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Boat-Building

Boat-Building

and

_Boating

By

D.

C.

BEARD

With

_Many

Illustrations

by

the

Author

' '' > I I . . I II I . . J , > ' I I '' ' I , ' , '

.',,-/:,

' * >

Jiii.

:';:::",; . , .' , ,

-NEW

YORK

Charles

Scnbner's

Sons

PrintedintheUnitedStates ofAmerica

SPECIALNOTICE

Allthe material in thisbook, bothtext and cuts,is original with the

author and invented by him; and warning is hereby giventhatthe

unauthorized printing of any portion of the text and the

reproduc-tion of any of the iDustrations or diagrams are expressly forbidden.

THE

NEW

YORK

AFFECTIONATELY

DEDICATED TO THE

MEMORY

OF

TOM

AND

HI

.

*-, . *r

- .

* .. .

-PREFACE

THIS

is not a

book

for yacht-builders,

but

it is intended for

beginners in _{the art of boat-building, for}

_boys

and

men

who

wish

to

make

_something

with

which

_they

_may

_navigate the waters of _{ponds, lakes, or} streams. It _{begins with} the

most

_primitive

crafts

_composed

of slabs or _logs

and

works

_up

to _scows,

house-boats, skiffs,

canoes

and

simple

forms

of sailing craft, a

motor-boat,

and

there it _stops.

There

are so

_many

books

_and

maga-zines devoted tothe_higherarts of_{ship-building} for the _graduates to use, besides the

_many

_{manufacturing}

houses

which

furnish all

the parts of a _{sail-boat, yacht, or}

motor-boat

for the ambitious boat-builderto_{put together} himself, thatit is _unnecessaryfor the authorto invade that _territory.

Many

ofthe _designs in this

book

_{have appeared}

in

_magazines

to

which

the author _{contributed, or} in his

own

books

on

_general

subjects,

and

allthese

have

been

successfully built

by hundreds

of

boys

and

men.

Many

of

them

are the author's

own

inventions,

and

the others are his

own

_adaptations of

well-known

and

long-tried models. In writing

and

_collecting this material for boat-builders

from

his

other

works

and

_placing

them

in

_{one volume,}

theauthorfeels that he is_fulfilling thewishesof

_many

of his oldreaders

and

_{offering a}

useful

book

to a _large audience of

new

recruits to the

_army

of those

who

believe in the

_good

old

American

doctrine of:

"If

you

want

a thing done,

do

it _yourself."

And

_by

_doing it

your-self

_you

_{not only}

add

to

_your

skill

and

_{resourcefulness, but,}

what

is

even

more

_important,

_you

_develop

_your

own

self-reliance

and

manhood.

No

one

man

can

think of _everything

connected

with

_{any one}

subject,

and

the authorgratefully

acknowledges

hisindebtedness

to several

_sportsmen

friends, especially to his

camp-mate,

Mr.

F.

K.

Vreeland,

and

his

_young

_friend,

Mr. Samuel

_Jackson, for suggestions of great value to

both

writer

and

reader.

DAN

BEARD.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

FGE

I.

How

TO

CROSS

A

STREAM ON A

LOG

₃

II.

HOME-MADE

BOATS

8

III.

A

RAFT

THAT

WILL

SAIL 18

IV.

CANOES

25 V.

CANOES

AND

BOATING STUNTS

. . . ₃₃

VI.

THE

BIRCH-BARK

...

₄₈

VII.

How

TO

BUILD A PADDLING

DORY

....,,..

₆₉

VIII.

THE

LANDLUBBER'S

CHAPTER

₇₄

IX.

How

TO

RIG

AND

SAIL

SMALL

BOATS

₉₆

X.

MORE

RIGS

OF

ALL

KINDS

FOR

SMALL BOATS

. . . .

m

XI. _{KNOTS, BENDS,}

AND

HITCHES

₁₂₃

XII.

How

TO

BUILD A

CHEAP BOAT

₁₃₉

XIII.

A

"

ROUGH-AND-READY" BOAT

. . ₁₅₄

XIV.

How

TO

BUILD

CHEAP AND

SUBSTANTIAL

HOUSE-BOATS

₁₆₃

V

H

bo

BOAT-BUILDING

AND

BOATING

CHAPTER

I

HOW

TO

CROSS

A

STREAM ON A LOG

How

to Build a

_Logomaran

THERE

isa

_widespread

notion that all

wood

will float

on

water,

and

this idea often leads to _laughable errors. I

know

a lot of

young backwoods

farmers

who

launched

araft of _green

oak

logs,

and

were

as

much

astonished to see their craft settle _{quietly to}

the

bottom

ofthelake as _they

would

have

been

to see theleaden sinkers oftheir fish-lines

dance

lightly

on

thesurface ofthewaves.

The

young

fellows

used

_{a day's time} todiscover

what

_they

_might

have

learned ina

few

moments

_{by watching}

the _chips sink

when

they struckthe water as they flew

from

the skilful

blows

of their axes.

The

stream

which

cuts

_your

trail is not

_always

_{provided with}

bridges of fallen trees. It

_may

be

a river too

_deep

to ford

and

too

wide

to

be

_bridged

_by

a

chance

_log.

Of

course it is a simple

matter to

swim,

but the

weather

_may

be

cold

and

the water still colder; besides this,

you

will

_{probably be}

encumbered

with a

lotof

_camp

_equipage

_your

_gun,rod,

and

camera

none

of

which

will

_{be improved}

_by

_{a plunge} in the water.

