SAILING CRAFT AND MOTOR-PUNTS 295 



this, however, we lie within the range of possibility. In the 

 case of running aground, the wings or blades of the feathering 

 arms would have to be strong enough to push the punt. 

 This would be impracticable on soft ooze, yet we must re- 

 member that poling in such a situation would also be of no 

 avail. 



In designing a motor-punt, beam must be chosen according 

 to the description of work the punt is to be subject to. If for 

 deep water and running aground, shipped with ordinary pro- 

 peller or propellers, the punt must be long and narrow, so that 

 sufficient draught may be secured. If for shallows, and fitted 

 with dipping and feathering propellers, the punt must have 

 greater beam. The beam should in no case be more than 

 four feet. It would be well to carry out the sides aft of amid- 

 ships to obtain required displacement. Wide punts are not 

 considered good for wildfowl shooting. In our sketch we 

 strike the happy medium in the requirements of a motor-punt. 

 The dimensions of the punt in our sketch are such that it will 

 carry two men, a big gun, as well as its motor, etc. One man, 

 however, might work it better alone, as then it would not draw 

 quite so much water. In building a motor-punt a great deal 

 could be said about expense. There is no saying what expense 

 one could go to for such an article. For all common purposes 

 a motor-punt of yellow pine, and built in proportion to the 

 instructions given for building ordinary punts, would meet all 

 that is required. The only additions of note in the motor- 

 punt should be a little more strength where the engine or 

 engines are bedded, and extension boards from the after-deck 

 over the sides to cover exhaust silencers. It is wise to have 

 a sail and oars, as employed in an ordinary fowling-punt, for 

 cases of emergency, such as breakdowns, etc. 



The speed a motor-punt should be capable of is an im- 

 portant matter to those who intend becoming owners of such 

 craft. Any speed ranging up to twelve miles an' hour can be 



