196 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 3, 1884. 



THE RIG OF RIGS.— The keel yachts Sunbeam, Mr. W. L. Wellman 

 and Emily, Mr. A. McManus, are both to be be rigged as cutters, with 

 new outfit of sails from McMannus & Son. The same loft will supply 

 a complete rig to Mr. H. D. Burnhams new 115ft. schooner, building 

 by Robert Palmer's Sons at Noank. 



NEW CUTTER.- We hear that Mr. E. W. Syer, of Chicago, is hav- 

 ing a smart ten-ton cutter built on the Thames. Eugland, and will 

 import her in time for the season* She will be a great addition to 

 the Chicago fleet, and take for lake sailing, where a deep, able boat 

 is much needed. 



THE SEASON.— Attention is directed to yacht property offered 

 for sale in another column. A fine semi-cutter can be purchased at 

 a bargain, owing to departure of owner. She is a boat of three 

 beams, quite new, and has an excellent reputation for strength and 

 seaworthiness. 



NEW YORK Y. C. -Has elected Mr. Edward E. Chase, schooner 

 Olio, Vice-Commodore, in place of Mr. W. P. Douglass, resigned, 

 owing tc sickness. Also adopted protest and measures against the 

 compulsory pilotage bill now- pending before Congress. 



ILEEN.— This fine clipper cutter has returned from her Southern 

 cruise, and will receive a general overhaul for the season. A gentle- 

 man who went out in the cabin, is to have a similar cutter built at 

 once, though somewhat smaller. 



CAROU.\ T A Y. C— Officers for the year: Commodore, C. H. Glid- 

 den. sloop Wildbird; Vice-Commodore, H. M. Tueller. sloop (dirt: 

 Secretary, W. D. Porcher: Treasurer. W. W. Shackelford, Jr. ; Meas- 

 urer, W. l.awton Mikell. 



MATCH OR REGATTA.— W T e note with pleasure that our esteemed 

 but very slow contemporaries, are copying from us the introduction 

 of the term, match in place of the homely appelation regatta. Yacht 

 clubs should follow suit. 



THETIS.— The accommodations of Mr. Henry Bryant's new com- 

 promise include a cabin lift. 6in. long, starboard stateroom 18x8ft., 

 port stateroom Oxi'ft,, and captain 's room 7x8. She is to be launched 

 the latter part of April. 



MARIANA. — The Herreshoffs have launched the cruising steam 

 yacht Mariana. She is the first bona fide cruiser in America. High 

 speed has not been the only consideration, but accommodations and 

 long time steaming. 



HUDSON RIVER Y. C— Annual match fixed for June 11, over 

 regular North River course from club-house, foot of Seventy -fourth 

 street, to Youkers and return. Steamer has been chartered for the 

 spectators. 



WENONAH. — This famous flyer is to be commissioned this sea- 

 son, and will hoist fighting flag for all the battles going. 



MONTAUK.— Put into Port au Spain. Trinadad, March 25. 



istmoemg. 



KEYSTONE C. C. 



TrEYSTONE C. C, Philadelphia, Pa. Organized November. 1883. 

 JV C iptain, Woodward T. Norgrove. Signal, white kevstone on blue 

 field. 



AMATEUR CANOE BUILDING. 



Twelfth Paper. 



APRONS. 



IN rainy weather or in rough water it is necessary to cover 

 the well entirely, either by hatches or by an apron fitting 

 closely around the body. The simplest form of apron, and 

 one especially adapted to the pointed coaming, is a cover of 

 cloth, cut to the shape of the coaming and turned down on 

 the edges, to button over screw heads in the latter, near the 

 deck. It also extends aft about 6in. over the hatch or deck 

 immediately behind the back. A hole is cut for the body of 

 the canoeist, and around the edge a piece (a) 6in. wide is 



i r 



stitched, so as to be drawn around the body. This piece is 

 long enough to lap, as at (b), and button on one side. That 

 portion of the apron abaft the body is held down by a cord 

 (c) made fast to cleats or screweyes on deck, the apron not 

 being buttoned to coaming abreast of the body. 

