118 



Popular Science Monthly 



A bridge deck cruiser having two compartments is not considered a fair type of boat for large or 

 rough waters but is adapted for protected waters, such as a lake, river or bay and for fair weather 



planking with a sharp-pointed knife. If 

 the timber is sound, it will be difficult to 

 make the point enter the wood, but if it is 

 inclined to "dry rot," the blade of the knife 

 will sink into the plank, meeting practically 

 no resistance. While this inclination to- 

 wards rot does not necessarily condemn the 

 boat, it does necessitate new planking or 

 timber, and this expense must be figured 

 when making an offer for the craft. There 

 is an old idea held by many boatmen that 

 the most vulnerable part of the hull is that 

 which lies between "wind and water." 

 This, however, is not the case. Dry rot 

 is caused in most cases by steam. For 

 that reason the bilge of the boat is most 

 likely to be the part affected, as there 

 is always more or less water lying in the 

 bilge and the hot sun 

 often causes it to steam. 

 The ribs should also 

 be carefully examined. 

 If they are spliced out 

 or doubled it is a pretty 

 sure indication that the 

 boat is either getting 

 pretty old or has at 

 some time run ashore 



Deck plan of the sturdy trunk 

 cabin cruiser shown below 



and been wrecked. As a general rule, a 

 hull that has been re-ribbed or stiffened 

 should either be inspected by an experi- 

 enced boat-builder or be rejected entirely, 

 for fear of its opening up badly in a 

 pounding sea. 



Authorities differ as to the most desirable 

 power plant; but it is the model of the hull 

 rather than the power used to drive it that 

 develops the speed. For instance, the 

 short, beamy, heavy fishing boats used on 

 the Columbia River are equipped with an 

 eight horsepower, single cylinder engine 

 which drives them along at a speed of about 

 six miles an hour. Several years ago the 

 writer endeavored to speed up one of these 

 boats by installing a twenty horsepower en- 

 gine. This resulted in an increased speed of 

 about one mile an hour, 

 and the boat was prac- 

 tically wrecked from 

 the excessive vibration 

 and her sea-worthiness 

 decreased to a large ex- 

 tent by the excessive 

 weight. This same idea 

 holds good in practically 

 any class of craft. 



