Connecticut western news., 1880-08-04
The Steam Catamaran.
TWO TRIAL TRIPS OF THE NOVEL CRAFT-ITs
 ADVANTAGES AND DEFECTS NOTED.

Two trial trips were made at Nyack on the Hudson by the steam catarmaran H. w. Longfellow. In the morning the catamaran steamed up the river about five miles and back. A six -bladed screw, with eight feet pitch, was used. The dip of the screw was about two feet six inches. With forty pounds of stean, 16O revolutions were made and an aver age speed attained of seven miles an hour. The machinery worked well. The boat itself steered easily, turning in twice her own length, and the two hulls parted the water smoothly and grace fully. The trouble was ill the propell- ing power. The screw did not take hold sufficiently, and merely churned the water into foam, without imparting much headway to the boat. Increasing the number of revolutions only made mat ters worse, hole being made in the water which virtually lessened the d. ready slight dip. When the catamaran returned to the pier three of the blades were removed from the screw and the pitch increased to twelve feet.
 Another trial trip was made in the af- ternoon, when these and minor altera- tions had been effected. As the Long fellow steamed up the river she was sa- luted by the blowing of whistles and the dipping of colors. The reduction of the blades and the increase of the pitch proved decided improvement, and the speed was increased to about ten miles. The easy manner in which she steered and turned, and the light buoyant mo- tion as her hulls parted the water, was particularly noticeable. As iu the morning, when steam was run up and revolutions increased it produced no bet ter effect, owing to the insufficient dip of the screw, which still chopped and churned the water without increasing the headway. On the return Commo- dore William Voorhis, the owner, said the position of the screw was merely an experiment., and it would be changed. He was satisfied that the principle of the catamaran as regards increased power with less weight and displacement had been demonstrated to be successful Only one- tenth of the actual power was applied owing to the.dificulty with the screw.
 MT. J. R. Wells, the engineer who in- vented the engines, said that the shaft should be heightened about twenty feet, and the screw submerged, instead of having its present dip. He had no doubt then that on $50 to 400 revolu- tions, which the engines arc capable of, speed of twenty-five to twenty-eight nailo7 on hour would be obtained. The entire machinery, coil, boiler, engine, bearings, etc., weigh only fifteen tons. The engine is @ two piston high h-pressure balance, rated at 450-horse power. There is plunger pump, which feeds and regulates the supply of water to the boiler, thus additionally lessening the weight to be carried. The two iron hulls are 200 feet long, about six feet in diameter at the widest part, and taperng to points at each end. They are divided into six water-tight compartments, the vessel thus forming huge life raft. The hulls are about ten feet apart, and on them rests @ single deck, 125 feet long, twenty five feet beam. In the centre of the deck is the machinery, and forward and aft will be accommodations for pas- sengers, the deck, of course being housed over, with pilot house on top. The joiner work is not yet completed, but there will be ladies' saloon aft, with 8 saloon and smoking room for gentlemen forward