The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1920-04-23
HERE'S A NEW
KIND OF BOAT
A 295 Ton Freighter That VIII
Draw Only One to Five
Feet of Water -
INVENTED BY LOCAL MAN

A newly designed boat and a
new method propelling same, in
vented by Fred D. Doty of Eliz-
abeth City and designed for the
navigation of the shallow inland
waterways of North Carolina, is
attracting considerable attention
in maritime circles.
The boat is of the flat bottom type
with dead rise bow. The invention con-
sists of an extended stern built in the
boat for two purposes. The first is to
carry a steel axle across the extended
stern, attached to four hinged frames
supported by four bearings. The second
is to allow solid body of water to pass
from under the center of the stern while
the water on either side is churned by
the wheels causing it to become aeriat-
ed this releasing the dead water Or drag
of the boat.
On either side of the extended stern
are paddle wheels which have a sleeve
through the hub, allowing them to ope-
rate around the axle instead of being
turned by a shaft under the old method.
These wheels are propelled independent
ly by crude oil engine at guaranteed
cost of one half pint per hour per III. P.
With two 100 H. P. engines burning
crude oil at sc per gallon, the consump-
ton 611a gallons per hour for each engine
or Is gallons for both at a cost of 65c
per hour for fuel, and developing a
speed of nearly II miles per hour.
With simple worm gear mechanism
under the four axle bearings will enable
the wheels to be raised to conform the
changing draft of the boat at varying
loads thus giving the correct dip of the
wheel buckets for all drafts of water.
By the improved method of operation
each wheel is worked separately, one
can be operated in forward direction
while the other may be reversed, thus
enabling the boat to be maneuvered
around bends with ease and so can nav
igate crooked rivers at good speed.
A boat of this type 13S feet long with
80 foot beam will draw but one foot of
water light and her extreme draft with
295 tons of freight will be but five feet:
This will enable the boat to be operat-
ed on very shallow rivers and make a
great saving in the building of piers and
their maintenance, along the banks of
the rivers instead Of having to build the
piers out to deep water.
These boats are to be used on the
rivers and serveoas feeders to the main
line of improved motor barges which
will navigate the sounds of North Caro-
lima and successfully pass through the
canals and also navigate the water of
Chesapeake Bay.
These barges are similar to the pre-
sent type except that. they are propelled
by twin-screw wheels operated in tun-
nels at the stern. They will have two
rudders, one back of each wheel so as
to handle the boat to good advantage.
The deck is provided with three houses,
a large middle house is for light and
bulky freight while the heavy cargo is
lowered into the hold directly from the
outside by electric hoists. The forward
house is used for small packages and
the most valuable freight, while the
house at the stern will furnish light, san
itary and comfortable quarters for the
crew.
These barges will be $50 feet in length
with % feet beam and draw seven feet
of water and carry load of 500 tons.
The Inland Navigation Company has
been incorporated under the laws of
North Carolina with the following Of
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