Dec. lu, 1891. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



421 



eager effort to have everything- sirng aad shioshape: small boats 

 are flyinB between tbe yachts and tbe shore or between different 

 yachts, carrying crews or last-thought-of itemp. 



In rowing among the yaobts we fetch up alongside the iMlrage. 

 _ HuJlo, Dick," saya Mas, saluting the skipper of the yacht, who 

 IS twistiner at some obstinate rope at the bows, "going to beat to- 

 day?'- "Blest if I know," replied Dick, tugging at his very small 

 racmar cap to do the polite tome. "You see that racing dish?" 

 nodding toward a rakish cutter just to starboard of us, "slie 

 ^nocked us all out at Marblehead last week; but she's only good 

 for much in a slim breeze, and to-dav we're in for tall sailing. 

 When it comes to fluke htmting the Mirage isn't in it, but with a 



food bre^^ze like to-day she'll show a clean stern to any boat of 

 er size." 



I suppose yacht races are much the same everywhere. There is 

 the same ofHcions pufflng tug for the judges' hoa.t, with its flutter- 

 ing shreds i.f bunting, tbat mean so much to the watching skippers; 

 the same sailing to and fro of the yachts all read v for the fray, but 

 acting as if they didn't care anything for any line or any other 

 boat, while all the time each captain is keeping a watchful eye 

 and steady hand to get the best windward position for the rush. 

 Suddenly 'bang" goes the preparatory gun and the yachts huddle 



througli a glorious afternoon, with blue sky overhead and blue 

 seas all around us, and that far olf white speck, stationary in the 

 midst of the blue water, is tbe tiny lightdonse that marks the 

 home harbor. We make up for Inst time during the last few miles 

 of our voyage, laying over to the wind, and forging through the 

 water at a rattling good speed, and Just as the gun of the flagship 

 In the harbor booms "colors," and the many colored pennants 

 flutter down from the ma=it3 like so many birds, we pick up our 

 moorings in front of the little brown cottage, and our three days' 

 cruise is over. 



YACHT BUILDING AT BRISTOL. 



THE visitor, whether yachtsman or mechanic, who turns aside 

 from the familiar paths of travel between New York and 

 Boston for a visit to the clean and well-ordered shops of the Her- 

 reshoff Manufacturing Company at Bristol, B. L, is certain at 

 anv time to bo well repaid for his journey: and just now in par- 

 ticular the trip is of special interest, from the presence of two 

 racing craft which are likely to become famous next summer. 

 The first of these is for the same class as the renowned ftlorl- 



ROGERS' 46-FOOTER. 



a little closer together, like frightened doves, and the helmsmen 

 are a little more wary of the line than before, for woe to the care- 

 less yacht on the outward side of the line when the last gun is fired. 



"Bang," goes the starting gun. A breathless pause, and thenlike 

 a flash across the line swoops a white sloop, with three others 

 following closely in her wake, the water boiling along her counter, 

 and her crew clinging like leeches to her deck. And the first class 



ana, a 46-footer, for a no less noted owner than Mr. Archibald 

 Rogers, of Hyde Park, N. Y., an ex-commodore of the Seawan- 

 haka C, Y. O. and owner of the cutter Bedouin, and formerly of 

 the smaller cutters May Fly and Tom Boy, besides several stoam 

 yachts and a whole fleet of ice yachts. The usual surroundings 

 of the Bhipy<i,rd are entirely missing at Bristol, there are no pools 

 of mud and water to entrap the unwary, no piles of lumber to be 



25FT. RACER DILEMMA. 



have started and are away on the first long tack for their beat out 

 to the stflke boat. "Bang," and the second class have started, 

 and are following in tbe wake of the large ones. "Bang," and the 

 third class have started, and the blue ocean seems alive with 

 while sails. After awhile they all disappear, not to come back 

 till late in the afternoon. 



Yachts ou^ht always, in a race, to sail before the wind on the 

 home stretch, and as one after another they come in sight, with 

 mainsails, spinakers and balloon jibs spread, ic seems as if the 

 slender hulls must sink under so m ich canvas. 



