Page:Small-boat sailing; an explanation of the management of small yachts, half-decked and open sailing-boats of various rigs; sailing on sea and on river; cruising, etc (IA smallboatsailing01knig).pdf/208

 the dinghy had a small false keel, and with this a boat always steers much more steadily.

A collapsible dinghy is undoubtedly the best for a small yacht, as it can be folded up and laid on deck, or can even be stowed away in the cabin. The Berthon collapsible boat, of which I have had considerable experience, is a very good sea-boat. Though made of canvas, one can take a Berthon through a surf and beach her on a rocky shore without tearing her frail sides if proper precautions are taken; indeed a light Berthon, with a couple of active men in charge, runs less risk of having a hole knocked into her bottom than does a heavy wooden boat. I had a ten-foot Berthon with me on the Falcon during my cruise in South American waters, and I have often landed her safely on a shore bristling with sharp coral rocks. The procedure was as follows:—On getting into the breakers my companion and myself would jump overboard—possibly to find ourselves out of our depth—and holding on to her, one on each side, we would take her on with us, wading or swimming, lift her up bodily when in shallow water, carry her above the reach of the breakers, and then lay her gently down. We used to put off from the shore in the same fashion; that is, we would wade in quickly after a retiring wave, carrying the Berthon with us, swim out with her till we were outside the breakers, and then in turn clamber on board over the stern. The James collapsible boat is also highly spoken of by