Makoh 19, 1885 J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



188 



preparations for -rtv-iuic; . Two TmragFias nan rakeu pus 

 the Minnie, but after some ealllns and '■ 

 e jumped out and sent the little fellow back witli it Wo 

 At out, but it was more exciting, as we wore oontinualtj rac- 



and made preparations for starling- Two youngsters had fcajieti pos 

 session of i" 

 largest one 

 had to beat __. 



ing. At first the Flirt took the lead, but after while was passed 1 . 

 theClytie, who kept, it till a. strong breeze enabled the 'Dot to past 

 her. The sail down the liver Mas the best one yettakeu on the cruise. 

 The natives all along the shore stood looktaR at us and willed their 

 families out to jom in their astonishment. About noon it commenced 

 to blow so hard that we deemed it advisable to laud for a she,-. 

 Where we landed there was a pond spaced off from the river that the 

 owner keeps full of bass which he catches with a seine. At the time 

 we stopped there were 700 in the pond. It is very interesting to see 

 them fed. as tboy seem to know what time to look for their meals. 

 Wnen they are scarce and the price high the dealer sells them. 



A, paddle home terminated the first cruise of the StOttniogtOB 0. 0., 

 but next season we shall take a longer one. 



Wit,! .Palmist?, Jr., Clytife. 



SINGLE vs. DOUBLE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In jour issue of Feb. 19, "Single Blade' 1 says: "Your correspondent 

 'Boreas 1 claims that the double blade has" proved superiei 

 single blade for speed, which I deny, as the races of too Association 

 do not prove it." In 1880, at the first meet, the user of a single blade 

 distanced all the others. The event referred to in the last sentence 

 was a coutest for a prize canoe offered by the writer. The contesr- 

 ants were, with one exception, gentlemen out for a vacation. 

 None of them were engaged in any business that gives wind and 

 muscle strength to the back and arms, so necessary to the victor in a 

 paddling race. All were novices in the use of rhe paddle. Hie single 

 exception, the winner of the race, while no less a gentleman— in what, 

 wo in America consider makes a gentleman, good behavior— was, 

 nevertheless, au expert in the use of the single blade, a. veteran baok- 

 woodsmau who could have used the language of a certain Adirondack 

 guide, who said he would as soon paddle all night as sleep in the 

 shanty, lie had the further advantage of paddling a light, open canoe 

 left. •fiu.xSOin. (I think), wbile the others used a decked canoe 14s3fl 

 and upward. Thus it will be seen that the double blades were hope- 

 lessly handicapped. The gentleman who won came to the meet on 

 purpose to win. To win the prize represented just so much cash, as 

 is proved by his selling it within on hour. 



In other 'eases, where the single blade has won, the double blade 

 has heen handicapped in like manner, though perhaps to a less 

 marked degree. At a subsequent meet at Lake George, I remember 

 a tandem race between single and double blades, each side selecting 

 their two best men, and both using open Canadian canoes as near 

 alike as possible. The double blades won. "Single Blade" may think 

 I am prejudiced, but I am not: I grew up with a single blade in my 

 hand, and might almost say I never heard of a double blade uutil 

 within the last ten years. 



For hunting purposes the double blade is useless. I\ r o one would 

 ever think of using one for "floating;" and that word brings to mind 

 many a night when I have drifted over the dark waters of [ake or 

 stream so noiselessly that one could easily imagine his C raft pro- 

 pelled by invisible "hands. For hunting you must, u-e the single 

 blade, and that only. B.^t seat yourself in the middle of a modern 

 decked canoe, and for either comfort or speed you must take the 

 double- blade. 



To give an opportunity to put it on record that 1 am right or 

 wrong in this assertion, t offer, subject to the approval and under 

 the directions of the Regatta Committee — one or One dozen, as they 

 may see fit to accept— of my best double-bladed paddles, to be eon- 

 tested for by double vs. single blades, under such conditions as shall 

 satisfy every one of the superiority of one or the other for racing 

 purposes. I would suggest several races ion days of the meet tt ben 

 there are no others), tor all kinds of canoes, but classed or handi- 

 capped to make them equal, and an extra priza to the winner of the 

 most races. J. H. B. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



"Single Blade"' has not read my former communication about pad- 

 dles, or he would not mention the 1880 meet as any proof of the super- 

 iority of the single for speed. The winner of the three races in 1880 

 was Wallace, of Cobourg, admittedly the best paddler in Canada, He 

 had a racing canoe, long, narrow and very light. His opponents were 

 in very much slower canoes and none of them pretended to be able 

 paddlers. 



