SPOTTING BOATS MD CANOES. 



BOATS FOR SPORTING USES. 



There are so many different services required of boats, and so 

 many different kinds of boats made to meet those requirements, 

 that the purchaser should be able to determine just what he wants 

 a boat for, before he proceeds to buy, and then endeavor to ob- 

 tain as nearly as possible what kind of a boat he requires. It is 

 unwise to be in a hurry when purchasing. The first thing to find 

 out about a boat is her age. Five years is about as old as is de- 

 sirable under ordinary circumstances, as boats, as they are built 

 now-a-days, begin to get old when they pass this age. However,' 

 if a boat is ver^- strongly built and has been well used, she may be 

 some years older before showing signs of decay. But it is not 

 best to buy a very old boat, as the repairs will cost almost as much 

 as it would to build a new one. The timbers should be examined 

 closely and the planks all sounded and the condition of the buts 

 carefully noted. The planks near the garboard should be particu- 

 larly observed, as there will be a leak there if they are not pretty 

 sound, which cannot be stopped without putting in new planks. 

 If the boat has a centre-board the case should be examined round 

 the bottom, as it is a great place for leaks. 



The kind of fastening used is also an important item to look 

 to. Copper is undoubtedly the best, as there is no rust from it. 

 The great objection to it is the high price. Builders seem to favor 

 galvanized iron, as it is much cheaper than copper and does not 

 rust to any extent. But a boat fastened with common iron is 

 to be avoided, as the rust eats right into the wood. A boat 

 painted white cannot be kept looking decent after she is a few 

 years old if fastened in this way. 



Lapstreaks are not near so good as smooth seamed boats. 



