The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-03
REFITTING A YACHT.
WEAR AND TEAR THAT COST CON-
SIDERABLE MONEY.
Expenses Which the Owner of q Yacht
Must Meet in the Spring-Tim
seraping, Painting and Fixing
Up Generally.
New York SUM-

New York SUM-
Snow my troubles begin" a yachtsman
said somewhat wearily, dropping the stub Of
cigar and picking up memorandum pad.
I've no doubt many persons are envious Of
the comfort take on board my yacht dur
ing the summer months, but IL they were
bothered in the spring as much as am they
yoult look at it in q different light Here
Is a list Of things that my boatkeepsr says
are absolutely necessary. and you can
hardly imagine what they are. My boat
has just come out of winter quarters, and l
suppose it will take a month TO put her 10
shape for the coming season. You have no
idea OF the wear and tear OF Q yacht For
tunately the spars are all right couldn't
come any where near the cost IL had to fur.
nish complete outfit | must have a new
suit of sails, and if didn't it would be
necessary TO rope and whiten the old sails.
There are some good sailmakers in this
port, but the question with most yacht own
ers is, which is the bestl The cost of that
item is not small can assure you.
Then comes the hull The bottom needs
scraping, and ! must pay for having 1t
hauled up on the ways. Before decide on
that have to decide between rival dealers
Of copper, paint and other preparations
TLsn have to hunt up painters, and have
to rely OH my boatkeeper to SEQ that they
begin work on time and keep at It, for 1t
doesn't pay to keep boat loafiing on the
ways at 50 many dollars a day. IL the gold
bead line Il dingy it must be renewed, and
IL you have ever seen u sigu painter gild
letters, you can imagine how long it takes,
and how many sheets Of goli leaf are nee
essary for bead line The boatkeeper can
do a good deal Of the outside painting, but
when 1t comes to the fine work I'm the cabin
professional must be employed. 1t Is really
surprising the quantity Of paint that is
used. The cherry and mahogany fittings
have 10 DO scraped and shellacked, the deck
Is frequently caiked, and IL any OF tho gal
vanized iron work Is weak it must be re-
placed. The copper and brass things have
to be FURNISHED, and broken glass must he
replaced. 1t takes three men 10 holystone
the deck and wash it down, but, Of course.
after Il has been done once 1t can easily DO
kept bright and clean.
"Ths boatkeeper looks after the rigging,
and II any ropes are weak they have to be
unrove and new ones bought. The mast,
bowsprit boom. gaff, and light spars have
to be scrapsd and oiled or shellacked. All
these things, you observe. are outside, and
repairing. The hundred and one things for
the inside cannot begin to dsscribe My
carpet was worn out last year. and l must
have . new one fitted. Crockery, cooking
utensils, bedding, curtains. water casks,
and other things have to be overhauled, and
missing articles replaced. The cooks needs
are wonderful to contemplate. He always
wants the best of everything. and good
many more things than q professional house.
keeper. Rust spoils the pans and tin ket-
ties, but what destroys other things is more
than can tell.
"A few years ago was nearly talked to
death by the owners OF patented this and
patented that, but have every substantial
fixture so complete now that / can turn them
away. The patent steering geer caused q
good deal of trouble for me, but survived
it. The patent traveller for the mast didn't
catch me, ] believe ip hoops What do
you think the latest agent basi Patented
ife-saving appliances He will show you
buoys, mattresses, jackets, cushions, AMI
chairs filed with something to take the place
Of cork, and to hear him talk you would
think IL safer TO be ON one of his mattresses
than on my boat Idon't say that they are
not good things to have. All ask is that l
may have time to see what want
"The last essential, which at the same
time must be attended to early In the season,
is the crew. Engagements are made long
beforehand. l don't need many men, but
they must bo trustworthy, sober and capa-
bic. Good men for yachts command good
pay. They must be young and active, clean,
respectful, odedient, and quick. Swedes are
good sailors for yachts, but native Ameri-
cans, born and raised near the water, are the
best They take an interest In their work,
and IL tackle another boat going down to
the Hook they will be as interested In the
result and work as hard to attain 1t as any
ono could wishn