The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-11

made framework on wh-ea to s:rs.ch tas
paper.
eighteen yards of very strong wrap ping
paper. 1t was of light cream color, smo 9TH
on the surface. and very tough, but mel her
stiff nor very thick; and. being made in
long rolls, il could be obtaihed of almost any
length desired. It was only about 8
yard wide, go that it required
two breadths to reach around
the frame in the widest part. I cut
soaked IN for few minutes in water. /
then turned the frame upside down and fas-
tened the edges Of the two strips of papsr to
it, by tapping them c1Tefully on the u1der
side Of the bottom board and lacking them
TO it. 60 that the paper hung down loosely on
all sides. It was then trimmed, Tapped, and
doubled over as smoothly as possible at the
ends of the frame, and held in place by
means of email clamps. Along the edges It
was drawn tight, trimmed, and down over
the gunwale, where it was firmly held by
slipping strips of ash just inside of the gun
wales. The ehrinksge caused by the drying
stretched the paper, thus fastened, tightly
over the framework. As soon as thoroughly
dry, it is vanished, inside and
out, with ssphaltum varnish
thinned with turpentine, and, as soon
as that had soaked in, q second coat OF the
same varnish was applied, but with less tue
pentine; and, finally, the laps or joints Of the
paper were covered with pieces of muslin
stuck on with the unthinned vsrnish. These
loose strips of ash were now removed, and
another layer of paper was put on, and fast
ened along the edge of the boat by replacing
the strips as before. When the paper was
dry, and the whole outside OF the boat var
nished several timef, until 1t presented
smooth. shining surface. covered the whole
boat with unbleached muslin, sewed at the
ends and tackled along the gunwales. 1t
was then frightened by shrinking, and finally
received three coats of q mixture of varnish
and paint. l then took some split rattan,
and, after wetting it, wound it firmly around
both gunwsle and inside strip, passing it
through small holes punched in the paper
Just below the gunwale, until the inside and
outside strips were bound together INTO one
strong gunwale.
A double-blsded paddle was at first used to
propel it, and answered the purpose. but
was found to be awkward, the boat being
rather too wide. 1t was sfterwsrd rugged
with wooden, and finally with iron
rowlccks snd light oars. also
put in movable seat With these improve
menus II Is so Satisfactory tnhL nhVe sluCS
made no changes. For carrying the boat,
also used sort of yoke, which brings all the
| weight upcn the shoulders, and in that way
ligbtens the labor.
During the two yesrs that l have used
| my boat, L have often landed it, through
| heavy breskers, on a very stony shore, be-
sides running it against fair number of
| submerged snsgs and stones, sometimes with
considerable force, but, owing to its light
ness and toughness, it never received the
slightest injury. 1 have been out in it in
very heavy seas, and have found it much
easier 10 manage q. such times than s he.v-
Ter beat. In rowing parallel to high waves
| it is spt TO chip a little water occasionally,
! unless carefully managed, but all email boats
with low sides experience this difficulty.
The approximate cost of the materials
used in the construction of the canoe was 81
| follows:
cts varnish, 81 90; Is yds. paper. 81 2Oi
s yds. cloth, ~ cts; bottom board, 80 cts;
gunwsles. so cts; cross boards, % cts f;
paint, 30 css split rattan, . cts; nails,
screws, WIRE etc, % cts. Total, S6l7