In 1881, Wallace— who had in the meantime become a professional 

 — could not be present, but other single paddlers were. Dr. Heigh- 

 way, using a double paddle in an ordinary 14ft. Bob Boy, won all his 

 races quite as easily as Wallace won his. I think we may conclude 

 that '81 fully balances '80. 



In 1882, only one single blade— Mr. Emerson— entered for regular 

 paddling races during the whole meet. In the first race— Junior:— be 

 was beaten by Johnson, but won on a technicality, Johnson being ad- 

 judged a senior. Emerson's canoe was, as the rules then permitted, 

 longer and faster than any of his opponents' craft. In the senior 

 race he was easily beaten by Vaux, Monroe, Johnson and others. An 

 extra race for two men in a canoe was won by two double paddles 

 against two singles. 



In '83 Johnston, using a 1(5x31 canoe, was first in Class 3, but was 

 disqualified for touching the buoy. The winner, and all the other 

 entries bad smaller aud faster canoes. In Class 4 Johnson, using the 

 same craft, beat I. M. Adams and others. In Class 1 he was not al- 

 lowed to start, his canoe being adjudged too narrow. In the tandem 

 race Blade and Fitzgerald beat Johnson and Kerr, wbo had never 

 paddled together until a few minutes before the race. 



In '84 there were three races in which Johnson, Weller and Adams 

 met. "Single Blade" says, practically, that: Johnson's canoe was faster 

 than theirs. The official record contradicts this. Johnson's canoe 

 being 10x28 against their 16X26, and 1(3X27. The first race was one 

 mile, and Jobnson won by ten seconds. The next race was the three 

 miles and he again won by more than a minute from Welter, and 

 two minutes and twenty seconds from Adams. In the Class 1 race 

 Johnson used bis 78x25 canoe, but I suppose no one will question bis 

 ability to have won the race without it. Having already won at one 

 mile and three miles, he would have won at one and a halt miles just 

 as easily. 



I again state that with equal canoes and equal men. the man using 

 the double will produce the greatest speed. If "Single Blade" still 

 doubts, I must refer him to Mr. W oiler who will be considered good 

 authority. 



A single blade is good for cruising in a canoe suited to it, but it 

 would be out. of place on a regular decked canoe. 



The writer bandied a single blade for years before he saw a. double, 

 so he does not write from one side of the question, Boreas. 



A CHANCE FOR THE TORONTO C. C— A meeting was lately 

 called in Toronto for the purpose of forming a club of boat sailers, 

 there being at present no club which recognizes such craft as small 

 sailing boats and skiffs. A club was organized and the following offi- 

 cers elected: Commodore, Dr. B, L. Riotdan; Vice-Commodore Eve- 

 lyn Macrae; Captain, F. N. W. Brown; Secretary and Treasurer, H. 

 S.Hall; and a committee consisting of J. Kilgour, J. T. C. Boyd, 

 Percy Bath, N. Macrae, J. D. Thorbtirn and F. W. Greene. Toronto 

 has already well established and prosperous yacht and canoe clubs. 

 but neither offered the proper facilities to the boat sailors. While 

 boats are not recognized by the A. C. A., and are not admitted to the 

 races, there are many cases where it is advisable for canoe clubs to 

 open their ranks to the owners of craft not strictly canoes. P. 

 creasing love of cruising has of late brought in many who wish a 

 larger boat than the ordinary canoe, and who are animated by the 

 same ideas as canoeists, except as to model of boat, and it really 

 seems best that they should find a place in the canoe clubs. The 

 Brooklyn C. C. have accepted this view and invite membership from 

 boating men, with the result, in all probability, of many valuable. 

 members, and a similar movement would benefit the Toronto 0, 0. 

 Of course, the club is distinctively a canoe club, and the race; 

 mainly for canoes; but the addition of sailing boats to the fleet 

 will bring in many new men, and the canoe of to-day need not be 

 ashamed to appear side by side with any other small craft, sneakbox. 

 skiff or sailboat. They are certain, when better known, to commend 

 themselves to many who formerly preferred a rowing or sailing boat. 