The Mirage crosses the line, far in advance of her dreaded rival, 

 and her exultant skipper waves his cap In triumph to us as he 

 passes, while Bobby nearly falls overboard from tbe fervor of his 

 congrafulatory talutes. We fail in behind the last straggling 

 yachts and again pick up our moorings in front of tne club house, 

 where now the band is playing gayly. 



I liave begged the privilege spending one night on the yacht, and 

 Bobby 18 very willing, for, as he says, "Rocking in the cradle of 

 the vasty deep is all very well in poetry, but a stationary bed is 

 g09d enough for me." The opal and crimson lights of sunset are 

 dving out when we row to the Sea Mew. Each of the anchored 

 yachts has a light hung in the rigging, and from these and from 

 cabin lamps of the various boats long lances of light shiver and 

 shimmer across the darkening water. Tbe jolly crew of the 

 Mirage are celebrating their victory, and wo hear the twang cf a 

 banjo and catch scraps of "Up dar in de sky," or "O Lordl Melissa," 

 and other ebon melodies. A far-olf cornet is wrestling with "Home, 

 Sweet Home" and making a dismal failure of it. The Sea Mew 

 rocks and sways on the swell like a cradle, the salt wind makes 

 queer little moans and whistles as it breathes through the rig- 

 ging, and the current gurgles and laps around the rudder chains 

 under the stern. Nothing is so utterly calm and care -free as a 

 pleasant night on board a snug yacht. Breaking in on to the 

 peace ot the night come nine sonorous strokes from a clock some- 

 where in Stonyport; instantly from the bells of the yachts come 

 • ting-tmg, tang-tang, tong-tong," with many variations in tones 

 and keys. To the music of these bells and the last passionate 

 strains of the "M m Rfeve" waltz from the band, we turn in. 



From a wild dream of shipwreck and disaster, I awake to the 

 consciousness that something is wrong. The cabin is dark, save 

 tor a livid gleam that wanders in through the port holes, and 

 which only serves to intensify the general obscurity. 1 lenn on 

 my elbow and listen, but hear nothing in the cabin save the deep 

 and measuved breathing from Max's berth, that assures me he is 

 still undisturbed. But why is tbe usually sober and steady Sea 

 Mew leaping, and plunging, and dancing round so like an excited 

 horse. I shall never find out v/hat is the matter if I lie still, so 1 

 grope around for my shoes and, wrapped in my blanket gown, 1 

 feel my way to the dnor, which I cautiously open and look out. 

 The faintest light is dawning in the east over a leaden sea, whose 

 waves are lashed into foam by a strong nor'easter. 



The yachts around us are tugging and pulling at their hawsers, 

 as if to haul up bodily tbe rocky foundations of the harbor. The 

 ?S?£'?,.^^®'*'^'^^S'ii*'^^i^'ieron the rocks and ledges beyond the 

 OlilT House, a light or two glimmers faintly from the fort, while 

 over all the light house lantern sheds its clear and cheery rays 

 as if to say, amid all the clatter and tumult of wind and sea 

 •Sleep on, I still keep watch and ward." 



Suddenly, as I turn to go back, the gale tears from my hand 

 the door I had so cautiously opened and flings it with a crash 

 against the side of the cabin. The racket half awakes Max, who 

 straightway sits up in his berth and yells in tremendous tones, 

 "There she goes, stand by tbe mast." 



I close the door and keep whist, concluding that lie is the vic- 

 tim of nightmare, and he is soon asleep again. 



By the time we row over to breakfast the gale has abated and 

 is succeeded by a drizzly, drozzly, drenching mist that covers 

 land and sea. The committee on ways and means are forced to 

 the following conclusions: Whereas the two gentlemen are 

 obliged to be at home the next; day, and whereas they do not 

 mean to leave the yacht behind them it only remains for them 

 to face the storm and mist and sail her home. The Sea Mew is 

 staunch and trim enough to face a gale, but the swell is likely to 

 be unpleasant. Nina and I are offered a choice between a tem- 

 pestuous voyage in the yacht and a safe but very ordinary trip in 

 the cars; we exclaim in chorus, however, "Don't give up the ship" 

 and "I never will desei-t Mr. Micawber," and we caH in our lots 

 with Bobby and Max. We wrap up in oilskins and macintoshes 

 and embark. 



