FOREST AND STREAM. 
985 
Dec. 19, 1908.] 
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Constitution to be Broken Up. 
Constitution, built for a syndicate of mem¬ 
bers of the New York Y. C., headed by August 
Belmont, in 1901, for the defence of the 
America’s Cup, is to be broken up. The yacht 
has been purchased by Edward S. Reiss & Co., 
j of this city, and very soon will be broken up. 
Since 1903, when the yacht was last in com- 
i mission, it has been hauled out in the yard of 
( the Thames Marine Railway at New London. 
It is to be cut into four sections at the yard, 
j ! placed on lighters and brought to the city, 
where the bronze, steel and lead will be sepa¬ 
rated and sold for the new owners. Constitu¬ 
tion was built of bronze, the frames are steel 
and there are about 20 tons of each of these 
metals and 90 to 100 tons of lead. The spars 
are steel and all the spars, rigging and many 
suits of sails go with the yacht. 
Constitution was built when Sir Thomas 
Lipton arranged to come after the cup with 
Shamrock II., designed by G. L. Watson. She 
was in charge of W. Butler Duncan, Jr., but in 
spite of all that could be done with the yacht, 
she failed to defeat Columbia in the trial and 
preliminary races, and Columbia was chosen as 
the cup defender. That year Thomas W. Law- 
son had Independence built, and that yacht 
helped make the season a spectacular one, but 
Independence in the few races she sailed 
against Columbia and Constitution was beaten. 
Constitution was 132 feet over all, 98 feet 6 
inches on the waterline, 25 feet 2 inches beam 
and 19 feet 7 inches draft. She spread 14,600 
square feet of canvas. 
After having been defeated by Columbia, she 
was laid up at New London until 1903, when 
Shamrock III. came here. Then Constitution 
was commissioned again and managed by 
August Belmont. She took part in all the races 
of the season, but was beaten by Reliance and 
did not make any better showing against 
Columbia than she had in her first year, and 
when Reliance was chosen to defend the cup, 
Constitution hauled down her flag and has been 
eating up money in storage ever since. 
She was no good except for cup defence pur¬ 
poses, and other yachts that have been built 
under the rule that produced the Shamrocks, 
Reliance, Columbia and others are no good 
for anything except as racing machines. 
New Class for Gravesend Bay. 
Now that the rules have been settled for some 
time, it has been decided in some quarters that 
the smallest class according to the classification 
is quite a large boat, the limitations of the class 
being 17 feet rating. This means a boat that 
will cost about $i.ooo, which is beyond the reach 
of many who like to take part in racing. There 
are some members of the clubs that race on 
Gravesend Bay who are in favor of creating a 
new class of boats which shall come between 
the 17-footers and the Gravesend dories. It is 
suggested that a rule might be made for this 
class similar to the general rule, but eliminat¬ 
ing the displacement factor and turn out a boat 
about 15 feet waterline with 325 square feet of 
canvas. Such a boat would cost about $600, 
and there are some yachtsmen who are willing 
to build if such a class can be arranged for. 
New York Canoe Club Election. 
The annual meeting of the New York Canoe 
Club was held at the Hotel Astor on Dec. 10. 
The officers showed by their reports that tlie 
club had prospered during the past year and 
made money, which had been applied to the 
| sinking fund. A junior membership was es- 
tablished for men under 25 years of age, for 
which the dues are to be $15 a year. These 
officers were elected: Commodore, E. A. Ben¬ 
nett: Captain. William Yelland; Treasurer, H. 
F. Maurel; Secretary, S. W. Roloff: Auditing 
Committee, H. A. Fales and F. W. Plummer. 
It was announced during the meeting that 
eight' boats were to be built this winter for the 
club’s class of sailing dingies. These will bring 
the total of the fleet up to fifteen. 
Ice Yachtsmen Preparing. 
James O’Brien, of the Orange Lake Ice Y. 
C., will offer a fine silver cup, which is to be 
raced for on the South Shrewsbury River at 
Branchport this winter. It will be known as 
the O’Brien cup, and will be open for all clubs. 
It is to be a handicap race under international 
rules and the winner of one race will take the 
cup. 
Capt. O’Brien will enter Jack Frost, which 
boat will spread 300 square feet of canvas, and 
sail her against the 350 square foot class with¬ 
out time allowance in the Board of Trade cup 
and other events at Branchport. Mr. O’Brien 
will have with him Capt. H. Percy Ashley, the 
ice yacht designer, Dan Ward, Bob Wilson and 
Win Fuller. 
On Cow Bay the Knickerbocker 300 square 
foot class will race as soon as there is any ice, 
and there will be a new 250-foot class at the 
Manhasset Club. 
On the South Bay the scooters are to race 
for a cup offered by T. Fleming Day. 
Steamer for M. C. D. Borden. 
A steam yacht is being built by the Gas En¬ 
gine & Power Company at Morris Heights from 
designs by Charles L. Seabury, for M. C. D. 
Borden. This vessel is to be 133 feet long and 
equipped with twin screws. It will be similar 
in type to Veritas, Vixen, Niagara IV. and 
others, and a speed of 30 miles an hour in 
regular service has been guaranteed. 
This firm is also building a high power gaso¬ 
lene yacht for Julius Fleischmann, which is to 
be 115 feet long and equipped with three six- 
cylinder motors of 150 horsepower each. A 
speed of 26 miles an hour has been promised. 
