The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-02-15
FOUR.MASTED SCHOONERS.


ind erwriters Adverse TO Their Insur- /
ance Because of Recent Disasters.
The large number of losses on large
iour-masted schooners which have occur !
red recently have served to disturb the
minds Of the underwriters, and some OF
the companies will not write them in the
future. while others have increased their
rate iron TO per cent. In spite OF the
frequent losses this class OF vessels has
proved very profitable, as they give the
carrying capacity OF good-sized harks and
ships without the expense of mainte-
nance OF square-rigsed vessels, and a
steady flow of capital has lately sought
this class OF investment. These vessels
are not now considered the ideal sailing
vessel, and their rugged is regarded with
suspicion. Their lower masts are so
long and comparatively so close together
that they are not held securely IN place
by the standing rigging. The lower
masts OF a four-masted schooner are
much longer than those OF square
rigged vessel, while the vessel itself Is
not any wider, and as the shrouds, which
are the main stays OF the masts, run
from the heads of the lower masts to the
vessels sides. they form such an acute
angle that much stability is sacrificed.
/ In the square-rigged vessel, where the
| lower mast is shorter and the vessel OF
| equal beam, the angle OF the shrouds is
much broader, and the mast is supported
/ so firmly that 10 carry it away at the
| deck is almost an impossibility. Very
/ few people believe that the four-masted
/ schooner Mile u. Bovine, which was
/ recently abandoned at sea, would have
! been lost had she not carried away her
masts, thereby renderin. her unman-
ageable and wholly at the mercy Of the
sea. Il is now universally acknowledged
that the greatest difficulty to overcome
! in the construction OF large fore-and-
alters Is 10 support the masts that they
! will STAY as they are put and be able 10
| stand stiff gale without going by the
| board Although the rig of the large
| schooners is considered their worst fault,
there are other features embodied in
them that are considered Objectionable
bv many. one OF which is the center.
board, with which nearly all Of them are
fitted and which weakens the vessels
back, as it is necessary, IN order to have
center board, to cut hole through the
center OF the keel The center-board has
proved to be an excellent thing for small
vessels OF not more than 400 tons regis
ter, but when they are built larger it is
considered by many that it is better &c
make them keel vessels.
Another feature in the four-masted
schooner, which is considered by many
as Objectionable, is their light draughr II
proportion TO their length and breadth
one OF the principal objects OF the build
ers having been thus far to construc
large carriers with as light draught as
posi- bic, so as TO enable them TO 60 ovel
the shoals in safety and TO discharg,
their cargoes at places where there is no
much water One of the objections o
the underwriters is that they do no
carry men enough, and depend too much
upon the engine to make or shorten sail
etc., and in case the engine becomes dis
abled the men are liable to be placed il
a position where they would be power
. less to avert disaster on account OF lacl
OF numbers. The staysail rig invented
by the late Captain r. r. Forbes is quite
iavorably spoken OF, and it is hoped tina
practical demonstration Of its merit
and dement's will be made soon on SOM,
large schooner.--New Bedford paper.