Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-28
Costly STEERING GEAR.

4 great deal Of money has been spent
ON the steering gear Of Defender. THIS
has long been a source OF worry 10
yacht-dcsigncrs. The greatest speed OF
movement has always been obtained by
the Use Of the tiller-s;ick. but IN
heavy blow when the yacht Is hafl
headed it's m awkward matter 10 get
enough power at the uHer TO sghd I
about or TO hold her head up IN the
wind The wheel IS easier to handle
but is much slower.
Nat Herrcshon has solved the riddle
bv the introduction of q machine on the
Defender which gives all the speed OK
The tilcr and the power OF the wheel. -
side view OF this steering gear Is shown
by those who have been on the re
fender during her trial-irips 1t Is stated
,t.t three quarters Of turn of the
wheels will throw ;he helm hard up or
hard down. If power IS needed ths
,hroyiuy Of n clutch brings compound
gear into action. A..
In the cut the two AS represent the
steering wheels Il the brass bearing
connecting rudder post with steering
shaft. c the rudder post d the quadrant
gear j. the beVel pinion engaging quau-
rant FF tho bronze frame G. the brake
Hi the two clutch gears, III the COM
Mound gearing. j the hand levers, ope-
rating compound gearing, and kh the
The cut shows side view with the
compound gearing on. TO chahse TO
direct gearing the man at the wheel
droDs one lever. J, throws In tn CLUTCHES
IiH. and changes other lever 10 port
In changing either way the helmsmah
placcs his foot on lever q. Whlch Keeps
The boat on her course While the chdhse
E. made. A.. f,,,-
mon can be put at them If need be
1'he wheels are on the same SHAFT ana
work together. The gear IS boXed over
g., that none of it's parts are IN otu-
aary View. The invention is patented
THE VALKYRIES BLOCKS.
Designer Watson has a clever arrange.
mont Of blocks on the main boom OF
Nukie H. for the speedy hahul'is
81 her immense mainsah' ~ Ie4u,'
fs4l .f arm-power 10 haul TINS gan laut
pI.n mo wind is abeam, and any CON
f-.,ance that tends 20 hasten matters
oven tho smallest fraction of time may
D. worth several seconds 10 the !acH'
before tie race IS over.
,rrs lsree c.. shows the block arrange
mont ON Valkyrie III. ana that OF Nlsi-
lart. giving good idea or the improve
mauts made. -,
s,en that instead Of two double bloehS
or Tho hoor, folr single blocks are used.
thus avoiding friction In the shed.eS
customary IN double blocks. on the
Vaikyrle the sheet starts aft from n
leading or quarter block on the port
side II then passes up 10 the hIsl
block on the boom, and thence 10
single block ON the forward ifaFeier;
From here n passes through the thup
block on the boom, and then goes 70
. double block on the after tray Her.
il next passes along and goes throush
"a single block on the end ~ the boom
ana then back 20 the double block on
tre after traveller again. From mere
Z. rims ND through the second block, and
thru forward TO the leading block on the
starNOard side.
me blocks are sufficiently separated so
20 to preyeut chaling, and, on the Whole'
A. seems 10 be an Improvement over the
NIeilant method. The only NUT WIN
tlis method seems 20 be that the aiter
6o,,bje block is slightly. canted. SUN
cientlv. probably, 70 produce sheht TIC
lion OF the sheGves against the sac
I'm the case Of the Nigilant the nam
,srat masses from the quarter block on
49, ~ he double block on the boom
.rG men masses down TO the double
lf.ck on the forward traveller. Ihehco
r. eoes 10 another double block on me
l.6m and then 20 a single block on the
.ricr traveller. The sheet theh eos oaSN
frrn The after block through ire san
r-aecss. though. as matter OF fact the
ls.lants sheet really starts at ,ae
saeie block on the after traveller me h,,
tu5 parts passing through q double o .o
an he boom IL the after end; then 10
l.5lIe block on the forward traVeiisr,
ana then up to a double block on tn,
tm. The sheets then separate anu
pass through two quarter blocks on uvsA ,
The fault with this methou - -
when the boom is fattened IN inc W.
Sheets pulled away from each other az me
frt block. This crowds each sheaNe
in "a double block against the ou'siae'
IIo5ucing considerable friction
A CURIOUS QUARTETrE'
One OF the peculiaritles Of Valkyrie III
f. her quartette OF owners. She IL usu-
ally spoken OF as Lord Dunrayen's boat