The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-21
The Modern Canoe.

ana which can be effectively propelled by
double. .bladed paddle; but canoe may
DC propelled either by double or single
oladed paddle, orby one or more sails. No
other means OF propulsion shall be used"
ms ls the single modern cruising canoe.
she Is u unique craft, boat unlike and
YET having the distinctive qualities of all
the others. The best Of her qualities is
That she Is manageable. In calms she is
easily propelled by tho single or double.
bladcd paddle, and in favor,ng breeze she
ILLS away under one or more sails and logs
from three to eight miles an hour. Properly
constructed, she weighs no more than 75
pounds, and may therefore be carried on
the canocist's head and shoulders from
stream to stream, and around dams and
rapids. The paddle, although it affords
| somewhat less speed for short distances. Ia
much more scryiceable than oars, as it
admite of quicker action, enables the
canoeist to face in tho direction of his
progress, and to keep an easy lookout for
dangers. The canoe is sufficiently capa-
clous to carry months supply of luggage
and provisions without trespassing upon
the space amidships, that may, if need be,
DC converted into sleeping quarters. She
Is craft in which man Of nautical tastes
may comfortably cruise in inland waters at
per diem expense of less than one dollar.
This light, staunch and roomy little claft is
as unlike the Indian birch--the typical
canoe of the United States as she can
well be. Canoes ere always cruising craft.
although they may be built, as ships are
with reference to the work they are to per-
form. The canoe that is to run down a
river that is frequently broken by rapids
and dams must be light, that sho may be
easily portrayed. If the camping outfit ia
dispensed with, the beam may be greatly
diminished, and greater speed attained
Technically there are but two classes of
canoes, the sailing and the padding, the
former being the canoe for general cruising.
Lighlness in canoe that is always to cruise
upon deep water may be sacrificed to sail
ing qualities. but it is Indispensable to the
canoe that Is to be uscd Tor general cruis-
ing. Americans as well as English build
ers. however, too often sacrifice lghtness
TO strcngth--a glievous fault the canoeist
finds, after he has tuggcd the heavy craft
over few portages The canoes built by
ltushton (Canton, N. W are models In
this respect, their average weight being
ABOUT 90 pounds, and that without sacrifice
OF the essential clcmcnt-streng,h The
carVci.Dullt or smooth-side canoe Is lighter
as we'll as speedicr than the clinker-built
but both British and American builders.
wlththe con servative pig -headedness of their
craft, give preference to the latter. The
Rice lake canoes built by Herald of Cores
Landing, Ont, and by English of Peter
boro, Ont, are of tho former class, and are
not only light and immensely strong, but,
under certain conditlons, very speedy.
The Racine boat company of Racine,
Wis.,, has produced a canoe that is a revela-
ton in the art of BODYBUILDING. The sides
are composed of three sheets of birch.
cherry or cedar, cementcd together, tho
grain of the inner sheet crossing the outer.
This veneer, while the wood is green. Ia
pressed into the desired form. The sides
arc onc-cighth of an inch thick, perfcctly
smooth, without scam except at the ends.
which arc neatly shcathcd with brass
There are no brad, screws, or rivet holes
that are not covered by the keel or vale
along the edge of tho deck This canoe,
with tho paddle, apron and rigging, weighs
90 pounds. The streaks of the clinker-
built canoe rarely check, the wood being
generally well seasoned; but unless the
RIBS are very close to each other--not more
than three inches apart-and snugly fitted,
they will warp into most tantalizing shapes.
Canoeing embraces not only the hours
sailing and padding after business, and the
long and short cruises, but also amateur
mechanics. The canoeist very early in
his career, learns that he must rely upon
himself in everything relating to his boat.
lie must be captain, rigger, carpenter,
COOK and cabin-boy. A ruddcr eye snaps
off-as they will ii he Is vcrdant enough
to allow his builder to use them-and he
must drill out and put In another, or submit
to tedious delay. The canoe dashes
against snag or sunken rock in rapid,
and gets ashore, miles from any builders
shop, with an ugly hole at the bow. The
conocist must have the strip of cedar, the
marine glue, and the nails at hand, and
repair the damage, or tow his water-logced
craft to the builder. There arc scores of
odd jobs that he must attend to, to the
pleasures of which the unhappy mortal
who navigates only shell is stranger.
The canoeist begins with a jack-knife, and
works up to jack plane, square and CON-
passes, and ultimately TO the carpenters
whole kit lie drafts model. and turns
out Q fair canoe, to say nothing of supply
ing from his own shop many of his camp
fittings. The spcediest sailing canoe In
England, and padding canoe in the United
States, Is OF amateur build. Amateur
builders have constructed very creditable
wooden canoes, but as yet few have
attempted anything but the canvas craft
pretty and most serviceable boat, the
frame of which consists of stem and stern
posts, keel, keelson, lateral strips, RIBS,
bulk-heads and deck timbers. The coracle,
one Of the earliest craft of Great Britain,
the Esquimeau kayak, and the Indian
birch cmbody the idea---a frame covered
with tough skin. A very ordinary degree
OF mechanical skill sufflces for the produc.
ton OF fair canvas canoe. The practiced
hand, however, may work out the subtle
tics OF the boat builders art In canvas sud
spruce strips as deftly as in white and
Spanish cedar.
For the Unmai ried Men.