The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-01-30
SPECIFICATIONS
Of YACHT SHARK
Jack London's Boat Is Due to
Leave San Francisco
for HiI0 Port.

majority of landlubbers, the right
name of Jack London IS ketch will ap-
pear wrong in print; it too closely re-
sembles that of the sailors deadly
misprint of shark; but "Snark" it
is. The writer has not only seen, but,
to make assurance doubly sure, han
died the name on bow and stern of
the little craft which even in her un-
finished state appeals to the deep
waterman as a staunch, able vessel
causing the blood to course quickly
and the eye to kindle when the brain
gives one a vivid picture of her han
ding on a dirty night under small
canvas in a seaway.
No fancy yacht is she with brass
and bright-work galore to take the eye
of the would-be sailor or his partner
in petticoats, but plain, wholesome
craft with galvanized iron much in
evidence-all rigging-screws and bands,
eyebolts, horses and deck fittings being
so finished.
Practically the distinction between
ketch and yawl is simply that the
former has the aftermast stepped
foreside of the sternpost and steering
gear, giving an opportunity to carry
heavier spars and spread more after
canvas with less risk and great deal
more ease in handling the same, and
is certainly to be preferred for out
side work.
About the first thing one noticed as
she lay on the blocks is the fact that
with a fine entry below the copper
line there is little or no flare to
speak of above the sheer-strake, and
one wonders how far she III put her
nose under in a head sea. However,
as the anchors are patent fuke and
heave right into the hawse-pipes,
there is nothing to fetch away for
ward of the mainmast save the wind
lass. The spar deck is flush fore and
aft, with very little spring and no cam
Der to speak if; more sheer would
have been an advantage. The bull
warks are low and flare from the COW
ering board quite considerably.
Abaft the mizzenmast is the cock
pit, termed self-bailing and sunk
about Is or 90 inches below deck,
with a solid coaming all round 2 feet
above. Steering gear consists of a
very fine diamond screw and is oper-
ated by a wheel; the former ought to
ward of the mainmast is water
tight bulkhead, and the space is to be
utilized for deck stores, and is en-
tered through a small scuttle- hatch
abaft the windlass; between main and
mizzen are two skylights and a small
companionway, all to have low coam-
ings, so that the rail viewed from
abeam with the eye on the same level
would appear unbroken except for the
windlass and cockpit. Deck planking
is Pinch by Pinch special
To date mainmast and bowsprit are
stepped; mainmast is 81 feet from
deck to hounds, with 10-foot topmast;
diameter IL inches at deck, 10 inches
at hounds. Bowsprit is cupboard IA
feet, diameter IL inches at heel. Miz-
Zenmast 80 feet deck to hounds, 6-foot
topmast, diameter inches at deck, !
inches at hounds. Main boom % feet.
gaff p feet. Mizzen boom 20 feet, gaf1
Is feet. Spinnaker % feet. Jib-spread-
err II feet
Her mainmast, A feet from deck to
truck, and from deck to hounds diff
fering only one inch in diameter, is a
fine stick. and the Shark, with all
canvas spread, should make a good
days run from noon-sight to noon
sight. but when it comes to shorten.
ing sail in a hurry the crew picked
to make the voyage will have all they
can handle. judging from size of spars
the amount of sail to be carried. The
wire used is of the best quality Be,
the allotted space of cabin, engine.
room, stateroom, etc Starting forward
from the watertight bulkhead. on each
side is a stateroom with a bunk built
in about feet from ceiling. with
drawers underneath. and lockers the
mainmast is stepped through the mid,