Or

it

_may

so

hap-pen

that

_you

are

on

the shores of _{a lake unsupplied with} boats,

and

_{you have good}

reasons for _supposing that _big fish lurk in

some

particular spot out of reach

from

the shore.

A

thousand

and

one

_emergencies

_may

arise

when

a craft of

some

kind will

be

_{not only a} great convenience, but almost a necessity.

Under

these circumstances

A

_Logomaran

may

be

constructed in _{a very} short time

_{which can bear you}

and

your pack

safely to the desired goal (Fig. i).

In the

_Rocky,

_Cascade,

and

Selkirk

_Mountains,

the lakes

and

streams

have

their shores _{plentifully supplied with}

"whim

sticks," logs of fine _{dry timber,}

which

the freshets

_{have brought}

down

from

the

mountain

sides

and

which

the rocks

and

_surging

torrents

have

denuded

of bark.

These

whim

sticks are of all

s

Fig.2. Thenotch. Fig. 3. Topviewoflogomaran.

sizes,

and

as

sound

and

perfect as kiln-dried logs.

Even

in the

mountains

of _{Pennsylvania,}

where

the

lumberman's

axe_years

_ago

laidwastethe_{primevalforest,}

where

thesaw-mills

have devoured

the _{second growth,} the tie-hunter the third _growth, the

To

Cross

a

Stream on a

_Log

5

white _pine-log

whim

sticks _{strewn along} the shores of the lakes

and

_streams,

timber which

is suitable for

_temporary

rafts

and

logomarans.

In the

North

_Woods,

where

in

_many

localities the original

forest is

untouched

_by

the

devouring

pulp-mills, suitable timber is not difficult to _find; so let the _green

wood

stand

and

select

a _{log of dry}

wood

from

the shore

where

the floods or ice

have

deposited it.

Cut

it into a convenient _length,

and

with a lever

made

of a

_good

_{stout sapling,}

and

a

fulcrum

of a stone or

chunk

Fig. 5. Fig.6.

Fig. 4. Flattenedjoint. Matchedjoints.

of

_{wood, pry}

_{the log}

from

its_{resting-place}

and

rollitintothe

shal-low

water.

Notch

_{the log}

on

the

_upper

side, as

shown by

Fig. 2,

making

anotch near

each

end

for _{the cross-pieces.}

The

two

side floats

_may

be

made

_{of pieces} split,

by

the aid of

wooden

_wedges,

from

a _{large log,} or

_composed

of small

whim

sticks, as

shown by

Fig. 3.

The

floats, as

may

be

seen

by

reference to Figs, i

and

3, are

shorter

than

the

middle

_log.

It is _{impracticable}to _give dimensions, for thereason that _they are_relative; the _lengthofthe

middle

_logdepends,to

some

extent,

upon

its _diameter, it _{being evident} that a thick log will _support

more

than a thin

one

of the

same

_length; consequently if

_your

log is of small diameter, it

must

be

_longer, in order to _support

your

weight, than will

be

necessary fora thicker piece of timber.

The

_pointto

remember

isto selecta_log

which

will_support

_you

and

your

pack,

and

then attach

two

sidefloatstobalance

your

craft

and

prevent it

from

_rolling over

_{and dumping}

its load in the water.

An

_ordinary single shell-boat without a passenger will upset, but

when

the

oarsman

takes his seat

and

_grasps his _long

_spoon

oars, the sweeps, resting

on

the water, balance the

_cranky

craft,

and

it cannot upset as _long as the oars are _kept there.

This

is the principle of the

logomaran,

as well as that of the

common

cata-maran.

The

_cross-pieces should

be

_only thick

_enough

to

be

se-Fig.7. Thesaw-buckcrib. Fig. 8. Thestakedcrib.

cure

and

_long

_enough

to _{prevent the log}

_{from wabbling}

and

wet-ting

your

feet

more

than is _necessary.

If

You Have

an Auger and

No

Nails

the craft

_may

be

fastened _together with

wooden

pegs cut

some-what

_larger than the holes

bored

to receive them,

and

driven in

with

blows

from your

axe.

If

_{you have}

_long nails or _spikes the

_problem

is _{a simple one;}

but

if

_{you have}

_{neither auger,nails,}

nor

_spikes

_{you must}

bind

the

joints with rope or

hempen

twine.

If

_{you have}

neither _{nails, auger,} nor _rope, a

_good

substitute

To

Cross

a

Stream

on a

_Log

7

Fibrous Inner

Bark

of a

dead

_{or partly}

burned

tree.

_{For experiment}

I took

some

of the inner

bark

of a chestnut-tree

which

had

been

killed

_by

fire

and

twisted it into _{a rope} the size of a _{clothes-line,} then I

allowed

two

_strong

men

to

have

a tug-of-war with it,

and

the

improvised rope

was

stronger

than

the

men.

How

to

Make

a Fibre

_Rope

Take

one

end

of a _{long, loose} strand of _{fibres, give the} other

end

to another _person,

and

let

both

twine the

ends

between

the fingers until the material is well twisted

_throughout

its entire length; then bring the

two ends

together,

and

two

sides of the loop thus

made

will twist themselves into

a

cord or rope half the length of the original strand.

If

_you

nail or

_peg

_{the parts,} use

_{your axe}

to flatten _{the joints}

by

striking off a chip, as in Fig. 4.

If

_you

must

_{lash the joints together,} cut

them

with log-cabin notches, as in _{Figs. 5}

and

6.

If

_you

_{have baggage}

_{to transport,}

make

A

_Dunnage

Crib

by

driving four stakes in cuts

made

near the

end

of the centre log

and

binding

them

with rope or fibre _{(Figs. 7}

and

_8), or

_by

working

green twigs basket-fashion

around

them, or

make

the rack

saw-buck

fashion, as

shown by

Fig. 7,

and

this will

keep

your

things

above

water.

