FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 21, 190S. 
The Swampscott Club. 
The north shore of Massachusetts is the home of the 
small boat sailor, and there is certainly no place in Amer- 
ica _ where the interest is so general and so keen in the 
racing and sailing of the moderate sized yacht. Almost 
every town boasts of a yacht club, and in each case it is 
a live, thriving institution. 
Some places have 'boats peculiar to that place brought 
about by natural conditions and restrictions, and this is 
true of Swampscott, which is pre-eminently the home of 
the dory. 
The dory, as a type, was originally built at Salisbury, 
Mass., by Hiram Lowell & Son. Mr. Andrew L. Harris, 
in a lecture before the Swampscott Historical Society, 
gave some interesting data regarding these craft. 
The dory was designed, originally, to meet the require- 
ments of the fishermen of Swampscott, who wanted a 
light rowboat, strong, seaworthy, and with a bottom suffi- 
ciently flat to enable the boat to run in through the surf 
on to the beach without capsizing. These conditions 
gave rise to the narrow V-shaped stern, against which 
seas might break without overturning the craft, the pro- 
nounced sheed, the narrow flat bottom and straight, 
slightly overhanging bow. 
_ The original dories were about 13ft. long, and at one 
time it was customary to use 13ft. oars, the rower work- 
ing cross-handed. Since, however, a shorter oar has been 
generally adopted. 
The dory, however, is not confined to alongshore fish-, 
ing. Not a schooner of all the fishermen hailing from 
the Atlantic seaports and casting anchor on the Georges 
or Grand banks but carries its quota of the craft, snugly 
Catspaw — Swampscott Club Dory. 
Owned by John J. Blaney. 
nested in piles on deck when not in use, for it is a boat 
that is easily dismantled and set one within the other. 
Racing and sailing in dories has been encouraged by the 
Swampscott Club, which was formed with the idea of 
fostering this type of craft. 
Residents of Swamj)scott living on the shore and hav- 
ing one of the best sheets of water to be found for boat 
racing, it was only natural, with so much in common, 
that a club was formed. The formation of a club was 
hastened when the time came that interest in the sport 
languished, for the reason that each season there would 
be new boats built of a newer design and perhaps larger 
in some ways, and would consequently be faster, which 
would mean that owners of the old craft must sell at a 
great sacrifice and get a new one. After a while it got too 
expensive^, and the interest died out. In the fall of 1898 
forty genllerhen got together, talked the matter over, 
formed the club, which was incorporated as the Swamp- 
scott Club, and decided to build a class of one-design 
dories to be known as the Swampscott Club dories. The 
dory type was selected because it could be built and main- 
tained for much less than any other type. Mr. Chas. D. 
Mower, the well-known designer of some fast small boats, 
was commissioned to draw plans for a dory to be sea- 
worthy and fast, not to carry ballast except crew. The 
plans called for the following dimensions: Length on 
Swampscott Club Dories Crossing the Starting Line. 
bottom, 14ft. 6in. ; width, ift. 2in. ; length over all, 21ft.; 
extreme beam, 5ft. Sin.; depth, ift. Sin. Although never 
havmg designed a boat of this type before, he produced 
one that_ is the fastest ever built. The sail plan designed 
by him is a leg-o'-mutton of 19^ sq. yds., jib 3 sq. yds. 
Mamsail measurements are luff, 19ft. 4in. ; foot, 19ft. 4in. ; 
leach, 2ift. 7in. ; jib luff, loft. 4in. ; foot, 6ft. 7in.: leach, 
8ft. 6in. 
There were seven boats built the first year, viz., Oregon, 
Barbara, Columbia, P. B., Too Doo, Busy Bee and No. 8. 
Some very exciting races were held, but no championship 
was awarded. The next year opened with Busy Bee 
sold and two new ones added, Lillian and Catspaw. The 
championship was won by Barbara. The third year Ore- 
gon won the championship after some very close racing. 
The fourth year Oregon, Columbia and Lillian were sold, 
and two new ones added — Perseus and Oom Paul. 
Teaser won the championship series and Pointer H. the 
series called the boat owners' races sailed on Sundays, 
the prize being contributed by the owners. In 1903 two 
boats were added. Bugaboo II. and Question, Teaser 
taking the cham.pionship of the club and the boat owners' 
series. The Annisquam Y. C. entered the field with six 
boats built the same dimensions as the Swampscott Club's 
fleet, but designed by Benner, of East Boston. A series 
of three races was arranged, only one being sailed, with 
the result that the Swampscott Club boats finished ten 
minutes before their rivals. The other two races were 
called off on account of the lateness of the season. The 
Annisquam Y. C. presented the Swampscott Club with a 
handsome copper cup with the names of the first five 
boats and their order of finishing engraved thereon, viz., 
Catspaw, Teaser, Barbara, Pointer 11. and Question. 
In 1904 the Bay State Y. C, of Revere, ordered twelve 
boats built on the Swampscott Club's design, and an asso- 
ciation between the three clubs was formed. It is known 
as the Massachusetts Bay Dory Racing Association. There 
was a series of six races, two off each club. With an 
entry list of thirty boats, there was one of the largest 
classes along the coast, and also one of the most popular. 
It can also be said that these boats have raced for the 
hist five years every holiday, most every Saturday and 
Sunda}', and have never had to reef. 
Returning to the formation of the club and its growth. 
