Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/134

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��Popular Science Monthly

���A bridge deck cruiser having two compartments is not considered a fair type of boat for large or rough waters but is adapted for protected waters, such as a lake, river or bay and for fair weather

��planking with a sharp-pointed knife. If the timber is sound, it will be difficult to make the point enter the wood, but if it is inclined to "dry rot," the blade of the knife will sink into the plank, meeting practically no resistance. While this inclination to- wards rot does not necessarily condemn the boat, it does necessitate new planking or timber, and this expense must be figured when making an offer for the craft. There is an old idea held by many boatmen that the most vulnerable part of the hull is that which lies between "wind and water." This, however, is not the case. Dry rot is caused in most cases by steam. For that reason the bilge of the boat is most likely to be the part affected, as there is always more or less water lying in the bilge and the hot sun often causes it to steam. The ribs should also be carefully examined. If they are spliced out or doubled it is a pretty sure indication that the boat is either getting pretty old or has at some time run ashore

���Deck plan of the sturdy trunk cabin cruiser shown below

��and been wrecked. As a general rule, a hull that has been re-ribbed or stiffened should either be inspected by an experi- enced boat-builder or be rejected entirely, for fear of its opening up badly in a pounding sea.

Authorities differ as to the most desirable power plant; but it is the model of the hull rather than the power used to drive it that develops the speed. For instance, the short, beamy, heavy fishing boats used on the Columbia River are equipped with an eight horsepower, single cylinder engine which drives them along at a speed of about six miles an hour. Several years ago the writer endeavored to speed up one of these boats by installing a twenty horsepower en- gine. This resulted in an increased speed of about one mile an hour, and the boat was prac- tically wrecked from the excessive vibration and her sea-worthiness decreased to a large ex- tent by the excessive weight. This same idea holds good in practically any class of craft.

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