New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-02
A NOVEL PLEASURE BOAT.
THE VESSELS DESIGNER CALLS II 4
"YACHT-HOUsE"
CONSTRUCTED WITH VIEW TO BEING SERVICE
ABLE AND SAFE ON THE OCEAN OR


IN SHALLOW RIVERS.
James Lenox. the veteran South Brooklyn ship.
builder. Is constructing a combination houseboat ana
yacht OF entirely original design at his yard IN
Twenty-fifth-st The vessel designed by Charles
w. Butler. OF No 100 Lberty-s;-. New-York. Tho
boat combines the good qualities OF a steam yacht
and houseboat. Although fitted with twin propelers
estimated to give her a speed OF nine or nine and .
half miles an hour. there is no smokcstack or es-
cape OF smoke. steam vapor to indicate the means
OF propulsion.
The dimensions OF the boat 81 feet over all. -
feet water-lne. is feee6 inches beam and "a inches
draught. loaded. In order pass under canal
bridges the top Of the pilot-house is only nine feet
six inches above the water line. She Is fitted with
a roomy pilot-house entered by two doors. from
which a companionway on the starboard side leads
to the main cabin. This cabin occupies the greater
part OF the boat. being 80 feet long anc 10
feet wide. The trimmings OF hard wood
and the floor Of white pine. oiled and vanished and
covered with rugs At the after end Is the engine
room separated from the mein cabin by a bulk.
head. In the centre OF this room are two gasoline
engines TO furnish the motive power Il IL entered
from the poop deck by a sliding trunk and door.
A bukhcad divides the main cabin into two IN.
equal parts. The smaller division is l6 by i2 feet
On the starboard side is the owners room, and on
the port side the kitchen.
On the port side OF forward cabin Will he .
handsome open fireplace and opposite to It a piano.
forte. Forward Of the fireplace will be large
lounge convertible into a double bed. These rooms
lighted by eight large windows on each side.
fitted with od-fashioned panes OF glass similar to
those used In country kitchens. the owners idea Do.
ing. while at sea- to get as homelke surround-
ngs as possible.
The engines do not take up much space. and the
gasoline tank Is beneath the forecese deck. where
a tank hold $50 gallons OF fresh water and
chest of 600 pounds capacity are also located.
huf ne
| Works and are positive motive powers, durable ana
| economical BY giving the fywneel single turn,
| small quantity OF gasoline mixed with air IL In
| jected into the cylinders. wire connected from
| wet electric battery Of ordinary type produces
spark an explosion follows and the engine IL start
| ed similar operation starts the second engine.
and the boat runs until the electric spark or gaso-
| line supply is cut of The exhaust is taken by two
| ''mufiiers" beneath the poop deck by which Il
| escapes into the water beneath the stern. THESE
engines operate twin screws. % inches In diameter.
making $50 revolutions each minute. These small
| propellers which are Of manganese bronze, give
! high rate OF speed without Interfering with the light
| draught OF ,he boat.
There are also novel features in the construction
| Of the hull The frames are Of white oak and the
| panls!ng OF yellow pine. two and a half inches 10
| thickness There are five streaks on each side.
| Beneath them and entirely AROUND the boat. runs
| beam projecting inward fourteen inches and six
| inches deep Into this are rabbeted the lower
streak and the floor plankins. Another new feature
| Is that at distances foot apart, galvanized
three-eighths inch iron rods run from top to bot
| tom OF the SIDE plankng. practically making the
five streaks, a single plank on each side and pre-
| venting warping inward or outward
| The main cabin has fully eight feet head room.
| and is two feet lower than the top OF the plot
house The outside OF the former will be utilized
| as a promenade deck. being reached by shorS
companion ladder from the poop deck II Will be
| surrounded BY q pipe railing. and both decks VIII
he fitted with awnings. Fresh water Is Furnished To
I The entire boat from tank above the clothes
| locker in the kitchen. which II Is pumped from
| the forward water tank.
| This new style Of 'yacht house. as Mr.. Butter
calls the boat. Is cons idered unique structure and
| one we'll calculated TO AFFORD every pleasure that
man can find In yachting. with the ease and rest OK
| houseboat Owing TO the great beam and dis
| placement OF this vessel she is perfectly safe In
| any ordinary seaway. and also be taken up
| any stream where there Is three feet OF water AZ
| one grizzed old captain said to Tribune reporter:
"Al she needs 10 travel IL heavy dew or hsht
! shower"
| The owners name has been disclosed. but ha
| Is said to be a wealthy Hartford Conn. man. q
PLAYWRIGHT, who has "A reputation for cooking Welsh
| rabbits
| The idea OF the owner Is TO spend the winters
| among the orange groves OF the Land % Flowers
and the summers amid the cooling breezes OF I.ona
| luxury may be gained from the fact that two men.
engineer and cook. the only hands required. an
| the running OF the boat will only cost about
| cents