A

_couple of cleats nailed

on each

side of the _log will

be

of great assistance

and

lessen the

danger

and

insecurity of the footing.

A

_skilfully

made

_logomaran

will enable

_you

to cross

_any

stream

with a

moderate

current

and

_any

small lake in

moderate

weather. It is not

an

_{especially dry} craft,

but

it won't sink or upset,

and

will take

one but

a short time to

knock

it _together.

HOME-MADE

BOATS

Birth of the

_{"Man-Friday" Catamaran}

The

Crusoe Raft

and

Chump

Rafts

NOT

so _very

_many

_years

_ago

I

remember

_{visiting, in}

_company

with

_my

cousin

Tom,

a small lake at the

headwaters

of the

Miami.

_{High and}

_precipitous cliffs

surround

the little

_body

of water.

So

steep

were

the great weather-beaten rocks that it

was

_only

where

the

stream

came

_tumbling

down

_past

an

old mill that

an

accessible

_path

then existed.

Down

that _path

Tom

and

I _scrambled, for

we knew

_{that large}bass lurked in the _deep, black holes

_among

the rocks.

We

had no

_{jointed split-bamboo rods nor fancy tackle,}

but

the fish there in those

_days

were

not _particular

and

seldom

hesitated to bite at

_{an angle-worm}

or _grasshopper

_though

the

hook upon

which

the bait

_squirmed

was

_suspended

_by

a coarse

line

from

a _{freshly cut hickory sapling.}

Even

now

I feel the thrill of excitement

and

_expectancy as,

in_imagination,

_my

_pole isbent nearly

double by

the frantic strug-gles of those

"gamy"

black bass. _{After spending} the

_morning

fishing

we

built a fire

_upon

a short stretch of

_sandy

beach,

and

cleaning our fish

and

_washing

them

in the _spring close at

_hand,

we

_put

them

_among

the

embers

to cook.

While

the fire

was

_{getting our dinner ready} for us

we

threw

offourclothes

and

_plunged

intothe cool waters of the lake. In-expert

swimmers

as

we

were

at _{that time, the opposite} shore,

though

apparently only a stone's

throw

distant,

was

too far off for us to reach

_by

_swimming.

_Many

a _longing

and

curious

Home-Made

Boats

9

glance

we

cast

toward

it, however,

and

_strong

was

the

tempta-tion that beset us to _try the

unknown

_{depths intervening.}

A

pair of

brown

ears

appeared above

the ferns near the water's edge,

and

a fox

peeped

at us; squirrels ran

about

the fallen trunks of trees or

_scampered

_up

the rocks _{as saucily as}

_though

they

understood

that

we

could not

swim

well

enough

to reach

Fig.8J. TheMan-Friday.

theirside of _{the lake;}

and

_high

_up

the face of the cliff

was

a

dark

spot

which

we

almost

knew

to

be

the entrance to

some

mysteri-ous cavern.

How

we

_longed for a boat!

But

not

even

a raft _{nor a}

dug-out could

be

seen

_anywhere

_upon

_{the glassy surface of the} water or _along its

_rocky

border.

We

nevertheless

determined

to ex-plore the lake next day,

even

if

we

should

have

to

_paddle

astride of a _log.

The

first _rays of the

_morning

sun

had

not reached the

dark

waters before

_my

_{companion and}

I

were hard

at work, with axe

and

hatchet,

_chopping

in

twain

_{a long log}

we

had

discovered near the mill.

We

had

at first intended to build a raft; but

gradually

we

evolved a sort of

catamaran.

The

two

pieces of log

we

sharpened

at the

ends

for the

_bow;

then

we

rolled the logs

down

upon

the _beach,

and

while I

went

into the thicket to

from

the miller.

We

next _placed the _logs

about

three feet

apart,

and marking

the points

where

we

intended to _put the cross-pieces,

we

cut notches there; then

we

placed the saplings across, fitting

them

into these notches.

To

hold

them

securely

we

bored

holes

down

_through

the _{sapling cross-pieces} into the

logs; with the hatchet

we hammered

wooden

pegs into these

holes.

For

the seat

we

used

the half of a section of _log, the flat

side _{fitting into places cut} for that _purpose. All that

remained

to

be done

now

was

to

make

a seat in the stern

and

a _{pair of} rowlocks.

At

a _proper distance

from

the

oarsman's

seat

we

bored two

holes for _{a couple} of forked sticks,

which answered

admirably

for _rowlocks; across the stern

we

fastened another piece of log similar to that

used

for the

oarsman's

seat (Fig. 8J).

With

the _help of a

man

from

the mill

our

craft

was

launched;

and

with a _{pair of} oars

made

of old _pine

boards

we

rowed

off,

leaving the miller

waving

his hat.

Our

catamaran

was

not so _light as a row-boat,

but

it _floated,

and

we

_{could propel} it with the oars, and, best ofall, it

was

our

own

invention

and

made

with

our

own

hands.

We

called it a

"Man-Friday," and by

its

means

we

_{explored every}

nook

in the length

and

breadth of _{the lake;}

and

ever afterward

when

we

wanted

a boat

we knew

a

_simple

and

_inexpensive

_way

to

make

one

and

a _{safe one,} too.

The

Crusoe

Raft

is another rustic craft,

but

it is of

more

ambitious

dimensions

than

the

_{"Man-Friday."}

Instead of _{being able} to float _only

one

or

two

_passengers, the

_"Crusoe,"

if _properly built,

ought

to

accommodate

_{a considerable party} of raftsmen.

