March 12, 188S j 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



136 



strive to create all the lateral resistance possible, and bear in mind 

 that water on the surface is easily displaced, while that at a depth 

 more nearly resembles a solid. 



Tlir bold in vessels litted with (his invention is not cut up, as with 

 the sliding keel arrangement, and for vessels of small dimensions 

 would doubtless be found very advantageous. 



P. A. Scott, Captain R. N. 



[Captain Scott's idea is similar to that embodied in the Goodrich 

 boar a, patented in the United States, aud described iu the Forest 

 and Stream of April 19, 1888. These boards have beeu tried, but have 

 never come Into general use.j 



SMALL STEAM LAUNCHES. 



ALTHOUGH the steam launch ha9 become a prime necessity to all 

 who are dependent on transit by water, the sporlsuiau, flsher- 

 mau, yachtsman, tourist, and other pleasure seekers, as well as to 

 many whose business is on the water, it is still far from perfection, 

 and capable of much improvement. In the larger sizes excellent 

 boats can be bad, but there are many places where a small boat of 

 good build, that could be had for a reasonable price, is greatly in 

 demand, Usually the builder of a steam launch is either a boat 

 builder who buys an engine and boiler for his boat or conversely an 

 engine builder who buys the boat for the engine, in either case the 

 chances being that boat aud engine arounsuited to each other. To 

 meet the demands for a small, well-constructed boat, Mr. E. E. Rob- 

 erts, well known as an engineer and steam yacht builder, has deter- 

 mined to build a special boat, as mentioned in the following letter, 

 and desires suggesl ions from yachtsmen and others as to the details. 

 Mr. Roberts is a practical engineer, with a large experience in build- 

 ing and running steam yachts, and he will no doubt turn out a boat 

 in which hull, engine and boiler are fitted to each other. Many of 

 our readers have had experience with similar boats, and can give 

 valuable suggestions as to details of model, dimensions, build, engine, 

 etc., Which may aid Mr. Roberts in producing a desirable boat, and 

 wo shall be glad to receive and publish their ideas. The size pro- 

 posed would probably be as convenient as any for the majority of 

 purposes, hunling, fishing, carrying supplies to camp, and also as a 

 convenient adjunct to water-side villas. As a tender for small yachts 

 a smaller size, 16ft. long or under, would be very desirable, as it could 

 be used as a rowboat, the change being quickly made; while in a 

 calm it would tow the yacht, though of course but slowly, and enable 

 one to come to moorings or to get somewhere. We hope to hear 

 more on the subject, and to publish shortly tne plans or boat and 

 engine. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



As a result of my advertisement in your paper. I have received 

 numerous inquiries for very small steam launches, which I have not 

 as yet built. I have some thoughts, iu consequence, of getting up 

 a boat of light but strong construction and light draft, about 21ft. 

 long over all by 5%tt. beam, and say 30in. depth of hold. In this 

 boat I propose to put about a two-horse (actual) reversing engine and 

 one of my sectional safety boilers, both on one base-plate, so that 

 they can be lifted out of the boat easily as a complete machine; the 

 shaft and wheel to be arranged so as to be readily disconnected, and, 

 by removing the rudder, drawn entirely out of the boat for transpor- 

 tation: the boiler to be arranged so as to burn kerosene oil. or, by an 

 almost instantaneous change, converted into a coal or wood burner, 

 so that for use as a shooting boat dead branches of trees or similar 

 fuel could be used to generate steam. Steam could be raised in this 

 boiler in about ten minutes from cold water, and the engine would be 

 arranged so as to exhaust either into the stack or overboard under 

 water to prevent noise in shooting. 



I would, of course, make a special advertisement of this boat if I 

 was already building it; but it would be well, before getting up ex- 

 pensive patterns and moulds for both machinerv and boat, to 

 consult the public through your paper and get their ideas iu regard to 

 the various uses to which such a boat could be put both for fishing, 

 shooting and transportation. 



The boat could probably be sold complete for about $100 if made in 

 quantities. The bjiler is approved by the United States Steamboat 

 Inspection, so that it could be used in navigable waters. 



