CHAPTER XIII 
GUNNING-PUNT CONSTRUCTION 
ORDINARY boat-builders know little about the construction of 
gunning-punts. With the exception of a few specialists in the 
small boat-building line who have studied and carried out the 
building of gunning-punts, there are no professional boat- 
builders able to construct such craft. It is, therefore, very 
desirable that the punt-gunner should learn the various details 
necessary for the construction of his punt, unless he is sufficiently 
wealthy to submit his requirements to a specialist in the busi- 
ness, who will probably demand a high price for his skill. 
Equally important is it to have the punt made as safe as 
the gun, for in the failure of either the result might be serious. 
Gunning-punts must be reasonably light and especially strong, 
requirements usually disregarded by ordinary boat-builders. 
Boat-builders who are desired to construct a gunning-punt are 
too much inclined to ignore their instructors (the wildfowlers), 
on the ground that they are being taught their trade, and. 
cause dissatisfaction by proceeding on their own lines. Unless 
a boat-builder can be persuaded to carry out the instructions of 
his customer, it is better to engage a good joiner who will pay 
attention to what is required. 
The most suitable wood for gunning-punts is yellow pine. 
This material can be got in suitable planks at a varying cost, 
according to lengths and widths. The cost of yellow pine 
boards to build a large double punt, will be greater than that 
for a single punt in the proportion of so much per square foot, 
264 
