Oct. 30, 1897.] 
FOREST AMD STREAM. 
358 
i'liumerated above, are of alutninum. The builders claim a 
ti Jiin or saving! of teu tons over steel construction as used in 
r lie yacht Colonia of nearly similar build. The transfer of 
this weight from the topsides to the keel, through a vertical 
lieight of about21ft., causes the distinguishing characteristic 
i-eferred to at the beginning, that of a lowness of center of 
gravity which places this boat apart from all other products 
of marine construction. 
This use of aluminum presents particular interest from the 
effort it represents to realize not only a gain in weight, as 
yet moderate in quantity when compared for simple strength 
with steel, but also the more pronounced advantage afforded 
by a more efficient disposition of metal, a section of greater 
iaertia, and consequent greater stiffness, than can be real- 
ized with the smaller quantity of the heavier and stronger 
)3aetal. 
In addition, in view of service and deterioration which sets 
in from the surface, and which may be looked upon as pene- 
I rating readily a certain distance and then ceasing, the 
1 flicker plate of the lighter metal offers decided advantage 
' ver the thinner plate of the stronger metal, assuming equal- 
ity of strength when firr^t built. These featuTpa ate inipoit- 
F!J. :;. MiDsrap Seoxton, 
ant ones in maritime constructicn, particularly in naval 
construction. 
Tlie last feature is of particular importance in torpedo-boat 
constructioa, which requires the use of plates of extreme 
thinness. 
The advantage of taking weight from lower portions and 
putting it on the keel is less pronounced than for the case of 
the upper portions. Further, a special bronze alloy, stronger 
than steel, though heavier than aluminum, offers, when, 
])olished, pronounced advantage OA'er all painted or varnished 
surfaces, according to the experience of the builders, in 
smoothness ot surface. 
The water- washed portions of the shell plating are of man- 
ganese bronze, from which results of ultimate strength are 
realized about IS per cent, in excess of the results of steel 
used for the same purpose. In view of the additional fact 
that the under water parts are for the most part on the com- 
pression side of the bogging girder, and will consequently be 
less called upon for resistance within ten.sile elasticity, and 
of the fact, that Ijronze off'ers advantages in maintenance of 
» 
1 " 
1 " 
I 
smoothness, according to the builders, and decided advan- 
tages in resistance to deterioration, this feature is one or 
particular interest in naval construction, particularly in the 
case of torpedo boat construction, where deterioration is 
most injurious. 
In sum, the construction of the boat seeks to realize the 
advantages offered by two materials that may be considered 
new, and presents for study all the interest that attaches to 
the experiment of these materials in the new field of hull 
construction. 
But in seeking to realize the advantages of the new ma- 
terials the builders have not lost sight of the advantages 
i-till offered by the old. For the f lames and fioor plaLe.s and 
f'lr special fittings like the tie plates around the mast and 
the chain plates and, in general, the parts where the advan- 
tages offered by aluminum and bronze are less in evidence, 
and where special strength without special stiffness is de- 
sired, use is made of steel, with evident advantage. It 
.ihould be noted that the lower parts of the floor plates, ]2in. 
in height, which are liable to corroding effects of bilge water, 
are made of bronze. 
In sum, the boat seeks to realize the advantages offered by 
all three of the materials, aluminum, special bronze and 
steel. 
Tbougli ^aluminum boats liave been built abroad^ and 
though bronze has been previously used by the builders in 
conjunction with steel on Vigilant, the combination of 
alnminttm, bronze and steel has never been attempted. In 
material, as in architecture, the boat stands apart. But, 
further, simplicity and directness of construction and new 
materials and new combinations of materials are not the 
only characteristics of this remarkable boat. 
