The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-05
Aquatic.


The boats which Ruddock of Boston is to
build for M. f. Davis of Portland are to be
constructed in accordance with suggestions
from the Portland scientist in aquatics. They
will be 81 feet in length, and in this regard
will not differ from the length of boats here
tofore made. In depth, however, they win be
6A inches amidships against the 81 to inches
of the ordinary American shell boat and the 81
inches of the English built craft. The breadth
of the water line will be IL to III inches,
against the 104 inches now allowed for an
ordinary man of 155 pounds. They will be
constructed on concentric lines, from point to
point, the after end to be three-quarters of an
inch deep, against II at present, and the for
ward end d inches, against the three inches
given the style of boat in general use. The
deck plan is the same as the boats now build
ing, but there is more Gambler on the keel.
There will be supplementary gunwale mea-
suring three-eighths of an inch by one.quarter
of an inch, running fore and aft, at square dis
tance between the keel and main gunwale.
The keol, main gunwale and supplementary
gunwale will be connected by braces running
fore and aft These will be quite light, but
will permit the thickness of planking to be
reduced from one-sixteenth to one-twentieth
of an inch; the idea entertained by Mr.. Davis
being that all that is necessary in shell boat
is planking of sufficient thickness to keep
the water out. The bracing, he claims, stiffens
the boat and makes it faster by preventing
lateral sagging when great power is exerted, and
he thinks there are very few boats at present
used that do not sag to some extent. The
boats will be covered with silk instead of oiled
linen. They will be fitted with the new roller
slide, with the seat at an incline of II inches
On the after part of each boat will be an
attachment which will act conjunctively with
the windsail in preventing the gripping of the
boat in wind. 1t acts on hinge, and, when
the boat is being turned, folds up automatically
SO as not to interfere with easy turning. The
boats will have the three-brace outriggers,
which are light and strong, the "anti-crab-
catching oarlocks," patent rowing shoes and
all other appliances of the Davis design that
have been perfected, tested and found useful.
Mr., Simon Rosen6eld of Boston has ordered
schooner yacht from builder in Bath, Me-
of the following dimensions Length, 81 feet
inches over all, AT feet inches water line
| beam, IA feet inches. The new craft is to
| have lead shoe weighing nine tons, and will
| be built of oak and hackmatack. There will
| be two staterooms in the schooner, finished in
ebony ard gold, and she will be commanded
| by Frank Hodgkins.
| The Sunday Herald is informed by prom
inent boating man with regard to Teemer and
Ross, If they are mated and really desire to
row double scull race against any two men in
| America, for stake worth while sculing for,
| he will guarantee the acceptance OF their chal-
lenge by two other scullers in America early
| next spring. The gentleman sends his name
and address as an evidence of good faith: but
that we're unnecessary, as he is well known In
| the aquatic world.