Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-07-20
Yachting in the United States.
From the New York Tribune.

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From the New York Tribune.
There are owned in the United States
about 80, 900 tons of yachts, of a cost
value of not far from $4,000, 900. The
peculiar manner in which yachts are
built and cared for, renders them the
shortest lived vessels in the world.
They are used only about quarter of
each year, and consequently after the
second season the dry-rot begins to APP
pear, and usually by the third season
the yacht builder is called upon to put
extensive repairs upon them, and it Is
only by constant renewing and rebuild
ing that the life of yacht is prolonged
to ten years. In sea-going merchant
craft the frames are preserved by
sailing, and a careful system Of
ventilation, but very few yacht
owners viii allow salt to be used, and q
very imperfect system of ventilation is
employed. The Messrs. Poillon sailed
the extreme ends of the Sappho and
Dreadnaught, but none has been used
in ott er parts of their hulls. 1t is
fact but little known, but nevertheless
true, that some Of the finest looking
yachts in our harbor to-day are as rot
ten as punk, and if offered for sale to
be employed IN commercial pursuits,
would not bring ten per cent of their
cost The value of "a yacht with the
usual care given to them, depreciates
about fifteen per cent. per annum, and
if the yachts owned in this country
to-day are on an average three years
old, which probably is a nearly correct
average, their actual value is only about
-, 600, 600 The cost of maintaining a
yacht varies, and only an approximate
estimate can be made. This estimate
does not include the table expenses of
the owner, which IN some yachts
amounts to $500 a week. 4 schooner
yacht, of the average size, should carry
IA crew Of not less than eight men, as
follows captain, mate, cook, steward,
and four sailors. The number Of sail
ors given is the very least that ought
to be shipped in a schooner yacht, but
nevertheless there are many yacht men
who employ less, and on regattas hire
extra men. The payroll, per month,
will average as follows: Captain, $780,
mate, $50; cook $50 TO 800, steward,
$50; sailors, $50. Total, about $3.50.
For sloops, a less number of men will
DO, and the payroll ought not to ex-
coed 5000 To this must be added, for
Il schooner $3.50, and for a sloop SIS
per month for provisions for the crew.
There must beaded the cost of repairs
and alterations, which is no incon-
siderable sum with many yachtsmen,
and other unavoidable expenses, bring
ing the bin for schooner yachts up to
$500, and for sloops S425 per month.
1t is q discredItable fact, but neverthe-
less true, that many ship-builders, and
especially in the rural towns, charge
yachtsmeu eXtravagant prices for re-
pairs, simply because they are supposed
to have plenty of money. During the
winter months, most of the New York
yachtsmen are laid up at Mystic, New
London, Newport, Port Chester, Nyack
and other places, ut cost of 500 a
mouth-the pay of the Captain, who
generally acts as ship-keeper The
yachting season may be said to last
about four months, and the cost
may be summed up as follows
Schooners, four months in ser
vice, 5000; eight months laid
up, $500; total, $4,000 Shops, four
months in service, 81, 700; eight months
laid up, $500, total, 81, 500. OF course
the expenses Of a sloop yacht can be
made much less, and probably in most
instances are, but the gentleman who
intends buying one would not expert
ence much disappointment, perhaps, if
he PAGES his expenses at the figures
named 1t viii thus be seen that in
this sport there is invested in this coun-
try nearly >A000,00O; that it votarles
spend annually, for current expenses, /
not far from l,500, 600, giving employ
ment to over $500 men, paying them
500 600. This round estimate Of cur
rent expenses does not include repairs
necessary, which viii probably swell
the amount annually to nearly $4,000,
600.