Of

course the

_purpose

for

which

the raft is to

be

used,

and

the

number

of the

crew

thatis_expected to

man

it,

must

be

takeninto

considera-tion

when

_deciding

_upon

the

dimensions

of the

_proposed

craft.

All the tools that are _necessary for the construction ofa

_good

stout raft are

an

axe,

an

auger,

and

a hatchet, with

some

strong

Home-Made

Boats

11

The

building material

can be

gathered

from

any

driftwood

heap on

lake or stream.

For

a moderate-sized raft collect six or seven _{logs, the longest} not being over sixteen feet in _length

nor

more

than

a foot in diameter; the _logs

must

be

_{tolerably straight.}

Pick

out the longest

and

biggest for the centre,

sharpen one

end, roll the log into the water,

and

there secure it.

Select

two

_{logs as nearly} alike as _{possible, to} lie

one

at

each

side of the centre log.

Measure

the centre log,

and

make

the

Fig. 9. PlanofCrusoeraft.

point of

each

side log, not atits

own

_centre,

but

at that side of it

which

will lie _against the

middle

log, so that thisside point

shall terminate

where

the _pointing of the

middle

log begins (see

Fig-

9)-After all the logs

needed have been

trimmed and

sharpened

in the

manner

just described, roll

them

into the

water

and

ar-range

them

inorder _{(Fig. 9).}

Fasten

them

together with

"cross-strips," boring holes

_through

the _{strips to correspond with} holes

bored

into _{the logs lying beneath,}

and

_through

these holes drive

wooden

pegs.

The

pegs should

be

a trifle _larger

than

the holes; the water will cause the _pegs to swell,

and

_they will hold

much

Home-Made

Boats

13

The

skeleton of the cabin

can be

made

_{of saplings;} such as are

used

for _hoop-poles are the best.

These

are each bent into

an

_arch,

and

the

ends

are thrust into holes

bored

forthat _purpose.

Over

this

_hooping

a _{piece of}

canvas

is _stretched, after the

manner

of _{old-fashioned country}

wagons

(Figs. 10

and

n).

Erect a _{"jack-staff,"} to

be used

as

a

_flag-pole or

a

mast

to rig a square sail on.

A

stout stick should

be

erected at the stern,

and

a

similar

one

_upon

each

side of the raft near the

_bow;

these _sticks,

when

Fig. 12. Sweeps.

their

ends

are

made

smaller, as

shown

in the illustration _(Fig. 10), serve as rowlocks.

For

oars use

_"sweeps"

_longpoles,

each

with a _{piece of}

board

for a blade fastened at

one

end

_(Fig. 12).

Holes

must

_{be bored through}

_{the poles of the}

_{sweeps about}

three feet

from

the handle, to _slip over the _pegs

used

as

row-locks, as described above.

These

pegs should

be

high

enough

to allow the

oarsman

to _{stand while using} the sweeps.

A

flat stone or earth

box

_placed at the

bow

willserve as a

fire-place.

If the cracks

between

the logs

under

the cabin are filled

_up

to _prevent the _{water splashing through,}

and

the cabin is floored with_{cross-sticks,} a

most

comfortable

bed

at_night

can be

made

of hay,

by heaping

it

under

the

canvas

coverin sufficient _quantities.

The

Crusoe

raft has this _great

_advantage

over all boats:

_you

may

take a long trip

down

the river, allowing the current tobear

you

along, using the

_sweeps

_only to assist the

man

at the

helm

abandon

_your

raft

and

return

_by

steam-boat or train.

A

_very

useful thing to the

_swimmers,

when

_they are _skylarking in the water, is

The Chump's

Raft

Its construction is _simple.

Four

_boards, each

about

six feet

long, are nailed together in the

form

of a square, with the ends of the

boards

_protruding, like _{the figure}

_{drawn upon}

a school-boy's slate for the

game

of _{"Tit, tat,} toe" _{(Fig. 13).}

i

Fig. 13. Thechump'sraft.

All nail-points

must

be

knocked

off

and

the

heads

hammered

home,

to _prevent serious scratches

and wounds

on

the bather's

body

when

he clambers

over the raft or_slips offin

an

_attempt

to

do

so _{(Fig. 14).}

Beginners get in the

middle

hole,

and

there, with a support

within reach all

around

_{them, they}

can

venture with

compara-tive _safety in

_deep

water.

The

raft,

which

I built as a

model

fifteen years ago, is still in

use at

_my

summer

_{camp, where}

scores of

_young

_people

have

used

it with a success

_proved

_by

their _present skill as

Home-Made

Boats

15

where

boards are as scarce as_{boarding-houses, but}

where

_timber,

in its

_rough

state, exists in

abundance.

The

_campers

in such locations

can

make

A

_Chump's

Raft of

_Logs

Such

afloatconsists of

two

_{dried logs} fastened_{together at}each

end by

cross-slabs, so as to

form

a rude catamaran.

These

rafts

can be towed through deep

water

_by

a

canoe

or _{row-boat, with}

Fig. 14. Abeginnerinachump'sraft.

the tenderfoot_securely

_swung

in a _sling

between

the _logs,

where

he

_may

_practice the hand-and-foot

movement

with a sense of security

which

only the certainty that

he

is

surrounded by

a

wooden

_{life-preserver} will _give him. _{Fig. 15}

shows

_{a top view}

of the

new

_chump's

raft.