Would you kindly place this matter before your readers and en- 

 deavor to draw out their opinions, in regard to points of construction, 

 comfort, draft, etc.? E. E. Roberts. 



New York, Feb. 26, 1885. 



THE YACHT RACING ASSOCIATION. 



AT a meeting on Feb. 4, in London, the Council of the Y. R. A. 

 adopted unanimously the scheme proposed at the previous 

 meeting for classifying yachts according to the areas of their main- 

 sails, into racers, ex-racers, and cruisers. These classes would be 

 known as A, B and C respectively, and would be allowed to race to- 

 gether under a certain allowance from one class to another. In class 

 A tbere would be no limit to size of mainsail, but the limits for classes 

 B and C. with sizes of existing mainsails, are given in the table. 



The report of the committee was as follows: 



The practical difference between a cruising and a racing yacht, or 

 an ex-racing yacht whose spars have not been reduced, is that either 

 of the latter has a much larger sail spread than the cruiser. The 

 difference is so considerable that neither the tonnage rule nor the sail 

 area X length rating will bring the three classes together with the 

 ordinary time allowance. Beyond this the practice of having races 

 for "bona fide cruisers" has always existed, but has not been very 

 general, owing to the want of a practical rule for distinguishing the 

 cruiser from the racer. The proposal here made is that, as there is 

 such a considerable difference in the sail spread of the two elasses 

 of yachts, the sail spread can be made the basis of classification. 

 The relative efficiency of cutters', yawls', and schooners' sails is 

 governed by the mainsail, and this sail will therefore properly 

 afford the principal basis for classification. In the tables which 

 follow a maximum limit of mainsail has been assigned to yachts 

 of the cruiser and ex-racer classes; actual examples of each 

 class, including the racer, being also given. It was found that the 

 mainsails of yachts varied pretty regularly as the 1-8 roots of their 

 Y. R. A. tonnage, and that, therefore, a standard mainsail of a 

 cruiser being chosen, the mainsail for any other could be found from 

 the formula— 



Mainsail 1 ' 8 r Tonnage xConstant. 



The maximum area of mainsail for the B classs, ex-racer, and C 

 class, cruiser, in the tables has been calculated from this formula. 

 The constants used in calculating the tables were as folllows: 



Schooners „ B Class 172 C Class 150 



Yawls B Class 200 C Class 175 



Cutters B Class 235 C Class 205 



As in progiess of time there would be, should the classification be 

 adopted, attempts to gain an advantage by an increased area of top- 

 sail and decreased area of mainsail, the council propose that the area 

 of topsail should not exceed -4 of the area of mainsail for cutters and 

 yawls, and "3 for schooners. 



The council think it undesirable to prohibit the use of jackyards, 

 seeing that, area for area, a topsail which has a jackyard according 

 to the prevailing fashion, would have a mueh shorter upper yard, and 

 there would be probably, on the whole, less weight for the crew to 

 hoist. 



In the case of schooners, their foresails should not exceed -6 of the 

 area of mainsail. 



The council do not consider it desirable to recommend that the A, 

 B, and C classes should be grouped together in one match; but. if 

 sailing committees desire to o group them, a suitable allowance 

 would be for yachts in A class to be rated at four times their tefnnage, 

 and yachts in B class at twice their tonnage. 

 SCHOONERS. 





$ 





I j 







simum Ai 

 Mainsail 

 Cruisers. 

 C class. 





4al 





<i £ 



Actual Area of 



B'S%'£ 



Actual Area of 



&o 



Mainsail of exist- 



11*3 



Mainsail of existing Ex- 



^ 



ing Cruisers. 





Racers and Racers. 





OO 3 





aoh 







B * 





a £ 











R. 





R. 



