FO WLING-P UNTS. 449 



also causes a punt so built to be hard to turn on 

 soft mud or sand when a quick change of direction, 

 perhaps only a few inches, may be of the utmost 

 importance to obtain a shot. Another thing, a floor 

 on this fashion sucks the ground terribly, as, by 

 reason of its manner of build, no kammel or round 

 can be given the punt athwart-ship, and without 

 which she can never be properly buoyant at any 

 time, or easy to move in very shallow water or on 

 the ooze. If you want a large punt for a heavy 

 gun, her floor may be three-quarters of an inch 

 thick. There is then ample substance for rabbet- 

 ing, which latter, if well done, will obviate leakage 

 and require but little filling between the seams. But 

 a slightly open seam, to take moderate and light 

 filling, is always a good thing. On no account 

 will tonguing the floor-planks answer. With the 

 springing of the bottom the thin projecting strip 

 is sure to split off. Though the stem and stern of 

 a punt need be very strong, let them, however, be 

 no heavier than necessary. Yet by these blocks, 

 remember, all the recoil is taken and general 

 strength ensured. 



I have seen many duck-punts fitted with an 

 upright stem and stern. This is not only a clumsy 

 but a bad plan. The life and buoyancy of such a 

 craft depends greatly upon the flare of the sides. 

 With upright ends this flare cannot be run within 

 three feet or so of the extremities. In a sloping 

 stem and stern the flare can be led evenly fore and 

 aft the whole length. There is then no sudden 

 twist in the side-planks as they draw near the ends, 

 as there is, and must be, in the other plan, when 



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