252 
FOREST AND STREAM 
May, 1920 
A KEY RING CLIP 
A VERY handy adjunct for the trail 
can be made from an old key ring 
as shown in cut. Pass your belt through 
one of the loops and on the other one 
hang whatever you wish to carry, such 
as your dog whistle, canteen, axe, and 
knife. Sew D-rings on the sheaths con- 
taining your axe or knife and slip them 
on the loop, where they can be carried 
easily and if you place the clip about the 
middle of your belt in the back they will 
be out of the way. 
Jim Ferguson, New York. 
BUILDING A BOAT 
I N designing this flat bottomed row boat 
for boys I have in mind safety rather 
than speed and it is intended for shallow 
rivers or lake use. It can be built by 
two boys, will hold six active campers, 
and properly painted every year, will last 
a dozen or more years. 
White pine is the best material, next 
comes poplar and then cypress ; select air 
dried lumber if obtainable and build in a 
dry, well lighted place. Before starting 
the boat build two saw horses, 4 feet long 
and 20 inches high. Have a solid bench 6 
feet long, with carpenter’s vise for hold- 
ing boards to be edged, a sharp cross-cut 
saw, smoothing plane, brace and screw- 
driver bit and countersink, 1-inch chisel, 
4-foot folding measure. 
Place the two side boards together on 
horses, tack with six penny, wire finish- 
ing nails above the water line. Carefully 
lay off on top board the curves at bow 
and stern, then saw both boards at same 
time, using great care to keep saw verti- 
cal. Shape the stem post with saw and 
sharp chisel, paint joint with white lead 
and linseed oil, mixed to a thick paste, 
screw side boards to post with 6 wood 
screws each side, size IY 2 inch, flat head. 
Cut an accurate center guage board 12 
inches wide, flaring sides according to 
drawings. Work out back board with 
square edges and then spread sides and 
set center guage, fastening with wire 
nails. Pass a loop of rope around the 
rear ends, draw together and nail in back 
board, then set 3 wood screws on each 
side, using the white lead paste in the 
joints. 
Turn boat bottom side up on horses, 
set a tightly drawn cord from center of 
bow to center of stern. 
Tack a strip of inch moulding along 
inside bottom of each side as a gauge 
E are depending upon the 
friends and admirers of our 
old correspondent Neasmuk to make 
this department worthy of his 
name. No man knew the woods 
better than Nessmuk or wrote of 
them with quainter charm. Many 
of his practical ideas on camping 
and “ going light ” have been 
adopted by the United States Army; 
his canoe has been preserved in the 
Smithsonian Institution; and we 
hope that all good woodsmen will 
contribute to this department their 
Hints and Kinks and trail-tested 
contrivances. — [EDITORS. ] 
for setting bottom boards. Starting at 
bow, accurately cut each bottom board, 
fitted separately. When you have a sec- 
tion of bottom 3 feet long, start fasten- 
ing in by driving one 10 penny finishing 
wire nail at each end, after white leading 
joint; true to level and set two counter- 
sunk wood screws, 1% inch, dipped in 
the paste; continue bottom, driving each 
board home and leading each joint. 
Screw on bottom keel from inside, also 
the skag. Dress edges square with plane, 
turn up screws again to insure tight 
joints. Attach the gunwale strip with 
copper nails, clinched inside. 
Turn boat over, set ribs and scat rests, 
using copper nails driven from outside. 
Remove temporary moulding at bottom. 
Cut the thwarts accurately, striking cen- 
ter line on each, then force into place 
and screw securely, leading all joints and 
dipping screws in the lead paste. Bore a 
14 inch hole through bow post and set an 
eye bolt and clinch inside end before 
fastening front or bow seat. 
Plane gunwale and bevel edges of 
thwarts, sandpaper smooth and then 
prime with white lead and turpentine. 
If brass screws are used it is not neces- 
sary to putty screw heads. Let priming 
set for three days then carefully paint 
two coats with a four day’s drying in- 
terval between. Varnish top of seats 
with spar varnish. 
After paint is dry attach rowlocks, us- 
ing through bolts, rivetted on inside. Now 
launch and enjoy, what I hope will be 
your master-piece, to your heart’s con- 
tent. Name her and care for her. She 
