The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-05-28
THE .AKAMAI.
Description OF the New steam Schooner
for Island Trade.

Description OF the New steam Schooner
for Island Trade.
This is the name OF the new auxiliary
steam schooner now being constructed
~ by Mr.. J. A. Dover at his building yard
hnear the FISH market. There are several
4 remarkable features possessed by this
steamer which are worthy OF notice, and
which We Will endeavor to describe.
The hull has a concave or hollow
bottom. The midship section hangs 4
feet forward, and is 3 the vessels
length from the heel. This arrange
ment makes the vessel remarkably full
aft, and was so intended by the designer.
In taking water line 8 feet from side
of keel, it strikes 6 inches above the
center Of the propeller. This peculiarly
! is accounted for by the vessel being ,
| feet deeper aft than forward. As may
be supposed, a model of this kind causes
a very full counter or quarter; but the
''saucy" lift given to the counter raises
the full ecliptic stern clean and clear Of
the water. There will be a pointed
cutwater under Is feet bowspirit; and,
forward, the vessel looks, from her
wedge-shaped prov, as if speed was
chiefly considered in the design, while
IN the stern arrangement beauty of lines
seems to have been the intention. The
timber used in the construction of this
unique craft, is Siam teak imported from |
Hongkong by the designer and builder, |
Mr.. Dover, and this fact shows tn at |
durability has also had due consider !
alton Tho tim barS bava II naor
on machine invented by the builder, |
and which is patented in the United !
States, Great Britain and the British !
Colonies. The whole hull below the
water line is copper fastened, with heavy
yellow metal castings for heel, behind
which is a 3-blade propeller. The
timbers are of bent oak double framed,
inches from centre to centre. One of
these timbers crosses the top of the keel,
which is feet 6 inches deep, and the
other fastens alongside the keel Is
inches farther down and receives and
holds the cardboard streak. Next to the
model, this latter arrangement is the
most remarkable feature of the vessel.
The length overall is go feet, beam Is
feet, and depth of hold ) feet. Mr.. Dover
does not seem sanguine of unusual speed
as the vessel will be propelled by an
engine having only 80 horse power; but
for economic advantage and staunch
he believes the model and
general plan of this vessel will be satisfac-
tory. The measurement is % tons, and
she will carry from 50 to 40 tons. In
addition to her steam power this vessel
will be schooner rugged and carry d full
set of fore and aft schooner sails.
The whole frame of this steamer was
bent, from oak plank, by one man and
4 boy in two weeks; n6 mold being
made for any of the timber, except six
Of the timbers under the counter which
are natural crooks.
Regarding the singular name that will
De given to this vessel, it was first sug-
yested by an uptown wag; and Mr..
Dover intends to adopt it. The signif
,atiOn of the word Akamai is "skillful."
Since the above was in type we learn
hat the first inter-island steamer that
)led in these waters was called the
Akamai. She was a side wheeler, about
100 tons measurement; and, after a few
ears service in this trade, was wrecked
IN the coast of Kauai sometime during :
he ''ffties."