14 



619 



Avoset. . 650 



5S 



745 





16 



1456 



Pandora 1053 



m 



1670 





107 



2010 



Nina ...1916 



58 



2306 





121 



2157 







2473 



Miranda 307a .40 



139 



2328 







2670 



Fiona 2800! .45 



142 



2355 







2700 



Egeria 3033 .45 



148 



2410 



f crnme *-f;-0 



47 



2762 



Waterwitch 2868 



47 



154 



2463 



Medora.2348 



.52 



2824 







m 



2688 







3082 



Gweudolin .3426 



47 



184 



2730 







3130 



Oefonia 3300 



50 



191 



2782 

 3513 







3190 



4028 



Aline. .3150 



50 



290 



Guinevere 4080 



50 



312 



3645 







4180 



Eltnina 4200 



53 



331 



3756 



Lyra.... 3520 



.50 



4306 







362 



3912 







4520 



Boadicea 5214 



.44 



The decimal fractions in the "R" column show the ratio of foresail 

 to mainsail. 

 The racing mainsails of Egeria and Gweudolin are given, and not 



the sailstbey have cruised with. The mainsails of Boadicea and El- 

 minaare those they were originally supplied with. Boadicea's has 

 been much reduced. 



Class C. 



Maximum 



Area of 



Mainsail for 



Cruisers. 



Actual Area of 

 Mainsail of exist- 

 ing Cruisers. 



33 



29 

 32 



40 

 41 

 44 

 40 

 49 

 51 

 54 

 56 

 57 

 74 

 78 

 136 



132 



155 



1186 

 1314 

 1283 



1360 

 1379 

 1433 

 1168 

 1521 

 1556 

 1605 

 1636 

 1652 

 1911 

 1967 

 £578 



2613 



2884 



Coven tin a.. . 



Thistle 1040 



Fteur-de-Lys 1186 



Vega 1225 



Stephanotis.,1244 

 Thalia 1357 



Irene. 1447 



Milly 1643 



Satellite 1387 



Pearl 84.87! 



Class B, 

 Maximum 



Area of 

 Mainsail for 

 Ex Racers. 



1140 



1298 

 1466 

 1466 



1514 



1576 

 1638 

 1678 

 1738 

 1778 

 1834 

 1870 

 1888 

 2240 

 2310 

 2946 



3020 



3396 



Actual Area of 

 Mainsail of exist- 

 ing Ex-Racers 

 and Racers. 



Britannia.... 1370 

 Christine ..1540 

 Silver Star ..1070 



Latona 1414 



Hypatia 1619 



Neptune 1778 



Opal 1658 



Arethusa 1705 



Raven 1885 



Nixie 2057 



Gudrun 2167 



Florinda 2750 



(as she was in 



1878, and 2925 as 



she was 1881). 



Jullanar 2944 



14 



888 



19 



1053 



20 



1076 



33 



1169 



24 



1197 



25 



1224 



30 



1357 



37 



1525 



39 



1570 



40 



1593 



«I4 



1679 



47 



1740 



51 



1823 



68 



2138 



88 



2408 



95 



2575 



Minnie 3S6 



Vril 500 



Kismet 622 



Spinaway.... 763 



Ildegonda.... 801 

 Magnolia ... 997 



Chough 986 



Alpha Beta.. 1120 

 jEnanthe ....1158 



Nora 1221 



Water witch.. 1838 

 Dandelion.... 1350 



Wraith 1587 



Terpsichore..l498 



Psyche 1777 



Beluga 1727 



Bianca. 1906 



576 



797 



1018 

 1305 



1234 



1340 

 1372 



1405 



1556 



1748 

 1800 

 1826 

 1925 

 1995 

 2089 

 2451 

 2829 

 2952 

 3017 



Mascotte 521 



Chittywee... 550 

 Currytush... 530 



Lorelei 550 



Olga 687 



Delvin 605 



Little Nell... 771 

 Florence ... 860 



Lily 740 



^mrang 870 



latie 1120 



Ulerin 1040 



Marguerite.. 997 

 Sarabond..,.1090 



Vanessa 1149 



Euterpe 1380 



Freda 1450 



Quickstep.... 117! 



Niobe 17 



Annasona....2104 



Tara 3375 



Dolphin 1819 



Marjorie.. ..2928 



Samsena 3300 



Kremhilda .A849 

 Aitow 2853 



The Council also recommend a limit to size of topsail in Classes 

 B and to .4 the area of the mainsail, jack yards being allowed. It 

 also recommended an alteration in the Y. R. A. time scale, decreasing 

 the allowance between yachts over 40 tons, and increasing it in the 

 smaller classes. The annual general meeting of the Y. R. A. was 

 held on Feb. 25, at which tbe following proposals were adopted: 



1. That the sail area rule be continued in the. Appendix as hereto- 

 fore. 