In

_Fig. 16 the

two

_{logs are} connected fore

and

aft

_by

cross-slabs;

two

more

upright slabs are nailed securely to the side of the logs; notches

having been

cut in the top ends of these _slabs, a stout cross-piece is _{securely nailed to}

the cross-piece. In regard tothe

dimensions

ofthe raft it is_only

necessary to_say that it should

be

wide

and

_long

_enough

to allow

free

movement

ofthe

arms

and

_legsof_{the pupil}

who

is

_suspended

between

the _{logs. In almost every wilderness stream} there

can

Fig.15. Looking downonachump'sraft in motion.

be found

_piles of driftwood

on

the shore

where one

_may

select

good, dried, well-seasoned pine or spruce logs

from which

to

make

rafts. Ifsuch

_heaps

ofdriftwoodare not withinreach, look

for

some

_standing

dead

timber

and

select that

which

is of suf-ficient dimensions to_{support a}

_{swimmer, and}

be

careful that it is

not hollow or rotten inthe core.

Rotten

wood

will soon

become

Fig. 16. Side view of_chump'slog raft.

water-logged

and

heavy. Fig. 17

shows

the position of the

swimmer

_supported

_by

the

_chump's

_sling. If

_your

raft has a tendency to

work

so that

one

_{log pulls}

ahead

of the other, it

_may

be

braced

_by

_{cross-pieces,} such as are

shown

at _J

and

K

in _Fig.

Home-Made

Boats

17

by

nailing

two

sticks to

each

side

and

_allowing the

ends

to cross so as to

form

a crotch in

which

the _{supporting rod} rests arid to

which

itis _securely fastened

_by

nails, or

by

being

bound

there

_by

a _{piece of rope,} as in _{A, Fig.}

19. B, Fig. 19,

shows

the crotch >

Fig.17. Learningtoswimbyaidofa_chumpsling.

M

Fig.19. Details of

saw-bucksupports.

made

_by

_resting

L

in a fork

on

the

M

stick

and

then _nailing or binding it in_place. C, Fig. 19,

shows

the

two

sticks,

L

and

M,

joined

by

notches cut log-cabin fashion before they are nailed

in _place.

Although

many

summers

have

rolled

around

since the author

first

made

his

advent on

this_{beautiful earth,}

he

stillfeels the call

of the _{bathing pool,} the

charm

of the _{spring-board,} almost as keenly as

he

did

when

he

was wont

to

swim

in

Blue

Hole

at

Yellow

_Springs, Ohio, or dive

from

_{the log} rafts into the

Ohio

River, or slide

down

the _"slippery'1

made

in _{the steep}

_muddy

banks

of the _{Licking River,}

_Kentucky.

A

RAFT

THAT

WILL

SAIL

The

Raft is _Just the

_Thing

for

_Camp

Life Pleasurable

Occupa-tion for

a

_Camping

_Party

Where

Wood

is Plentiful

You

Will

Need Axes and

Hatchets

and

a

Few

Other Civilized

Implements

FIRST

we

will select

two

_{pine logs of equal length, and, while}

the

water

is _heating for

our

_coffee,

we

will

_sharpen

_{the butt,} or largerend,of the logs

on

one

sidewith _{the axe,}

_making

a "chisel edge," as

shown

in_Fig. 20.

This

givesus

an

appetite for

break-fast

and

makes

the _big fish in _{the lake, as they}

_jump

above

the water, cast anxious looks

toward our camp.

Breakfast _finished,

we

will cut

some

cross-pieces to join

our

two

_{logs together,}

and

at_equal distances_apart

we

willbore holes

through

the cross-pieces for peg-holes (Figs. 21, 22,

and

23).

While one

ofthe _party is _{fashioning a}

number

_{of pegs,} each with

a

groove in

one

side, like those

shown

in Fig. 24, the others will

roll _{the logs into the}

water

and

secure

them

in a shallow _spot. Shoes

and

_stockings

must

_{be removed,}

for

most

of the

work

is

now

to

be

done

in the water.

Of

course, it

would be

much

easier

done

on

land,

but

the raft will

be

_very

_heavy

and

could never

be launched

unless

under

the

most

favorablecircumstances.

Itisbetter tobuildthecraft intheelement

which

isto

be

its

home.

Cut two

_longsaplings for braces,

and

after _separating the logs the _proper distance for

_your

_{cross-pieces to} fit, nail

_your

braces

in _{position, as represented}

_by

_Fig. 20.

This

holds _{the logs steady,}

and

we

_may

now

_{lay the}

two

cross-pieces in position,

and

mark

the points

on

the logs carefully

Fig.20. Fig. 25. Fig. 26.

Fig.27

Fig.28.

PARTS OFMAN-FRIDAYSAILING-RAFT.

20. Logsin placewithbraces. Figs.21, 22,and23. Struts. Fig.24. Pegs. Fig. 25.

Raft with middleandstern strut in place. Fig. 26. Springsfordry deck. Fig. 27. Drj deck.

where

the holes are to

be bored

to _{correspond with} the ones in

the cross-pieces.

Bore

the holesin

one

_logfirst;

make

the holes

deep enough

and

then fill

them

with _water, after

which

drive

the _{pegs through} the

ends

of _{the cross-pieces}

and

into the _log.

The

_grooves in the _{pegs (Fig. 24)} will allow the water to _escape

from

the holes

and

the water will cause the

_peg

to swell

and

tighten its hold

on

the log

and

_{cross-pieces.}

Now

bore holes in the other_log

under

those in _{the cross-pieces}

and

fill

them

with water before _{driving the pegs}

_home,

as

_you

did in the first instance. _{Fig. 25} is a

_Man-Friday

raft.

