What effect did Eads' experiences with steamboats have on his later work?

Eads' experiences with steamboats significantly contributed to his development of relevant skills that he later applied in his engineering projects. Working with steamboats provided Eads with practical knowledge in areas such as navigation, hydrodynamics, and the mechanics of watercraft. This hands-on experience allowed him to understand the challenges of transportation on rivers, which influenced his approaches to designing structures like the Eads Bridge. His familiarity with the operational aspects of steamboats equipped him with a unique perspective on ensuring that his engineering solutions were efficient and navigable, demonstrating the practical application of his prior experiences in his later engineering success.