck that seats 84 with its stage, dance floor and bar. The enclosed dining areas are climate controlled with air conditioning and heating.
In addition to the open upper deck with benches and railings, the covered paddlewheel deck at the rear of the second level allows guests to stay out of the sun while getting an unobstructed view of the river and its wildlife.