 A beam id), to which the apron, just forward of the body, 



is nailed, keeps it arched so as to shed all water. If a for- 

 ward hatch is used, the fore end of apron may be buttoned 

 to it. In case of a capsize, the after part will pull from 

 under the cord, and the canoeist is free, the apron remain- 

 ing on the coaming. Instead of a buttonhole on the flap, a 

 loop of light twine should be used, so as to break at once, if 

 necessary. 



Another device is ihe telescopic apron devised by Mr. 

 Farnham, which consists of a wire framework covered with 

 oiled cloth. This framework is composed of several brass 

 or German silver tubes (e), one sliding in another, as in a 

 telescope, and also of carlins (/) of £-in. spring brass wire, 

 soldered or brazed, as shown, to collars (g) on the tubes. The 

 ends of these carlins are turned, as shown, to engage under 

 the beading on the outer edge of the coaming, and are also- 

 bent into loops to avoid cutting the cloth. On the after end 

 a piece of -, a tf wire (A), bent to a curve, is brazed, being also 

 braced to the after carlin. This wire should extend 2in. aft 

 of the sliding bulkhead to i. Forward of the well is a block 

 screwed to the deck, and to it the first tube is pivoted by a 

 universal joint, permitting a side, motion to the framework, 

 but holding it down forward, or it may be held by a strap, 

 as shown. When the frame is drawn into position, the ends 

 of the carlins, hooking under the beading, hold it down, and 

 the curved ends of the piece (li) hook over blocks if) on each 

 side, keeping all in position. 



The cover is of stout muslin, cut about 3in. larger each 

 way than the coaming, so as to turn down, an elastic cord 

 being run in the hem to diaw it tight. Before sewing the 

 cover to the frame, the ends of the carlins and all sharp 

 corners or edges are covered with leather, so as to avoid 

 cutting the cover. Extra strips are sewn on the lower side, 

 under the carlins. to hold down the cover. For rough water 

 an extra apron is used, being a short skirt, fitting under the 

 arms, the lower edge gathered in by an elastic cord. An 

 extra wire (k) is attached to the framework, forming a coam- 

 ing on the after end of the apron, and a wooden coaming 

 also runs across the after hatch. The lower edge of the 

 skirt is drawn over these coamings, and also over two knobs 

 (I) at the sides, the elastic holding all in place. 



The apron on a Rob Roy or small canoe is sometimes held 

 down by a strip of wood (m) on either side of the coaming, 

 to which the apron is tacked, each strip having a fiat brass 

 hook (?i) to hold it to the coaming, the forward end of apron 

 being held down by a rubber cord passing around the fore 

 end of well. 



The material for an apron should be a stout muslin, and 

 after being cut and sewed it should be stretched tightly, 

 well dampened, and coated with a mixture of turpentine one 

 part, boiled linseed oil three parts, and raw oil six parts, 

 laid on very thin, a second coat being given when the first 

 is perfectly dry. To complete the covering of the well, 

 either with hatches or aprons, a waterproof coat is neces- 

 sary, made in the form of a loose shirt, opening about 6in. 

 in front, the sleeves being gathered in at the wrists with 

 elastic. The coat is just long enough to touch the floor 

 when seated, and it should have a flounce outside, just under 

 the arms, and long enough to fasten over the coamings, or 

 hinged pieces of the side flaps, if the latter are used, the 

 coat being full enough to allow them to be opened inside of 

 it. To put on the coat it is rolled into a ring, slipped 

 quickly over the head, the arms thrust into the sleeves, after 

 which it may be adjusted at leisure. Care should be taken 

 in putting it* on, -as an upset while entangled in it would be 

 serious. 



