The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-07-14
THOMAS T. KEANE OWNER, USES MARTHA FOR FISHING
Bottles Seas On
Her Maiden
Trip

The Martha, q maritime
thoroughbred, If there ever was
one, quivered into high speed,
put her nose in the air, and slid
through the waters of the Poto-
mac with a thrilling rush.
AS the Capital Yacht Club
faded away astern, her owner,
Mr.. Thomas T. Keane, told me
all about her. The breeze blew,
the water sparkled, and the
Martha seemed to be enjoying 1t
all just as much as I was
which was plenty!
She was built, q 38-foot sedan
cruiser, by the Wheeler Ship
yard, Of Brooklyn, N. Y; deliv-
cred in 1891, when Mr.. Keane
bought her from the American
Car and Foundry Company, Of
Wilmington, Del.
She has an oak keel, is
sheathed with planking of white
cedar, and is painted white with
mahogany trim.
Ample Power
Powered by an 100-horsepower
Sterling Petrol engine, she easily
makes speed of from 10 to 20
miles per hour. She has about
q 150-mile cruising radius carry
ing gasoline supply of $50 gal
Ions, and also has storage space
for 140 gallons Of fresh water.
Mr.. Keane has taken her on
fishing trips Of three or four
days. duration-a sport for
which she is specially fitted, as
the canopy on the afterdeck
may be removed to facilitate
matters, and there is also a spe-
cial icebox for fish, which drains
overheard, placed under the seat
on this same deck.
There are sleeping accommo-
dations for six aboard-four
hunks in the forward cabin, and
two hunks in the control cabin.
In the forward cabin the cuSh-
ions and covers are of heavy
linen, with red, green and blue
stripes, and there is also a
General Electric Radio, operat-
ing on an air-cell battery, which
is q new type. just gotten out,
especially designed for boats
and farmhouSes, where elec-
tricity may be a problem.
However, it is no real prob
lem in the case of the Martha,
as she is well equipped with
electric lights, an electric bilge
pump, and electric blowers for
the engine room.
Even Keel
There is also a very efficient
fire extinguishing system. form:
ing an excellent protection at
all times.
In the control cabin, the floor
Of which is covered with limo.
leum, laid out in a tile pattern,
and where beige, rough linen
curtains flutter at the screened
windows, we watched the clean
bow Of the Martha cut through
the swellS left by a passing
river steamer. She barely felt
them, apparently. so steadily
she rode, on. her down-river
rush.
Mr.. Keane said that on her
maiden trip down from Will
nington to Washington, she
had run into one of the worst
storms he has ever encountered.
It is no fun to be out in
good Bay Squall at night, with
an entirely unknown boat un-
der you, I imagine. but the
Martha proved herself once and
for all wonderfully Seaworthy,
and able to take weather as it
came, with perfect calm and
efficiency.
Still looking forward, I noted
one Of the boats incest fea-
lures, a forward cockpit, with q
wide blue leather seat, where
one could sit and really get all
the joyous feeling of wind and
wave that never seems quite
the same when observed from
behind glass, amidShips!
Compact Galley
Also forward, but below, of
course, is the enclosed galley,
equipped with an alcohol burn
ing stove, q good-sized refrig-
orator and q monel metal sink.
Everything was 50 compact,
and yet 50 complete. that it was
q Joy to study all the little de-
tails. Mr.. Keane uses the boat
mostly for fishing and pleasure
cruising, and she seems wonder
fully adequate in every way.
We turned in q graceful
sweep and headed back up the
river. It seemed too bad that
we couldn't 60 on and on
trusting implicitly in the Mar
th4'S good engine and sturdy
decks in any kind of weather.