Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-16

The ice yacht is another device which has become almost . national institu- ton, and one that other countries do not seem to understand, unless they are shown one in the act of sailing. The design of an ice boat, known as the 1886 model, was deemed the very height of perfection, and when it's speed was found to reach fifty miles an hour, under extraordinarily favorable circustances, it seemed as if tho utmost possible excel lence had been reached at . single stride. This was not so, however; such high speed could only be obtained in very strong winds, and as the amount of resistance required corresponding am ount of heaviness in structure, which tended to make these record-breaking boats very slow in an ordinary breeze, were devoted to the task of getting the highest rate of speed out of ten knot breeze rather than breaking the rec ord obtained in favorable gale.
 The difference between these is like the record of skater on 8 circular track and one with the wind behind him. The latter breaks the record, but the aim of the ice yachtsman.
 Several ideas have been tried with m ore or less success; the skate blades have been ground on different patterns from the old straight-edged blade, and in stead of the under surface which runs on the ice being perfectly flat it has been hollow ground" that is to say, the center of the blade has been more or less cut away, leaving the outer edges sharper and harder, so as to diminish the lee-way in reaching, which, of course, increases the speed by just so much. Hitherto the sloop rig has been the popular style, and 1t is yet believed by experts to be the fastest and most satis- factory rig known. This year a new rig will he tried, which will be produc tive of considerable interest in ice yacht circles. It is 0 modification of the latteen rig of the Mediterranean feluccas, and the great advantages claimed for it are that it gives great spread of unbroken canvass, is easier manipulated than the three or four sails of the sloop, and better stin, brings the bulk of the sail area and consequent resistance to the wind right down to tho very point which modern sailing science proves to be most pro- ductive of high speed.
 The 1atteen rig consists of stout mast stepped in the ordinary way. and the sail is spread upon huge gaff, or boom, which extends in an arc from the bow of the yacht up to the top of the mast and beyond, the sail covering the
 
 rig is one of tho fastest known modern rigs as applied to ordinary sailing craft, the feluecas of tho south of Europe being proverbial for speed, and | considerable Interest is felt as to the res ult when the good properties of this rig are fully demonstrated. Jacob E.. Buokhout, the Poughkcepsie ice yacht l expert, favors tho sloop rig against any other that may be introduced.
 The ice boat Is not difficult thing to make and modification of one that will sail we'll may be made by anyone who knows anything of the carpenters art. Tho rest Is easy, as any blacksmith will l give estimates for set of three blades, and, in city. the hardware store will obtain quotations and goods trom the makers. Take drygoods box, about live feet long and four feet wide, and cut down to 2 depth of two feet. Clamp the bottom and sides of the box with pieces of iron, so as to make it sufi- ciently strong to bear tho strain that will be put upon it. To the sides of the box-forwards attach two blanks, which meet at the points, to form bow. These