May 14, tg84.| 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
403 
Gas Engines and Launches. 
f BY F. K. GRAIN. 
(Continued from page 196.) 
Igniters. 
Igniting devices now employed are universally the 
electric ignition, that is to say, the charge of gas in the 
cylinder after being compressed is ignited by means of 
an electric spark, the spark being produced either from 
batteries or a mechanical generator. When electric igni- 
tion was first used the method of producing the spark was 
by having two parts, one of which was insulated, come 
in contact and separate with a wiping motion. Owing 
to the wear on the contact points and the difficulty of 
keeping the time of ignition the same, this plan was 
abandoned in favor of the popular method now in vogue 
called the make and break, or sometimes the hammer 
sparker. This device consists of first an electrode con- 
taining the contact point being insulated from the engine, 
usually by mica, the other part being a rocker shaft with 
an elbow inside of the cylinder, this elbow being actuated 
from the outside by various methods, but alike in the re- 
sult, and the general mechanical movement is brought 
into contact with the electrode point, closing the circuit ; 
then at the right moment the reverse motion is imparted 
to the rocker shaft separating the contact point when 
the spark is produced. This method of ignition is very 
simple, and as the duration of the contact or closing of 
the circuit can be made very short, it is probably the 
most economical on the battery power of any method. 
We have still another device, and one almost universally 
employed on automobiles, called the_ jump spark. In 
this device we have a firing plug containing two insulated 
points separated about i-i6 of an inch. On breaking the 
circuit, a spark jumps between these two points; to pro- 
duce this result we have, as with the make and break 
spark, a primary battery from which the current passes 
through an induction coil thence to the plug. The flow 
of the current being controlled by what is called the com- 
mutator, placed on the main shaft, which, being insulated, 
does not allow a current to enter the coil until the right 
moment, and then broken by separation on the commuta- 
tor by a simple mechanical movement. Of course, with 
the first named, or hammer brake, we employ a spark coil 
which is known as a low tension coil, whereas with the 
jump spark the coil employed is of high tension, and a 
current is produced of very high voltage. One of the ob- 
jections to the jump spark is that the plug is liable to 
become short-circuited from soot or oil, and the current 
being of high tension, great care must be exercised in 
insulating al] parts, especially the wiring, as the current 
will jump through quite a space from one conductor to 
another. 
While this method of ignition has a great many fea- 
tures which recommend it, on account of there being no 
mechanical movements necessary in the cylinder, it has 
not proved a success in marine work, as the dampness 
seriously affects the coil and produces short-circuits, and 
it is absolutely fatal to have the outfit get wet. 
We will now go back to the outside mechanical move- 
ment of a hammer brake. In the two-cycle engine and 
also the four-cycle, the rocker shaft and; the electrode 
employed are usually of similar design. And right here 
let us say that the sleeve or bearing through which the 
rocker shaft passes should in all cases be .of bronze to 
prevent rust and corrosion. In order to actuate the 
rocker shaft, it is forced into contact by some kind of a 
catch or dog which is spring-cushioned from a rod work- 
ing from either an eccentric or cam movement. When 
the contact is complete the separation is made by a part 
being allowed to fall and strike a hammer blow with a 
spring of some kind to assist it. This gives a quick and 
positive separation of the points, and of course can be 
timed exactly, and not influenced by the speed of the 
engine. 
Batteries and Electric Generators. 
In mentioning batteries, we would say that the kind 
now universally used are known as the dry battery, and 
can be purchased at most any hardware store. Of course, 
like other goods, they vary in quality. The number em- 
ployed for ignition purposes is generally from six to 
eight cells. These cells give from i to ij^ volts. Other 
and more expensive batteries are the wet variety, which, 
without doubt, will give better results in constant service, 
but in cases where the ordinary dry battery will not 
answer, we prefer to use a mechanical generator — that is, 
either a magneto or dynamo — using the batteries only for 
starting, and in this way they will last a long time. 
Alechanical generators mentioned are of two types — the 
magneto having an armature with a fixed magnet, the 
dynamo having an armature and field magnet. The re- 
sults obtained from either machine being of course alike, 
in general results, it is more a question of individual 
fancy as to which is the best to employ. The magneto 
has the advantage in this, that it can be operated at a 
greater range of speed than the dynamo, which machine, 
if over speeded, will burn out the field winding. But, on 
the other hand, the dynamo, as usually wound, will 
operate very successfully without a spark coil, which the 
magneto requires. The magneto also is liable to lose its 
magnetism, it being a fixed magnet. We are sorry to say 
that, owing to competition, some makers of the magnetos 
are not over particular in the quality of their magnetos, 
which on these machines is one of the most important 
parts. 