2. That the words in italics be omitted from the following sentence 

 in Section 2 of the Appendix: "Schooners and yawls shall not be 

 allowed to enter in classes of 40 ions and under at the reduced ton- 

 nage." 



3. That the words in italics be inserted in the following sentence 

 in Rule 1: "No member of the Sailing Committee or Council shall 

 take part in the discussion or decision upon anv disputed question in 

 which he is directly interested." 



4. That in Rule 14, before tne commencement of the second sen- 

 tence, the words which follow be inserted: "The following shall 

 applv to all yachts." 



5. That a scheme for the classification of yachts by area of main- 

 sail and topsail be adopted, and to be termed the A. B and C classes, 

 but that there shall be no restriction in the sails of the A class. 



6. That the Time Scale be altered so as to decrease the allowance 

 somewhat between large yachts, and increase the allowance between 

 small yachts. 



The condition of yacht racing in England has long been a subject 

 of complaint by those whose boats are outclassed, or who do not care 

 to spend much money on racing crews and sails, and many efforts 

 have been made by them to secure a change of the measurement rule: 

 but vested interests have been too powerful, and the rule practically 

 is the same to-day as it was years ago, as it encourages the same 

 type. The length and saill area rule was adopted a short time since 

 as an alternative rule, but has not yet come into general use. The 

 present rule is intended to provide races in which the cruisers and ex- 

 racers can enter on fair terms with the racers, thus increasing the 

 interest in the sport. It will give a show to the moderately rigged 

 boat, it is true, but it will not change the principle that maintains in 

 all sports, that money wins prizes, that lead keels, new and perfect 

 canvas, large and well-drilled crews, will still be ahead of cruising rig 

 and gear, iron ballast and small crews. Many will be able to enter 

 under this classification who could not do so before, and some will no 

 doubt take prizes; but tbese, in the main, will go to the most perfect 

 boat, which will in most cases be the one on which the most money is 

 spent. The tables given will show the sails carried on many boats 

 whose names are familiar to our yachtsmen. 



CARMFiLITA.-The Carnielita, after lying at auchor for several 

 days last week off Tompkinsville, got underway on Sunday, March 9, 

 at 10 A. M., and left with a fresh northerly wind. It is expected she 

 will make the voyage in 105 to 120 days. Captain Snow was accom- 

 panied by several New York pilots on the trip from New York to 

 Staten Island. Although Carmeltta is a four-beam boat the pilots 

 pronounced her too stiff, and in accordance with their views Captain 

 Snow sent up her foretopmast and raised some of the ballast up to 

 the floor, besides stowing some in the lockers. The pilots say that 

 the Carmelita can go to any part of the world, and will carry any 

 sail that can be put on her. 



PENTUCKET Y, C— The old Haverhill Y. C. has disbanded and a 

 new one has been formed under the name of the Pentueket Y. C, com- 

 posed partly of the old club. The club now has 11 keel yachts, 4 cut- 

 ters and 10 ceuterboards, with two cutters 34ft. long now building. 

 They also have a snug and comfortable club house. The officers are: 

 Commodore, Chas. W. Gline; Vice-Commodore, Louis Willett; Fleet 

 Captain, Frank Quimby; Secretary and Treasurer, John Goodell (Box 

 41, Bradford, Mass.) ; Measurer, John Goodell; Board of Trustees— Jas. 

 A. Dreuer, C. H. Stacy, John Goodell; Regatta Committe— N. G. 

 Knowles, John A. Crossin, Frank F. Drew. 



A NEW SLOOP.— Mr. Desmond, of Hoboken, is now building a 

 centerboard sloop for a memoer of the New Jersey Y. C. Her length 

 on deck is 25ft. 8in., waterliue 23ft. 4in., beam lift,, draft 3ft. 10in„ 

 with board 9ft. lOin. The mast is 27ft. deck to hounds, masthead 3ft., 

 mainboom 30ft., gaff 17ft. 6in., topmast 10ft,. bowsprit 19ft. Her 

 frame is of oak and hackmatack, with cedar plank and white pine 

 deck. Her cockpit is finished in yellow pine with rail and companion 

 of mahogany. There will be four berths in the cabin, which will be 

 finished in hard wood in Queen Anne style. Her iron keel will weigh 

 1,800 lbs., and her inside ballast 3,7001bs. 