Once out from under the lee of the breakwater our troubles 

 commence. We strain and wrench and stagger up on to the 

 swell, then we wobble down the other side, varying this motion 

 with a yawing from side to side, that is, to say the least, trying. 

 Then the. fntr is sr> thirt thnf if io T,onoa=o,,xr t„ i.,.„l ,. -L^ii, 



and her Joe," he laments the loss of fifteen dollars erstwhile in 

 his pocket, he even gives the unhappy McG-inty a chance, and 

 finally launches off into operatic selections, where we cannot fol- 

 low him. Sometimes we hear an answering horn, and once a 

 spectral yacht loomed up before us, her hull and spars magnified 

 by the thick mist into twice their natural size. As she plunged 

 heavily past us, on the swell, no one was visible on her dripping 

 deck but a ghostly helsman, clad all in oilskins, at the wheel, and 

 so weird and strange was her whole appearance that she might 

 have well passed, to an imaginative mind, for the ill-fated Braave, 

 with V anderaecken him.self at the helm. 



After noon the wind freshens and comes more from the west, 

 the m'St assumes a thinner appearance, and seems suffused with 

 a golden color, and before we know it the dun-oolored curtain is 

 folded up and rolled away across the sea; and lo! we are sailing 



climbed over, no shaky planks to be traversed before reaching 

 tbe inner precincts; but after a pleasant, stroll through the auaint 

 old town, and along the shores of the upper part of Narragansett 

 Bay. the visitor steps from the street directly into the building 

 shops, which are located, of course, on the waterside; the offices 

 and machine shops being further inshore, on the other side of the 

 street. 



The shops consist of two high and tofty buildings, amply 

 lighted on the sides and with galleries high above the main 

 floors. Down the center of each hou?e is a solidly coustructe'l 

 building way, the floor being removable in sections, making room 

 for one or more yachts as required. The shops are heated by 

 steam, and are always warm, dry, and well lighted, all the 

 work being done within doors. Outside are the melting pots for 

 lead keels, the boiler houses, etc. The wider and newer building 

 contains the steel plant, rolls, punches, shears and drilling 

 machines. 



On entering the main shop the visitor is confronted by the sharp 

 stem of a most curious craft, even more extreme and unconven- 

 tional in outline than her older sister. The general form of the 

 new boat is shown in the accompanying sketches, which were 

 made by eye only, and with no measurtiments other than the 

 general dimensions heretofore published as follows: Length 

 over all 73ft., 1 w.l. under 46ft.. beam about 13£t. 3in., draft about 

 lOtt. 6in. While the drawings do not pretend to any great ac- 

 curacy in detail they are sufficiently correct to show the leading 

 peculiarities of the new boat. The overhang is 2ft. greater than 

 Wonana, the waterllne length being also increased, as she meas- 

 ured but 45ft. under the measurer's tapn, or a foot under the limit 

 of her class. The sheer, rake of sternpost and midship section, as 

 well as the general character of the body of the boat, are so similar 

 to Gloriana that the difference would be apparent onlv to one very 

 familiar with the former. The great point of diflerenee is in the 

 shaping and placing of the lead keel, in which a wide departure 

 has been made in the direction of the recent work of the English 

 designers. 