A seat of some kind is necessary in a canoe; it should 

 be as low as possible, in order to keep the weight down, but 

 still high enough to be comfortable when paddling. In a 

 boat of llin. or more depth the crew must sit several 

 inches above the bottom to paddle comfortably, and in such 

 a boat a high seat allows the body to lean further to wind- 

 ward; but in a shoal boat all that is necessary is a small 

 cushion on the floor boards. 



The tent, clothes bag or blankets may serve as a seat, 

 though it is better that all bedding should be stowed below 

 deck and out of the reach of any moisture. Some canoes are 

 fitted with a seat of pressed wood, such as is used for chair- 

 seats, and in some cases the seat is simply a box without top 

 or bottom, about lOin. square and 3in. deep, the top being 

 covered with canvas, . or leather straps. 



A feature that is peculiar to the canoe, and that adds 

 greatly to the comfort of the canoeist, is the backboard, 

 usually a framework with two vertical strips joined by two 

 crosspieces, as shown at o, and hung from the shifting bulk- 

 head by a strap. The vertical pieces are 2|in. wide and 

 f thick,' slightly rounded on the fore side, and are placed 2£ 

 inches apart, thus supporting the back on either side of the 

 backbone, and the crosspieces are rivetted to them. 

 Sometimes a flat board, about 8xl2in., is used, either 

 with or without a cushion ; but the frame is better. For 

 paddling double, an extra beam is used across the cockpit, 

 with a backboard hung on it for the forward man, or a seat 

 is made of two pieces of board hinged together, one forming 

 the back, being supported by a brace hinged to it (p). This 

 back may be used at any point desired, being independent 

 of the well and coaming, and the angle of the back may be 

 changed at will, while it is easily folded and stowed away 

 when not in use. 



To increase the stowage room and to secure a better dispo- 

 sition of weights fore and aft, hatches are sometimes cut in 

 the deck, but to be really valuable, two points are essential 

 which have never yet been obtained; they must be quickly 

 opened and closed, and airtight when closed. As good a 

 method as anv is to make a regular coaming to the opening 

 in the deck £ "to lin. high, the hatch fitting on to this coam- 

 ing with a beading projecting down, two thumb screws 

 being used to secure it. Its water-tight qualities may be im- 

 proved by a square of rubber cloth laid over the opening 

 before putting on the hatch. This hatch is heavy and 

 clumsy in appearance compared with hatches flush with the 

 deck, but the latter always leak, and are never to be relied on. 



In some cases where it may be desirable to get at the in- 

 side of the compartments occasionally for repairs, a hatch 

 may be cut in the deck and covered with a piece of Jin. 

 mahogany decking, lin. larger each way than the openiug, 

 and fastened by brass screws as the deck is, the laps being 

 first painted. This piece will be airtight and yet can be re- 

 moved and replaced in a few minutes when repairs are 

 needed. 



For transporting the canoe on shore a yoke is necessary, and 

 may be made in several ways, the simplest form being that 

 used for the guides' boat's in the Adirondacks, a piece of 

 wood (?■) hollowed to fit over the shoulders and around the 

 neck, the boat, bottom up of course, restiug with one gun 

 wale on each end of the yoke. Another form is a box 

 (s) with no top or bottom, long enough to fit in the width of 

 the well, and having two straps (*) across one side, which 



rest on the shoulders; the coaming of the boat resting on 

 the ends of the box. 



A plan lately devised by Mr. Farnham employs a frame 

 v. a 1 ' J? ieces ' wni ch also serves in place of a sliding bulk- 

 head When used as a yoke, two straps are buckled across 

 it and support it on the shoulders, the boat being inverted 

 on it. 



PADDLES. 