HUDSON RIVER CORINTHIAN ICE Y. C— Hyde Park, N. Y., 

 March 10.— Editor Forest and Stream: I write to inform you of the 

 formation of the above ice yacht club. Commodore, Jas *A. Roose- 

 velt; Vice-Commodore, Dr. J. C. Barron; Treasurer, Archibald 

 Rogers; Secretary. E, P. Rogers. Twenty-five members were elected 

 at first meeting. Challenges have been issued to the Poughkeepsie 

 Ice Y. C. for the Ice Yacht Challenge Pennant of America and the 

 Poughkeepsie Challenge Pennant.— E. P. Rogers. 

 IIDEATH OF A NEW YORK YACHTSMAN.— Mr. James Scott, an 

 old member of the N. Y. Y. C, died on Saturday last of pneumonia. 



LAUGHLIN'S ADJUSTABLE STEERER.— The steering gear illus- 

 trated, is a new pattern lately made by Thos. Laughlin & Son, of 

 Portland, Me. It is adjustable, so as not to be affected by the motion 

 of the rudder, and the gears are strong and well proportioned. It is 



easily fitted to any boat, requiring no delicate adjustment. This gear 

 is made iu two sizes, one with wheel 21 or 23in. to fit a rudder head of 

 lj^j to 3in. ; and one with 25in. wheel for rudder head of 4 to 6in. The 

 shafts are brass-covered, and the entire gear is well made. 



Y'ACHTING NOTES.— Mr. Frank Towle's centerboard sloop Polly 

 was launched on Saturday. She was built by Wallin & Gorman, and 

 will sail under the Larchmont Y. C. flag. . . Thetis has bad Bin, added 

 to her forefoot. Wilson & Gurney will make her a new suit of racing 

 sails. They are also busy on canvas for the Addie E. and Wood 



Bros' new cutter, and also a new boat by Bibber, for Mr. Tyler 



Namouna leaves this week for Charleston. S. C, where Lorn. Bennett 

 will join her for a cruise in the West Indies, on which Vice Commo- 

 dore Douglas and Rear-Commodore Lawrence, witn their families, 

 will accompany him. Com. Bennett will probably visit the Mediter- 

 ranean in June, returning in good tit^e for the August races The 



Wanderer, Mr. G. W. Weld, is off for a cruise in the West Indies 



The Mohegan, Mr. H. D. Burnham, was at Havana when last heard 

 from, and intended to leave on Feb. 28 for New Orleans. She left 

 Boston on Jan. 5, and arrived at Bermuda on Jan. 11, experiencing a 

 severe gale in which she lost jibboom. On the 15th she left for St. 



Kitts, arriving on the 20th, and leaving on the 23d Last season the 



Yonkers Y. O., on their cruise up tne Hudson, were handsomely 

 entertained by the Albany Y. C, and in return they have lately pre- 

 sented to the latter a handsome challenge cup of oxidized silver^ lined 

 with gold, 14in. high. The pedestal is of silver and gold, resting on 

 the backs of four turtles. The cup, proper, is surmounted by a rud- 

 der, rope and anchor. On the front is engraved "Champion Cup of 

 the Upper Hudson." On the back, "Presented to the Albany Y. C. 



by the Yonkers Y. C The signal of the Harlem Y. C. has lately 



been changed to pointed burgee, blue ground with white stripes. 



A HANDY STOVE, -The owner of a small singlehander has lately 

 devised a very convenient little stove for a yacht. Two alcohol lamps 

 (flnintne force) are placed in a box of galvanized iron, which isl8in. 

 long, 9in. wide, and 7in. deep. The top of the box is hinged to" lift 

 up, aud one side is hinged to open downward. Just above the burn- 

 ers of the lamps a wire grating is placed on which the can and kettles 

 rest. By closing either top, side, or ,both, the heat is confined, and 

 cooking may be done very quickly. By using alcohol the smelt and 

 dirt inseparable from kerosene are avoided. 



