The paddlesteamer remained moored at Howlong’s Memorial Park for most of the day before heading off on the next leg to Corowa about 4.45pm.

It was almost 24 hours after the Cumberoona was eased under the John Conway Bourke bridge on the Murray River.

The longer than expected delay allowed the paddlesteamer crew to re-attach the wheelhouse and stack, which had to be removed to squeeze the boat under the bridge the previous day.

The Cumberoona is expected to pass under the John Foord Bridge at Corowa this morning before continuing onto Yarrawonga.

It will stop in Corowa to load another two tonnes of wood to feed the original steam engine.

Mr Hutchinson was called onto captain the Cumberoona as new owners Fraser and Robbie Knowles are still in the process of obtaining their licences to operate the paddlesteamer.

Mr Hutchinson is one of Echuca’s most experienced paddlesteamer operators.

The NSW Maritime pilot boat is expected to stay with the Cumberoona until it reaches Lake Mulwala.

Father Wayne Knowles said last night the crew still hoped to reach Yarrawonga late today.

The Cumberoona left Albury early on Tuesday morning.

Once the paddleastemer reaches Yarrawonga, the Knowles brothers intend to moor the boat near the rowing club on the south side of Lake Mulwala where the water level will allow repair work and testing.

The repair job also has to take into account the recent decision by the Murray Darling Basin Authority to lower Lake Mulwala between late autumn and mid-winter to undertake structural works and manage the aquatic weed, Egeria densa.

Lake users, including boat operators, have been put on notice about adjusting their activities for changed water levels.

MDBA river management chief David Dreverman said the lake drawn-down would start in late April and the lake would be refilled to its normal operating range by late July.