The

Deck

Before placing the

bow

in _position

we

must

_go

ashore

and

make

_{a dry} deck. Selecting for the springs

two

long green ash or _hickory poles, trim the

ends

offflat

on one

side, as

shown

by

Fig. 26.

This

flatside isthe bottom, so roll

them

over, with the

flat side

toward

the _ground,

and

if

_{you can}

find

no

_planks or barrel staves for a deck, split in half a

number

of small logs

and

peg

or nail

them

on

the _{top side of the springs, as} in _{Fig. 27.}

Now

all

hands

must

turn out

and

_carry the

deck

down

to the

raft

and

_placeit in_position, with_{the flattened sides of the springs} resting

on

top ofthe logs at the

bow.

Prop

it

_up

in this _position,

and

then bore holes

_through

_{the springs into the logs}

and

_peg

the springs

down.

Over

the flat

ends

_place the

_heavy

bow

cross-piece, bore the peg-holes,

and

fasten it in _{position (Fig. 28).}

In

the centre of the

bow

cross-piece bore several holes close together

and

chip outthe

wood

between

to

make

ahole,as square a

one

_{as possible,} forthe

mast

tofitor "_step" in.

With

the

wood

from

a

_packing-box

or a slab

from

a _log

make

the

bench

for the mast.

Bore

a hole

_through

the

bench

a trifle astern of the _step, or

hole, for the

mast

below. It will cause the

mast

to

"rake"

a

little "aft.3 '

You

have

done

_{a big day's work, but a couple} of

A

_Raft

that

Will

Sail

The

Sail

Turn

over the

raw

_edges of the old sail-cloth

and

stitch

them

down,

as in _{Fig. 29} that is, if

_{you have}

the needle

and

thread for the_purpose; if_not, trim the clothto the_proper

form

and

two

Fig. 29. Sail forMan-Friday.

inches

from

the luff _{(the side} next to the _mast).

Cut

a

number

of holes; these should

be

stitched like _{button-holes,} if _possible,

but if the sail-cloth is

_tough

and

we

have

no

needle,

we

shall

have

to let

them

_go unstitched.

A

_{small loop} of _rope

must

be

sewed

orfastened in

some

other

manner

_very securely to each cornerof

From

spruce pine or

an

old fishing-pole

make

a sprit,

and

ofa

good, straight piece of pine

manufacture your mast

somewhat

longer than the luffof the sail _{(Fig. 29).}

Through

the eyelets lace theluffof thesailto the_mast, so that

itslower

_edge

willclearthe_dry

_{deck by about}

afoot.

Fig.30. Scuddingbeforethewind.

Through

the hole

made

for the

_purpose

in the

bench

_(Fig. 30) thrust the

mast

into the _step, or socket, that

we

have

cut in the

bow

cross-piece.

Tie

totheloop atthe

bottom

cornerof the sail

a strong line

about

twelve feet _long for a sheet with

which

to control the sail.

Trim

the

_{upper end}

of the _sprit to fit in the_loop at the

_upper

outercorner of the sail,

and

make

a notch inthe lower

end

to fit

A

_Raft

that

Will

Sail

Now,

as

_{you can}

readilysee,

when

thespritis

pushed

diagonally

upward

the sail is _spread; to hold it in_place

make

_{a loop} of line

for a "snotter"

and

attach the _loop to the _mast, as in _{Figs. 29}

and

_30. Fit the _loop in the notch in the lower

end

of the _sprit,

and

the sail is set.

The

Keelig

We

need

anchors,

one

for the

bow

and

one

for the stern. It

takes little time to

make

_them, as

_you

_only

need

a forked _stick,

Fig. 31. Fig.32. Fig. 33. Fig.34. Fig. 37.

rue stone

Fig. 35. Fig. 36. Fig. 38. Fig.39.

a _stone,

and

a _piece of _{plank, or,} better _still, a barrel stave. Figs. 35 to

39

show

how

this is

made.

Down

East the

fisher-men

usethe_"keelig" in_preference to

_any

other anchor.

Make

fast

_your

lines to the "_keelig" thus:

Take

the

end

of the _rope in

_your

_right

hand and

the _{standing part (which} is the part leading

from

the boat) in

_your

left

hand and

form

the _loop (A, Fig. 31).

Then

with the left

hand

curve the cable

from

_{you, bringing}

the

_{end through}

_{the loop,} as in _{B, Fig. 32;} then lead it

around

Draw

it _tight, as in

_D,

_{Fig. 34,}

and

_{you have}

the _good,

old-fashioned knot, called

by

sailors the "bow-line."

To

make

it look neat

and

_shipshape

_you

_may

take a _{piece of}

string

and

bind the standing part to the shaft of

your anchor

or keelig keelek killick killeck kelleck kellock killock, etc.,

as

_you

_may

choose _{to spell} it.

A

_paddle

to steer with

and

two

_pegs in _{the stern cross-piece} to rest it in

_complete

the _craft;

and

now

the _{big bass}

had

better use

due

caution,

because our

lines will reach their _haunts,

and

we

are after

them!

CHAPTER

IV

CANOES

The

Advantages

of a

Canoe

How

to

Make

the Slab

Canoe and

the

_Dugout

How

to

Make

a

Siwash

and

a

White

Man's

Dugout

THERE

are

_many

small freak crafts invented each _year, but

none

of

them

has

_any

_{probabilities} of _{being popularly}

used

as substitutes for the old models.

Folding canoes, as arule, are cranky,

but

the writer has

found

them

most

convenient

when

it

was

_necessary to _transport

them

long distances overland.

They

are not, however, the safest of

crafts;necessarilythey lack the

buoyant

wooden

frame

and

lining of the_ordinary

canvas

canoe,

which

enables it to float

even

when

filled with water.