 The decadence of shell rowing, and also of the open sandbag boats, 

 has left many persons of aquatic tastes without suitable craft, and 

 canoeists can eventually draw many recruits from this number when 

 they become familiar with the craft, and are freed from the preju- 

 dices which have long prevailed against canoes. 



CANOE PILOTAGE.— Mr. Wilkin's idea is a good one, and should 

 be carried out by all meaus. It would be a great help to the. cruising 

 canoeist to have an idea, if only a vague one, of the distances on the 

 route of his cruise. It is also important to have some knowledge of 

 the camping places, as one. might camp in a wretched place, when 

 by going on for a half mile or so, find as good a spot as eanbe rieshv.d 

 or vice versa. The a the knowledge of the location of dams, rapid-Si 

 portages, places where the provisions can be replenished, spots to be 

 visited or to be avoided, whether the dams and rapids can be run and 

 if so, how, if not, the best way to portage around, and many other 

 things too numerous to mention, which fall to the lot of the cruising 

 canoeist to encounter. The only objection to the plan is that the inflate 

 laziness of some men won't permit tflem to keep a log of this kind. 

 If this objection can be overcome or the nilot idea be carried out iu 

 spite of it, there is no reason why the system suggested should not 

 he of the greatest use,— Fhtoay (March 8, 1886). 



LAKE M1STASS1N1.— An expedition is now organizing in Quebec 

 for the exploration of Lake Mista.fsini, the great inland sea of North- 

 ern Canada, discovered two hundred years ago by the French Jesu- 

 its, bur, never explored. It is situated about 300 miles from. St, 

 John, on the Saguenav River, and 000 miles from Quebec. The ex- 

 pedition will be under' the direction of Lieut, F, II. Bignell, English 

 Corresponding Secretary Geographical Society, who has lately re- 

 turned from a visit to the. lake, ft will leave Quebec on June 10, go- 

 ing by steamer up the Saguenay, then by land, eighty miles, to Fake 

 St. John, thence , by the Cbamouehouan and Nikon ban rivers, and 

 Perch, Narrow Ridge. AVhitifisb. Abitagamou and C hi bagamou Lakes, 

 to Abatagov . ■- >.. '.: .-m -sini. Returning, the route will be by 

 Way of Little Mistassmi Lake. Rupert River. Lake Themiseame and 

 a chain of small lakes i<> the (Ripsaw and Peribonea rivers and Lake 

 St, John The trip ift expected to occupy eighty to ninety days. 

 The cost of the trip to each member will be $500, the organizers pro- 

 riding Indian guides, canoes aud attendants, as well as provisions. 

 l.ieuf. Bitnu U's address is Quebec, and the New York agents ate 

 Messrs. Wilson & Lang, nil Wall street, 



T-IARTFOBD O. 0.- The H, ('. C. have closed the contract, for a One 

 uew house to be ready April 1, It will be built on the east, side of the 

 er where a lot has been leased for ten years, and wdl be (itbdiOft. 

 The piazza on the west or wafer side will be 70ft. long. The house 

 stands 80ft. above high water, and the float will be reached by a rail- 

 way. A boom arranged near the float will protect the larger boats 

 which must be kept afloat. Booms are provided for a janitor, who 

 will attend to the house and boats, and also ferry the members across 

 the 1'ivcr. The club has a Heel: of fine canoes, and a number of new 

 ones will he added this season. The building committee are Messrs. 

 ParmolO, .Tones. Gre-n, Hood win and Abbott. The H, C. C. will join 

 the Springfield men in a cruise on May 30. 



CHICAGO.- The Chicago C. C, now only a year old, numbers 

 nearly 50 members. They arc in a prosperous condition, and expect 

 soon to build a now club house with meeting room, dressinga.nd read- 

 ing rooms, and ample room for the boats. The club now owns nearly 

 36 Cannes, and several new ones have been ordered. A two weeks' 

 cruise of the club is proposed for next July on the "Eagle Waters," 

 a chain of lakes, iu Northern Wisconsin. The officers of the club are: 

 Commodore, G. M. Mrnger; Vice-Commodore, H. B. Cook; Secretary 

 and Treasurer, J, H. Wore. Commodore Munger is now cruising in 

 Central America. 



