276 



Popular Science Monthly 



conveyed into the compression chamber 

 through the medium of the spark plug; 

 the water pump which forces the water 

 through the water jacket and prevents the 

 cylinder from overheating; the magneto, 

 upon which the engine depends for its 

 electrical energy while it is running, and 

 the timer, or distributor, by means of 

 which the spark occurs in the proper cylin- 

 der at the proper time, advancing the spark 

 and increasing the speed of the engine. 

 The lubricating 

 system is also of 

 vital importance 

 and should al- 

 ways be kept 

 in first class 

 condition. 



In connection 

 with the power 

 plant we may 

 also mention the 

 reverse gear 

 which allows us 

 to start the en- 

 gine without 

 causing the boat 

 to move in 

 either direction 

 and which al- 

 lows us to drive 



the boat ahead or astern as we desire. 

 The gasoline tank is also very important 

 to the successful operation of a gasoline 

 engine. The tank should preferably have 

 a capacity of fifteen gallons, the actual 

 size depending upon the amount of room 

 which may be given to it, as well as on 

 the cruising radius which it is desirable to 

 maintain. On small boats these tanks are 

 often flat and are situated under the 

 forward deck, while on the larger craft 

 they are cylindrical and are situated under 

 the deck or amidships on each side where 



■mjAFT STUFFING^ 5TERN\ SHAFT L0(MnSIDE STUFF-t 



POST DEADW0OD5 ING BOX 



EEL50N BULKHEAD V BILGE 

 KEEL STRINGER 



they will be out of the way and where 

 scuppers may be arranged to expel any 

 leakage which may occur. Thi? will pre- 

 vent the gasoline from getting into the 

 bilge of the boat where the fumes may 

 become ignited and cause serious damage. 

 These tanks should preferably be made of 

 copper and should be sweated and riveted 

 together, although many of them are made 

 of galvanized iron and merely soldered 

 with a standing seam. The pipe from the 

 tank to the car- 

 buretor should 

 be of lead, cop- 

 per or block tin, 

 and be coiled 

 sufficiently to 

 prevent the vi- 

 bration of the 

 vessel from 

 breaking the 

 pipe at its con- 

 necting ends. It 

 is also good 

 practice to in- 

 stall a strainer 

 in the pipeline 

 to prevent for- 

 eign matter 

 from entering 

 the carburetor 

 and clogging the needle valve. The proper 

 location of the engine is generally decided 

 by the type of boat in which it is to be 

 used. For instance, in the "day cruiser" 

 the engine is placed well forward so that 

 the operator may sit in the bow of the 

 boat and not only steer the craft, but 

 handle the engine also, while in most of 

 the other types of cruisers the engine is 

 placed pretty nearly amidships so that the 

 reverse gear lever is in the after cockpit 

 where the operator usually stands when 

 maneuvering the craft. One point should 

 always be borne in mind, however, 

 when installing the power plant, 

 and that is to have the boat balance 

 pretty well without a crew. To 

 accomplish this result it is generally 

 advisable to place the engine a little 

 aft so that its weight will be an aid 

 in keeping the propeller under 

 water. 



The reverse gear is gener- 

 ally connected up, as shown 

 in the illustration of the en- 

 gine installation, the halves of 

 This is a fair type of stern called the rounded transom. each coupling being secured 



It is expensive to make but has a very neat appearance together by means of about 



The names and locations of the various parts of a mo- 

 tor-boat should be memorized by the amateur boatman 



