Practical Motor-Boating 



A series of three articles on the selection, 

 operation, care and upkeep of a motor-boat 



I. — Selection of a Boat 

 By George M. Petersen 



Photos by Edwin Levick 



No doubt the best type of motor-boat for large bodies of water is the raised deck 

 cruiser, which can be navigated through almost any storm with little or no danger 



MOTOR-BOATING, as commonly 

 thought of by the amateur boat- 

 man, consists mainly of trying to 

 drive any kind of hull through all kinds of 

 water, at any speed possible, by means of a 

 mass of cast iron in the shape of a propeller 

 in the stern of the boat. The old sailors 

 are inclined to think of the motor-boat as 

 the "dude's friend," which requires no 

 knowledge of seamanship. While motor- 

 boating is considerably easier to master 

 than is the art of sailing a craft through all 

 conditions of wind and water, there is, 

 nevertheless, a knack to be acquired and 

 mechanical knowledge to be obtained con- 

 cerning it. 



In this series of articles we will deal, first, 

 with the classification of boat models for 

 various waters, selection of the boat, and 

 most desirable type of engine. The most 

 important point is the selection of the type 

 of hull best suited to the requirements of 

 the waters on which it will be used. 

 For instance, a glass 

 cabin cruiser, while 

 affording a large 

 amount of head room 

 and permitting an 

 unobstructed view 

 from within, is not to 

 be considered as even 

 a fair type of boat 

 for large or rough 

 bodies of water ; but 

 it is a desirable type 

 of boat for rivers 



THREE CYLINDER fJ&INE 



Arrangement of crankshafts required for 

 different types of engines for motor-boats 



116 



and quiet bays or other protected waters. 

 The best type of motor-boat for large 

 bodies of water like the Great Lakes is 

 undoubtedly the "raised deck" cruiser, 

 which may be successfully navigated 

 through almost any storm with little or no 

 danger. This type of boat is generally 

 built from twenty-six to thirty-five feet in 

 length; the 27-foot model provides com- 

 fortable cruising accommodations for two 

 or three persons. When equipped with a 

 ten- or twelve - horsepower engine it is 

 capable of a cruising speed of from eight to 

 ten miles an hour. 



Authorities differ greatly as to the most 

 desirable type of boat for general use, but 

 practically all experienced boatmen agree 

 that some type of cruiser is the most 

 satisfactory. 



The long and narrow speed craft which 

 delights the eye as it dashes past the Club 

 House on a quiet day, is of absolutely no 

 value for either cruising or long day runs 

 on unprotected 

 waters, as the exces- 

 sive speed causes 

 them to be extremely 

 cranky and hard to 

 handle in a seaway, 

 and a quick turn is 

 liable to cause them 

 to capsize. How- 

 ever, for pleasure 

 and safety the boat 

 making from seven 

 to twelve miles per 



JJ> 



FOUR CYLINDER TWO aaE ENGINE 



fOUR CYLINDER, FOUR CYCLE ENGINE 



