April 23, 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



259 



THE CRUISING STEAM YACHT "CHEMCHECK." 



and as v>e saw do stir among; the shanties on the beach which would 

 promise a chance to land, we took advantage of an off. shore wind 

 and steered for Point Firmin, as near as we could lay our course by 

 compass, it being foggy. We ran into a calm about five or six miles 

 out, and then got a slight air from the N. W. The sea here presented 

 a novel sight. We were surrounded by a low-lying fog, which seemed 

 to stand like a wall a quarter of a mile away on all sides, while the 

 glassy sea came gliding into and out of our amphitheater in a long 

 and heavy ground sw r ell, the whole surface shimmering and easily 

 lending itself to the illusion that we were slipping with lightning 

 speed through the water. Lying on the deck and sky-gazing. I could 

 see the clouds scurrying to the S. K., whereupon 1 immediately 

 prophesied that the brisk N. W. wind in that elevated region would 

 eventually get down on the surface and give us the homeward lift we 

 were wishing for. Sure enough, about, 2 P. Jl., the fog having almost 

 wholly lifted, and all landmarks standing out clear, the sea began to 

 take on a litt'e frown, and a freshening breeze soon rilled our sails 

 and sent us gaily threshing through the seas homeward bound. For 

 three and a half hours our breeze came out of the N. W,, augmenting 

 in force until the little hooker was planksheer to, and farther she re- 

 fused to heel. This was her first chance to show her mettle, and she 

 evinced her power, holding her eager bowsprit over the meeting seas 

 like a wand of conquest. We dashed into San Pedro anchorage at 

 sunset, but just before reaching the bar our breeze died out. Deter- 

 mined not to lie out another night without exhausting our wits in try- 

 ing to get in, we got out the sweeps and walked her up to the bar to 

 see how it looked. On fetching it our usual good luck brought us an 

 N. E. air, fresh enough to take us in on a taut bowline against a 

 strong ebb tide, ana at 6 P. M. we put her nose against the steps 

 where we had embarked four days before. Kit got our traps on the 

 wharf, while I confiscated a dinghy, fitted her with rowlocks from 

 one boat and sculls from another, and sweeping the Ninetta out into 

 the stream clear of the fairway, we dropped our hook, and giving her 

 plenty of scope and making her all snug, we went ashore and took no 

 our quarters in a box car for the night, prepared for the 7:1 5 train 

 next morning for Los Angeles.. B. L. E. 



Los Angeles, Cal. 



INTERIOR FITTINGS IN SMALL YACHTS. 



THE question how to fit up the interior of a small yacht has brought 

 out another suggestion in the Field, in addition to those which 

 we quoted lately. A correspondent, "R. W.," writes as follows: 



"If 'W.' has not yet commenced to build the boat under discussion, 

 it is worth his while to consider whether it would not be advisable 

 slightly to increase her dimensions. The accommodation on board a 

 hoat of less than 7ft. beam can rarely fail to be intolerably cramped, 

 nor should there be less than 6ft. head room hi the center of the 

 main cabin. In a boat of 30ft. length on the waterline, of 7Wft. beam 

 and 514ft. draft of water, with the mast placed about 12ft. from the 

 stem, he might get a forecastle l(5ft. long, a main cabin 8ft., and a 

 sail room 6ft. long, which might be arranged as follows : The fore- 

 castle to have its bulkhead about 4ft. abaft the mast, and to extend 

 about SJ^ft. under the main skylight. It might contain on the star- 

 board side a fold-up bed-place 6ft. long, and forward of that there 

 would be room for a 9ft. Berthon boat, which, with its oars, would 

 reach right into the bows. On the port side there would be room for 

 two fold-up bed-places, and forward of them for a small sheif to hold 

 the side fights and lamps. The galley might be placed before the 

 mast, and the fore hatchway not in the middle line of the deck, but 

 ratner on the starboard side, and about 7ft. from the stem. Owing 

 to the forecastle extending 4ft. abaft the mast, and under the 

 main skylight, it would be unusually roomy and airy, while 

 the bed-places would be dry and well removed from the fore 

 hatch. In the main cabin, on the starboard side, must be 

 placed a pantry locker and vis a vis a closet, both being 

 covered with cushions when not in use, and aft of them, on either 

 side, a sofa or bed place 6ft. long, with lockers underneath. In this 

 way tolerably comfortable berths could be provided for five persons. 