For several years past the work of most designers, of Fife, Wat- 

 son, Gardner and Burgess, has tended in the direction of a trian- 

 gular outline for the lateral plane, with the greatest draft at or 

 near the heel, as in Liris, Kathleen, Minerva, Yama and Gossoon; 

 and in Gloriana Mr. Herreshoff followed tbe general practice, 

 but without going to such an extreme in draft and triangular out- 

 line as in Barbara, for instance. Within the past two seaROos. 

 aspepiaily in the smaller classes of English yachts, a very differ- 

 ent form of lateral plane has been adopted, the keel contour from 

 the fore end of the waterline downward being irregular and 

 nroken, the keel, in fact, taking the form of an appendage rather 

 than an integral part of the hull, Tnus far the "fin keel," as it 

 has Iseen named, is confined to yachts of 2^ lo ft-rating, or from 25 

 to oiSt.; but Mr. Herreshoff' has made bold to carry the experi- 

 ment into a larger size of yacht, and has embodied the same idea 

 m the new 46-footer. As the sketch shows, the fore edge of the 

 lead keel drops quickly down from the bottom of the boat, being ' 

 ot course sharpened away to a mere vertical edge, the two vertical 

 sides showing much the same curve as a rifle bullet. The keel 

 contains probably 31 long tons of lead, and is bolted in tbe usual 

 way to The oak keel. In each upper corner a piece is cut out and 

 filled with wood, thus allowing any alterations of weight after 

 trial to be made very readily by adding lead for wood at one end 

 or the other. The keel is quite wide and deep. 



The stem, keel, dead woods and sternnost are of oak, the rabbet 

 line being so placed that all the lines of the hull are carried out 

 tair to the fore edge of the stem. The overhang is a little greater 

 than Gloriana's at each end, whUe the Scime round sections in the 

 Dows and flat ones in the counter are preserved. Ttie frames are 

 similar to those in Gloriana, steel angles 194XlMxH, spaced 16in., 

 no wood frames being used. Outside the steel frames are four 

 wide diagonal straps on each side, also of steol. running from keel 

 to gunwale, two being aoreast of the chainplates. The chaiu- 

 plates are three in number, rlvetted to the steel frames, and In- 



by screw bolts and nuts of yellow metal, and between the frames 

 brass screws are put in from the inside, firmly uniting the inner 

 and outer skin. Tbe triple advantages of this construction are 

 strength, tightness and a smoother surface. The sheer strake, 

 plank sheer and bulwarks are of oak, in single thicknesses. Glo- 

 nana s deck was of l^in. pine, matched and glued together, but 

 the new yacht will nave the usual deck of narrow pine, with 

 seatng caulked and payed with marine glue. The yacht is now 

 pKnked, hut the deck is not laid, and nothing has been done inside, 

 but the interior will be similar in arrangement to Gloriana, a 

 main cabin, ladies' cabin aft, and the usual toilet room and clos- 

 ets. The sail plan will be similar to Gloriana'a, but of somewhat 

 greater area. The new yacht will be commanded by Capt. Ohas. 

 Barr, formerly in Owene and before that, in Minerva and Shona. 

 Captain Barr has made a very enviable reputation in but three 

 seasons, and he is still a young man. With such an owner and so 

 clever a skipper there is no fear that the boat will not be well 

 sailed. 



The other racing craft. Mr. Morgan's 8.5-footer, is now set up in 

 the new shop; a very different boat from Gloriana, She is an en- 

 larged Dilemma, the 2.5f t. racer that has been so much talked 

 about this fall, and consf quently is almost a huge canoe, and in 

 tact is being built as a canoe is, on moulds, keel upward. Dilem- 

 ma was designed and built late in the season by Mr. N. G. Herres- 

 hoff for experimental purposes, and though embodying an old 

 idea, she is a novel and interesting craft. The httll is much like 

 a canoe, long, narrow and of little depth, with a nearly flat flooc 

 and quick bilge, thougii with a strong rocker to the keel and an 

 overhang to each end. Like a canoe, she has no proper keel, but 

 has the same flush deck with a high crown and an elliptical open- 

 ing for the crew. 



The chief feature is the appendage by which she obtains her 

 stability, her beam being but Tft. and the hull proper drawing 

 only a couple of feet. Underneath the center of the keel is 

 securely bolted a steel plate, some 4ft. deep and 8ft. long, to the 

 lower edge of which m bolted a cylinder of load with pointed 

 ends, some 10m. in diameter. The plate weighs 883lbs. and the 

 lead cylinder two tons, the total draft being between 6 and (Jft. 

