The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-26
uP-To-DATE IDEAS.

The Herreshoff shops at Bristol, where the
new cup-defender is building, are still locked
and guarded, but the New York Sun SAYS that
she is by no means the unknown quantity that
her builder hoped she would be when he
signed the contract and agreed to build her in
secret. Nor is specific information concerning
her dimensions and details of construction
lacking
Inc new cup-defender will be to all intents
and purposes big fin keel She will indeed
retain the ordinary form of construction in
stead OF having plate fin, but her characters
tics will be those of the fin keels which have
proved SO successful in the smaller classes. She
is the embodiment of her designers experience
with the Gloriana, Wasp, Colonia and the host
Oh mn keels, and looks to be a vast improve
ment over anything he has yet turned out
In construction she win be of bronze plating
on steel frames. Her principal dimensions
are approximately 125 feet over all, 80 feet
water line, "a feet beam and 10 feet draught.
This is about the Colonia's beam, with four feet
greater draught, showing great increase in
power to carry sail. The overall length is less
than the Colonia's, because the forward over
hang has been shortened, and she will have a
DOW which Will come closer to the water for
ward OF the water line than in the other
boats, and will be more like that of the Val
kyrie II.
The lead keel will be bolted on outside of the
ooat and will weigh about seventy tons. This
Keel is "a feet inches long on top, feet &
inches deep in the center and % inches wide
on the top of its widest part, which is just for
ward OF the center. On the top it narrows to q
point forward and to width of four inches aft.
Inc keel rounds up at either end on the bot
tom, showing that quickness in stays is aimed
at in the design. Toward the bottom the keel
Is Dubbed to thickness of thirty-seven inches,
SO that the shape of the cross section is not IN
IKE that of an inverted keyhole. 1t is not
pear-shaped, for the top sides are straight and
the bulb is in the lower half
The position OF the big lump of lead shows
that its top will not be parallel with the water
line, but will be higher forward than aft. At
the after end of the keel is fat space about
three feet long, which apparently gives the
correct rake OF the stern post. and shows that
the rudder will drop that far down on the lead.
Upon the lead keel has been placed the keel
plate or the backbone of the whole structure.
1t is bronze plate one inch thick, but having
three-inch webs cast across it SO that its total
resisting strength is four inches. It has suita-
Bile f1anges to which floors, frames and the
plates of the cardboard streak will be riveted.
1t was cast in three pieces, which have been
riyeted together on projecting fanges, for
which slots have been cut across the lead keel.
The plates OF the cardboard streak will lap down
upon the lead keel and be fastened by screws
The lead keel will be held to the keel plate by
long and strong bolts of white metal passing
clear through both and being set up with nut
on either end. This form of construction is
strong, yet fairly light 1t is also very expen-
sive, but the pockets of the millionaires' syndi-
cate are very long. To prevent the lead keel
from fouling it will be covered with Tobin
bronze plates, which will be fastened with
screws, and will make close Joint with the
plates of the cardboard streak. This, too, is ex-
pensive.
The frames are to be of steel, but as yet none
of the floors which cross the keel and brace the