Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-08
KEEL VERSUS cENTReBOARO.
American Yschtsmen Believe In the
Handy Centrebonrd.

Nv his comparisons Of keel with centre
hoard yachts Naval-Architect Brown has
stirred up some Of the yachtsmen OF New
York. Franklyn Basstord, the marine ar
fist, has undertaken 10 champion their
cause and this Is what he has to say;
In a recently-published interview Mr..
Alfred H. Brown. an English naval archi-
tect, says: "Your centreboard is all very
well for racing, but can't see the beau
ty of II In a pleasure craft. IL takes up
too much room for one thing. spoils the
cabin accommodation and is altogether an
unwieldly and ungraceful contrivance' L
am a believer in the keel boat Tor COM
fort safety, and all needful speed Mr..
Brown is evidently only acquainted with
the centreboarders OF the past and not or
the present decade. No centreboard has
been built In recent years OF over 10 feet
load line in which the cabin accommoda-
tons were spoiled the modern centre
board does not rise above the cabin hoor
and Is altogether invisible without or
within, and consequently cannot impair
in the slightest degree the appearance OF
the vessel As 10 It's uses, 1t has many
that Mr.. Brown must he quite unfamiliar
with, and which are by no means con-
fined to racing craft. Even though but
cruiser, il enables her TO hold on 10 wind
ward, and when night Is approaching
with the weather unpromising ana the
harbor still eight or ten miles on, Few
American yachtsmen care to beat Tor IL
with the keels when a good centreboard
could lay her course the entire way.
And the above is no uncommon incident
In cruising the Sound, as hundreds Will
verify; again, the majority of really good
land-locked harbors abound with devious
passages, and as summer breeze has
fashion of drawing in," nine times out OF
ten you're on the wind in getting out, and
II is, indeed. material matter whether
you must tack in a narrow channel or
can clear the point OF land ahead. In
the one case you may go aground and
stay six or more hours to the next tide,
which wouldn't be agreeable even to Mr.
Brown. In fact. examples Of the centre
boards advantages even 10 a cruising
craft, are endless, as every keel man here
has seen to his sorrow times without
number, even II he doesn't acknowledge
1t, an especially valuable fact for Mr..
Brown TO digest before condemning con-
trivance which for many years has and
will be the mainstay and distinctive fea-
ture of our American yachts. l would
also take issue on his peroration-"a be-
liever in the keel boat for comfort, safe
ty, and all needful speed" Personally
have never had any comfort on keel
yacht, which is always narrower than the
centreboarder; consequently cramPed for
room below and on deck, takes anything
but comfortable heels when sailing any
way except dead before IT," and even
then rolls continually, while her great
fixed draught forces you TO anchor beyond
hail OF the shore six nights in the week.
We know that what we consider annoy
ances many Englishmen positively adj
mire; we know that they don't mind sail
ing on edge, thoroughly enjoying COM
plete ducking, are absolutely fond Of
sailing after dark In strange waters even,
as they are never so much at home as
when in an impenetrable fog. but then
We cannot all be Englishmen, and II IL
equally true that Americans are not able
to fully appreciate such amusements. We
also admit that the other extreme has
many disadvantages, and we no longer
build the unsafe "skimming-dish," but
give all our present centreboards ample
draft for safety and carry sail on them
IN perfect security web the best keels
ever produced while for 'all needful
speed every man who sails the seas.
be ii in yacht or working boat, wants to
sail faster than his friends all day and
every day, and Is never satisfied. In this
country at least, unless he can do IL,
and the modern centreboard does the
trick" Mr.. Brown Is evidently hedging
when he says he believes the Vigilant
will win and then falls back on the claim
that she ought to. and it's quite a simple
matter Tin his BELIEF to build boat so
much lighter than competitor who must
cross the ocean. Now. on the contrary. I
venture the opinion that there Is COM
paritively little difference In the weight IN
construction between the vigilant and
Valkyrie; the latter. having the greater
draft may or may not weigh more as to
hull. In any event i feel perfectly safe
IN saying that after the cup matter Is set
tied tina vigilant viii cheerfully enter an
other match. IL desired, for as many miles
at sea as tbs valkyrie will care to carry her
racing gig. The matter Of crossing the
ocean with an enormousiy-rsducsd sail
plan does not by any means entail the
necessity OF tremendous weight in con-
struction, nor even that . particularly
aide design should be built Navahoe.
which " Considered an ovsssparred and
''tsndsr'' yacht. crossed IN shout one half
the time II took vaikyrie. and hAd many
days Of headLvind lat that. In other
words. u vigtlant or valkyris w1ns abe ID
The suSnrior ship In all wsathss. sHd the