 The skylight should be 3ft. wide, and the coaming 9in. high. The 

 booby hatch should be made to slide back about 3ft.. and thesofas on 

 either gide of the main cabin be protected for at least that distance 

 by waterproof curtains. The double doors from the main cabin to 

 the forecastle and sail room should open, the former outward, the 

 latter inward. Under the platform of the sail room should be a large 

 water rank, which might also extend about 1ft. into the main cabin. 

 There should be no well for the steersman, but he should stand in the 

 sail room hatenway, with his feet on the platform or on a slightly 

 raised grating. With a waterproof apron round his body, and ex- 

 tending over the hatchway coaming, he will be fairly comfortable in 

 bad weather. Access to the sail room can still be obtained through 

 the double doors into the main cabin. The lest of the crew will find 

 plenty of room for themselves on other parts of the deck or down 

 below. The best matresses are, I think, those of granulated cork, 

 and cost about 7s. apiece; ah- pillows and sack bedding are also very 

 comfortable and convenient. All tables should be made to fold up 

 or unship. Bookcases and nets to hold charts, glasses, and other 

 miscellaneous an icles, will be found very useful. In a sail room, 

 from which nothing has been taken to form a well, in the lockers and 

 under the platform of the forecastle, enough stowage, room for a 

 short cruise will be found. Nor, if the little vacht be properly furn- 

 ished with a windlass, pump, binnacle, and" other necessaries for a 

 long cruise round our coasts, will a crew of only three hands find it 

 beyond their strength to work her." 



SMALL CRUISING STEAM YACHTS. 



ALTHOUGH the development of the steam yacht has not received 

 the same study and attention here that it has in England, and 

 our fleet is much smaller, in some particulars we are still in advance 

 In the matter of high speed the American launches are at the head of 

 the record, and on the other hand in the matter of size, and elegance 

 of appointment some of the later boats from the Delaware will com- 

 pare with any of foreign built. Both of these classes, however, pos- 

 sess but little interest to the average yachtsman, the high speed 

 launch is a convenient vehicle for water transit, an easy method of 

 going from place to place, or a useful auxiliary for hunting or fishing, 

 but the essential elements of yachting are conspicuously absent 

 The larger boats also have a use of their own as adjuncts to life at 

 seaside resorts in summer and for short runs to the West Lndies in 

 winter, but their cost limits them to a few. Steam will never sup- 

 plant sails in the estimation of the majority of real vachtsmen who 

 follow the sport from love of a life on the water, for the cutter, slocp 

 or schooner offer pleasures to the sailor unknown to the passenger 

 (whether owner or guest) on a steam yacht, but in the present busy 

 age time is always a foremost consideration, a leisurely enjoyment of 

 life is something that few Americans of the present day can spare 

 time for, and even our amusements must be partaken of at high pres- 

 sure. Go where he will, the modern business man or capitalist is 

 bound fast to the "market" or the "street" by a fine wire that may 

 draw him back at any moment, and that makes speed an important 

 factor in his pleasure trips. Under such circumstances steam is too 

 valuable an auxiliary to he overlooked or slighted and the problem 

 of the yachtsman is to utilize it in such a way as to preserve as far as 

 possible the great charm that attaches to cruises under sail To do 

 this a class of yacht is required that as yet is little known with us 

 though quite common abroad, the auxiliary steam cruising vacht' 

 The larger boats of this class are tolerably' well known here "either 

 from the published logs of their cruises or from having visited some 

 of our ports, the Sunbeam, Lancashire Witch, Marchesa and some 

 smaller craft having world wide reputations, while last season a 

 other yacht, the Nubienne, visited Canada and the United States 

 The cost of building and maintaining such vessels, however, places 

 them beyond the reach of the majority who are obliged to put up 

 with a less expensive craft. With us the idea of cruising ability in a 

 steam yacht is always coupled with the idea of size and consequently 

 cost, but the two are not necessarily associated, and it is quite pos- 

 sible, by a proper care in design, to obtain many of the advantages 

 of steam at a moderate cost. 



