The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-23
A PAPER BOAT.
DE Cost Smith in St. Nicholas.

ONoS O''ssNfe
During one of my summer vacations
among the Lakes of Central New York, |
resolved to make, if possible, paper boat
which should be easy to row or paddle,
light enough to be carried short distances
with comparative ease, and, at the same
time, safe and even durable if managed
with reasonable care.
It was but twelve feet long. first
made framework on which to stretch the
paper
For this latter purpose l bought about
eighteen yards of very strong wrapping
paper. 1t was of light cream color,
smooth on the surface, and very tough,
but neither stiff nor very thick; and, being
made in long rolls, it could be obtained of
almost any length desired. 1t was only
about yard wide, SO that it required two
breadths to reach around the frame in the
widest part l cut enough off the roll to
cover the frame, and soaked it for a few
minutes in water. then turned the frame
upside down and fastened the edges of the
two strips of paper to it, by tapping them
carefully on the under side of the bottom
paper hung down loosely on all sides 1t
was then trimmed, Tapped, and doubled
over as smoothly as possible at the ends of
the frame, and held in place by means of
small clamps. Along the edges it was
drawn tight, trimmed, and doubled down
over the gunwale, where it was firmly held
by slipping strips of ash just inside of the
gunwales. The shrinkage caused by the
drying stretched the paper, thus fastened,
tightly over the framework As soon as
thoroughly dry, it was vanished, inside
and out, with asphaltum varnish thinned
with turpentine, and, as soon as that had
soaked in, a second coat of the same var
nish was applied, but with less turpentine;
and, finally, the laps or joints of the paper
were covered with pieces of muslin stuck
on with the unthinned varnish. The loose
strips of ash were now removed, and another
layer of paper was put on, and fastened
along the edge of the boat by replacing the
strips as before. When the paper was
dry, and the whole outside of the boat
vanished several times, until it presented
a smooth, shining surface, | covered the
whole boat with unbleached muslin, s WED
at the ends and tackled along the gunwales.
1t was then tightened by shrinking, and
finally received three coats of mixture of
varnish and paint. then took some split
rattan, and, after wetting it, wound it
firmly around both gunwale and inside
strip, passing it through small holes
punched in the paper just below the gun
vale, until the inside and outside strips
were bound together into one strong gun
vale.
A double-bladed paddle was at first used
to propel it, and answered the purpose, but
was found to be awkward, the boat being ra-
ther too wide. 1t was afterward rugged with
wooden, and finally with iron, rowlocks and
light oars. also put in movable seat
With these improvements it is so satisfac-
tory that [ have since made no changes
For carrying the boat, also used sort of
yoke, which brings all the weight upon the
shoulders, and in that way lightens the
labor.
During the two years that have used
my boat, [ have often landed it, through
Oh q NOAJ CLOAN,
besides running it against fair number
of submerged snags and stones, sometimes
with considerable force, but, owing to its
lightness and toughness, it never received
the slightest injury. | have been out in
it in very heavy seas, aud have found it
much easier to manage at such times than
heavier boat. In rowing parallel to high
waves it is apt to ship little water occa-
sionally, unless carefully managed, but all
small boats with low sides experience this
difficulty.
The approximate cost of the materials
used in the construction of the canoe was
as follows:
5qts. varnish, $l.9O; 18 yds. Paper, $l.2O;
yds. Cloth, 72 cts; Bottom board, go cts;
Gunwaes, so cts; Cross boards, 25 cts;
Paint, SO cts; Split rattan, 25 cts; Nails,
screws, wire, etc.; 25 cents. Total, $6.l7.