Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-11
Finest Graft, Gadgets
Offered Yachfsmen;
Prices Are Up
By MoIeoIm Lomborne, Jr.
Sfor Staff corYespondent

NEW YORK, Jan. 10 - The Ma
TONS boating industry is over the
hump in its postwar reconversion
problems and ready to offer yachts
men and those planning to make
the plunge for the first time the
best in boats and gadgets-at q
price.
For the next six days enthusiasts
from all sections of the country will
spend hours viewing 232 exhibits
making up the 38th National Motor
Boat Show, which went into full
gear at Grand Central Palace today
after slow Friday night opening.
Many exhibitors report signifi-
cant difference In this show and the
first postwar revival Of q year ago.
While the crowds are not as large,
there Is more genuine interest this
time. Folks are asking intelligent
questions, one exhibitor pointed out,
indicating they are not dealing with
the idly curious.
There Is no escaping the fact that
imitation has overtaken the boating
industry like every other business.
Price tags ranging up to $4,000 are
shown for the fancier power yachts.
A survey shows boat prices COM
pared with last year range anywhere
from about the same" to 10 percent
higher.
Material Shortage Beaten.
nf1t ~. l.. T.
the good news that your 1913 yacht
will be the finest In construction and
materials ever seen. Builders have
just about licked all the material
shortages that have plagued them,
since the end of the war.
And for the dyed = in the wool
skipper who wondered where this
streamlining business would end, it
can be reported that the trend to
the bizarre in design appears to
have run its course.
However. you'll see plenty of
chromium, nodded plywood and
f1uorescent lighting.
There is one striking exception to
the traditional in design. It's 12-
foot sailing dinghy made of pressed
fiberglass with a single aluminium
mast without any stays. Oldtimers
are inclined to disagree with the
builders contention that it's Amer
icas most beautiful centerboard
sailboat."
It's name is beetle boat, which
describes it we'll.
On the question of materials,
Wescott Barber of Skaneateles
Boats says: THE quality of every
thing, including sails, is better"
Lest the impression be given that
1913 offers no hope for the little fell
low with a few dollars, this group
will be glad to know there are many
companies showing knock-down kits
Of both rowing and sailing dinghies.
Many Sailboats on Display.
There are sailboats galore-from
the sleek Luders IS, highly
polished racing craft that is becom-
ing popular on Chesapeake Bay, to
the popular comets. snipes and pen
SulllS, W11CIl llCCu Az FiuC4 oboSCAOll ,
to Washington area sailormen.
With good turnout of Washing !
ton yachtsmen, the United States !
Power Squadron's meeting at the
Hotel Astor elected F. Ritter Shum. =!
way OF Rochester. N. Y. as chief )
commander for 1913. He succeeds {
Charles F. Chapman, one of the best I
known power boatmen in America. L
Numerous other meetings are
slated during the coming week, in
Guiding the American Power Boat
Association on Monday, the North
American Yacht Racing Union on
Wednesday and the Comet Glass
Yacht Racing Association next
Saturday.
The show is closed tomorrow. as
Is the tradition. and resumes Mon
day. It runs until Saturday with
hours from II a m. to II pm.
AS final advice to Washington
yachtsmen, don't hesitate making
the trip because of an impression
that New York still is showed under.
There's not a snoWdrift to be seen.
The only showing under is the 232
exhibitors in this show.