Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-06
THE MURRAY SHARPE.
A Graphic Description of the New Yacht,
"Burlington "
[Plattsburgh Republican. ]

lPlattsburgh Republican,
One of the principal objects of interest
here during the visit Of the Burlington
fleet last Monday night and Tuesday was
the new sharpe yacht Burlington"
which sailed into our harbor on Monday
evening under command of Mr.. Murray,
who may be called the "author and fin
isher," he having drawn all plans, and
superntended her construction.
No one familiar with Lake Champlain
sraft can mistake the burlington" Her
two inasts A. and AZ feet long set bolt up
right and parallel to u hairs breadth, her
square build and cutaway stern and her
tall "nutton Leg sails mark her sufIi
GENTLY. Beating up into the wind her
sails hauled close, she looks well able to
take care of herself, and sailing off before
the wind wing and wing" she resem-
bles only herself. While here she was
inspected by many of our citizens and
many more were disappointed at not hay
ing the opportunity, Oh account of her
short stay. Whoever goes aboard of her
Is at once struck with the amount of room.
Thirty people can be accommodated com
fOrtably even in rough weather She is
10 feet long, II IT. q inches wide, depth at
bow feet, and amidship IT, & inches
On an ordinary boat this would not repre-
sent very great amount of room in the
cabin But it must be remembered that
on this boat the width on deck holds
all the way down" There are
no curving inward of the sides, they
drop straight down leaving right angle
at the bottom. Her bow is simply
wedge shaped and all the beautiful lines
Of naval architecture are discarded with
their attendant expense. In the cabin the
tallest man stands erect. There are sleep
ing Accommodations for twelve persons.
There are lavatOiies, closets, and all ar
The heaviest seas in the toughest weather
do not drench the cabin, and seldom burst
over the deck. She sits squarely in the
water, and does not tilt about craukily
like ordinary boats With white caps
blowing all about her she rides steadily as
steamboat. She cannot tip over with
all the sail that can be crowded upon her.
She can land on any beach, drawing less
than two feet of water amdships, and
only few inches at her bow. She il not
remarkably fast sailer, but II very safe
one, and seems we'll adapted to these
waters especially the best fishing grounds
which abound in shoals and reefs.
Mr.. Murray has undertaken, III this en-
larged edition of the sharpe, to build a
pleasure craft which is especially adapted
to the waters of Lake Champlain, wash
ing as they do, beautiful beaches, some OF
them with no great depth of water, hay
ing some shoals which are dangerous for
/
and swept with winds ranging in force all
the way from the softest lephyrs to the
grand old southeastern which blows steady
as a sea breeze for hours, or days with an
occasional tempest, always preceded by
ample warning, which tears the waves
into spray and drives the strongest boats
to cover. Mr.. Murray, we say, has
started out to create a craft which will
meet more of the requirements of Lake
Champlain for pleasure sailing and gen
eral outing than have hitherto been salts
| fed, and it is an open question whether
he has not succeeded, or entered on the
road to success. For the "Burlington' is
not destined to be the last of her line. Mr.
Murray may have broken the die in
| moulding her, but if so his prolific brain
is equal to another and better one. More
Sharpe yachts are to follow. a building
has been constructed in Burlington by the
Central Vermont railroad company eX
| pressly for the purpose, and in ii we un
! derstand another keel y will be laid soon
and that more will follow. Mr.. Murray
has full faith in tie new craft, and We
| understand that he has partly promised
Plattsburgh people TO run across and Civ,
| us all a good look at the Burling
ton" and possibly a good public talk
about Lake Champlain and its brigh
future. We are sure he will be welcome
for whoever is friendly to these waters
and as enthusiastic in their praise as Mr.
Murray is will find plenty of friends il
Plattsburgh.