* Dec. 17, 1898J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
499 
The Standard Navy Boats, 
By Arthur B. Cassidy, Esq , Member Society Nav. Arch, and Marine Eng 
The design of small boats for the navy has been a 1 
problem which the naval constructors have been obliged 
to solve under circumstances somewhat similar to those 
affecting the designs of ships for the special purposes in- 
tended, and under many conflicting and limiting condi- 
tions. 
The necessities of special cases of boat design are illus- 
trated by the dory of the New England fisherman, a light, 
handy craft of good freeboard and great carrying capacity. 
The average "banker" carries about a dozen dories, snug- 
ly nested by removal of the thwarts. Each boat is 
handled by two men, and will carry on a draft of I2in. 
from 1,500 to 2,ooolbs. 
The' New Bedford whale-boat, famous for its speed, 
lightness and capacity, is an easy pulling boat, with con- 
siderable sheer and sharp lines. The bow and stern are 
alike, so that the boat will work quickly in either diriV- 
1 
tion, and there is considerable curvature in stem and stern 
post, so that it can be turned quickly by the boat steerer 
with his long steering oar, and thus escape the fury of the 
whale. The boat is usually fitted with a small sail and 
centerboard, carries a crew of seven or eight; five or 
six at the oars, a boat header and boat steerer, with all 
the necessary gear, harpoons, lances, tubs containing whale 
lines, etc. Each whaler usually carries about two spare 
boats, and in her complement of boats has more than 
enough capacity to easily carry all the crew. 
The surf boat is one with great sheer, full forward and 
after body, quick rise of keel forward and aft. A surf 
boat that has received great praise in the navy is the 
Ranger boat, built at Mare Island, for use on the survey 
of the coast of Mexico and Central America. 
The racing cutter or barge, built sharp and light as 
possible, is intended for racing in smooth water. 
The light steam and naphtha launches, which are so 
popular along our coast in sheltered waters, are built as 
light as possible, and with their limited crew serve their 
purpose* admirably as pleasure craft in smooth water. 
In each of the cases cited the boat fulfills its purpose, 
but would be comparatively worthless if its use was at- 
tempted in any other class than that for which it was 
intended. 
As in each of the above mentioned cases, so in the 
navy, must the boats be designed for their specific purpose. 
They must be strong Enough to stand rough usage in 
rough water. They must be stable under sail or oars, have 
great carrying capacity, and must be as light as is con- 
sistent with the necessary strength. The steam cutters ■ 
must have the power and strength of construction to not 
only carry their own load of officers and men, ranging 
from 60 in the 40ft. steam cutters to 35 in the 28ft., but 
must be able to tow all the other boats of the vessel, loaded 
to their capacity. 
As the usual space on naval vessels for the stowage of 
boats is limited, the number of boats that can be carried 
is also limited, so that in abandoning ship, when each 
man has his allotted place in a boat, there is not. much 
spare room, as the boats, besides their human freight, must 
carry the requisite amount of provisions and water. Then 
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20-FT. DINGHY— LINES. 
Scale 
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30-FT. GIG WHALEBOAT— LINES, 
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