VESPER BOAT CIJJB. The Vesper Boat Club held its tenth an- 

 nual meeting on March !). electing the followiug officers: President, 

 Paul Butler; Vice-Presidents, 1 tarry A. Brown and Fred P. Marble: 

 Treasurer, Ralph F. Brazer: Secretary, Andrew G. Swapp; Directors, 

 Frank W. Howe, Charles P. Nichols and R. F. Hemcnway. The club 

 is in a very satisfactory condition, with a line clubhouse. Though 

 widely known throughout New England as a rowing club, many of 

 the members are enthusiastic canoeists, and the club will take a lead- 

 jiig part m the New England meet in June, 



RONDCCT.— The Koudeiit ('. C. now owns five iceboats, and much 

 interest is taken in the sport. In a blow lately two collided, one cap- 

 sizing, while the other, the Kitten, broke her back bone. The club 

 propose to start on Thursday or Friday preceding (he Newburgh 

 meet, and cruise clown to the' camp a distance of 36 miles. Canoeists 

 from other points will join them and the cruise promises to be a very 

 pleasant one. 



CONNECTICUT RIVER MEET.— The Springfield and Hartford 

 canoe clubs will join in a meet on Decoration Day, the former leaving 

 Springfield on May 30, camping with the H. C. C. at the. mouth of the 

 Seianfie River; cruising down on the 30th and camping at Middletown, 

 and malting Saybrook Point on the 31st. About two dozen canoes 

 will take part in the cruise. The S. C. C. has lately been incorporated. 



NEW ENGLAND MEET.— The Vesper B.C., .of Lowell, have de- 

 cided to undertake the arrangements for a meet in June, the exact 

 ic.ving yet been decided on. The meet last year, although an 

 experiment, was a complete success, aud it is proposed to have one 

 on a larger scale this year, aud to have canoeists fromall the Eastern 

 States. 



WTfiE FOR STEERING GEAR.— A correspondent writes us that he 

 has used phosphor bronze wire cord for steering gear, and finds it 

 very si rong and pliable, and not easily corroded. It is made of vari- 

 .ins si/es. from 1-lHiu. up. 



DUBUQUE.— Tbe canoeists of this city expect to organize a club 

 soon and join the A. C. A. 



fttchting. 



April 

 May 

 May 

 May 

 May 

 May 

 May 

 June 

 June 

 June 

 June 

 June 

 June 

 June 

 July 

 July 

 July 

 July 

 July 

 July 



July 

 July 

 July 



July 

 July 



Aug. 

 Aug. 

 Aug. 

 Aug. 

 Aug. 

 Aug. 

 Sept. 



Sept. 



Sept. 



Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 



FIXTURES. 



2— Mosquito Fleet, City Point. 

 85— N.J. Y. G. Match— Catamarans. 

 30— South Boston Y. C, Regatta, City Point. 

 30— Knickerbocker Y. C, Regatta. 

 80— Newark Y. O, Regatta. 



30— Dorchester Y. O, Club Bace, Dorchester Bay. 

 30— Fall River Y. C, Open Regatta. 

 ll— New York Y. O. Regatta. 

 13— Boston Y r . C, First Club Race. 

 15— S. C. Y. C, Annual Regatta. 

 17— Pentucket Y. C. 

 17— Dorchester Y r . O, Open Regatta. 

 20 -Boston Y. C, Second Club Race. 

 20-Hull Y. C. Pennant Matches. 



4-11— Pen tucket Y. C, Annual Cruise. 



8— Beverly Y. O, Nahant, First Championship Regatta. 

 11-Hull Y. C, Cruise. 

 16— Boston Y. C. Third Club Race. 

 16— Cleveland Y. R. A., Annual Regatta. 

 17— Cleveland Y. B. A., Cruise to Ballast Island. 

 16rSS- Camp at Ballast Island. 

 IS- Hull Y. O, Club Race. 

 25— Hull Y. O, Ladies' Day. 

 .25— Pentucket Y. C. Club Race. 

 •1.5— Beverlv Y.C., Marblchead, Second Championship Regatta, 



1— Hull Y. C, Club Race. 



5— Pentucket Y. C, Cnampionship Race. 



