The Washington times., 1906-02-27
MOTOR BOATS HAVE
MANY IMPROVE ENENTS
Commodore Welcker'S OBJ
serYatiOns of Show.
OPEN CRANK CASE LIKED
Does Away With Compression of Gas
in Base-Eleetric Lights for
Small Craft.
OPEN CRANK CASE LIKED

Commodore John P. WelCker. Of the
Corinthian Yacht Club. took in the
sDortsmens show in New York last
week and as a result IS more eptEbs-
iastic about motor boats than ever be
fore-which is saying a good deal when
the commOdore's enthusiasm OF last
year is remembered.
Motor boats are a big factor at the
show this year. In fact the association
of motor boat manufacturers is heavily
Interested in the enterprise, and for its
special benefit the great indoor lake
was constructed in the Garden. For
this reason the dealers in boats and
engines made special efforts 10 -n8kc
impressive displays. and the resu., IS
that there is a remarkable collection of
everything pertaining to power-pro-
Dclled craft. In speaking of the ex-
hihtt and the improvements noticeable
Commodore Weicker said this morn
Ing;
Open Crank Case.
The greatest Improvement in gaso-
lene engines has been doing away with
the compression Of the gas in the base.
and allowing an open crank case. the
same as is used In steam marine en-
gines- The progress in marine gasolene
engines was largely due TO the improve
utnJS IN automobile engines.
The new features have reduced the
cost 10 to % per cent over what IL was
several years ago. il being now possible
10 purchase a horsepower engine of
good make, well constructed, and with
outer adjustment for as IOw as S37 5a
putting them In the reach Of almost any
one -or small boats.
Dynamos for Small Craft.
Another feature which will he vel
coined is the dynamo, so constructed
and condensed that It may be used on
beat as small as thirty feet Some
or them are Of Il size that would even
permit thei- use on much smaller
boat hut they would hardly be urac-
ucabie- This innovation will permit the
motor boat operator to have nothing b71t
electric lights on his craft thus doing
away with the danger which exists when
OIL lamps are found on boats driven ~
gasolene. Six tive-CandIe9ower larnns
uhde- the new system may be Installed
Tor a cost OF $50
Great hopes are being entertained nv
the motorists that Thomas Edison will
bTihS 10 a practical basis the seIf-re-
&1f1Ts ohfaTging battery for electrically pro
peHed boats. Should he ever solve this
p1, P1TopIen ,oIe II Will bring a big boom to
all electric craft.
Improvement in Exhaust.
III SHStiTElt bpdIS the steel tank IN
der water exhaust will prove a big helm
The advantage in this is that il NAV
be placed wherever the builder desires
The cast iron muff1ers of past years
were so heavy that they were almost
necessarily placed in the stern because
Of theiv weight.
Engines over l0-horsepower are be
ing made on the double cylinder or
four-cylnder plan, while those of less
horsepower are single cylinder. or two
cNIlnder- The thTee-port engine seems
to have the call.
Given Glad Hand.
As for the social treatment of the
Corinthians who have attended the
show, it has been all to the good.
There's a bunch of good fellows there
from the New York clubs, and when
they see stranger who looks like an
out-of-town enthusiast they gather him
10 their manly bosoms with a grin that
makes IL hard for him 10 get away in
time 70 return to his happy home
March will be the day Of the Wash
ington Corinthians al the big show.
when their 2ennant will fly from head
quarters