The sun., 1908-06-21
CARING FOR A SMALL BOAT
MUCH TIE OWNER CAN DO HIM.
SELF TO SAVE EXPENSE.
No Boat Gives More Real Pleasure Than the
ONO That Is Built nc Home Extra
4 Pains That Must BE Taken ON a Racing
Ysoht-OverhaulinS In tho Spring.

muutBo. IL was costly TO own yacht,
not only because the yacht itself cost money.
but because the men who then won't in TO (
the sport hired shippers and sailors TO run
their boats for them and when sailing were
really only passengers. Some Of them
would take the tiller when under way, and
during u race q crew Of amateurs would
often help in handling tn sails. but they
did not have small Boats as they do now.
There were few boats less than 25 feet water
line. and Of those very few indeed were
hand led entirely by the amateurs.
Yachting under such conditions is costly.
1t is to-day, and only the wealthy man can
own a 40 or 50 footer and race her as boat
Of that kind should be raced. These costly
| racing machines make the sport spectacular.
but 1t is the small craft that make IL popular.
and there are thousands of small boats,
some only ~ feet long, that can be seen all
through the season in harbors along the
coast from Maine to Florida.
There are yacht clubs everywhere, and
these clubs are supported by men who own
small craft. Some Of them have small
racers. some have boats just large enough
for two or three to make short cruises in,
and some have craft that are only good for
afternoon sailing. The men who start in
with the small boat. though. are those who
later can sail larger boats successfully, and
the best yachtsmen OF to-day, those who
can sail cup defenders and boats Of SO feet
and upward. are those who have graduated
from the small boat classes
G. Oliver Iselin. who has managed three
defenders of the Americas cup. began
racing in small boat. Addison G. Hanan,
hN aoil aI 10
victory. began with his brother Wilmer
Hanan, sailing small catboat in the harbor
of Mantle, and the two boys had strict in
struotions from their father that they were
not to venture beyond the breakwater.
For time they obeyed these orders. but
soon became 80 expert that they took their
small boats anywhere. Harry L. Maxwell.
another crack amateur. began in a small
boat and now he sails the big schooner
Queen.
Not long ago feet Of yachts sailed into
the harbor Of New Bedford. They made a
picturesque contrast to the old whalers
moored at the piers. New Bedford has
been famous for its sailors since it was
first settled. and the yachtsmen had an
opportunity to see how the sailors we're
developed small boat about three feet
long. Is inches wide and foot deep was
floating on the water. A small barefooted
boy was sitting in the box, spar had
been placed at one end and on this was
hoisted piece Of canvas. Over the stern
W as a crudely shaped rldder, and the boy
held the sheet OF the sail in one hand and
the tiler in the other. and he was sailing
the box across the harbor as happy as q
lark The yachtsmen watched the boy and
wondered now on earth he balanced the
box. but he did. The wind was puffy but
he nursed his box boat cleverly through all
the pufs and finally landed on the other SIDE
of the harbor without mishap.
To get the most fun the boat should
be built by the owner. Many boys build
their own craft, and build them weIl too
II they are at all handy with tools this is
not very hard job. Plans can easily be
secured.
Of saving out frames, cutting panks into
lengths for shaping in the boat. these can
ail he purchased for very little money and
are all ready to be fastened together. The
different parts are all numbered, plans are
given, holes for rivets are made. and the
work Of putting the craft together is very
simple. When the hull is shaped it has to be
cauked and painted and is then ready for
the water.
The boat painted and launched is ready
any experience in sailing he had better
begin with the cathoat rig. good spar
must be stepped well in the bow nf/the boat
and properly stayed. and to do this he must
show some expertness "a n metal worker,
as wire rigging is the best to use to stay a
spar. The sail too he can make himself
or he can buy for very little money. and
having adjusted his running gear properly
the boat is ready.
It is surprising how many small boats are
they do when they come out. And having
designed, built and rigged the boat the
owner In much prouder Of it than of any
boat he might have purchased.
Charles D. Mower began his career
as. as yachts yaehtsmah y by designing % and building
Quincy cup, one Of the Eastern yachtsmen's
best trophies. He built the Hostess one
winter in the back yard Of his home at lynn.
Since then he has built other boats for
himself and all have been suoeessful. and
now he is busy designing boats for those
who want boats built for them, and they are
successful too
Many who want small boats have not
the time to build themselves, and so buy
when they find boat to suit their pocket
book. Many of the small craft that are
sailing now about New York harbor, on
Jamaica Bay, South Bay or other nearby
waters were at one time owned by some
wealthy man who grew tired of his craft
or who wished for another that could win
prizes. They have fallen into the hands OF
those who have taken good care of them,
and instead OF laying them up in some
yacht basin have hauled them out on some
beach themselves at the end OF the season,
carefully rubbed grease into all the seams
and covered them with canvas to protect
them from the winters storms In the
early spring these yachtsmen remove the
covers, scrape all the paint of, and then,
after having smoothed down the planks
and having carefully examined each to
see that II Is sound. have repainted the
hull themselves and then launched their
craft.
The deck and deck fitting next take their
attention. All the woodwork s carefully
scraped and the deck made perfectly white
and glue filed In between the seams The
deck fittings are vanished. This work
should be done on day when dry north
west wind is blowing and the varnish will
dry and shine like glass
The spars are soraped and vanished and
all the standing rigging thoroughly exam
ined for any weakness that may have de-
veloped. A careful examination of tho
rigging before starting out for sail will
often save mast from going by the board.
Attention too must be paid TO the block,
and usually new running gear Is needed
each season, Sails will last long time
II properly cared for. Care should be
taken to dry them properly after they have
been wetted, and 9 good sorubbing with
III Ill L