The yacht illustrated above is one of a type of small cruisers that 

 has come into use abroad not merely for such coasting work as our 

 yachts do here in the Sound, but for extended cruising. The Chem- 

 chek (or Lightning) as she is named, was built for Hilmi Pasha by 

 Messrs. Miller, Tupp & Rouse, of Hammersmith, London, for use on 

 the Mediterranean, her headquarters being on the Bosphorus. Her 

 extreme length is but 05ft. with a beam of 13ft.. while the draft of 

 5ft. is very moderate. Her construction is such as to fit her for sea 

 work and hard service, the frame being of English oak and American 

 elm well fastened. The planking is of teak coppered, and she is fin- 

 ished throughout— bulwarks, rail, deck houses, skvlightsand cabins— 

 with the same wood. Her general appearance is that of the ordinary 

 English schooner yacht, the same bow, with round bright bowsprit, 

 high bulwarks (15in.), and a long counter, while her general propor- 

 tions, above and below water, are designed to give her sea-going 

 power with good speed under sail alone. The rig, as shown, is that 

 of a two-masted schooner with spars and sails of such size as to be of 

 real service, and little like the ridiculous pipe-stems too often seeu 

 that are only fitted to fly bunting and not canvas from. Of course in 

 so small a boat the bunker space is limited, and coal for long trips 

 cannot be carried, but this disadvantage, attendant on all types of 

 steam yachts of similar size, disappears when the ability to get some- 

 where under sail is taken into account. Her four beams of length 

 give good proportions for sailing, and under the rig she is provided 

 with she i-i a handy and efficient little vessel under canvas alone. The 

 power provided is a pair of compound engines, surface condensing 

 with inverted cylinders SJ/i and 17iu. by '.l^in. stroke. They are fitted 

 with a valve reversing gear patented by the builders. The air and 

 circulating pumps are driven by an independent engine, a donkey 

 pump is fitted to the boiler, and also a bilge injector. The screw is 

 of 48in. diameter and Oft. pitch, fitted to a 3in. iron shaft. Steam is 

 provided by a return tubular boiler OOin. diameter and 7ft. long with 

 forty-two 2J4in. tubes. The boiler is tested to 150 pounds, the work- 

 ing pressure being 60 pounds. 



The accommodations, a most important feature on a cruising craft, 

 are well shown in the plan. Forward is a chain locker A, and store- 

 room. The main saloon B B, is fitted with berths, while by day it 

 serves as cabin and dining room. From it opens a toilet room and w. 

 c. C, and also a pantry D, Amidships is the engine room F, fitted 

 like the rest in teak, and at the sides the coal bunkers E E. The 

 ladies cabin G, is directly abaft the engine room. It is fitted up 

 with two berths and a skylight, The after portion of the yacht H 

 H, is fitted up as a galley and quarters for the crew. The actual 

 space in a yacht of this size, after deducting engine, boiler and 

 bunker room, is small, but alt there is has been utilized to the fullest 

 extent and with the best results. The elegance and luxury of larger 

 craft are lacking, but the essentials, a staunch little hull, full equip- 

 ment and cosy quarters, are found in an excellent combination. A 

 still smaller yacht of similar design is the Iris, built in 1883 by the 

 same firm, and also stationed iu the Mediterranean. Her length over 

 all is but 60tt., beam lift., draft 5ft., depth of hull 6ft. 6in. She is 



built of teak, coppered, and is schooner rigged, being much like the 

 Chemcheck. Her engines are 9 and 16in.x9in., boiler 57in. diameter 

 and 6ft. long, screw 48in. diameter. Her average speed is 11 j^ knots. 

 She m=ide the voyage through the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean 

 and is now stationed at Messina. The cost of the latter hoat com- 

 plete was $9,200 in England. The Chemcheck would cost, if built 

 with pitch pine planking, about. $9,000 without rig, cr if built of teak 

 or mahogany, or with entire hull of iron or steel, and completely 

 rigged and fitted out, including ground tackle, lights and yawl, about 

 $13,000. These prices are for the boats delivered in England, and 

 would, of course, be about one-third higher here on account of the 

 duty. 



THE CUP RACES. 



THE Boston sloop is partly planked, with deck frames iu, and the 

 iron sloop is as far advanced- The sails for the latter are being 

 made by Wilson & Griffin, of New York, and will be ready before they 

 are needed. Captain Gibson, of the Vixen, will probably command 

 the New York sloop. The New York Y. C. have received from Mr. 

 Beavor Webb an answer to their last letter, the contents of which 

 have not yet been made public. Rumors of other new boats to lie 

 built are. still floating about, but none have yet been commenced. 

 neither have the proposed changes been made in any of the schooners . 



MACHINE FOR CLEANING VESSELS' BOTTOM S. 