An examination of the scantlings as described above, and 
as seen on the sketch of midship section, shows throughout 
a lightness that is remarkable when it is remembered that 
the boat is essentially a structural experiment on untrodden 
ground. This lightness of scantlings is most marked in the 
region of the mast. It is true that here are found the maxi- 
mum dimensions of pieces, the heaviest scantlings of outside 
plating, that the two beams between which the mast passes 
are of steel instead of aluminum, that the deck strapping 
plates are increased in width, and that a special steel tie 
plate binds up the four beams, and the ends of the foitr 
strapping plates, bttt even with these special dispositions the 
provisions do not appear commensurate with the local 
strains, particularly on the weather side, that the structure 
will undergo by reason of the narrow spread of the stays, 
introducing an enormous thrust of the mast and crushing 
force between the sides due to the enormous spread of sail 
and the great height of the center of pressure. Notwith- 
standing the special provisions enumerated, it appears not 
improbable that a heavy wind, particttlarly if applied sud- 
denly, will cause the structures in the region of the mast to 
spring, if not to give way, it being assumed that the mast is 
sufficiently robust not to give way beforehand. In view of 
the experimental nature of the boat, this feature of light- 
ness, particularly in the region of the mast, is second in its 
striking nature only to the features described above, and 
offers an interesting field for the calculation of the strains 
to which the materials are liable to be subjected. This 
feature has not been iucltided in the present examination of 
the "method of construction," but a summary investigation 
leads to the conclusion that the scantlings are such as to bid 
fair to afford a conclusive, if not crticial, test of the strength 
of the new materials. 
But the test of strength is nob the only test in store for the 
new materials; the test of endurance will also be conclusive. 
The materials are in a combination that will produce serious 
effects of galvanic action, if such action is liable to take 
place under the conditions of service. The aluminum and 
bronze are not only in contact with each other, but are both 
in contact with steel, and this contact is most intimate in 
the case of rivets passing through two or more different 
materials, as in the case of rivets between frames and shell 
plating. It is to be noted that methods have been used to 
obviate as far as possible the liability to this action, sttch, for 
iastance, as the avoidance of the tise of aluminum below the 
water, the use of bronze for the bottom of the floor plates 
where liable to be in contact with bilge water. The con- 
ditions of service will test the efficiency of these methods. 
The test will extend to the use of bronze for the water- 
washed surfaces, to the extent of the advantage it offers for 
the resistance to deterioration and to fouling, and, if pos- 
sible, it should be made to extend to finding the extent of 
the advantages it offers in frictional resistance, the in- 
creased smoothness compared with painted and varnished 
surfaces. 
Tuus, in sum, the Defender, while presenting a remark- 
aile study of simplicity of construction and efficiency of 
distribution of materials, embodies two new materials in 
s tch light scantlings as to offer a test of their strength, and 
in such combination and disposition as to offer a severe test 
of their qualities of endurance, of resistance to deteriorating 
influences. 
The objects throughout, that of realizing a maximum of 
strength, with a minimum of weight, particularly in the 
upper parts, of realizing a minimum of skin resistance, are 
identical with the objects in naval design, more particularly 
in torpedo boat design, while the methods adopted, the use 
of three materials, two of which are new, in a combination 
which seeks to realize the special advantages of each, and 
the means resorted to to prevent the bad eft'ects liable to the 
combination, are all steps across the border at which tor- 
pedo boat construction has arrived into the fields beyond. 
This interesting production has sought to realize the ex- 
treme of sailing advantages along the road that torpedo 
boat construction must follow in coming developments of 
hull construction, and the conditions are peculiarly favor- 
able for its cutting away many of the obstacles and indicat- 
ing what changes in direction are best for entering the new 
ground. 
To realize the advantages of the experiment, investigation 
should extend to cover the behavior of the new materials 
under the tests of strength, during stress and after repeattd 
stresses, and under the tests of endurance and resistance to 
deterioration. 
Seawaren Land and Water Club. 
The Seawaren Land and Water Club held its last naph- 
tha launch race for the season, over the 11-mile club course 
on Staten Island Sound, on Saturday afternoon, Oct. S-H, for 
a handsome silver-mounted, cut-glass claret pitcher, pre- 
sented by H. (t. Segnine, as first prize, and .i second prize 
presented by C. M. Cooper, cbairman of the regatta commit- 
tee. The first prize was won by Lispeth (30ft., 4 h p.) Wm. 
