The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-27
ITO be continual
N4PHTH.i LAUNCHES.

Rnpid Growth OF Novel Pleasure Graf
With business Possibilities.
Naphtha launches appear to be established
| facts so far as the purposes for which W to the
| present they have been designed are con-
| cerned. Few inventions have been met with
| deeper prejudice against them aud with
| quicker acceptance at the same time. At first
| everybody was afraid that they would explode
| for naththa in its various uses has been on
record az terrible destroyer in cases of mis-
| application or improper treatment The
| method, however. by which naphtha Is made
| TO serve as a fuel precludes any possibility OF
| explosion. That at least, is what the inventor
and the manufacturers say, and experience
thus far has confirmed their statement. That
the yachting public generally has accepted
this Is evidenced by the fact that nearly 600
naphtha launches are now in use, and that
manufacturers are crowded with orders
months In advance.
Tho inventor Of tho naphtha motor is Mr.
August W. Ofeldt OF 119 Fifty-sixth street.
Brooklyn. He has q shop at the foot OF the
street where he makes launches in which
naphtha serves as fuel to generate steam. The
launches made under his invention. wherein
naphtha Is the exclusive motive material, are
not now In his control. for he sold his inven-
tors interest In the patent to the Gas Engine
X,
Mr Oleldt was born IN Sweden about fifty
years ago.. and he gained his scientific and
mechanical education there. lie came TO this
country twenty years ago. 1t was while he
was working with gasoline that the idea Of
utilizing i Rnphtha as u motive agent occurred
years he studied and sxperimented
before he constructed an engine that
use in New York wateFs. ' and ge s1ti in
appears at events where naphtha launches are
likely to be; Itis set up in small black boat
white lettsrIsii e The GriSI9ni 70. i" When
Edward y. Cary. and others with capital took
up the invention. they began making boats
specially designed ior the nnphtha engine. and
Tho inventor says that there is still room for
Improvement In the engine. and that he pro-
poses some dny to bring out ono that will omen
q new ora In pleasure navigation. and possibly
lead the way to the use OF naphtha in larger
marine enterprises.
At present naphtha launches are used almost
exclusively ms yachts. though there are ferries
here and there over which passengers are car
yachts have abandoned steam launches for
naphtha boats as tenders People who are not
q trim littlo boat, with bright brass funnel In
the eXtrome stern. scooing speedily about.
emitting rapid, suffering cough, but shmw-
ing no sign whatever Of smoke or ciuders. The
funnel is apparently all thers is to the engine
boiler, or coal i bin II me term may be used. II
beside the bas? OF the funnel, one would see
several small wheels in complex
Ea4 boa hanS d and
That is all ono could make Of It unless ono
we're an expert mechanic. and all one WOULD
neep TO know about " in order to run the boat.
dor the forward deck, connected by pipes with
sol forth BY another SoReHrn
might be modified BY tho naphtha launch
We hs S4 a SS fno Oily ap I'd
know what will be the eliect OF turning each
COCK and when to rump In order to DO Captain,
for steoriug also may DO done at the engine SO |
simple IS the task Of looking after 1t.
70 use another missioner. on naphtha launch. |
Then all that is necessary Is to work the pump |
q stroke or two arply q match to an opening
Tor Nifty hours. Then the supply |
have to be repenished Tho ensine e1 may Il" bo
stopped at any instant By shutting of the sup
ing OF ont ras icy and the ensinesr nav ~
homo at once with no cleaning up 10 do aud
no tires to rake down..
The draught varies from IS to IS inches. SIX |
to ten persons may be carried safely ip the
launch is the 25-footer IN which there Is room
for twenty passengers. II costs fifteen cents
" hour for tho power necessary to run a boat
4 curious use to which naphtha engines
have been put recently is as auIiliarles TO sail
Sound. yawi rugged. that have naptha en-,
Structed that the wheel does not Impede the
progress OF the boat. and the power may be
turned on when once started, at an instant's
notice. The utility OF this device IL apparent
in case OF Gains when the engine will tond the
boat along ut six miles an hour. The engine
Is also used 10 putting about, this man,ruyre
being accomplished with remarkable CELEBRITY
when the power Is applied. Tho speed Of or
llnnrY naphthR LAUNCHES Is about seven miles
launches with siI-horse power engines have
made u recorded speed Of ten statute miles an
hour, The speed might be increased by put
ling In engines OF greater horse power but this
you'd add 80 considerably TO the expense that
The manufacturers have not as yet deemed IL
advisable TO construct sveh b0Rtss