Evening journal., 1913-04-01
ADVICE ON
MOTORBOATS
Examination for Strains From
Improper Snoring
Important
GOOD CRAFT WARPED
ACTrD UNLIMITED law TN
Ar tEn WIN len LHI Ut

bOdt oWutiS chOuiu hdhC ZIP ~
the yacht club yards or wherever
their boats are hauled out and make
certain that the boats are properly
shored and blocked up, says motor
boat builder of long experience.
Many good boats, says this author
ity, are warped out of shape or their
seams strained open during the spring
months. and when this happens you
can feel sure that the boat has had a
nail put in her coffin.
Spring is a hard season on the
boats, because the ground, which has
been frozen all winter, is thawing and
loosening, and the blocks which have
been placed under the keel are likely
to shift out of place. This will throw
practically the entire weight of the
boat on one spot, and in a very short
time will strain the seams or the
frame. Once damaged in this man
ner, it is practically impossible to re-
pair the boat and make her as good
as new Sometimes the injury to the
boat is hardly noticeable until it is put
into the water, and then the strain
shows itself.
Making the Weight Even.
1t is a good plan to take a straight
edged board and lay it on top Of the
blocks TO make certain that they are
all even and each bearing its proper
share of the boats weight If the
blocks are found to be uneven cut
some wood wedges and use them to
even. up the load.
In blocking the boat up for the
winter most men put props or shores
under the bilge or against the side
of the boat so that the weight will
not all rest on the keel These props
must he carefully looked over IN the
spring Very frequently the keel
blocks will settle more than the props,
and in that case the weight of the
boat is thrown on the latter.
An expensive motorboat seen re-
Gently had the keel blocks under the
stern sunk several inches, and the en-
tire weight of the after half Of the
boat was supported only by two 3 or
logs propped against the planking.
The whole top planking art was so
badly strained that the seams had
opened.
IL is generally the blocks under the
keel that settle, because they carry
practically the entire weight Of the
boat
Cover Needs Inspection.
Il is also a wise plan in spring to
Inspect the convas or Whatever VAS
Used to protect the boat during the
winter months. Some people prefer
TO let some bilge water lie in the boat
all winter. but most practical boat
builders agree that it is better TO keep
the inside OF the boat dry while she
is laid up II ADDS life and residence
TO the wood. and, besides that the
boat is perfectly dry When it, comes
time to paint her So look over youI
covering, for it is probable that the
Wind and storms OF winter nave been
rough on Il.
Above ali during the spring days
be certain that the covering of your
boat has at least one air yent-pre-
eerab1y two, one fore and the other
aft--so that there will be a thorough
circulation Of air. II your boat has a
cabin, make some arrangement TO get
air circulating in il and keep the
rain out.
Machinery Needs Scrutiny.
No one except the man who has
made the experiment realizes how
hot it gets under a boats cover or in
the cabin during the warm days of
spring. This hot, damp and stagnant
atmosphere takes the very life out
of woodwork in a short time. 1t is
like putting a boot in an oven.
At this season of the year II is a
good plan, the boat builder says, to
make a thorough inspection of the
gasolinet tank and the piping lead
ing to the carburetor. The tank ana
piping may look good and yet have
weak spots, which will not show un-
iii fhp hnaf &c nynrhnarI aud
haps the owner away on a cruise
Sometimes minor leaks are never de-
tected and the bilge gets an accumu-
lation of gasoline. The movement
of the boat shakes this about and
makes a highly dangerous mixture
which will explode with great sue
cess if lighted match gets near it.
Many explosions and fires are caus-
ed i'm this manner
The best and only effective way 70
test the gasoline tank and piping is
20. use a bicycle pump. Stop up all
the air vents, attach the pump to
the end of the pipe which fits the
carbuteror, and pump as hard as
you can. II the tank and pipe are
in good condition they will stand the
pressure. IT the piping and tank
will not hold the air pressure it is
certain sign that there is a leah
somewhere.
A little soapy water will reveal
the exact spot of the leak Put the
soapy water all along the piping anC
then pump again. little air bubbles
will shove where the leak is If tn,
weak spot is not in the piping theI
follow the same plan with the tank
Steering Gear Should BE Perfect.
1t is also a good plan to go care
fully over the steering gear If iror
or galvanized bolts and fixtures havl
been used in the steering mechanism
IT, is possible that rust has got int
them. Breakdowns in the steering
gear generally occur when the whee
is thrown hard over and the pilot o
the boat is trying to get out of the wa.
of something or is trying to make
ticklish landing. On such occasions
there is pretty sure to be smash up
for there is no chance for repair worl
tAen.
A steering gear may be very mucl
weakened and yet never break dow
until an extra strain is put on il
Then it will go all at once.
It is also a good plan to haul gu
the anchor ropes and go over then
carefully. 1t is possible that the.
have rotted in spots during the win
ter. If there are any such veal
places it is a good plan to cut then
out entirely and to splice the rope
II the rope is much frayed 1t is bette