M. Ballard; elapsed time, 1h 2lm : corrected time, Ih. 9m. 
303. The .second prize was won by Hazt'l (30ft., 6 h-p.) Mrs. 
H. G. Sejuine; elapsed time, Ih. 20ra. 50s.; corrected time, 
Ih. 11m. 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES 
TheLawley & Son Co. has now underway a new Buz- 
zard's Bav knockabout for Joshua Crane, Jr., from designs 
by B. B. Crowninshield. She will be 32ft. 4in. over all, 21ft. 
l.w.l., 9ft. ;2in. extreme beam, 8ft. Sin. l.w.l. beam, 3ft. Sin. 
draft, with a knife centerboard housing in the keel. The 
construction will be specially light, with bent main keel 
34''in. deep, steamed frames each in a single piece from wale 
to wale. Amanita, as she will be called, the name of a 
poisonous mushroom, will swing an English lug mainsail, 
made by Lapthorne & Ratsey; trying t^his in alternation' 
with the ordinary gaff mainsail. She will be in all respects 
as much of a racing machine as the class restrictions will 
permit. 
Capt. H, .J. Copley, of Oshkosh, AVis., has in hand an order 
for a schooner for W. C. Reioig, of Fond du Lac, to be fiSft. 
over all, 45ft. l.w.l., 16ft. beam, and 4ft. 6in. draft, including 
an iroa keel. Capt. Copley will also build for C. A- White, 
Fond du Lac, a 21ft. l.w.l. sloop of 9ft. beam and 2ft. 6rn. 
draft, including an iron keel. 
The steam yacht White Ladye, well known in tbis country 
through her several visits when under charter to the late 
Ogden Goelet, is offered for sale at auction by Messrs. 
Thompson & Campbell, in London, on Nov. 34. The firm 
has issued a most elaborate catalogue of the yacht, giving 
arrangement, plans and complete inventory. 
A meeting of the New York Y. R. A. was held onlOct. 15 
with Com. Prime in the chair. The reporfc of the regatta 
committee on the Labor Day regatta.was presented and ac- 
cepted. The Jersey City Y. C. was dropped from member- 
ship and the Nyack Y. A . was elected. Capt. Joe Ellsworth 
was elected a delegate to the meeting of Oct, 30. 
The Penatoquoit Cor. Y. C, of Bay shore, L. I,, is prepar- 
ing to establish a one-design class of skipjacks, from a design 
by C. G. Davis, to be 13ft. 6in. over all, 4ft. beam, with 
144sq. ft. of sail. It is expected that eighteen boats will be 
built. 
The Phil':'delphia Y. C. proposes to establish a one-design 
class of 20£t. yachts, and they will probably be built by 
Thomas Webber, from a design by C. G. Davis. The dimen- 
sions are: 26fc. over all, 17ft. l.w.l., Sfb. 6in. beam, Ifb. 2in. 
draft of hull, sail area 525sq. f h , with Tobin bronze board of 
SOOlbs. weight. They will also carry an outside lead keel of 
l.OOOlbs. The club has just secured from the U. S. Govern- 
ment a lease of six and one-half acres of land on Tinicum 
Island in the Delaware River, where it will establish a sta- 
tion, with railway, etc. * 
The fifth annual meeting of the Lake Sailing Skiff' Asso- 
ciation of Lake Ontario was held at Hamilton on Oct. 16 
with Pres. World in the chair, the delegates being; G. R 
Judd, J. H. Fearnside, R. H. Y. C ; F.^ E. Walker, G. F. 
Blrely, V. Y. C; Messrs. Riley and Whinton, National 
Y. and S. C: D. World, R. T. S. S. C. The Parkdale 
S C was admitted to membership, with R. Osborne 
.IS delegate. The limit of membership for clubs eligible 
to the Association was made fifteen, instead of 
twenty. Ic was decided to extend the beam measurements 
in the different classes as follows: 20ft. class, not less 
than 5ft; 18ft. cla«s, not less than 4>i5'ft.; 16ft. class, not less 
than 4ft. This amendment nob to De retroactive. It was 
decided to abolish allowance in the different classes. An 
amendment was passed providing that a skiff must not go 
out of her own class, except in cup races, when there will be 
a class allowance. A committee was appointed to arrange 
about a presentation to the president and secretary for their 
past services. The following officers were elected: F. E. 
Walker, Hamilton, pres.; G R. Jtidd, vice-pres.; L.J. Levy, 
sec'y-treas.; E.xecutive Committee— G. R. Judd, G. F. Birely. 
