The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-25
YACHTING.
Centre Boards Versus Keel Ynchts-KnOt y
Permits UnravcIled.

| DcccnlDer ZZ, lolU
| To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:-
believe In the centre board yacht, not so much,
however, in the vessel of to-day us in the coming
| craft.
| Few or your readers conversont with the subject
will cavi at the statement that centre board yachts
! OF large tonnage do not usually show that superb
GRITTY In their contests with keel yachts that might
reasonably be expected, Judging irom the perform
ances OF small centre boarders IN beating small keel
yachts
My impression Is that the principal fault is with
the board. II is not sufficiently long. In some cases
there Is another reason-the yacht has much dead
rise as her keel sister; whereas the centre board
yacht. to obtain all the advantages or her build,
should be OF much fatrer construction.
Yachts up to fifty feet have boards approxlmatng
to one-thlrd OF their water line length, and In many
cases that Is exceeded usually with good results in
developing weatherly qualities. Doubtless, length
might be carried TO excess but 1t Is limited by the
danger Of weakening the vessel.
Turning to large yachts the proportion Is mate
rally less. The Phantom has q 10 foot board to
about 95 feet or water line Syvie, II foot board
to about IS feet Of water line Tidal Wave, 10 eot
board to SO feet OF water tne Madeleine, Is feet OF
board to SO feet OF water line.
am not sufficiently conversant with the models
and performances OF these vessels to draw compari-
sons is it my object to do So but merely to cali
attention to the statement with which began This
paper that the subject may be discussed and posi-
bly, an improvement effected.
feel convinced that the Phantom Idler or any OF
the fast yachts OF the New York CLUB would be
much more weatherly II their boards approached
the proportions mentioned as being successful in
the smaller class.
Every one knows how fast to windward the vesta
was when she was owned In New York, before she
abe >
Massachusetts Bay can testify to the splendid
weatherly qualities OF the Juniata since she has
been in the hands Of her present owners. Both
these vessels sustain my opinion. The vesta has
% foot board about 100 feet OF water lne the
Juniata IS feet OF board to "a feet OF water ne and
learn that the Wanderer. now building at Green
psin is to have "a foot board to 100 feet OF water
line.
No DOUBT the fear OF awakening the hull by long
well Is one reason for making the boards short,
but cannet believe that sSilful builder would find
1t impossible to construct yacht with thirty foot
well to a 100 foot water line, and which should be
perfectly secure.
II it cannot be done adopt devoted Yachtman's''
suggestion the side OF the well with pow
erful bolt slot the board to correspond, have
two boards, as has also been suggested, though
should prefer them near the centre. ana NOT away
forward and ait; but, not having seen mOde or
thought much on the subject ought not perhaps
to express any opinion.
After the difficulty of the well Is got over the
board presents something OF an obstacle, as 1t is
difficult to make one or unusual length that VIII not
warp. and If that be accomplished 1t Is excessively
heavy and thick as to present much resistance in
Its passage through the water My suggestion Is to
build centre board OF steel.
AS the word Is familiar will continue to use IT,
oil, .fta otp lcputr q l. nj n
nianism.
Let the frame be made of steel bars one inch
square, strengthened at intervals OF TWO feet with
bars OF the same size. running diagonally so that
when the board Is down the bars may hang per-
pendlcularly. Cover the frame on both sides
with plates Of steel three-sxteenths thick, rlveted
to frame and bars; the sheets also to run dagO
nally but the bars so that the seams may be
parallel TO the surface OF the water II be deemed
necessary to make the board watertight the edges
of the sheets may be Tapped and rveted, or the
strengthening bars may be wider and farther apart
and the sheets riveted to them. The bars would
have to be wide enough Tor Two of rivets, and
the sheets would run IRON top to bottom OF the
board
on this plan the board VIII be lighter, thinner, free
from liability TO warp and possessed OF as much
elasticity as desirable. 1t will be easier to handle
occupy less space and offer less resistance III gong
1t will be expensive, but good things usually are
costly; and The man who can build and run a 200
ton schooner Will not be likely TO grudge the extra
outlay II he satisfied Of the utility OF the invention.
have the satisfaction OF knowing that two gentle
men, well known In the yachting world decidedly
approve Of my device; and II any yachtman chooses
to avail himself OF II he Is at liberty 10 do so.
Weight - or am OAK board twentytwo feet long twelve
feet wide and four inches thick with the requisite
iron bolts and braces, TO be 5000 pounds. steel
and would only be fraction over One-thlrd the
thickness, say Ia inches. Or course the eak board
would nave some Notation power, but this would
probably be more than counter-balanced by the
me steel board might be diminished in weight,
without impalring It's strength by making the bot
tom bar of the frame one inch deep and nall inch
wide and taperng the bars and SIDES OF the frame
to half inch at bottom beginning the taper just after
the board passes tue keel of the yacht.
In running OF the wind or directly before it, all
requiring far greater use OF the helm tilan keel
yacht which necessarily retards very much
their progress; Would :, not THIS u, iaa1 DC %,
putting board in the deadwoodl 1t
need not be a large one and would not
would do any harm, and it must be OF some SER
vice. The iaea is by no means a novel one. There
Is a small yacht III Boston harbor lifted, but
have not heard OF any large yacht with two boards
except the Maria, and | am not aware how they
were placed.
Captain Schank found an after board useful in the
Trial, tue first seagolng centre boarder, SO why
should 1t not answer today
A centre bOarder appears to me more scientific
craft than keel yacht, requiring more SIKH, both
III construction and sailing. She is more sensitive
and requires very careful handling to develop fully
her best qualities Many sailing master who ca
handle keel yatcht admirably finds he has good
deal to learn when he takes charge Of Il centre
| boarder.
have written this article to invite discussion, so
| that Ii my IDEAS are good they may be backed up
! and adopted. II bad useless they may be dis
| missed to that limbo where SO many other notions
| have gone. hope some OF your numerous yachting
readers Will express their opinion ana further ex
PLANTATION IL required shall be glad TO give 1t. Ii Is
| difficult to explain the thing clearly without a
! sketch.
Why do not the yachtmen Of New York follow the
| example or S. M 4. and Devoted Yachtma II, and
| exchange IDEAS on their favorite amusement The
discussion Of knotty points IN fair and gentleman
ly spirit would have strong tendency to popularne
this manly sport. Should any tyro, IN his desire to
| learn PROFOUND some outlandlsh or exploded
fair argument rather than to rdCule nm as fool,