The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-13
ADVENT or THE kSoCKABoUT.

A"'- "AN W NV N't'A 80
ADVENT or THE KSoCkIBoUT.
seawanhakn-CorinthiAns Adopt u New Type
which Promises to Become Popular.
From present indications the most popular
OF boat that will be used in yacht racing
along the Sound next summer will be the knock
about, and the Scawanhaka-Co rinth.a Yacht
Club, through whose efforts both the half-rater
and G0.footer were made popular In these
waters. is also the first to make a special class
for this really useful type of boat. About thirty
yachtsmen were present at the meeting called a
week ago at the clubhouse on Centre
Island with the object OF discussing the proposed
new class. ID. Leroy Dresser acted as Chairman
and after explaining the scheme fully designs
were exhibited that gave an excellent idea of
an up-to-date knockabout. That submitted by
w. b. Stearns OF Marblehcad was especially
complete. the lines, construction and accommo-
dation plans being accompanied by a handsome
ly finished half model. The price submitted.
providing ten yachts were ordered from the
same moulds, was SITS each. The Stearns
proposition was accepted and eleven enthusiasts
at once subscribed their names as prospective
builders.
The model Is practically a fn-keel craft. al
though not actually so under the translation OF
the rules as expounded by a well.known expert
from Boston, who makes the rather fine dis
~tinction that to be a fin keel the keel must be a
metal plate inserted into and bolted to the hull.
Her lines are graceful throughout, but she has
somewhat less draught and more sail area than
the acknowledged ideal type around Boston Bay.
while a small metallic centreboard Is placed
in a manner that allows L to house inside
floor. The principal dimensions for the new type
are: l. myth over all. 30 feet; load water line.
with cen,reboord. : feet. The sail area in main.
sail and lib shows about $50 square feet. and
Several minor alterations in ;he accommodation
plan will be made. the principal one being 10 en-
large and lengthen the cabinhouse so as 10 give
eight feet in length and i've feet head room.
The knockabout has been developed in Boston
and its vicinity. where during The past few
sailormen has been in these littlc boats that
combine with great speed the most satisfactory
So frm a hold has this useful boat taken upon
yachting enthusiasts at the Hub" that there
has been a racing organization formed known
as the knockabout As o%Ciation. A knockabout
under their rules is defined as follows:
A ~seawor;hy keel hoat-not to include I'm keel
rugged simply without ~bowsprt,, and with only main.
sail and one headsail. The load water line length not
saaII be al least seven and not more than eight feet.
The f~reeboard shall be not Iess than 20 inches. The
forw ard side OF mast at the deck shall be not leSs
than I'VE feet from the forward end OF the load water
The plankIng. including deck. shall not be less than
three%quhrters OF an inch thick finished. The frames
shall not DE lesS IMAM one inch square ana spaced
not more than twelve inches on centres. The dead
wood shall be nlird IN and the rudder hung on tho
stern post, while the outside ballast shall be not less
than $500 pounds.
The actual sal area shall not be over 500 square
feet. not over 400 square feet OF which shall be in
the mAInsaii. The Inspector shall be provided with .
correct sail plan Of any Loaf to be measured. and
previous to measurement the owner shall cause dis
tinguishing marks. satisfactory 10 the Inspector. to
, Ss R's anS at on tin 1ee throat ineas Of . !I the ma, pn une ON m1 ise 1 So .Hs
Al the clew OF the i,nainsail. aud on the gan At tho
No part OF the mainsaiI shall be allowed 20 extend
beyond these marks, which shall he black bands
Of The marks to be the limits of the sail. The area OF
the Jib shall be considered To he the area OF the for.
ward triangle. viz: the product of one half the dis
tame. from the attachm. mt OF the tack To the stem
70 the forward side Of The m mast AZ me tack marx S OF
upp. r edge Of the said tack mark TO the bottom OF
jIb shall be allowed. hut a storm jib may be substi-
tuted for a working tiD.
resented in this class OF boat. the restrictions
governing design and, construction are such
that the boats Rave shown marked affinity in
speed. and as a consequence the racing has been
very keen and exciting.
That a special restricted class Of the "one
design idea is bound TO be popular with yachts
men in this vicinity Is shown by the special class
OF 30-footers. which has been conspicuously sue
cessful for two years. Yachtsmen accordingly
predict a most successful season for the new
class in these waters. especially AZ they arc real
yachts in both design and c3nstructian and not
been developed In the half.rate1 and 2O-foot
classes.
n great ueHl can DO hulu III IhNOT u tuO
knockabouts. They are known to be the " nan
dies" small boats ever sailed around Boston
harbOr. and the venturesomc amateurs o. that
section often go ten or twenty miles out to sea in
them. In. heavy weather they can be reefed
down quickly. and every amateur sailor who
has chung on 10 tho end of a long bOwsprit by his
eyelias while reeting a. jib under adverse
weather conditions will be ready to invoke
blessings upon the man who invented u jib that
can be reefed without going outboard.
The Race Co mittee of the Seawanhaka Club
believes that the establis mont OF a knockabout
| class Will ESPECIALLY contribute TO the success OF
yacht racing. and desiring 10 aid IN the move.
ment in every practicable way, II will encourage
y~achtsmcn TO build by arranging frequent races
for them.
Will the SteArns boats will make a fine class
IN themselves, 1t Is not deemed advisa bio TO re-
strict competition to the dozen or more boats con
structed by him. Several designers are at work
upon drawings and specifications for boats OF
stead. Manley Crosby, Thomas J.. Ferris, Charles
J. Davis. and 7. X. Weber. while Others will
Tor building hnpinA-