8— Beverly Y. C, Marblehead, Open Regatta. 

 16— Hull Y. O, Open Race 

 ■15- Pentucket Y. O, Club Race. 

 SO— Beverly Y. O. Swampscott. Third Championship Regatta. 



5— Hull Y. C, Champion Race. 



fi -Beverlv V. C, Nahant, Fall Regatta. 

 19— HullY. C, Champion Race. 

 19— -Boston Y. C. Fourth Club Race. 

 19— Pentucket Y. O, Union Regatta. 

 38 -Pentucket Y. O, Championship Regatta. 



THE NEW SLOOP. 



VSTIIILE models are still pouring in and amateur yacht designers 

 V V are springing up every day, but few of the rumors concerning 

 new sloops have been verified. No contract has yet been awarded 

 for the. Ellsworth model, and it is not definitely known that she will be 

 built. An order for an 80ft. sloop has just been given by some mem- 

 bers of the Eastern Y. C, to Burgess Bros., who will furnish the de- 

 sign. The vessel will be built by Lawley & Son, but no work on her 

 has vat been clone. The only actual steps taken to provide a com- 

 petitor is in New York, where the contract has been signed for 

 an iron sloop to be built for Com. Bennett and vice-Corn. Douglas. 

 The builders. Messrs. Harlan & Holliugsworth, of Wilmington, 

 Delaware, who built the Mischief in 1879, have agreed to complete the 

 hull, ready for spars and rigging, in sixty days, and are already at 

 ■work. When launched she will be towed at once to New Y'ork, where 

 sails, spars and gear will be waiting for her, so that it is expected 

 that no delay will be necessary in fitting out. If this programme is 

 strictly carried out she should be ready for a trial trip by June 1, and 

 should take part in the June races. The dimensions of this yacht are 

 as given before in the Fokrsi and Stream, 91ft. on deck, 85ft. water- 

 ing 32fl 5in. beam. 7ft. t'iu. draft, with 3ft. Bin, freeboard. 



The club have taken the matter iu hand in a manner that will 

 insure the completion in good season of a fitting representative, and 

 allow a thorough trial before the date of the Cup rates. 



YAWLS IN BOSTON. 



THE big yawl Whitocap has made the "picturesque rig" familiar 

 in Eastern waters, and it has found favor with the owners of 

 other yachts, old and new. The. latest accession to the list of yawls 

 is the Vauitas, known for some years as a very fast boat in her class 

 of small schooners. She-was built by Lawlor in 1873, and has been 

 remarkably successful as a prize winner. This year her owner, Mr. 

 Hutchinson, will abandon the schooner rig in favor of the yawl, and 

 as she has been tried for so long alongside of well-known boats, an 

 excellent opportunity will be given to compare the relative speed of 

 yawl and schooner, It is not to he expected that as a yawl she will 

 win from similar boats with a sloop rig, but she should show greater 

 speed and ability to windward than she formerly possessed. Her 

 new mast will be 39ft. long, hoist 82ft., boom 23ft., gaff 30ft., rnizzen 

 hoist 15ft., boom 12tt,, yard 10ft. The jib will be 14ft. on foot and 

 25ft. on leach; staysail 13ft. on foot and 35ft. on leach. The dimen- 



sions of Vauitas are Length on deek 31ft., on waterline 27ft, Gin., 

 beam 12ft. Sin., draft 5ft. Oin., or 3in. more than last year. Her ac- 

 commodatious are excellent for so small a boat, including a cabin 

 Rift, long, two staterooms: aft. and a, roomy forecastle and berth for 

 man, The little yawl Fad, built last year, has been illustrated in the 

 Forest and Stubam. A similar boat will be built soon by Mr. C. E. 

 Pratt, of the Hull Y. C. She will be a little wider than the Fad, her 

 dimensions being: Length on deck 30ft., waterline 25ft. 10in., beam 

 8ft. 6in., draft 7ft, , ballast or, keel 1 tons of iron. 