 The after overhang Is quite long, and the sections are flat, as in 

 Gloriana. but the bow is by no means so long. At the same time 

 it overhangs the waterline considerably, while tbe full round sec- 

 tions give it the same character as Gloriana's, though at a mere 

 glance the overhang is very different. The boat is rigged with a 

 mainsail and jib only, the jib tack being fast to tbe stemhead. 

 She is very iast, also very comfortable to sail in, being always on 

 an even keel, or nearlv so; and .so far as safety from capsizing, 

 speed, and ease of handling, the type is admirable for day sail- 

 ing and racing. What would happen if the long vertical edge of 

 the keel, either in this type or in the 46, should bring up against 

 instead of on a rock, is an interesting subject for conjecture. 



The Morgan boat will be 35ft. l.w.l., about .50ft. over all, 8ft. 

 beam and 8ft. draft. She is building on the system long used by 

 the firm for their small boats and yacht yawls, a solid mould of 

 plank is got out for each frame, spaced some 1.5in. apart; the two 

 timbers for the frame are steamed and bent on this mould, being 

 held by lion dogs, and the floor knee Is then bolted to them. The 

 series of moulds, each with a complete frame attached, is then set 

 up on the floor in the proper positions; the oak keel piece, after 

 being rabbeted, is stretched on top, the frames are then beveled, 

 ribbands are run around them, and the boat is planked up; being 

 then turned over and the moulds removed, after which the deck 

 frame is put in. Last week the moulds and frames were in place, 

 the keel fastened to tnem, and the work of beveling had just com- 

 menced. .Just ahead of the Morgan boat was a verv liandsome 

 catboat of 30ft. over all and about 24ft. l.w.l , for Mr. WUliams, of 

 Philadelphia, who will use her on tbe New Jersey coast. There is 

 but little overhang forward, but the bow seciions are round and 

 full. The workmanship and finish are sppcially good. The only 

 other sailing yachts to be built are the 25-footer, or rather 2i4- 

 rater, for the Clyde, and a similar craft for an American owner, 

 neither of which have been commenced. 



Just astern of the 46 is a steam yacht now nearly completed, for 

 the use of Mr. J. B. Herreshoff, a very convenient and serviceable 

 craft. She is 83ft. over all, 08ft, l.w.l., lift. 6in. beam and 5ft. 

 draft. With moderate power and small engine space, there is an 

 unusual amount of room left for the owner. The deck, of one 

 thickness, laid with marine glue in yacht fashion, is very roomy, 

 there being flush hatches to tne engine and boiler rooms a^d the 

 crew's quarters, the latter being aft, so that it is broken only by a 

 rather large pilot house. Inside the pilot houao a stairway gives 

 access to the owner's quarters, there being a large and well lighted 

 main cabin just abaft the stairs, with very good headroom. In 

 this cabin are four sofas making up into canvas berths 33in. wide, 

 with spaces for bedding and pillows behind them during the day. 

 Forward of the passage is a second cabin, with two bed berths, 

 while in the bow is a stateroom with a permanent spring bed. 

 Lockers, closets and drawers are fitted every wheie, giving no end 

 of stowage room. The hull has steamed oak frames and double 

 skin, thus giving a maximum of interior space for wooden con- 

 struction, while the exposed portions inside are very neatly fin- 

 ished. The joiner work is in very good taste, butternut being 

 used in all the cabins. The engine is a two-cylinder compound, 

 driving a 40in. screw, four-bladed, from which a speed of 10 knots 

 js expected. The yacht has rather a high freeboard and a good 

 .sheer. She will be schooner-rigged, the foremast stepping on 

 deck over a specially heavy deck beam, while the mainmast also 

 steps on deck. 