, While on this subject we would mention the method 
employed for giving the generators their rotary motion, 
which is either by a friction wheel directly on the arma- 
ture shaft or a belt wheel, both being driven from the 
fly-wheel of the engine. While the friction wheel is a 
very neat device, we cannot rcommend it, as, unless set 
perfectly true with the fly-wheel, there is a slight friction, 
which, although imperceptible, rapidly wears the friction 
wheel, and if any oil or water gets on to the fly-wheel, it 
allows ~the friction wheel to sUp, of course causing the 
engine to miss fire. . 
Both these objections are overcome by using a good 
belt, preferably a flat one, which in all cases should be 
endless, having the joint neatly sewed together, otherwise 
the jolt where the belt is laced passing over the pulley 
a£ the generator will pot gsly m^rk the conuput^tor, b«t 
w«w tbe fearing, „ 
Brooklyn Y. C/s Ocean Race* 
The details that are to govern the Brooklyn Y. Cs 
ocean race have been arranged for. The contest will be 
started on Saturday, July 2, off the Brooklyn Y. C., 
Gravesend Bav, Long Island, finishmg off Marblehead 
Rock, Marblehead, Mass. The distance is about 330 
miles, and there will be no time limit. 
The conditions governing the race follow: 
The race is open to cruising-sailing boats belonging to 
any organized yacht club in the world, not measuring 
more than 40ft. over all. Any rig. 
Boat to enter must be a bonafide . cruising vessel, hav- 
ing full deck, water-tight cockpit, and of substantial con- 
struction and rig. Yachts built to any special racing class, 
or that are used solely for racing, or yachts having bulb 
keel or metal fin which is not an integral portion of the 
hull are barred. 
Crew limited to five, all amateurs. One professional 
may be carried as steward or cook, but must do no work 
on deck, nor assist in any manner in navigating the 
vessel. 
Boats must carry stores and water sufficient for ten 
days. Not less than one-half gallon per day per man 
of water to be carried. This may be carried in tanks or 
breakers at the captain's option. 
Anchors, chain or hawsers, side-lights and complete 
cruising outfit must be on board, including two corn- 
passes, one for use in binnacle, and a small spare one in 
reserve; also, a life-preserver or ring for each member 
of the crew. 
Boats measuring more than 30ft. over all must have a 
tender or dinghey not less than loft. long; boats under 
30ft. over all one not less than 8ft. long. 
No restrictions as to light sails carried, but the lower 
canvas must be that used by the yacht when cruising. 
Towing by rowing dinghey and rowing with sweeps 
will be permitted. 
The shifting of weight fore and aft to trim the ves- 
sel will be allowed, but no weight in the form of ballast 
or stores must be jettisoned except as a measure of 
safety. 
Before starting the committee will inspect each yacht 
and decide as to its right to particpate in the race. All 
entries are accepted conditional to this inspection. 
Before starting, the captain of yacht must satisfy the 
committee that he has on board charts, compasses, lead- 
line, lights and proper sailing directions; also a log-book, 
which must be kept with hourly entries, and handed in at 
completion of race. 
The committee reserves the right to refuse the entry 
of any boat that they do not consider a bonafide cruising 
craft, or that is, in their judgment, unseaworthy or 
otherwise unfit to make the race. 
Measurement for computing allowance will be the 
length of the boat over all — i. e., the length on deck from 
the fore-side of the stem to the after-side of the stern- • 
board or transom. 
Allowance per foot, 40 minutes. No allowance for dif- 
ference of rig. 
Entries must be made before 12 o'clock noon, June 18. 
Entry blanks may be had by applying to D. G. Whit- 
lock, 51 Wall street; Charles A. Kelly, 21 Park Row; 
Thos. Fleming Day, 9 Murray street. New York city. 
Three prizes are offered, which are as follows : 
First Prize — A 50-guinea cup presented by Sir Thomas 
J. Lipton. 
Second Prize — If thtee or more boats start, a $200 
marine painting, presented by Warren Sheppard, Esq. 
Third Prize — If five or more yachts start, a $75 Chelsea 
ship's bell clock, presented by The Rudder Publishing 
Company. 
Also a prize to be given under conditions not yet for- 
niulated by G. R. Agassiz, Esq. 
Cotinthian Y. C. 
ESSINGTON, DELAWARE RIVER, 
Saturday, April 30. 