In the vicinity af Boston a class of boats like the Vanitas has been 

 very popular, boats about 80fti long and schooner rigged, derived 

 probably from the Eastern fishing schooners, ffhile inferior to the 

 sloop rig in point of speed and windward work, the rig bas its advan- 

 tages, as it is easily handled, and it has answered excellently for 

 cruising purposes.' With the yawl, bowover, all the advantages of the 

 schooner can be had with increased speed, while the performance of 

 the boat to wind ward will approach nearer to the sloop. The yawl 

 possesses one great advantage over the schooner, especially in these 

 small yachts, as in the latter the mainmast is always in the way 

 below, "occupying valuable room near the companion, and obstructing, 

 in a, greater or less degree, the entrance, or passage fore and aft. In 

 the yawl, instead of the mainmast, is a small mizzemnast. stepped so 

 far aft on the counter as to be entirely out of the way, while the i.niz- 

 zen itself requires little attention and is easily handled. No other rig 

 offers the same number of changes as the yawl, while the difficulty of 

 reefing a long boom projecting outboard, is" entirely obviated. There 

 are still many small yachts about Boston, which could be advantage- 

 ously changed to the. yawl rig, and should the Vauitas prove a suc- 

 cess", others will no doubt follow 



NOTES FROM LAKE ONTARIO. 



ALTHOUGH the season has heen more severe than usual in this 

 latitude, work upon the local yachts has been in progress during 

 the winter, and now that the spring is apparently not far distant, 

 yachtsmen begin to look around and to take mental notes of what 

 the local builder and his assistants have been doing. 



The sloop Norah, which is (beholder of the Fisher champion cup. 

 through default ou the part of the Atalanta's owners, has been 

 thoroughly repaired. About one-half of her planking has been re- 

 moved, additional frames have been put into her, and when the sea- 

 son opens she will be in the best possible trim , 



The sloop Dauntless will receive some new planking, a new spar, 

 and her bottom will be smoothed tip. 



The sloop Gracie has been lengthened rift. din. forward, which im- 

 proves her entrance materially. She is expected to make a bold bid 

 for the championship of the second class. 



The cutter Sylvia has also been newly planked throughout the 

 t -renter portion of her length, and will probably be used more this 

 season than last, as an alteration which was made in her trim after 

 the racing of last year had ended seemed to improve her speed very 

 materially. She is one of the wide ones, about three and one-half 

 beams tolength. 



The big sloop Atalauta and the second class champion Iolanthe 

 have wintered well, and will be in perfect condition when the spring 

 opens. The former is certainly the fastest craft on the lakes, and I 

 believe, fully equal to the best of the New York fleet. Her perform- 

 ance in the Cup races was no fair test, as at that time she was over- 

 sparred, over-canvassed, insufficiently ballasted and very rough out- 

 side. With all these de:ects remedied, she has had no difficulty in 

 winning every race in which she has started, except that at Toronto 

 last fall, when half an hour was lost by the parting of the throat fial 

 hards, and she finished first but was beaten a few minutes on time 

 allowance, 



It is reported that: Cuthbert is busy with a second class craft, which 

 is intended to capture the champiouship of the second class. Racmg 

 iu this class will be very hot in 1885, and the new one will have to be 

 a veritable flyer to realize her clever builder's anticipations. 



I have been much amused by reading the lucubrations of one of 

 your contemporaries, in which he demonstrates to his own satisfac- 

 tion and that of all other equally -'candid" critics, that the sloop 

 Gracie, by winning one out of her three races with the cutter Bedouin 

 in the fall of 1884, proved herself the speedier yacht, Port Tack. 



A SHARPIE CHALLENGE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I notice that in your issue of March 12. "Paterfamilias" describesa 

 little craft he is having built as follows: "Length, 18ft.; beam, 47in,; 

 draft, -Mill.," etc. He also states that she will probably be imsinkable 

 and non eapsizable, that she is to carry 1,01 8 pounds of iron on her 

 keel, and that her cost will be about double that of a cathoat of same 

 length. 



At the present time there appears to be a very strong movement in 

 favor of safe, imsinkable boats of small size, which can in alirespeets 

 take the place of the somewhat dangerous and usually unseaworthy 

 catboats. I. for one, wish to do what little I can to further this move- 

 ment, but my experience teaches me that the desired end can be 

 gained at one-half the cost and far more satisfactorily than by build- 

 ing such boats as the one described by '■Paterfamilias." His little 

 craft is being built almost within sight of where I am now sittiug, 

 which fact adds to my interest in the experiment, and her nearness 

 also suggests the following proposition : If be will let me know when 

 his boat is to be completed. I will build one and have her ready at 

 that time, m order to test the two craft on the following desirable 

 points: Seaworthiness, weatherliness, stability, unsinkability, and 

 speed in sailing to windward and free; also quickness in stays, and 

 (if that be deemed desirable) the quality of being maneuvered to 

 windward without using rudder, or any other appliance excepting 

 sails, for steering purposes. 