CAPTAIN CHARLES GEORGE CROSS of the British shipMylo- 

 mene, has-solved a problem which has been agitating the minds 

 of shipowners and shipmasters since the inauguration of iron ship- 

 building. He has invented a machine by which the bottom of a ves- 

 sel can be cleaned at sea of the growth of weeds and barnacles which 

 have hitherto resisted the action of various chemical compositions 

 invented for their especial destruction. Through the courtesy of 

 Captain Cross we were enabled to personally to inspect the operation 

 of the machine, which he has lately patented in Great Britain and 

 America, and to test in a most critical manner its peculiar qual- 

 ifications. Working it aft from the forecastle to the break of the 

 poop, the machine did its work expeditiously and ertectually, clean- 

 ing the vessel from the waterline to the keef, and sending to' the sur- 

 face grass and w r eeds in sufficient qua uity to remind one of a pas- 

 sage through the Saragossa Sea. The brushes, when brought on 

 board, were literally alive with small marine animals of the shrimp 

 ;, which had been finding a hom^ and sustenance on the ves- 

 sel's side. The machine in itself is simple in design, and tbe theory 

 of its construction and application is discernible at the first glance to 

 an intelligent eye. On the upper and lower sides of a strong wooden 

 frame measuring 3ft. 8Lu. by 2J£ft. wide, are affixed stiff brushes en- 

 cased on the outer edges with steel plates riveted to the frames in 

 sections, with leather hinges to permit a freedom of play in rising or 

 sinking. A pair of lateral iron fins on pivots controlled on deck, reg- 

 ulate the upward or downward motion of the machine, and the 

 requisite pressure to the hull is assured by a wooden turtle back, 

 which rises from the forward portion of the frame at an angle of 

 45deg. The method of working is as simple as the construction. A 

 small-sized wire rope is passed under the forefoot, having a builseye 

 on the side, which it is desired to clean. A guyrope leading through 

 the bullseye is attached to the scrubber, and" regulates its passage 

 fore and aft. The fins are worked from the deck by a couple of 

 hands, who elevate or depress them at either end as an upward 

 or downward motion is desired. Three men can attend to the work 

 and go around the ship inside of four hours. The greater the s^peed 

 of the ship, the more effectually the machine does its work, the 

 heavier the pressure on the turtle-back naturally producing a closer 

 application of the brushes. 



Captain Cross it to be congratulated upon his invention. It will 

 prove a boon to the shipping community at large. Owners of vessels 

 will save by its adoption hundreds of pounds annually in the matter 

 of diydock expense alone, not to speak of the profits on quicker pas- 

 sages. Commanders of vessels also will be slow to recognize its 

 merits and hail in it a deliverer from the vexatious delay of a smart 

 clipper by the hitnerto unavoidable, mishap of afoul nottom.— San 

 Francisco Netvsletter. 



YACHTING NOTES.— The new high speed yacht built by Herres- 

 hoff Bros. (No. 118) has been named Stiletto. Her speed on first trial 



was 3.3 15-100 miles Aida, steam yacht, Vice Comt Douglas, N. Y. 



Y. O, is being overhauled at Bristol Com. Bennett has sailed for 



Europe in the Namouna. .. . A new boat, the Tot, has been added to 

 Boston's Mosquito fleet. She was built by Captaiu Matthew Martin 

 and is 13ft. lOj^in. over all, 4ft. llin. beam, I6in. draft, mast 23ft, 6in. 

 heel to truck, boom 19ft... Daisy, cutter, has been launched at 



Mumm's yard Mr. E. L. Bateman of New York, has chartered the 



Skylark, steam yacht, for the season Marv Anderson's steamer 



Galatea is advertised for sale, also the schooner FJectwing. Montauk 

 is being put in thorough condition for her sale next month . . .Violet, 

 sloop, lately sold by M. J. Kiley to Henry J. McKce. was built by the 

 Herreshoffs iu i860. She has since been altered to cutter rig. . Daunt- 

 less, schooner, is fitting out at Newport. . ..Hildegarde, sloop, is fit- 

 ting out at Nyack.... Huron and Thetis were launched at Smith's 

 yard last week. Adrienne, schooner, was launched at Lawley's and 

 will also go into commission at once. . . .The Menta, steam vacht, has 

 been sold Oy F. L. Felton to J. W. Avery of Boston. The "Mabel H. 

 sloop, has also been sold to L, C, Baily by R. Brymer Dream. 



