New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
TURNING A LARGE VESSEL.
NEW IDEA CLEANED FROM YACHT
DESIGN.
NAVAL ARCHITECTS ADOPT THE IDEA OF THE
BALANCE RIDDER-A NEW JAPANESE
wARsHIP PROVES THE SUCCESS
OF 4 BOLD INNOVATION.


The endeavors which are constantly being made
70 improve the speed and general ACTIVITY OF racing
yachts are once more proving useful In the highest
grades Of naval architecture This time the adj
vance has 20 do with the rudier and the steering
power generally. In the new japanese pat'ie-sh'P
Yashirna a bold innovation mas been MADE III inc
cutting away OF the deadwood IN the aftcr uh'er-
body Of the vessel. The big naval architects nave
now cr,bbel the idea Of the balance rudder, the
Ges-aby OF which at first only Known III
yacht-racing communities. In the na'ance ru"
der the blade extends forward ms well as pack
ward Of the rudder post. which is The AXIS on
which the blade turns. This discovery was hrS'
made when the underbodies Of rac.ng yachts WIRE
GU. away 10 such an extent that there was nothing
IN the hull LEFT which the rudder could he hunP
The modern hull was floating Ike shallow saucer
drawing in The cases OF thc 2)-foo'ers. not more
than five inches OF water. 50 that the designers
had TO con9truc; metal rud!ors that would c%''n"
down and get a grip on the water below the nun
In this casting the rudder post was part on the
blade and Ind TO he made strongly. as II nad
no s,i,)port forward on any part Of the hull ihi@
was the frs; time iu naval architecture" thni fne
rudder hung by Itself apart from the Keel WIN
the execution of the device of the NOrsemen ana
others who sieerod with n paddle over IN" Siic'
Tho idea tho, presented !tscf: Why not extend the
blade OF this ranging rudder forward OF Us rudder-
post axis and thus present lateral area to the
waters 1t opposes?
In practice this WAS found TO work well. ana
the smaller boats gained an activity in coming In
stays that justly regarded az phenomenal IN
fact they now turn. spin. so quickly that IL
takes exceedingly smart handling OF tho head
sheets to get them trimmed down IN time 10 40
their work when the BOAT has swung round TO inc
proper angle for the tack. This improvement
could not fail 10 commend itself sooner or later TO
the builders Of large ships and the first people 10
put the idea into war vessel have h''n IN"
Armstrong;. Of England. In the building OF the
japanese Yashma. Tn" improvements were dls-
cussed In paper Of Philip Watts recently read 10
the Institution Of Naval Architects In London, ana
the celebrated Admiral Colomb. commenting on Mr..
Watts's paper remarked that few years ago
ship showed good turning qualities when she DE-
scribed an OF 80 degrees who's" diameter WAS
four times the ships length. But the lafhima mas
turned I'm twice her length. Her deck is @5 i""'
long and under water her extreme length Is AZ
feet. The diameter OF the circle In which she cHn
be turned with her ruddor at angla Of p de-
greos. is 10 feet
The gain here made Is TO be considered remark
able when under the regular allowance the
diameter OF the Yashimas turning circle would bee
expected TO be 1.6H feet. In held tactics said
Admiral Colomb. THE longest ship. or the one that
requires the largest circle for turning. = always
taken as the STANDARD. and an ample margin is
given. Ia single ship actions. however. turning
powers become more important. when the effect
OF quick mannuvring may be 10 avoid disaster.
More than twenty years ago tests were made With
the Thundee Of the British Navy. - ascertain the
positions Of the imaginary pivot about ~hirh
vessel was supposed 20 swing when turning under
the influence OF her helm. and At that time there
Vas much doubt on the subject w"ll-kno~u
royal yacht club fairly rent by discussion
on this poin, which h.id about that time.
About six men In the Institution claimed tina, II
was the stern OF The vessel that OH the swinging
Ia. incl lfrt, mon yer m
clined TO think IL the bow of the ship that
turned. an optical deluson gained from watching
the turning OF vessels while inc spectator stands -
the stern.
The cutting away Of ihc deadwocl 1it assists
quick turning because there - 80 much less wafer
to d!splace the stern u IN" vess"l commences
10 swing Indcr tho influence of her helm The af-
vantaecs that may now Dee enjoyed hy the iarg.st
vessels Of an kinds ar. the direct Our'rne ~ The
developments IN the modelling - small hifh.Hpe"a
sailing yachts and mat me yacht I"se u~r~
were chiefly looking for an increased ~. -knrss ~
turning The present advantage u a side issue -