The New York herald., 1921-01-20
A Houseboater's Advice.
He Has Lived Afioat Twenty Years
and Believes in Steam.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: AS one
who has not lived ashore In more than
twenty years--moet, of them spent In
and around New York all the year
around-I do not concur In the prefer
ence given to motor engines over steam
in the article on houseboats. returned
to New York only last May after a
years cruise In the steam houseboat
Roamer, my travels aioat extending
from New Orleans to New York. Hav-
ing owned perhaps the first real house.
boat In New York waters more than
twenty years ago and since then every
form Of sail vessel and gas engine and
steam driven vessel, certainly have a
fair claim to being an impartial critic.
For any craft under say fifty feet gas
engines are to be preferred. but when
the size OF the craft approaches or
passes 100 feet In length then no one
who has had practical experience will
question steam's superiority from a
practical or an economical viewpoint
Actually the high class engineer de-
manded by the complex mechanical out
At OF big gasolene powered yacht de-
mands and gets more wages than an
equally efficient steam engineer gets.
Captains naturally get the same wages
on all vessels of a similar class. since
their post has nothing whatsoever to
do with the kind OF power supplied by
the engineer.
II Is as difficult to cook on a gas en-
gined yacht as on steam. SO those
who do the cooking get the same pay.
Deck hands don't care whether II is
gas or steam when II comes to wages.
Hence l am unable to see where so far
as the crew Is concerned a gas engined
yacht costs less than a steam yacht
Now when II comes to the very vital
question Of fuel the steam powered ves-
sci Of size puts II all over the gas en-
gined one as regards economy I ran
Roamer over 5000 nautical miles, burn
ing everything from coal slack and CO.
coanut shells TO cordwood and anthra-
cite logged 100 knots for every day
under way. consuming In the twelve
hours thus spent never over 1900 pounds
Of coal or one-half cord Of wood.
My average expenditure for fuel was
less than $3.50 for a twelve hour day,
and I paid az high as s2e.b0 a ton for
anthracite and $3.50 for bituminous.
Now. had Roamer been gas engined. TO
drive her 100 logged knots twelve hours
In a day would have cost for gaeolene
alone more than 500 a day. Compare
this with the s7.50 a day for steam and
then you will see why I cannot accept
the statement that gas engines are pref
erable TO steam.
am living aboard Roamer to-day
just as I have for almost two years,
and no apartment IN New York or else
where has the convenience. privacy and
independence Roamer has. For big
vessel as yachts 60 steam Is the better
and cheaper power. For example. the
gas powered yacht has to pay extra
for electric light. steam or hot water
heat and running hot water. all OF which
are free to the owner OF steam yacht.
In conclusion, what New Workers. and
others should learn Is that yachts are
not merely intended for enjoyment un-
der summer skies and pleasant weather
conditions. They are an all the year
round. comfortable. economical. health
full and pleasant residence.
FRANK A. EoAN.
MonRrs HEroHrs. January 1s.