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, 



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