New-York tribune., 1900-12-09
TANK TESTS FOR YACHTS USELESS
REPORTS THAT SHAMROCK IFS MODEL
WILL HAVE THEM CAUSES No
UNEASINESS HERE.

Members of the New-York Yacht Cuh to
have far survived the tank test scare. II has
been published as a note OF warning that the
DennYs of Dumbarton. have long tank, where
small models OF differently shaped vessels
tested as to the with which they pass through
the water. The suggestion is that the boat being
built on Watson's design at the Dennys Yards may
be for Sir Thomas Upton. and that, this firm
has water tanks for testing the relative speed OF
models, the challenger may procure great ad-
vantages. which are not yet available to the yacht
designers OF this country. The question is asked.
Does Il not seem unwise 10 give great ad-
vantage 10 opponent In another place il is
said Apparently ii has occurred TO one that
the testing OF large number Of models is natural
precaution for Ike Sir Thomas Upton TO
take before actually building the boat which ne
hopes will lift the Cup"
II anybody will supply proof that designer has
in this way gained knowledge Of a valuable kind
concerning the all round abilities Of sailing yachts
designed to race, number Of New-York yachts
men will consent TO get frightened once. Here
shon is said TO have been unable TO make of it
for sailing racers. 1t has been tried privately a
number OF times. One man who set UP the whole
outfit in his cellar has confessed that he got moth
ing out OF 1t but bad cold II the Shamrock III
be the result Of such tests she will be the first
challenger which has been reported to have had
her model found speedy in this way. but this has
been qualified by the remark that such boats did
better in the tank than they did OFF Sandy Hook.
However. in the endeavor to find out how far
Lipton's tank act ought to dreaded. a well known
New-YoTk designer was consulted yesterday He
said: i believe this test is capable Of giving good
results for all vessels which intended TO sail
on an even keel and perhaps II might be OF service
In testing the relative running speed of sailing
yachts, but sailing races not WOn, usually. in
running alone, and they have to get more less
soon as you get an ordinarily shaped boat over
her side, the lee bow or, rather in this case the
depressed DOW, steers the craft out of ner course
ana loWaIg the side opposite from the bow de-
being driven by inside power pulled along A
man sitting IN a dinghey tOwed behind yacht may
steer the dlngey out 10 whichever side ne likes by
SIMPLY cafeenlng the boat In OF the older.
shaIower and more beamy racers the lee bow
grlped so hard on some courses that they could
ne steered with difficulty and many rudderposts
were thus split The tendency In the model would,
or course. be the same IN the fully built craft
put IL cannot be met in the model II is met
by the helmsman in the full sized yacht. / have
tried IL myself but with nothing but failure.
ships which expected 70 sit plumb up on their
bottoms. Unless my memory Is all wrong the
Herreshoffs tried the tank test for sailing yachts
years ago and found IL wholly useless. is II likely
that they any other designers would allow such
an apparently easy aid TO remain untried?'
PLANS FOR 4 CENTREBOARD DEFENDER.
F. T. Woods, of Fall River, is an enthusiast on
the exclusively American development Of the cen
treboard craft and urges that keeping the Cup on
this side does not require the English keel adopt
ed by the Herreshoffs. He has had printed the
plans Of centreboard so-footer. and suggests IL as
the kind OF boat required for the defence of the
trophy. over the s0-foot weterline the craft meas
feet and feet inches draught OF hull The craft
( Is without nm or keel, possessing only a centre
board apparently unweighted so that some In
formation Is lacking as 10 how the boat stand