THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
A Good Ten-Dollar Boat. 
BY FRANKLIN VAN WINKLE, M. E. 
Concluded from page 68. 
THE only part of the construction requir- 
ing any degree of carpentering skill is 
the cutwater or stem post. This should be 
made next. A piece of hard wood (ash is 
preferable) is first cut in the form of a 
wedge, the angle between the sides (A, B, C, 
Fig. 7) being made the same as the angle 
between the edges of the bottom board 
at the point B, Fig. 5. The breadth 
of this wedge is equal to the main width of 
the side boards (14 inches) added to the 
thickness of the bottom (J-inch), viz., 14^ 
inches, and the length along either side 
from its point, i. e. from B to A or C, is 
equal to 6 inches. The grain may run 
either vertically or horizontally. Next cut, 
in the sides of the wedge, gains half an 
inch deep by 3 inches broad, as A, D, Fig. 
7, in which to drop the ends of the side 
boards, and make them flush with the 
original wedge, as indicated by the dotted 
lines. The stem piece will then have a 
cross section similar to the shaded part of 
the figure. In the same way as for the 
sides, cut a step into one end of the stem 
post in which to drop the bottom boards, 
leaving them projecting about an inch for- 
ward of the joints at the ends of the side 
boards. 
Next fit the side boards to the stem post. 
Cut them off on a bevel, making them 1\ 
inches longer on the upper edge. Fasten 
them to the stem piece with 1^ inch No. 13 
screws. Then" remove one side, bend the 
other around the curved edge of one of the 
bottoms, and find by trial about where the 
Fig. 7. — HORIZONTAL SECTION THROUGH STEM POST. 
stern comes. Beginning about 3 feet for- 
ward of the stei'n, sweep a curve up from 
the bottom edge, gradually growing steeper 
towards the stern at that point, so that the 
bending, 
ing them 
them wet 
sides are 
inch or 1 
side board is left 9 or 10 inches deep. Cut the 
curve only, and use this side board as a 
template after which to shape the other. 
The ends must not be cut off until after the 
stern piece has been set in position. 
The side boards are then to be soaked in 
water for about twelve hours previous to 
This may be done either by sink- 
in water, or by winding around 
carpets or cloths. While the 
joaking, cut from three-quarter 
inch stuff, a cross board of the 
dimensions given in Fig. 6, and have this 
in readiness to bend your side boards 
around. After sufficiently soaking the sides> 
put them back in the stem post; then, with 
the stern piece resting on the point of the 
bottom boards, tie the sides together at the 
stern. Midway between stem and stern, 
i. e. where G, D, of Fig. 5 comes, insert the 
cross board longest side up. In this form 
give them at least twenty-four hours in 
which to take a set, but do not allow them 
to stand in the sun, as in that case they 
will be liable to twist. 
Fig. 8.— LONGITUDINAL SECTION THROUGH STEM. 
The sides, after drying, being set out the 
proper distance apart at the stern, and 
tacked there, the bottom edges are planed 
to receive the bottom. The proper bevel is 
found by simply laying a straight-edge 
across, care being taken not to plane below 
the inside edges. 
The bottom boards are now fitted to their 
seat in the bottom of the stem-post, laid in 
their proper positions, and, beginning at 
the bow, are parmanently fastened "^ith 
fourpenny nails to the sides. 
The stern piece should then be cut ixor^t 
one-inch plank, and, as shown in Fig. 4, set 
inside of both side and bottom boards, with g 