PRESERVING CANVAS.— We have inquiries constantly from all 

 quarters for some method of preserving canvas from mildew, and 

 have published various receipts for the purpose. A new preparation 

 has lately been brought to our, notice by Mr. Chresten Nelson, <*,f 

 Gloucester, Mass.. who has patented it. This preparation is intended 

 to be used on sails and cordage, as well as on all cloth or canvas 

 fabrics exposed to the weather, and it is claimed that it will protect 

 them perfectly from mildew and decay. 



NEW BEDFORD Y. C— Officers for 1885: Commodore, Francis 

 Hathaway; Vice-Commodore, John C. Rhodes; Rear Commodore, 

 George W. Parker; Secretary, John H. Barrows; Treasurer, E. Stan- 

 ley Willis; Directors— Edward S. Brown, VVillard Nye, Jr., David L. 

 Parker, Horace Wood, Frank E. Sawin, Arthur E. Perrv, George M. 

 Crapo, Richard H. Morgan, Richard S. Taber, Gilbert D. Kingman 

 and William R. Sherman. 



"OLSEN'S."— We learn from Mr. Olsen that he is receiving more 

 information from yacht owners than in any previous year. "Olsen 's" 

 is now recognized by American yachtsmen as a permanent institu- 

 tion, and they also understand the importance of making it as accur- 

 ate as possible. The hst for 1885 will appear in May, and details of 

 yachts should be sent in at once. 



HILMA.— Mr. John Driscoll, of Greenpoint. is now building a very 

 handsome little sloop for Mr. E. J. Hazzard of New York. Sho will be 

 22ft. over all, 18ft. on svaterliue, 8ft. beam, and 1ft. draft, with board 

 down she will draw 3ft. Her ballast will be iron, 8001bs. being cast to 

 fit floors. The fittings will be of mahogany, and she will carry four 

 airtanks of galvanized iron. The design is by Mr. A. Cary Smith . 



GANNET.— This little yacht has proved faster since changed from 

 yawl to sloop rig. This year her centerboard trunk will be removed 

 and an iron shoe 1ft, deep and weighing 2,3001bs. will be added below 

 her present iron keel. She will still hail from Larchmont, and will 

 be used chiefly for cruising on the Sound. 



JERSEY CITY Y. C— The officers elected for 1885 are: Commo 

 dore, H. C. Roome: Vice-Commodore, F. C. B. Aucher; Treasurer, 

 Geo. Hawes; Secretary, P. W. Figueira; Measurer, Geo. L. Winn. 



ROWING AND SAILING BOAT.— We advertise this week a fine 

 little boat for pleasure rowing and sailing. She is lightly built and 

 handsomely finished like a canoe, with cat rig and oars. 



';%twemg. 



FIXTURES. 



March 17— K. C. C. Camp-fire, 106 West Forty -secoad street, 8 P. M. 



March 24— Toledo C. C. Camp fire. Subject, "Cruising and Camping." 



March 31— K. C. C. Camp fire, 106 West Forty-second street, 8 P. M. 



April 7— Toledo C. C. Camp-fire, "Racing and Rules." 



May 30, 31— Hudson River Meet. 



July 18, 28— Western Meet, Ballast Island, Lake Erie. 



July 24 to Aug. 8— A. C. A. Meet, Grindstone Island. 



THE OAKLAND MOSQUITO FLEET. 



Editor Forest and Stream; 



As you have built up tne canoeing columns of the Forest and 

 Stream, so that now we look to it as the organ of the fraternity, I 

 thought it might interest you to receive an account of our little fleet 

 here, and perhaps publish it, to the end that an impetus might be 

 given to the sport on this coast. The "Mosquito Fleet'' here had its 

 origin about a year ago. The first boats were the canoes Midge, Capt. 

 Moody, and Zephyr. W. W. Blow, with the Nellie. 12ft. yawl, Mr. 

 Yale, and the Ripple, a similar boat, Mr. Evans. From this small 