Across the street near the machine shop is the steel frame of a 

 steam yacht similar to Vivienne, built two years since, but longer, 

 being about 120tt. Iwl., 8ft. beam, and 7ft. Bin. draft. The frames 

 are ready to set up at any time, while a triple compound engine 

 IS completed in the shop, so that the yacht can be completed quite 

 rapidly to fill an order. The light draft would make the vessel a 

 very desirable one for the coast. The firm have also an order for 

 a duplicate of the fast No, 163, built two years since, of 73ft. over 

 all, 9ft. 6ln. beam, and 4ft. draft, described in the Forest and 

 Stream of Aug. 7, 1890. 



YACHT BUILDING IN BOSTON, 



WHILE Boston is turning out no racing yachts as yet for 1893, 

 tbere is a reasonable amount of activity in designing and 

 building, and quite a number of craft are under way. The prin- 

 cipal work just now is in tbe line of fishing vessels, the very suc- 

 cessful woiii ot Mr, Burgess a few years ago in the Carrie E. 

 Phillips, followed by the Fredonia and other fine vessels, having 

 brought tbe work of designing these vessels into the hands of 

 recognized dewgners in place of the builders or fishermen who 

 formerly cue the models for the fishing fleet. The Carrie E. Phil- 

 lips proved a remarkable boat, having cost but $9,500 originally, 

 which sum she has mude for her owners twice in two years, 

 finally selling for $8,000. The owners, Benj. F. Phillips, Capt. 

 Maurice Powers, and others, decided on a larger vessel of the 

 same type, and placed the order with Messrs. Stewart & Binnev. 

 the successors to Mr. Burgess. 



Tne new vessel, now half completed, is the largest and most 

 powerful of the fleet, being 97tr. l.w.l., 24ft. bemi and 13ft.. 6in. 

 draft. W'lile similar to the Puillips, the bow has been filled out 

 considerably, though not to the full extent which the latest 

 fashion demands, with the fullness carried out into the overhang 

 aloft; but the waterlines show a fair and pleasing fullness in 

 placx) of the knife bows with the accompanying shoulders of so 

 many of the older models. The whole model is one that would 

 please a yachtsman, powerful but clean cut, with a fair and easy 



GARDNER 90FT. SCHOONER. 



aide of the planking. The deck beams are also of angle steel, the 

 mast partner being a circle of angle steel, to the fliuge of which 

 are rlvetted the ends of four wide diagonal straps which radiate 

 from it to the sides. Tbere are in all eight of these straps across 

 the upper side uf the deck beams, making a series of four XXXX 

 covering the whole length of the deck, and adding greatly to its 



StlffUf'SS. 



The planking for some 4ft. above the rabbet is of Georgia 

 pine in a single thickness, l%in. Above this the skin is double, 

 an inner skin of J.^in. white pine with an outer one ^f %in. Geor- 

 gia pine. The planks are about om. widp. and very carerully laid, 

 the seams of the two skins breaking joints, while at each butt of 

 either skm an inside butt strap of wood is placed. The seams of 

 each skm are very carefully fitted, so that no caulking is required; 

 the result being a smooth surface of wood witi no putty to swell 

 out of the seams. The two skins are fastened to each steel frame 



but rather full sweep to all fore and aft lines, with good ends and 

 tnpsides, finished off by a handsome sheer. The counter is well 

 shaped both for use and beauty, and the vessel would put to shame 

 the majority of schooner yachts of her size. She will have a 

 steadier of 10 tons of iron outside, a departure in thi=i class of ves- 

 sel, the usual ballast being iron and cement inside. The firm have 

 also an order for a duplicate of the 95f c. l.w.l. Fredonia, the Forbes 

 fisherman. 



In yachts they have an order for a schooner of 45ft. Lw.l. and 

 but 4ft. 6m. draft, for a New Orleans yachtsman; a 30ft. keel cut- 

 ter of about 9ft. beam for a Philadelphia yachtsman; two keel 

 cutters 21ft. l.w.l., one for Dr. Franklin Dexter and one for a 

 Marblehead yachtsman; two keel sailing boats of 21ft. l.w.l., for 

 Messrs. Henry Taggard and Herman Parker, and an 18ft. cat- 

 boat for a Boston owner, making a total of nine vessels. The 

 31ft. boats are a fine little craft, of moderate cost an4 with 