The

author

owes

hislifeto the_{floatingproperties of}his

canvas

canoe.

On

one

occasion

when

it _upset in a _{driving easterly}

storm

the

wind was

off_shore,

_{and any}

_attempt

_upon

the canoeist's part to

swim

toward

shore

would

have caused

him

to

have

been

suffocated

_by

the _tops of the

waves which

the

wind

cut off,

driv-ing the water with stinging force into his face so constantlythat, in order tobreathe at all,

he

had

to face the other

way.

He

was

at _{length rescued}

_by

_{a steamer, losing nothing}

but

the sails

and

his shoes. _{Nevertheless,} the

same

storm

which

_capsized his

little craft _upset several _larger boats

and

tore the sails

from

others.

The

_advantages

ofa

_{good canoe}

are

_many

forthe

_young

navi-gators: they

can launch

their

own

craft, pick it

_up

when

occasion

demands and

_carry it overland. It is safe in _experienced

hands

in

_{any weather which}

is fitforout-door

amusement.

When

_you

are

_{"paddling your}

own

_{canoe" you}

_{are facing} to the front

and

can

see

what

is

ahead

of _you,

which

is

much

safer

and more

pleasant

than

travelling

backward,

like a crawfish.

The

advance-guard

of

modern

civilization is the

_lumberman,

and

_following close

on

his heels

comes

the _{all-devouring}

saw-mill.

This

fierce creature has

an

abnormal

_appetite for _logs,

Fig. 40.

and

it_keeps

an

_army

of

men,

boys,

and

horses

busy

in_supplying

itwith food.

While

it _suppliesus with

lumber

for_{the carpenter,}

builder,

and

cabinet-maker, it at the

same

time, in the

most

shameful

_way,

fills the trout streams

and

rivers with _great

masses

of _sawdust,

which

kills

and

drives

_away

the fish.

But

near the saw-mill there is

_always

to

be found

material for

a

Slab

Canoe

which

consists _simply of

one

of those _{long slabs,} the first cut

from

some

giant log (Fig. 43).

These

slabs are

burned

or

thrown

_away

_by

the _mill-owners,

and

hence

cost _nothing;

and

as the saw-mill is in

advance

of

population,

you

are

most

_likely to

run

across

one on

_{a hunting}

or fishing trip.

Near

one

end,

and

on

the flat side of the slab _{(Fig. 40),} bore four holes, into

which

drivethe fourlegs ofa stool

made

of

a

sec-tion of a smaller slab _{(Fig. 41),}

and

_your

boat is _readyto launch.

From

a _{piece of}

board

make

a

double

_{or single}

_paddle

_{(Fig. 42),}

and

_you

are

_equipped

for _{a voyage.}

An

old _gentleman,

who

in

his

_boyhood

_days

on

the frontier _frequently

used

this _simple style of canoe, says that the speed it

makes

will

_compare

favor-Canoes

27

ably with that of

many

a

more

pretentious vessel. See _{Fig. 43}

for furnished boat.

The Dugout

Although

not quite as delicate in

model

or construction as the graceful birch-bark canoe, the

_"dugout"

of the Indians is

a

Fig.41.

most

wonderful

_{piece of}

work,

when we

consider thatit is carved

from

thesolid trunkof a_gianttreewith thecrudest of _tools,

and

is the

_product

of _savage labor.

Few

people

now

living

have

enjoyed the opportunityof seeing

one

built

_by

the Indians, and, as the author is not

numbered

among

that select few,

he

considers it a _{privilege to}

be

able to quote the following interesting

account

given

by Mr.

J.

H.

Mal-lett, of Helena.

How

to Build a

Siwash Canoe

"While

_visiting

one

of the small

towns

_along

_{Puget Sound,}

I

was

_{greatly interested}in the

_way

theIndiansbuilt their canoes.

Fig.42.

It is _really

wonderful

how

these _aborigines can, with the crudest

means and

with a

few

_days' work, convert

an

unwieldy

log into a trim

and

_pretty canoe.

:'

One

_Monday

_morning

I

saw

a

buck

_{building a}fireatthebase

of a _{large cedar-tree,}

and

he told

me

that this

was

the first _step in the construction of a

canoe

that

he

intended to use

_upon

the following Saturday.

He

kept the fire

_burning

_merrily all that

day

and

far into _{the night,}

when

a

wind

_{came up and}

_completed

Fig.43. Slab canoe.

the downfall of the

monarch

of the forest.

The

next

_day

the

man

_{arose betimes, and,}

_borrowing

across-cut

saw

from

alogger, cut the trunk of the tree in twain at _{a point}

some

fifteen feet

from where

it

had broken

_off,

and

then with a dull hatchet he

hacked

_away

until _{the log}

had

assumed

the

_shape

of the desired canoe. In this

work

he

was

_helped

_by

his

_squaw.

The

old

fel-low thenbuiltafire

on

the

_upper

_{part of thelog, guiding}thecourse

of the fire with

daubs

of _clay,

and

in

due

course of time the

in-terior ofthe canoe

had been burned

out. Half _{a day's}

work

with the hatchet rendered the inside

smooth

and

_shapely.

Canoes

"The

canoe

was

now,

I_{thought, complete,}

_though

it

_appeared

to

be

dangerously

narrow

of

beam.

This

the

Indian soon

reme-died.

He

filled the shell two-thirds full _{of water,}

and

into the

fluid

_{he dropped}

half a

dozen

stones that

had

been

heating in

the fire for _{nearly a day.}

The

water at

once

attained a

boil-ing point,

and

so softened the

wood

that the

buck and squaw

were

enabled to

draw

out the sides

and

_{thus supply} the neces-sary breadth of

beam.

