The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-21
A COSTLY AMUSEMENT.
BENEFITS Yacht Namouna, and the Cost of
Running the Vessel.

BENEFITS Yacht Namouna, and the Cost of
Running the Vessel
New York Letter.
The Namouna is probably the most luxurious
and expensively-run yacht in the world. She is
an iron three-master, with steel decks, and car
ries at all times full complement of men. She
is always ready for an ocean VOYAGE and can at
any moment man all her boats in case of Deces-
sity. Her crew, all told, numbers upward of
fifty men. Mr.. Bennett commands and navi
gates her himself. Then there are four officers
who take watch and watch, four engineers, nine
nremen and eoal-passers, ten men before the
mast, boatswain, gunner, ships carpenter, two
deck boys, four quartermasters. first and second
steward, and four cabin walters two cabin boys
chief cook and four assistants, four mess boys
etc. Mr.. Bennett has among the crew many old
employees who receive larger salaries than
those quoted above, but even at the usual
figures 1t will be seen at glance that his month
~ payroll must foot up over g. 600. and In all
probability it reaches 81, 500. At a very moder-
ate estimate 1t must cost an average OF 90 cents
a day per head to feed this crew. and that alone
foots up the snug little sum of 800 per month
When the Namouna is at sea she burns in the
nelghborhood of twenty tons OF coal day.
This at So 70 per ton amounts TO $40 per day.
or; In month OF cruising, to So, 200. When to
this is added the cost of repairs, engineers and
mate stores (cordage, etc the interest at per
cent. on an investment of about SIPS. 000 and a
proper allowance for the depreciation in value of
the property, it will be seen that without any
reference to the cost of maintaining the cabin
table and the wine-locker, the expense of
running yacht like the Namouna is something
fabulous. At rough estimate, Sc, 600 mouth
is probably within the mark
But for this money the owner has floating
palace as home. He is free to go wherever he
chooses at whatever time suits his purpose or
his pleasure. Whenever he crosses the Atlantic
he can choose his companions instead of being
obliged to foregather with the travelling hog,
who is always to be found on ocean steamer.
he has his own luxurious cabin, dressing table
and bed, instead of being cooped up in a 7x9
room with two men he doesn't know land doesn't
want to-, and fighting for chance at the look
lng-glass. and wondering if the gentleman from
Oshkosh has tempered with his tooth brush. He
has his own bathroom adjoining his room and
doesn't have to wait his turn until breakfast is
cold tie can have his meals when 1t suits him.
and without feeling the steward for every mouth
full that tastes as If 1t were all cooked In the
same stewpan, and he can write at table
without being hustled away by the steward who
wants to "lay the cloth" an hour and half
before luncheon. More than all, he doesn't have
to lie to the ships doctor in order to keep light
in his room all night That is the advantage to
the yachtsman; the benefit to the world at large
is that he puts great deal of good money in
circulation every year
The Nourmahal and the Atalanta, as they are
principally used in home waters, not so
extensively rum. They each carry crew of
about thirty all told, and their expenses are
therefore proportionately smaller. So with the
Electra, which may be taken as fair example
of steam yacht about half the size of those
mentioned. She is TIA feet long and carries crew
of about twenty four men. Her payroll would
foot up something like $1,000 month. She
burns about eight tons of coal day, and the
cost of feeding her crew is probably a trife more
than on larger steamer. The expenses, as has
been said, of sailing vessels are much smaller.
but then they do not always have fair wind-a
fact that is atoned for in the opinion of their
owners by the sport Of beating to windward.
Among the larger sailing yachts the schooner
Dauutless, MIR. G. H. Colt 1913 feet long 254
tons, may be taken a fair example. This boat
carries fourteen men before the mast two Off
GERS, three cooks. two stewards and two boys
Her payroll therefore, foots mp nearly $1,000
per month, and to this must be added the cost
of food, clothing and repairs. besides the other
items of towing and wet goods for the cabin
locker. From this down to a twenty-foot cat
boat the necessary expenses decrease in proper
ton, but it will be seen at glance that yachting
is an expensive amusement.