The Washington herald., 1911-08-10
HIGH-SPEED BOAT
READY FOR RACES
Vita II Gives Satisfactory
Trial on Potomac.
ENGINES WORK PERFECTLY
j. Stuart BIacI<ton, Owner of Boat
which Was Launched mt Alex
nndria Yesterday, Confident of
Victory in International Races
to BE Held on Huntington, L. L.

The Vita II, built for ]. Stuart Black
ton, of New York, and which is expected
to make forty-five miles an hour in the
international races for the Harnsworth
trophy off HUNTINGTON, Long Island, this
month. took the water from the ways of
the Emerson Engine Company. Of Aexan-
dria. yesterday, and in a series Of speed
trials to shake down the engines over a
measured mile did better than thirty
! miles an hour, although the engines were
going only three -fourths Of their best
speed.
was most optimistic. following the trials
yesterday The Harnsworth trophy, do
mated by Lord NorthCliffe as the big
prize for international mOtorbOat races.
will remain on this side another year II
, the Vita does as well in the races as
she did to-day" he said.
Slid on the Ways.
Early in the morning the boat, which
measures thirty-two feet over all, was
slid off the ways. Until after o'clock
in the afternoon mechanics were busy
making final adjustments and seeing
that every nut and bolt in each one
OF the four siX-Cylinder two-cycle en-
gines. which turn up 125 horsepower
apiece a Zoo revolutions. were in
place.
Mr.. P1ackton took his place behind
the wheel and Victor Emerson. jr.,
took charge of the engines. and the
craft was tOwed out into the Potomac.
At first two engines were used, and
finally all four. At no time were they
opened up, the fastest they were per-
mitted to turn at any one time being
500 revolutions, although they are
capable OF making 1900.
Tomorrow the craft will he shipped di-
rect t" Huntington. L. l. On August Is
the elimination trials will be held. in
which the Dixie, the present cup holder.
will compete In the race last Year this
boat did better than forty miles an hour.
Bow Clears Water.
The hull of the Vita II was built b.
the Dawson Motorboat Company, of
Washington, and the engines are the
product of the Emerson Engine Com
pany. When travelling at full speed the
bow is clear of the water. and provision
has been made to force an air film in be
tween the water and the hull to lessen
friction.
Mr.. BlaCkton Is rear commodore of the
Motor Club of America, and has already
given his order for another boat OF the
same lines to be built next year.
In proportion to the horsepower, the
Vita II is the lightest in the world.
weighing but three and three-fOurth
pounds per horsepower. In the COnstruC-
tion of the hull and engine 5000 brass
screws were used, 1900 rivets, 1000 bolts,
20 feet of hose, seven miles OF copper
wire to connect up the four magnetas
to the coil and spark plug, while the in
take, exhaust, and water manifolds ac-
count for 80 feet Of copper pipe. In the
engine and boat combined there are 5000
parts
Twenty-four gallons Of gasoline are
used per hour to run the four engines
at top speed and four barrels OF water
per minute are pumped through the on
gincS to cool them. The entire engine.
with the exception OF the bed plates. are
made Of the finest imported kruEp steel.
A novel feature in the construction OF
the fly wheel is a series of steel disks
which are built 10 give a gyroscopic ac
hon to the fly wheel.