R. T. Cuff, W. A. Watts, T. Riley. Pres. Walker donated a 
cup to be competed for annually by all classes. After the 
meetiug the delegates were entertained to dinner at the St 
Nicholas Hotel. 
Last week the yachting community suffered a loss through 
the death of Mr. T. B. C. West, who has been a most ardent 
yachtsman since he first took up the pastime twelve years 
ago. Among the many successful craft which Mr. West 
owned and raced, tw^o stand out prominently— the lO-tonner 
Queen Mab and the 40 rater of the same name, and the al- 
most phenomenal success achieved by this pair was only 
approached by the fine performances of his 40-tonner May. 
All his racing craft c-ime from the board of Mr. G. L. Wat- 
son, and at the time of his death he owned the once famous 
cutter Yanduara, now known as the Madrigal, and which 
still looks a smart and modern craft, though it is seventeen 
years ago since she left the stocks. Mr. West was an active 
and liberal supporter of every movement connected with the 
improving of yacht racing, and, as a proof of his being a 
practical sailor, he held a master's certificate, and was the 
author of various charts.— Field, Ort. 16. 
H. C. Wintringham, the yacht-designer, who has designed 
several large tugboats wbich have proved very successful, 
has in hand a new tug 163ft. long. 29ft. 4in. beam, and 19ft. 
Sin. depth, to be named Gypsum King. 
On Oct. IS, the schooner Belle, owned by Edward Coles, of 
New York, while bound from Huntington Harbor for Bridge- 
port, about 11 P. M., struck some floating object and made 
water rapidly. With Capt. Fred Stillman and a seaman 
was Mr, John Dam er,s, of New York. The three launched 
the yacht's yawl just before the vessel sank, somewhere in 
the middle of the Sound between Eaton's Neck and Shef- 
field Island. As there was half a gale blowing, they had a 
very serious time of it before reaching South Norwalk at 
5 A. M. 
A special meeting of the Atlantic Y, C wa.s held on Oct, 
19 at the Waldorf, with Com. George .J. Gould in the chair. 
The report of the special committee was received, and plans 
were accepted for a large new club house, work on which 
will be commenced shortly on the club's new property at 
Sea Gate, Norton's Point. 
American Canoe Association. 
With the meeting of Oct. 16, the A. C. A. starts on its 
nineteenth year under conditions w-hich are very plainly 
shown by our report of last week, While there is not the 
old-time enthusiasm for either the Association or for racing 
that its friends would like to see, at the same time it is on a 
very satisfactory financial basis and has an active and 
enthusiastic board of officers and a good working member- 
ship. The probabilities for the near future are that this 
membership will increase, and that the meets will continue 
with an attendance of at least 200 persons, and with a fair 
amount of general racing, but little keen competition for the 
principal prizes. 
The question of site, in spite of all opposition, settled 
quietly down to the immediate vicinity of Grindstone; no 
other location was seriously con.siderpd. The Association 
has traveled about a great deal, it has tried both Lake 
George and Lake Champlain a number of time.s, and the 
general feeling is against a return to either place. The 
strongest advocates of the lakes this year were from the 
Eastern Division, on the score of convenience and expen.«e to 
them; but the fact is, the Eastern Division has been con- 
spicuous only by its absence at the Champlain meets planned 
specially for its benefit— even in its own particular year it 
mustered but a corporal's guard, and it sends more men to a 
meet on the St. Lawrence River than it does to Lake Cham- 
plain. The trip from Boston to Clayton is a tedious one for 
the Eastern men — not only expensive, hut troublesome in 
the night changes of trains — but for the other three Divis- 
ions the St. Lawrenceis far more convenient. Even the New 
York men find that the odds in time and expense l)etween 
Clayton and Plattsburgh are not worth considering. 
While there is quite a strong feeling against going repeat- 
edly to the same spot or the same general locality, it has 
not manifested itself positively in the proposal of any new 
and promising location; this feeling, in connection with the 
turn of the Atlantic Division, has produced nothing more 
than a vague mention of Port Jefferson, on the Long Island 
shore, as a site for a second salt water meet; a place that is 
practically accessible only by canoe or special steamer, there 
being no regular rail or steamer communication worth 
speaking of. The proposal to discuss sites in the Atlantic 
Division met with no response. 
The fact is that tUe site question ias been reduced to yejy 
Frti. 
