Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-07
SCALE AND GENERAL DIRECTIONS

source. though rarely attempted above
the Water Gap Its whole course Is a
series Of rapids very dangerous In
places. Another river. the Lehigh, just
Its opposite. slow and sluggish. because
OF being damned up. empties into the
Delaware at Easton, and is a great
boating resort for the residents. Here
my canoe is generally In service all sum.
mer.
PLAN OF THE BOAT.
The detailed plans are as follows; No.
]. is an elevation with the canvas cut
away 10 show spacing OF ribs and con-
nection Of stern and keel No. H. is a
ross section amidships. No III. shows
the keel adopted and the framing OF guns
wales and decks. No ". is a diagram
showing how the ribs look when in post
ton, and the remainder show how ths
ribs were laid out and bent.
ADVANTAGES OF a CANVAS BOAT.
determined on a canvas boat for sew.
eral reasons, among which were dura>
bility. Absence OF leakage. cheapness. ana
because IL is most easily built.
At first sight the possibilities Of punch,
Ing holes In n boat OF this kind seem
great. but after four years OF hard usage
mine Is yet perfect though often shipped
on cars from place TO place. and worse
not sink when full OF water, though there
are no alright compartments. and In
going through rapids ships next to no
water at all / also fitted II out with
oars as well as paddle. because with the
former you can face companion In The
boat, besides making better time. But
paddle is often preferable on account or
facing the course TO be traversed. in
stead OF turning your back 20 IT, as with
al -
a paddle In every situation. especially
going through the rapids.
THE NECESSARY LUMBER.
The lumber can all be procured at a
saw-mill in the desired lengths. and
consists Of the following:
/. one rs piece Of pine for keel sawed
as shown on plan.
2. Two gunwales "a square from II foot
white ash timber. nice. straight grained
timber for binding.
8 Nine strips OF straight grained ash
3-4xl-lxi l-2 feet long for ribs. These are
worked down from the centre 10 the ends.
tapering 10 1-2x3-l6 for the FIVE main ribs
the remainder may be l-2x3-l6 at centre
" 5-l6I3-l6 at ends.
4 Two stern pieces OF rs ash sawed as
shown In drawing.
8. About thirty strips OF straight grain
Cd white pine 3-4X3-l6 for laying over the
ribs 10 support the canvas.
6. Two piecest OF ash l-4xi-4 and 1-2
feet long. 10 tack canvass TO for side
decks.
Z Two pieces OF ash Xxi Ia and l-2
feet long for finishing around decks.
:. Two pieces Of pine SKIS and feet
long for ends OF decks
@ Fourteen ash blocks like for use as
shown.
10 Two pine boards wide. s feet 6
inches long. and s-ls thick. for bottom
boards around keel.
PREPARING FOR CONSTRUCTION.
The lumber should all be purchased at
once. so that everything is at hand, and
the ribs and gunwales bent into the re-
quircd shapes.
The ribs bent on the CARED floor. for
IL Is necessary 10 let them lie so for
some DAYS A diagram was drawn from
the measurements given and outlined by
wire nails The ribs were then dipped
IN boiling water till pliable (the water
boiler or bath-tub will answer. Then
they were bent round the line OF nails
and held In place by another line on
tbs outside The gunwales l bent in
the yard. First they were separated by
pieces Of wood al the centre, and ends
u cockpit: then these pieces were fxed
10 a Sxi scantling. and the ends OF the
gunwales brought together and fastened
by cord; each end was propped up and
the wood soon assumed q graceful curve.
The props were considerably longer than
the sheer-as the curve formed by the
gunwales is ealled-was TO be finally.