352 
Experiments with Canal-Boats. 
[Nov, 
moderately rapid motions (such as 4 or 5 miles an hour), censes altogether when a 
high velocity is employed. It is true the vessels were of a particular construction, 
but this is immaterial. A boat 60 feet long and 5 feet wide, is capable of being 
extremely serviceable, both for the conveyance of goods and passengers ; and if 
such a boat can be safely and conveniently dragged at the rate of 9 or 10 miles an 
hour upon our canals, passengers, by this species of conveyance, will be upon a 
level as to speed with those who travel per mail. The great recommendations of 
canal carriage at present, are its cheapness, and the liberty of locomotion which 
passengers enjoy. Its leading disadvantage is its slowness ; and this is felt now 
more and more ; when our stage-coaches are touching a speed of ten miles an hour, 
which will soon be doubled on our railways. We have not technical skill enough 
to know what a gig-boat is ; but we infer from the other particulars stated, that it 
must be flat bottomed in the cross section, pretty well curved upwards at stem and 
stern, and very light. With this form, the quicker it is moved, the less water it 
will draw. At a very high velocity, it will merely skim the surface as it were ; 
the displacement of the fluid will reach only a few inches down ; and this circum- 
stance, with the quick motion of the boat, causing a readjustment of the equilibrium 
of the water equally rapid, the necessary time will be wanting for the motion to 
propagate itself beyond the narrow zone of water which immediately encompasses 
the boat. Such is our hypothesis, supposing the fact to be as stated. We have a 
strong impression, however, that the result depends chiefly on the form of the 
boat, and that a much greater breadth than five feet will be no material disadvan- 
tage, except where the canal is extremely narrow. 
Some months ago, by the suggestion of Mr. William Houston, of Johnstone, the 
Committee of Management of the Ardrossan and Paisley Canal were induced to 
make certain experiments for ascertaining the rate of velocity at which a light gig - 
boat might be propelled along that Canal. The experiments were made with a 
gig rowing boat, of about 30 feet in length, constructed by Mr, Hunter, boat build- 
er, Brown Street, Glasgow ; and this boat, with 10 men on board, was drawn two 
miles along the Ardrossan or Paisley Canal, in the space of less than 10 minutes, 
without raising any surge or commotion on the water — the force employed being 
one horse, rode by a canal driver. No account of this trial has ever been given to 
the public ; but it was so satisfactory as to induce the Committee of the Ardrossan 
Canal to contract with Mr. Wood, of Port- Glasgow, for a gig-shaped passage boat, 
60 feet in length, and 5 feet in breadth, fitted to carry from 36 to 40 passengers. 
In the month of April last, a number of experiments were made in the Forth and 
Clyde Canal with two gig-boats fixed together, constructed by Mr. Hunter, and 
thus forming what is called a twin-boat. The object of these trials was to ascer- 
tain the rate of speed at which vessels might be propelled along that Canal, and the 
effect of a light, double or twin- boat, in giving that degree of steadiness which it 
was apprehended would be so much wanting in a light single boat. A statement of 
these experiments on the Forth and Clyde Canal, has already appeared in the news- 
papers, and the only fact therein mentioned, which it seems necessary to repeat 
here, is the remarkable circumstance, that the quicker the boats were propelled 
through the water, the less appearance there was of a surge or wave on the sides 
of the Canal. The result of the experiment was so satisfactory, that a twin-boat, 
of a gig shape, sixty feet in length, and nine feet broad, is at present building by 
Mr. Hunter, Brown Street, Glasgow, and will be launched in the Forth and Clyde 
.Canal in the course of the present month. 
The single gig-shaped passage boat, contracted for by the Ardrossan Canal 
Committee, was launched at Port Glasgow on Wednesday se’ennight, the 2d of 
June, and she was towed up to the Broomielaw, and thence carried to Port Eglinton 
the day following ; and on Friday, the 4th June, a trial, of which the following is 
an account, took place. The boat is sixty feet long, four feet six inches breadth of 
beam, and drew on an average, including a deep keel, ten inches when light : — 
from the great hurry in which this trial was made, it was done under many 
disadvantages. The boat started from Port Eglinton for Paisley a few minutes 
after one o'clock, with 20 persons on board ; and the distance from Port Eglinton 
to Paisley being 7 miles, was accomplished in one hour and seven minutes. The 
iider was ordered to start and proceed the first mile or so at a very moderate pace ; 
nit even at this moderate pace the wave raised in front of the boat was very con- 
siderable. a high wave was seen on the canal preceding the boat, about eighty or 
ninety teet in front, and in some cases farther, and causing an overflow at the 
“ » ei, » * n the narrow parts of the canal. The surge or cutting wave behind 
>oat was, however, comparatively slight, and except at the curves, would not 
