BOATS AND BOATING. 



251 



whilst on the latter it is only the last wave which breaks. 

 From the want of shelter upon all open shores, it is never safe 

 to keep a boat at anchor at night, for the sea gets up so rapidly, 

 should the wind set in from seaward, as frequently to prevent 

 putting off to fetch it from its moorings ; it therefore follows 

 that your boat should be of a moderate size, that it may be 

 launched and hauled up with facility. There should be but 

 little keel and a flattlsh bottom amidships, for with this form 

 she will float off more quickly in launching, and in landing will 

 not strain as a boat with a sharp bottom, which in anything like 

 a swell on the shore would be almost certain to force out the 

 plank next the keel, called by shipwrights the ' garboard strake.' 

 (See figs. 77 and 78). 



FIG. 77. 

 Midship Section of Beach Boat. 



FIG. 78. 

 Midship Section of Harbour Boat. 



Fig. 77 is the section of a beach boat intended to represent 

 the form best adapted to a flat sandy beach ; but where it con- 

 sists of shingle, or of sand and shingle mixed, the beach will be 

 found to be much -more inclined, which will admit of the bottom 

 of the boat being somewhat sharper, and of a shape between 

 the sections of the beach and harbour boats in the illustrations. 



The most useful sized boat for an amateur fisherman for 

 beach boating and fishing is one of the length of thirteen feet 

 six inches, and four feet ten or five feet in breadth, clench or 

 clinker built (the planks overlapping each other), with ribs or 

 timbers of oak or American elm, and the plank young English 

 elm, of course fastened with copper-nails, every one of which 

 should be riveted to ensure security. 



The breadth of beam is certainly very considerable for so 

 small a boat, but is necessary to ensure stability under sail, 

 which in a boat of light draught of water cannot be obtained 



