The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-19
Gliding BOATS The new FAD
TINi CRAFT THAT SKIM OVER
TIE WATER.

inr latest fad for those who are looking
for sensations in the way OF a boat and for
some new excitement in the way Of speed is
the hydroplane or gliding boat. There have
cen several built on the other side that
have made phenomenal showings, and now
several are being turned out on this side OF
the Atlantic, and this summer there will be
races in which these new craft will take part.
II alb expectations are realized thirty miles
nm hour will be easily beaten, INC thst toe
with motors Of moderate power.
These boats are, as their name signifies.
bullt to glide over the surface Of the water,
and not To cut through it, as the torpedo
boat or fast auto boat does, and gliding over
the surface IL does not require 30 much
power. because il has not to push out OF its
wav yoluncs Of heavy water, and on account
IL lis form there is no drag or suction aft.
The RichOchet-Nautilus was the first OF
tl,s, boats built on the other side, and this
winter a boat almost identical in model with
tins craft has been built and tried on the
Harlem River with astonishing results.
TL,s boat is fitted with an 8 horsepower
motor. and those who have watched Its
trials declare that it has made eighteen to
twenty miles an hour.
The hydroplane is built with lightness
AS the chief aim of the constructor. 1t
carries the same beam from the stern until
A very short distance from the bow, where
he sides round in and finish in a curve
which is in the forward overhang. This
how curves sharply down to the water
at each side, and the sides are perfectly
Nat and straight to the stern. The bottom
is absolutely flat athwartships, SO that
-. l,,U - rooII,y lilo n hiu how tho lanuth
being about. four To five times the beam
and the forward end being curved up from
the water, so that the boat will easily glide
over the surface and through it's form
lift itself as it goes along
In the bottom of these boats are one
ur two joys, according to the ideas of the
designer. In tine Ricochet-N Nautilus there
is one Jog, that is, the hui uns along straight
and then ends abruptly, and at a point three
inches above the end of this first plane
begins another which starts on a level
with the water line and runs aft until the
draught. at the stern is increased to three
inches. The motor is placed well forward
and the shaft leaves the hull at the first
log and drives a screw which is hung beyond
The stern of the boat. Aft Of the engine
space ia the cockpit, which is just large
enough for the helmsman, and he operates
TWO rudders, one rudder being attached
10 each side Of the boat.
description of the boat tried on the Har-
lem is given in the Motor Boat as we'll as an
account OF her performance:
The hydroplane, about 10 feet Q inches
long and 40 inches beam, Is OF such light
construction that the total weight of the
complete boat and engine is mt 400
rounds. One must admire the nerve and
-tiu ~ tho halmSDnan Whn hanAlad har
The water, as much as could be seen,
was smooth, there being hardly a breath
of wind. The h%elmsman took his place in
The narrow cockpit, which holds only one,
and is a rather tight fit at that, n started
up, keeping the engine throttled down to a
slow speed. The boat moved slowly out
INTO the river, its broad, submerged stern
raising quite a fuss as it swung around to
avoid the ice and reach a clear channel.
When fairly in position, the driver opened
out the motor, and the way in which the
little craft lifted out Of the water and the
speed at which it moved was simply as
tonishing; all this with less disturbance
than 1t makes at a slow speed.
Running up the river until the ice con;
rletely blocked the channel, the boat turned
slowly and came back again at speed.
This time it ran back over the small waves
which it had set in motion on its u Up
The river. These wave made the bow
Jump slightly. but did not seem TO out down
w EDttu IL tDC lCdbbs Vi SOui Do ~ 1t NOiy
difficult for one on shore to estimate closely
the speed OF a boat, as one is so apt to be
influenced not only by it's rate OF motion
hut alsO by the manner in which IL goes
through the water. The hydroplane during
these short bursts OF speed was surely
going Is miles pm hour, probably more,
and it looked mitch more.
'These runs up and down the river, dodR-
lug in an out. slowing down to run through
floating slush, were continued for about
funnV,, -tn,,tAa utth@t,t tha laa1t htNah ~
any kind. As the d~iminutive craft came
slipping along. with about half its length out
over inc water, looking almost as much like
a sled as a boat, there was a smile on the
face of almost every spectator; 1t looked
~ inadequate for such speed. As one
Of them aptly put it, Il suppose when they
get through with il they take 1t home and
store il in the back parlor.'
aWhen the boat came into the float the
helmsman stepped out, apparently as dry,
as when he entered. The hull is 30 wide and
40 short that the little spray which is thrown
up does not have time TO fall inboard. An
other good point is the stability which this
boat has when at rest. This is due to the
wide full waterline and the extremely shall
low draught.
When at rest the freeboard is very
small. but when under way the boat
is 90 lifted that the bow is at least
fifteen, inches above the water, The
side planks and the bottom are planked
WIN spanish ceOAT. the Geek. exception Ihe
narrow cockpit, is Of oiled muslin stretched
over the beams and diagonal braces, just as
IA done in eight Dared shells. The side planks
are vertical and max a sharp corner with
tRe bottom, the same as they do on an
ordinary fat bottomed boat; they have a
slight curve fore and aft when looking
down on the deck. The bow 10 an arc OF a
circle. the transom is perpendicular and outs
the hull on square. The hull above thewater
gives much the same impression as the once
popular lark type Of catboat. At the very
bow the GROSS sections Of the bottom round
out slightly, but this boon dies out and hat
part Of the bottom under the water 10 fat
across. About the middle Of the length
IL a notch about three inchee deep, OK
tending right across the hull; from the top
OF this notch the bottom 10 fat and runs to
The bottom Of the transom.
a single cylinder, air cooled De Dion
motor, Of about Q horsepower, furnishes
the, power. The motor is placed in the
cockpit Just In front Of the notch in the
bottom. At the after end Of the cockpit.
which 10 about Is inches wide, Ia the opera
ior't seat. The back Of the seat extends
up above the transom and to tie supports 10
fastened the gaSolene tank. Two rudders
are lifted, one at each corner Of the transom.
those .ruddera are entirely independent
y each other and have separate tiiief6,
the helnsman uses the most convenient
nne, usually that on the inside OF the turn
which be wishes to mako, and by inclinlng