Popular Science Monthly 



445 



wide. By enlarging the body as regards 

 length and width, from three to four 

 passengers could be carried, provided 

 the body was strengthened accordingly, 

 the occupants sitting in the same man- 

 ner as they would on a double runner 

 sled. This requires a few inches addi- 

 tional width to the body. 



Fig. 2 shows a different motor and 

 seating arrangement from that sub- 

 mitted in Fig. 1. On the machine in 



Fig. 1. Side view of small 



racer, showing steering gear 



and brake action 



Fig. 2 the motor is placed in front, driv- 

 ing the propeller, through a long shaft, at 

 the rear. This shaft runs between the 

 passengers along the middle of the 

 vehicle, as can be seen from the top 

 view plan in Fig. 2. Note that the shaft 

 is enclosed where it passes through the 

 cockpit. From this sketch it is apparent 

 that sociable seating is employed. This 

 requires a wider body which tends also 

 to cut down the speed, but at the same 

 time allows of several passengers being 

 carried, and the use of more power. 



The body construction is practically 

 the same in either machine illustrated in 

 this article, but, of course, due allowance 

 should always be made for the weight 

 carried. A one or two passanger ma- 

 chine may be constructed so as to weigh 

 little over 100 pounds complete, but in 

 all cases it is advisable to build a light 

 frame to lay the planks on, although in 

 the case of a small machine it is per- 

 fectly possible to obtain sufficient 

 strength from a body constructed of 

 four boards of the proper shape fastened 

 edge to QcXgQ, in which case the side 

 boards should be fairly thick, or else 

 have their edges re-enforced with mould- 

 ing inside. 



As has already been stated when 

 tandem seating is utilized the motor 

 should be situated at the rear, in which 

 case the aerial jiropeller can be directly 

 connected to the crank shaft of the 



motor, thus constituting the complete 

 power transmission. 



The runners for both of the models 

 described in this article are constructed 

 in the usual manner of wood, shod with 

 steel or iron edges, these being formed 

 of square rods set in the wood edgewise 

 so as to present a sharp running edge 

 to the ice. They are held in this posi- 

 tion by their extremities, which are 

 flattened and secured to the wooden 

 runners. 



Both machines can be made with 

 only three runners, one in front by 

 which the boat is steered, and two at the 

 rear. The size of these rimners de- 

 pends to some extent upon the load to 

 be carried, but for ordinary use runners 

 from twelve to eighteen inches long 

 should prove entirely satisfactory. When 

 it is the intention of the builder to carry 

 many passengers, the spread of the rear 

 runners should be widened considerably, 

 or else the machine should be fitted with 

 four runners. 



The steering of the motor ice-craft 

 here described is accomplished by means 

 of two beveled gears and shafts as illus- 

 trated. This fixture can be rigged up 

 by using the gear mechanism found on 

 an old ice cream freezer. This changes 

 the plane of rotation as desired and 



Fig. 2. Top view of another form of racer, 

 in which the motor is in front, and the 

 propellor at the rear. This form of ma- 

 chine holds two passengers 



saves the cost of a regular steering 

 mechanism. In case the former device 

 is emjiloyed, a large steering wheel 

 should be provided, as the ratio of the 

 gears utilized is rather high. 



Braking the speed of the aero ice-boat 

 is accomplished by means of the lever 

 drag brake shown in the drawing. The 

 com])lete brake is constructed of two 

 ])ieces of iron or soft steel riveted to- 

 gether and forged to the shape illus- 

 trated. The brake is held in the proper 

 position when not in use by means of a 



