Paddle Wheel Turtle Boat - by Hal Kelly. Its paddle wheels are propelled by hand cranks, and it's as safe a kids boat as you'll ever find for ponds and streams. There's a summer of fun ahead for young skippers who step aboard this exciting paddle wheel boat. Propulsion is by hand cranks and the rudderless craft is steered by its me paddle wheels. To turn around, one crank is turned forward and the other backwards.