Why paddle wheels were easier to repair afloat

Why were paddle wheelers considered easier to maintain?

Their machinery was accessible, and crews could rotate damaged paddle sections out of the water for repair without dry-docking.

Much of a paddle wheel and its drive equipment remained accessible above the waterline. A crew could rotate the wheel until the damaged float stood clear of the water. The machinery could then be stopped and worked on from the ship. Meaningful propeller access, by contrast, generally required dry-docking, making paddle repair especially valuable far from a naval base.