ll 
FOREST AND STREAI)^. 1 
[Jan, 7, 1905. 
THE HOUSEBOAT LYSANDER OUTBOARD PROFILE AND CABIN PLAN DESIGNED BY R. W. HADDOCK. 
materially reduce the revolutions of the propeller, and 
careful and constant attention is necessary to keep_ the 
valves ground in and the proper tension on the inlet 
valve springs. It has often been remarked that a four- 
cycle engine with no valves, if it could be designed and 
operated satisfactorily, would be a long strong step to- 
ward perfection in gasolene engine perfection. In no 
application can it be better appreciated than for marine 
work where the full power of the engine is almost con- 
stantly utilized, unlike the automobile, which rarely needs 
its full power for any length of time except for hill- 
climbing. 
Let us have some tests of carbureters in 1905, and let 
us also hail the day when improved design arid careful 
attention to detail shall have prolonged the time of use- 
fulness of both types of engine. 
British Letter. 
The show of motor launches at the Paris Salon 
d'Automobile this year has been a very large one, and 
from a spectacular point of view the whole exhibition 
may be said to be a great success. Unfortunately, the 
type of launch most in evidence is the totally useless 
racing shell, and the equally useless so-called racmg 
"cruiser." The folly of the manufacturers is sufficiently 
apparent in the obstinate manner in which they stick 
to a form of vessel which is far too expensive for the 
ordinary individual to buy, and' which is not even sea- 
worthy, but which they seem to consider the alpha and 
omega of motorboat perfection. The finality of ab- 
surdity would, however, appear to be reached in the 
"cruising" launch, Dietrich II., which is 40ft. in length, 
carries a motor of 140 horsepower and consumes I7>4 
gallons of fuel every hour. ■Li- 
lt is not difficult to discover why the general public 
fights shy of such costly craft, especially as they are 
quite unfitted for the open sea. There are a few really 
nice bona fide cruising launches at the show, but thev 
are all rather small. It is satisfactory to know that the 
workmanship of the motors is in no way superior to 
that of English firms, and that in design our boats are 
manifestly superior to the French craft. There may 
be and- doubtless there is a great future for motor-pro- 
pelled boats, but it will never be with the eggshell type, 
so popular with the trade. The racing motorboat may 
be classed with the racing bicycl^^_ afid the racing motor 
car as liot only useless, but positively dangerous and, 
so far as j'achtsmen are concerned, motor pawer will 
ior many years be confined to auxiliary power for 
yachts and' yacht's launches, for both of which pur- 
poses it is eminently fitted: 
Some weeks ago a British motorboat club was 
3t;irtcd, hut fin; ronimittee is poniposed of so rnany 
persons interested in the trade, that it will not be 
likely to have any degree of success with the better 
classes in this country. In Great Britain the main idea 
of the majority of people who go in for races of any 
■description is sport pure and simple, and the idea of 
trade competition in sucli matters is extremely dis- 
tasteful to them. Professional football is not regarded 
as a sport by our leisured classes, neither are bicycle 
racing, motor car racing, nor motor launch racing, the 
reason being that in all these things the commercial 
side of the ciuestion is always uppermost. 
If sport is to be kept pure ajid undefiled, the com- 
mercial element must be relegatied to its proper place. 
The spectacle of motor laumches being steered by their 
builders is not an elevating one; the helmsman has al- 
ways an undue interest in tlie doings of his boat, and 
his one idea is to win— for thr. good of his firm, not of 
the "sport." Moreover, motorboat racing will always 
be a procession, the fastest boat — bar accidents — will 
always win and after a few trials the winning boats 
can be picked out. The same thing occurred a few years 
ago, when steam yacht racing? was taken up for a short 
period and British steam yachts were given races at 
the Riviera regattas. The thing soon developed into 
a farce, the boat with the highest power won with un- 
varying monotony, and the races died a natural death. 
The sooner the same thing happens with motor launch 
racing the better, for then the builders can turn their 
attention to the perfection of good wholesome boats 
which can be economically driven and contain some of 
the elements of comfort. 
The yachting season on the Riviera does not promise 
very well this year. The Fairlie-built schooner Susanne 
and the Navahoe are the only big boats known to be 
going out there, and there is apparently every proba- 
bility of the King Edward Cup race from Gibraltar to 
Nice falling through again ; for want of entries. The 
bulk of the racing will fall to the lot of the smaller 
French and Italian classes. ' E. H. Kelly. 
The Hottseboat Lysander. 
The houseboat Lysander is of the scow type; 85ft. 
over all length; 21ft. extreme breadth, and 2ft. 4in. 
draft. She was built in tlie -winter of 1901-02 at Alex- 
andria Bay, N. Y., for a well-known New York gentle-- 
man, from plans made by R. W. Haddock. The hull 
was built on the ice ^and practically launched itself in 
the spring. The' tfoat has no power for propelling pur- 
pose and is intended for aifloating home to be towed 
from place to place at will.: .. - . . 
. . On coming aboard at the 'companionway on the fore- 
deck, the first room is .the, library, igft 6in, by 19ft. in 
the clear, Window seats rui-^ ftjopg ejicli side, having 
lids hinged to raise for storage. Three windows on 
each side give ample light; and heat in the fall is 
furnished by a complete steam-heating plant, radiators 
being in all rooms, as shown in plans. Besides the 
heating plant, the boat has a complete electric lighting 
equipment — engine and generator. 
The general scheme of interior decoration is white 
enamel sides and ceiling, and hardwood floors through- 
out. A passageway 3ft. 6in. wide runs from the library 
to the dining saloon, from which open the owner's state- 
room and guests' rooms. On the port side are two 
large st^iterooms, 8x8 and 8x10. connecting through 
the bathroom. In each room are wardrobe and bureau. 
Both rooms are intended for regulation bedsteads, 
as also are two of the guests' rooms on the starboard. 
These rooms all are provided with white enameled 
lavatories, and hot and cold water, as well as steam heat. 
The water system is by gravity from a large tank 
on the upper deck. This tank is divided to break the 
swash. The top is fitted with cushions and is used as 
a lounging place. A skylight also gives light to the 
passageway beneath. Hot water is provided from the 
range in the galley. 
The dining saloon is a large and spacious one, being 
i6ft. by 2oft. Side-board, serving table with drawer 
under for linen and corner china closets are provided 
here._ Next comes the galley on the port side, and 
captain's and steward's quarters on the starboard. 
Quarters for the crew are placed below deck in the 
after part, as also is the machinery and heating plant. 
The boat has a complete sewage system, with main 
trunk line and branches all in a most up-to-date- man- 
ner. -Consideration for habitancy of all parts, and good 
ventilation being of prime importance, no expense was 
spared to attain the same. 
The entire upper deck is given to comfortable furni- 
ture, and is an ideal summer resting place. The whole 
is covered with a standing roof, having storm curtains 
for inclement weather. The interior is furnished and 
fitted with all the small things that go to make life 
comfortable and would have to be seen to be ap- 
preciated. The spars are more for dressing ship than 
any other purpose, and do not extend below the roof 
of house. The galley is complete in every detail with 
range; refrigerators, dressers and other essentials are 
found. 
For summer on the water a boat of this type gives 
as much comfort as a small house, and certainly fi?ee- 
dom from dust and many other land nuisances, and pos- 
sesses the advantage of being easily moved if the lo- 
cality becomes wearisome. It also furnishes a base for 
many aquatic pleasures— a sailing, canoeing, rowing auG 
launch party. The possibilities for entertaining and 
social events ^r? no mean feature Qf boat of this 
class, 