The first race for the new class of one-design dories 
was held on Saturday, April 30. Seven boats started and 
all finished. Mr. W. Barklie Henry's boat got the start 
and was never headed. The course was a triangle formed 
from the anchorage off Essington to Darby Creek, to the 
lower end of Tinicum Island and return. 
The summary follows, start 3 155 : 
No. 2. E. Walter Clark 5 23 00 1 30 00 
No. 6, W. Barklie Henry 5 23 00 1 30 00 
No. 10, F. R. Hoisington 5 18 00 1 33 10 
No. 12, J. Murray Watts 5 28 12 1 38 12 
No. 1, Dr. Root G. Le Conte... ...5 29 30 1 34 30 
No. 6, Mayor Weaver Not timed. 
No. 3, Estey Brothers Not timed. 
MoKi Sold to a Southern Yachtsman. — The fourth 
crack racing sloop of the Inland Lake Yachting Associa- 
tion has been sold to Southern yachtsmen, and will go 
to the Gulf coast at once. The last purchase being the 
Jones & Laborde production Moki, which represented 
Nodaway Y. C, of Neenah, Wis., in the assciation cham- 
pionship races last August, she finishing fourth in the 
percentage list. Moki was sold by Commodore J. C. 
Kimberly through the agency o'f L. D. Sampsell, of New 
Orleans. She will represent the Gulfport (Miss.) Y. C. 
in the championship races of the Southern Gulf Coast 
\achting Association for a clas of Seawanhaka cup type 
of boats. 
•I »( It 
Auxiliary Schooner Arcturus Chartered. — Mr. 
Frederic Gallatin has chartered the auxiliary schooner 
Arcturus from Mr. Rutherfurd Stuyvesant, through 
Messrs. Tams, Lemoine & Crane. Arcturus is 169ft. over 
all, 135ft. waterline, 27ft. 2in. breadth, and 13ft. draft. 
She was designed by Mr. St. Clare Byrne, and built by 
Messrs. Ramage & Ferguson at Leith, Scotland, in 1896. 
•t H H 
Kanawha Sold by Government. — The steam yacht 
Kanawha, the first of that name, has been purchased from 
the Uritted States Government . by Mf. H, C Baxter. 
She was purchased by the Government at the outbreak of 
the Spattish war ix<m Mr, Jolwi P, Duncan. 
Boston Letter. 
Boston, May 9. — At the annual meeting of the Man- 
chester Y. C. the following officers were elected : Com., 
Edward S. Grew; Vice-Com., S. Parker Bremer; Rear- 
Com., E. A. Boardman ; Sec'y and Treas., Horace B. 
Pearson ; . Meas., David Fenton. Regatta Committee — 
R. DeBlois Boardman, chairman; Reginald Boardman, 
George Lee, Norton Wigglesworth and Horace B. Pear- 
son. It has been announced by the House Committee 
that the club house will be kept open from 8 A. M. until 
10 P. M., and that an expert steward has been secured, 
so that members and visiting guests may obtain suitable 
meals on race days and other times. The following is the 
list of fixtures for the season: 
July 5, Tuesday — First championship race. 
July 18, Tuesday— Second championship race. 
August 8, Monday — Y. R. A. open race. 
August 9, Tuesday — Crowhurst cup open race. . 
August 16, Tuesday — Third championship race. 
August 22, Monday — Handicap club race. 
September 5, Monday — Handicap club race. 
In connection with the club championship races there 
will be club handicap races, to be announced later. A 
number of handsome new cups have been presented, arid 
it is proposed to make this season one of the liveliest in 
the annals of the club. 
The steam yacht Wakiva, owned by the estate of the 
late W. E. Cox, has been chartered to Mr. L. V. Hark- 
ness, of New York. She is now fitting out at the Baker 
Yacht Basin, in charge of Capt. L. A. Spinney, and is 
to be delivered at New York by June i. The Wakiva 
was designed by Messrs. Cox & King, of London, and 
built last year by Ramage & Ferguson, at Leith. She is 
192ft. over all, iS9ft. Sin. waterline, 2Sft. beam and lift. 
3in. draft. 
Mr. Henry A. Morss, of the Special Ocean Race Com- 
mittee of the Eastern Y. C, has announced that classes 
will be provided in. the ocean race for schooners of more 
than 50ft. waterline. The number of these classes will 
depend upon the number of yacht owners who desire to 
enter. The total number of entries received by Mr. Morss 
so far is 19. The House Committee of the Eastern Y. C. 
has announced that the club house at Marblehead will be 
opened for the season May 26, under the superintendence 
of Mr. George W. Crocker. It is proposed to have music 
Thursday evenings during July and August, provided for 
by subscription fund. Arrangements have been made for 
the care of private boats and bicycles, and for yacht sup- 
plies, water, laundry, telephone, etc. 