The principal point of difference between a canoe and 

 other boats, is the mode of propulsion, the paddle being held 

 and supported by both hands, while in boats the oar or sctifl 

 h supported on the boat, and its motion is directed by the 

 hand. The former is the primitive mode, and even to-day 

 the craft used by savage tribes are propelled almost entirely 

 by paddles, the oar being used by civilized nations 



The shape of the paddle differs greatly in various localities, 

 but two forms only are known to modern canoeists, the 

 single blade, shown in the center of the accompanying 

 plate, and the double blade, various forms of which are 

 also shown. The former, derived from the North American 

 Indians, is about 54ft. long, with a blade oin. wide, and is 

 made of maple, beech, or spruce The upper end is fash- 

 ioned so as to fit easily in the hand, the fingers beingdoubled 

 over the top. The single paddle is used continuously on the 

 same side of the boat, and its motion, in skilled hands, is 

 noiseless. 



The double paddle, the one best known in connection with 

 modern canoes from the time of MacGregor, is derived 

 directly from the Esquimau and his kayak. The length 

 varies with the beam of the canoe, from 7 to 9ft. , the former 

 size being the one first used with the small canoes, but a 

 gradual increase in length has been going on for some years, 

 and of late many canoeists have adopted 9ft. instead of 8, as 

 formerly, for boats of 30in. beam and over. Various patterns 

 of paddles, as made by different builders, are shown in the 

 plate, half of each paddle only being given. The blades vary 

 in width from 6 to 7in., and in leugtk from 18 to 20in. 



Paddles of over 7ft. are usually cut in two and jointed, the 

 joint consisting of two brass tubes, the larger one 5]in. long 

 and from 1-,% to l-?- 6 outside diameter; the smaller one Sfih. 

 long, and fitting tightly inside the former. The short piece 

 is sometimes fitted with a small pin, fitting notches in the 

 longer piece, so that when the paddle is set, either with both 

 blades in the same plane, or if paddling against the wind, 

 the blades at right angles, no further motion is permitted in 

 the joint; but this plan is not advisable, as when the joint 

 sticks, as it often will, it is necessary to turn the parts to 

 loosen them, which of course the pin prevents. 



Tips of sheet brass or copper are put on the ends to pre- 

 serve them from injury against stones and logs in pushing 

 off. Pine or spruce are the best materials for paddles of this 

 style. To prevent the water dripping down on the hands, 

 rubber washers are used, or two round rubber bands on each 

 end, about 2in. apart, will answer the same purpose. One 

 half of the double paddle is sometimes used as a single blade, 

 an extra piece, similar to the head shown on the double blade, 

 being inserted in the ferrule; or when sailing, on« half, 

 lengthened out by a handle 18in. long, may be carried on 

 deck, ready for any emergency, the other half being stowed 

 below. The half paddle, in this case, is held with the blade 



I 



UIMJ \J 



under a cord stretched over the forward deck, the after end 

 being held by a cord looped over a cleat abreast the body. 

 For racing and light paddling, spoon blades are used, the 

 general outline being the same as the straight blades, but the 

 latter are stronger and better for cruising work. 



CANOE vs. SNEAKBOX. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



It would afford me much pleasure to enter into a friendly contest 

 with Mr. Geo. H. Wild, and at the Newburgh meet, May 30, if we are 

 favored with a breeze, I will gladly sail my canoe <15ft.x31iu.) against 

 his sneakbox, providing she is not more than 1-lft.x-lft. The race to 

 be 3 miles, over an equilateral triangle course. "Seneca," - 'Bo- 

 ium" and Mr. Wild, all seem to have lost sight of the point or this 

 canoe-sneakbox controversy. "Seneca," in Fohest and Stream, Feb. 

 14, made the assertion that -'She will live in a gale of wind that the 

 heaviest ballasted Pearl would not dare to face." It was this point 

 to which I took exceptions in the Feb. 28 number. Nevertheless, as 

 I have said above, I am ready to sail a race against the sneakbox, 

 providing she is not a sloop. Chas. A. Ni'tms. 



ScHirxxKRViLLE, N. Y., March gg, 



THE CHART LOCKER, 



VI. WINNIPESEOGEE AND MERRIMAC RIVERS. 



WH. N. asks how much water is likely to be found in these 

 . rivers by the middle of June, and whether there are any dams 

 or rapids. 