At the first meeting each member was assessed two dol- 
lars, which was understood to be an admission fee, and 
annual dues were made twelve dollars. That gave the 
large sum of $80 to furnish with. Two rooms were then 
rented and furnished in a modest way, and in 1903 it was 
necessary to look for larger quarters. On April i, 1903, 
a building one hundred and thirty-nine years old known 
as the Ingalls house, opposite the beach, with a fine ocean 
view, was leased. It was very much out of repair, and it 
was understood the club was to make its own repairs and 
alterations. The first thing done was to remove all parti- 
tions on the lower floor, which left a large assembly room 
with a chimney 8ft. by Sft. in the center, with two large 
open fire-places. On the second floor half of the partitions 
were retiioved, which made a large card and dining. room; 
the ceiling was also removed in this room, which left 
the beams i2in. by I2in. from the chimney to the comers, 
and two to the side ; then by sheathing between the rafters 
and varnishing a very attractive room was made. That 
left three rooms in front and one in the ell which was 
finished for the kitchen. Of the front rooms, one was 
left for the parlor, a small one for an office, and the other 
for a reading room. All this time the club was growing 
fast, and when it moved in June there were nearly one 
hundred members. 
One may ask how it was possible to make all these 
repairs, etc., with just the dues to depend on. Eight hun- 
dred dollars in club notes of five dollars each was issued, 
running four years, bearing interest at 5 per cent. Each 
quarter twelve or more to be retired with interest; no 
member was allowed to take more than ten. They were 
subscribed for as soon as. issued, and the last were re- 
tired m I9a3. The membership numbers one hundred and 
twenty-five, v/ith a waiting list of eleven; a good sized 
bank account, and no outstanding bills. 
The Houseboat Whileaway. 
WtHLEAWAY was built for use on the Hudson River and 
Long Island Sound, and to furnish a summer home for 
the owner's family and guests, the object being to produce 
a cruising boat of more than the ordinary comforts as to 
roorn and airiness; also to be readily handled, and to have 
a fair amount of speed and sufficient power to handle her 
under adverse conditions. The motor is a 20 horsepower 
Sliandard, which has given the boat a speed of 8% to 9 
miles per hour, and she has been tried out in the worst 
blows of the past summer and fall, and the motor has 
been found ample to do what is required even with all 
top hamper and awning in place. 
The main saloon is forward, and is 12ft. by 14ft., has 
built-in sideboard, and transoms with drawers convertible 
into berths, which comfortably sleep four persons. This 
room is paneled as shown, and is finished in a dark green 
wax stain and furnished with Mission furniture. The ef- 
fect is exceedingly pleasing and satisfactory in hot weather. 
Next comes the owner's stateroom on the starboard side, 
7ft. by 14ft. ; here the arrangement is for two single beds, 
a lavatory and ample wardrobe space being provided, and 
a regulation bureau being secured to bulkhead; space 
under bed also being used for a steamer trunk, etc., a 
valance preventing an untidy appearance. Opposite on the 
port side is a guests' stateroom, with lavatory, wardrobe, 
and berth, which readily extends to sleep two people. This 
room, as also the owner's, is finished in white, as also is 
the furniture. Next is the bathroom with closet and 
Sixty-foot Houseboat Whileaway — Body Plan. 
shelving. In the after part of the passageway a closet 
for coats, umbrellas, oilskins, etc., is provided. Here the 
door leads to the galley, which is roomy and well ven- 
tilated, and has all conveniences. From the galley we 
next step aft into the motor room, which is formed, as 
shown, with a passage on the port side of motor. The 
motor is all neatly floored up to, and there is ample room 
for a couple of cots in a pinch aft of motor, as the reverse 
clutch and all working parts are under the floor. 
A stateroom for crew is on the starboard side, entrance 
being just forward of flywheel of motor. The captain's 
stateroom is aft, and opens on to the quarter deck. A 
large refrigerator is located aft on the port side, and is so 
arranged that the ice can be put in from the after deck. 
The gasolene tank, with a capacity of 250 gallons, is for- 
ward in a water-tight Compartment, and the feed pipe 
runs outside along the keel, thus preventing any leakage 
inside hull of boat. On the fore deck is a windlass bitts 
and anchor davit; also an auxiliary steering wheel which 
unships when not in use. A lever also controls the re- 
verse to motor at this point. This arrangfement is for use 
in locking in canals, when the awning has to be unshipped 
and deck steering wheel removed to allow passage under 
fixed bridges. 
The entire upper deck is given over to lounging chairs 
and wicker couches, tables and rugs; the awning being 
lined with dark blue canvas makes it a very pleasant spot. 
A tank for water has cushions and a back, making an 
ever-ready resting place. All the windows and doors are 
provided with rustless fly screens, which add greatly to 
the pleasure of a cruise in this vicinity. Many little fea- 
tures of comfort, utility and decoration are embodied in 
the interior arrangement and furnishings too numerous to 
mention. 
The bulwark was carried uo in an. unbroken sweep and 
to the line of the window sill, as it gives a much better 
proportioned whole, and takes awav from that top-heavy 
appearance so common in houseboats and many other 
launches. It also gives better freeboard forward, mak- 
ing an abler boat. The guards are of heavy oak shod 
with galvanized iron, and are of ample width to protect 
the side of hull in locking or lying at piers. Beam outside 
of guards is 17ft., the limit for locks on Erie and Cham- 
plain canals being 17ft. 6in. The highest point with awn- 
ing_ down, oft. Sin., the clearance on canals being iift. 
This gives the boat a wide range of cruising waters both 
north and south, and makes her a desirable craft. The 
material and workmanship are of the best, although no 
fancy woods were- used. The frame is of oak, planking 
yellow pine, and house inside and out of cypress; decks 