The 25ft. power launch, Minnie T., owned by Mrs. 
John N. Taylor, of Dorchester, was launched at Murray 
& Tregurtha's last Thursday. This launch will be used 
on ; Lake Cobbosseecontee, Me., where Mrs. Taylor has 
a summer estate, for fishing trips. The launch will sail 
for Hallowell some time this month, from which point 
she will be taken overland to the lake. 
Messrs. Murray & Tregurtha are building a 38ft. gaso- 
lene launch for Mr. R. W. Emmons, 2d, of the Beverly 
Y. C. She will be fitted with a navy awning and spray 
hood. She will be used in Buzzard's Baj'. This firm has 
sold the gasolene launch owned by Dr. C. A. Rabethge, 
of Boston, to Mr. Halsey Chase, of Prudence Island, R. I. 
The 2i-footer which Messrs. Small Bros, have de- 
signed, and which is now building at Lawley's, is for 
Commodore E. P. Vilas, of the Milwaukee Y. C. She 
will be called Mendota. Messrs. Small Bros, also have 
an order for a 21- footer for Mr. John R. Cotter, of Bay 
City, Mich., which may be raced for the Walker and 
Lipton cups. They have designed a 36ft. launch for Mr. 
W. E. C. Eustis, of the Beverly Y. C, which will 
probably be built at Monument Beach. They have sold 
the 2i-footer, Rooster II., owned by Hon. Charles 
Francis Adams, 2d, to Mr. William F. Nash, of the Lake- 
wood Y. C, Rocky River, O. 
At the yard of Mr. James Mclntyre, Neponset, the 22- 
footer. Clothe, owned by Commodore B. P. Cheney and 
Mr. C. D. Lanning, of the Boston Y. C, is being changed 
from centerboard to keel. It is figured- that by this 
change she may be made to measure into the class, which 
she was unable to do last season. At the same yard the 
i8-footer, Patrice II., built from Messrs Small Bros', 
design, has been finished. 
Mr. W. J. Edwards, of South Boston, has designed and 
will build a 30ft. launch for Mr. T. T. Beers, of New 
York. 
Last Wednesday the steam yacht Anona, built from 'de- 
signs by Mr. Fred D. Lawley for Mr. Paul Rainey, of the 
New York Y. C, was launched at the Lawley yard. The 
yacht was christened by Miss Ethel Chapin, of Provi- 
dence, R. I. Anona is plated with steel on the raised 
and sunken system. She is I38it. over all, iioft. water- 
line, 17ft. 6in. beam, and 7ft. 6in. draft. Her depth of 
hold is loft. loin. She has a triple expansion engine of 
500 horse-power, with cylinders loin. by isin. by 24in., 
with a i4in. stroke. It is estimated that her speed will be 
\2\A knots. She has two deck houses, mahogany outside 
and mahogany in antique effect inside. The forward 
deck house contains the dining saloon and pantry. There 
is a separate ice-box in the pantry and a dumb waiter 
connecting with the galley. The after deck house is used 
as a social hall, and from this entrance is gained to the 
owner's quarters below, which consist of four staterooms 
with two baths. A complete telephone system is installed, 
and the yacht will be lighted by electricity. There is no 
ice-making machine, but in lieu of this there is an ice- 
box below decks with a capacity for three tons. There 
is sufficient coal capacity in the bunkers for 1,200 miles. 
The Anona will carry a crew of fourteen, under com- 
mand of Capt. John Thompson. 
John B. Killeen. 
Steam Yacht Kalolah Sold. — Mr. Albert H. Schmidt, 
of Detroit, Mich., has purchased from Mr. Dumont 
Clarke the steam yacht Kalolah, through the agency of 
Mr. Stanley M. Seaman, New York. Kalolah is a flush- 
deck boat, designed and built by the Herreshoff Mfg. 
Co., 1893. She is 93ft. over all, 78ft. waterline, 13.9ft. 
beam, 5ft. draft; double planked, with steel reinforce- 
ments, and has triple expansion engine and i^lmy boiler, 
giving a speed of 12 miles an hour. The yacht is now 
in Tebo's Basin, in charge of Capt. J, J. Klintworth, 
Detroit. She will leave for the West Just soon as tli? 
%%x% Canal is open for navigatioi^ 