George J. Gould has ordered a mahogany 
yacht tender, for his turbine steamer Atalanta. 
This tender will have twin screws and be 
driven by two six-cylinder motors. She will 
make 18 miles an hour. 
Buffalo Y. C. Wants New House. 
The Buffalo Y. C. is trying to find a new site 
for its club house. The present house must be 
moved, and the only place available at present 
is at Kensington, where there is little water 
for the yachts. Application has been made for 
a permit to occupy property between Porter 
avenue and the foot of Connecticut street. The 
yachtsmen want a 50 years’ lease and the Coun- 
cflmen have voted to grant them 35 years’ lease. 
The land to be occupied is under water and is 
owned by the State. Last year the Legislature 
passed a bill turning this under water land to 
the city of Buffalo, but it was vetoed by Gov¬ 
ernor Hughes. Efforts are to be made again 
this winter to obtain the property. 
ARTHUR BINNEY. 
(Formerly Stewart & Binney.) 
Naval Architect and Yacht Broker, 
Mason Building. Kilbj Street, BOSTON. MASS. 
Cable Address, “Designer,” Boston. 
C. Shbrkan Hoyt. 
Montgomery H. Clark. 
HOYT <SL CLARK. 
NAVAL architects and engineers, 
YAOHT BROKERAGE, High Speed Work a Specialty. 
17 Battery Place, New York. 
COX <a STEVENS, 
Yacht Brokers and Naval Architects, 
IS William Street, - New York, 
Telephones 1375 and 1376 Broad. 
WILLIAM GARDNER, 
Naval Architect, Engineer, and 
Yacht Broker. 
No, I Broadway. (Telephone 2160 Rector' New Yor k 
W. STARLING BURGESS CO„ Ltd. 
John R. Purdon, Manager. 
Naval Architects. Engineers, Builder* 
Office <& Works, MARBLEHEAD, MASS. 
Brokerage and Insurance Dept., 153 Milk St.. Boston, Mats. 
C. D CALLAHAN, Naval Architect. 
Designer of Yachts and Motor Boats. Construction supervised. 
San Pedro, CALIFORNIA. 
Canoe and Boat Building. 
A Complete Manual for Amateurs. Containing plain 
and comprehensive directions for the construction of 
canoes, rowing and sailing boats and hunting craft. By 
W. P. Stephens. Cloth. Seventh and enlarged edition 
264 pages. Numerous illustrations and fifty plates in 
envelope. Price, $2.00. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO. 
Building Motor Bo&ts n»nd 
Managing Gasolene Engines 
are discussed in the book 
"HOW TO BUILD A LAUNCH FROM PLANS" 
A complete illustrated work on the building of motor 
boats and the installing, care and running of gasolene 
motors. By Charles G. Davis. With 40 diagrams 9 
folding drawings and 3 full-page plans. Price, post¬ 
paid, $1.50. 
The author is a builder and designer of national repu¬ 
tation. All the instruction given is defined and com¬ 
prehensive, 40 diagrams, 9 folding drawings and 3 full- 
page plans. That portion of the book devoted to the 
use and care of gas engines should be most carefully 
perused by every individual who operates one. The book 
is well worth the price asked for it. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO. 
Colonial Y. C. Officers. 
The Colonial Y. C., at its annual meeting, 
elected these officers and committees: Vice- 
Commodore, S. W. Granbery; Rear-Commo¬ 
dore, Alfred Colvill; Treasurer, Frederick Gerst; 
Secretary, Ernest Eberlein. Board of Direc¬ 
tors, William G. Philippeau, John T. Cana- 
van, E. T. Valliant, C. B. Perry. Sr., Albert 
Robinson and George A. Teller. J. P. J. Tully 
was elected Financial Secretary; Charles A. 
Franklin, Fleet Captain; Edward M. Fratz; 
Fleet Surgeon; the Rev. John H. Dooley. Fleet 
Chaplain;" Charles M. Hilliker, Measurer, and 
U. K. Whipple, Sergeant-at-Arms. 
Pavonia Y. C. Officers. 
At the annual meeting of the Pavonia Y. C. 
these officers were elected: Commodore, 
William E. Thorne; Rear-Commodore, Lee 
Coder; Measurer, C. W. Barney; Fleet Surgeon, 
Dr. M. F. Hatch; Secretaries, John Wilson and 
William A. Barkelew. Trustees—Joseph Kelly, 
E. A. Voight, John J. Bechtold, Claude Hartz. 
GAS ENGINES AND LAUNCHES. 
Their Principles, Types and Management. By Francis 
K. Grain. 
The most practical book for the man or boy who owns 
or plans to own a small power boat. It is motor launch 
and engine information boiled down and simplified for 
busy people, and every line of it is valuable. Cloth, 123 
pages. Postpaid, $1.25. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO. 
Manual of the Canvas Canoe. 
By F. R. Webb (Commodore). 
This is a seasonable book. The very practical guide 
to satisfactory results that the man or boy who is alan- 
ning to build his own canoe is looking for. It gives 
not only simple, complete and practical instructions fully 
illustrated and with working drawings for building the 
canvas canoe, but suggestions as well for cruising and 
camp life, and splendid reminiscences for memorable 
cruises. Cloth, 115 pages. $1.25 postpaid. 
FOREST AND STREAM PUBLISHING CO. 
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