Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-08
BY William B. Laub. Jr.


Though there still remains three weeks
of the present yachting season, owners
of motor ana sailing craft are scouting
around among boatyards and protected
basins, bargaining with those in charge
of sucil places for either hauling out
or laying up afiOat Only those de-
voices of the sport who feel that they
must get as much out of their boats
as possible. and therefore stay in COM
planning cruises and hunting trips in
stead of dismantling engines and un-
reaving gear But the so-called de-
voice is usually the experienced boat
man He knows that after the first
frost conditions along the river be-
come prime for cruising. Mosquitoes
disappear, malarial growth is killed,
bass begin to take interest in tin min
nows. frogs, etc, and later, duchs.
Then when he thinks the season COM
pletely exhausted, he finds all the boat
yards well filled with craft and instead
of being hauled out in advance of -fif-
teen or twenty boats, which Will fence
him in next spring when he wants to
go in commission. his outfit is either
laid up on the railway Sr moved but a
short distance from it's element.
Thus the advantages of postponing
laying up until late in the fall. 7.
are many, however, who, for various
req sons. prefer an early disco.itinuation
of boating. and for the benefit IF those
who are winteTing their craft for the
first time "A few instructions are given.
We will neglect the usual hauling out
of the boat, for around Washington
this is always left to owners of boat
yards who understand their business,
or who should, at any rate. but 1t is
desirable TO be on hand when the job
is being done, if only to protest against
careless lacking and blocking Never
permit jack to be placed under a boat
unless stout plank, two or three feet
long is used between il and the plank
ing, for the purpose of distributing
strain.
When il is necessary to pry boat from
railway to skid see that the pry bar en-
cages only the keel and not the planhing
1t may seem that the man VINO Was
given credit for knowing his business
would hardly do a thing OF this kind, but
remember that he is handling your boat
not his own. and that makes dinercnce
When the boat is being moved from the
railway TO its berth among other hiper-
mating craft try. if possible, to secure a
position with some shelter, sucn as
another boat. fence. or a building on
the northwest side of ii. That viii pro-
tect your seams from the prevailing
northwest winter winds. which Will make
recaIking absolutely necessary in the
spring if allowed to play unhindered on
null. The common practice of allowing
lstraight-keel boat To rest on three or tour
Sxio inch blocks all winter is not so bad
evenly distributed, but much better and
safer method may be employed, wheSeo!
a heavy plank supports every men OF tht
keel. whether the blocks beneath IL are
| in their proper places or not III there Is
much bright work about the boat, such az
| decks house or sparS. the money spent IT
spar yarnish TO give this WOOD protec'
| tive coat before putting the canvas cover
/ on viii he practically saved when 1t Is
discovered in the spring that scrapine
and refipiShiQg unnecessary
! Wash the marine growth from the DOT
/ tom. while still wet, for if allowed TO dry
| it hardens and is difficult to remove
| Then for the cover. A good, heavy can
vas cover. big enough To protect thirty
five or forty-foot cruiser. is an expensive
affair especially when made TO TIT gas:
| ca bin boat. necessitating the use OF muci
more material than when cut for raised
| decker
| But a cover is by no means necessar!
unless there is quantity of varnishet
woodwork 10 be protected from th'
weather. and il is the opinion of man.
| boating enthusiasts that canvas cover!
generally do more harm than good be
cause of the poor, circulation OF air be
meath them
| AS arguments on both sides of the ques
ton almost equalize, a method OF riggih:
| one Is given. y canvas cover should %
! allowed 10 touch as few parts or tn
! boat as possible and should not be tie'
under the hull, but laced to pegs In I'M
4 ground on the order or Il tent lie ci d
| is then thoroughly protected and the al
| kept sweet and clean below decks d:
| leaving all ports open and matches raised
| The engine is matter Of grave i'm
| portance when laying a boat up for tn
winter and if possible it should be re
| moved If you have a convenient plac
in which to store it, but whether yo
take IL out or leave il in, spare no pain
TO clean il thoroughly and cover it wit
| grease to prevent rusting. The waite
| Jacket and muller should then be drained
| as we'll as the fresh water tanks, an
| last of ALL bore a half-inch hole in tn
lowest point of the bhge and see tina
all timber holes are free of dirt.
| Some claim that ii is best to allow
little bilge water TO stand in a boat, a
it keeps the seams tight tabout two. o
either side of the keeD, but a Graf
cannot be harmed by providing a drair
why not keep the interior free OF foul
smelling water
Last winter scores of boats were KEEP
| overheard throughout the entire close
| season, but all SORTS of precautions wer
taken to protect their hulls and wood
work above water The advantages an
various methods of laying boat up 70
the winter in this way will he taken u
next Sunday
Il : 4 < x
! Without a doubt Sand Burr IL, tn