Some of the dimensions of my boat will be: Length, 18ft. ; beam, 

 52in.; depth of hull, 30in.; freeboard at amidship, 18in.; draft, with 

 rocker keel, 32in. ; weight on keel, SOOlbs. Boat to be built and rigged 

 in the best and strongest style, and total cost not to exceed §250. 

 Non-capsizability to be tested by heaving the boats down on their 

 beam ends andtiien permitting them to raise themselves and risjging 

 to an upright position, Unsinkability to be proved by filling the 

 boats with water. 



My proposition is made in the most friendly spirit, and with the 

 earnest desire of a yachtsman to further all that is or should be of 

 interest ia yachting. . Thomas Claph am. 



RosltN, L. I., March 11. 



[We cannot answer for the individual qualities of the boat referred 

 to, as we have not seen it, but such a boat can be built to compete 

 with the sharpie in the points named. The waterline of the little 

 boat is but lift., and the sharpie, we suppose, would be at least IS, 

 as Mr. Clapham compares them evidently by length on deck, so his 

 proposed boat would be much larger, even though not as deep.] 



YACHTING IN CLEVELAND, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



To go to the meeting of yachts at Ballast Island in July seems to be 

 the object of every yachtsman you meet. The committee who have 

 the matter in charge, are doing their utmost to make things pleasant 

 for every one, stranger yachtsmen as well as the home yachtsmen. 

 Circulars containing a description of the islands and other valuable 

 matter are out, and have heeu sent to every yacht owner whose ad- 

 dress is known here. A meeting of all the yachtsmen of the whole 

 chain of lakes ought to be crowned with success, and will have a 

 wholesome effect upon yachting around here. 



All the yacht owners are talking of getting out as early as possible. 

 Mr. H. Gerlach has about finished the work on his boat, with the ex- 

 ception of the 8, 000-pound shoe. He has strengthened her through- 

 out, and has also raised the cockpit floor. As soon as he is through 

 with the Lulu, he will begin work on a singlehander for Mr. Moran, 

 the newly-electsa member of the C. Y. A. 



Mr. Jackson, builder of the Kids, is pushing the work on that boat. 

 He has her decked, and the cabin is nearly finished. She will he 20ft. 

 loadline, 7ft. beam, and 4ft. draft. Her greatest beam will be about 

 midwaj from stem to stern, and from there, sloping by easy fines 

 fore and aft, making a fine, clean entrance and a good clearance. Her 

 overhang is very short and might have been run out another foot at 

 least. Otherwise she is a fine looking boat, and with proper handling 

 will beat the boats of her class and do her builder credit. 



The Ida. the best known boat in Cleveland, will have a new suit of 

 canvas this season, and as her new owners are up to her points, she 

 will make herself felt in the races. As far as speed and a fine looking 

 boat are concerned, the Rover will be right along with the rest of 

 them. A housing topmast, double head sail and a 2,5001b.?. shoe, for 

 which the pattern is already made, are expected to contribute to her 

 already well known speed and weatherliness. In her stern, near the 

 sternpbst, one or two of the planks were beginning to rot. Poor ven- 

 tilation probably accounts for that. They have been replaced, mak- 

 ing her as strong and sound as ever. One thing I would like to call 

 the attention of the C. Y r . A. to, and that is. that with all their push 

 and enterprise they have never thought of inaugurating a ladies' day, 

 as they have in New York. The Rover and C. R. Davis had many a 

 pleasant party of young ladies and also some of the old folks out last 

 summer, and will repeat the experiment this year. Let the women 

 of our age kuow what aquatic sports really are, and then will that old 

 German adage, "Das Wasser hat keine Balken" (The water has no 

 beams) disappear. Those two boats deserve praise for starting a 

 movement in this city that cannot help but have a beneficial influence 

 upon yachting. Brass, 