Thwarts and

slats

were

then placed in the

canoe

and

the water

and

stones

thrown

out.

When

the

steamed

wood

_began

to cool

and

contract, the thwarts held it

Fig.44. Thedugout.

back,

and

the sides held the thwarts,

and

there the

canoe

was

complete, without anail, joint, or crevice, forit

was

made

of

one

piece of

wood.

The

Siwash

did not

complete

it as

soon

as

he

had

_promised,

but

it _{only took}

him

_eightdays."

In

the _{North-eastern part} of

our

_{country, before} the

advent

of the

canvas

_canoe, beautiful

and

_light birch-bark craft

were

used

_by

the _Indians, the _voyagers, trappers,

and

white

woods-men.

But

inthe

South

and

inthe _North-west, the

_dugout

takes the place of the birch-bark.

Among

the

North-western

Indians the

_dugouts

are

made

from

the trunks of

immense

cedar-trees

and

built with high,

ornamental

bows,

which

are _brilliantly decorated with _paint.

On

the eastern shore of

_{Maryland and}

Virginia the

dugout

is

made

into a sail-boat called the _buck-eye,

or _bug-eye.

But

all _through the

Southern

States,

from

the

Ohio

River to the

Gulf

of

Mexico and

in

_Mexico,

the

_dugout

is

made

of a hollowed log after the

manner

of

an

ordinary horse trough,

and

often it is as crude as the latter,

but

it

can be

made

almost as beautiful

and

_{graceful as}

a

birch-bark canoe.

How

to

Make

a

White Man's

_Dugout

Canoe

To

make

one

of these

_dugout

canoes

one

must

be

_big

and

strong

enough

to wield

an

axe, but if the readers are too

_young

Fig.50.

for this _{work, they are}

none

too

_young

to

know

how

to

make

one,

and

their _{big brothers}

and

father

can

do

the work. Since the

_dugout

_occupies

an

_{important position} in the _{history of} our country, every

boy

scout should

know how

it is

made.

Fig.

44 shows one

of these canoes _{afloat; Fig. 45}

shows

a tall, straight tree suitable forour purpose,

and

it also

shows

how

the

treeiscut

and

the

_arrangement

ofthe_kerfs,or

two

_{notches, so that}

it willfall inthe direction of the

arrow

inthe_diagram.

You

will

notice_along the

_ground

are

shown

the

ends

ofa

number

ofsmall

logs.

These

are theskids, orrollers,

upon

which

_{the log}will rest

Canoes

31

in

which

the

arrow

is _pointed if there is

no

wind. If

_{you have}

never cut

down

a tree,

be

careful to take

some

lessons of a

good

woodsman

before

_you

_attempt it.

When

_{the log} is

trimmed

off at

both ends

like _{Fig. 46,} flatten

the

_upper

sidewith the axe.

This

is forthe

bottom

of the _canoe; the flat _{part should}

be about

a foot

and

a half

wide

to extend

Fig.46.

Fig. 47.

from end

to

end

of the _log.

_Now,

with

some

poles for pryers, Uirn

_your

_log over so that it will rest with the flat

bottom on

the ^kids, as in _Fig. 46.

Next

take a chalk-line

and

fasten it atthe

two ends

of the _log,

^,s

shown

_by

the dotted line in _{Figs. 46, 47, 48, 49.}

Snap

the line so that it will

make

a _straight

mark

as

shown

by

the dotted line; then trim off the

two ends

for the

bow

and

stern, as

shown

in _{Fig. 47.}

Next

cutnotches

down

to thedotted

line,as illustrated in Fig.48; then cut

_away

from

the

bow down

to the first _notch,

_making

a

curved

_line, as

shown

in _Fig.

₄₉

(which is cut to second _notch).

Do

the

same

with the _stern,

making

duplicates of the

bow

and

stern.

The

_spaces

between

*henotches

_amidships

_may

now

be

split off

by

striking

your

axe

Jilongthe chalk-line

and

thencarefully drivingin

wooden

wedges.

When

thisisall

done you

will

have

_Fig. 50.

You

can

now

turnthe

Jog over

and

trim off the _edgesof the

bow

and

stern so that _they

will slope, as

shown

in _{Fig. 44, in} a

rounded

_curve; after

which

roll the

canoe

back

_again

_upon

its

bottom

and

with

an adze

and

and

stern not that

_{you need}

the

wood

for _strength,

but

to save labor.

When

_{you have}

decided

_upon

the thickness of the sides of

_your

canoe, take

some

small, pointed instrument, like

an

awl,

for instance,

and

make

holes with it to the _required

_depth

at

in-tervalsalongthe sides

and

bottom

ofthe canoe.

Then

take

some

smallsticks (aslongas the

canoe

sidesareto

be

thick),

make

them

tofit the holes,blacken their ends,

and

drive

them

into the holes.

As

soon as

_you

see

one from

the inside,

you

will

know

that

you have

made

theshellthin_enough.

Use

_{a jack-plane}to

smooth

it off inside

and

out; then build a big fire

and

heat

some

stones.

Next

fill the

canoe

with water

and

_keep

_dumping

the hot stones

in the water until the latter is almost or quite to _{boiling point.}

The

hot water will soften the

wood

so that the sides will

become

flexible,

and

you can

then fitin

some

bracesatthe

_bow,

stern,

and

centre of the canoe.

Make

the centre brace or seat

some

inches wider than the_log, so that

when

it isforced in_place it will_spread

CHAPTER

V

CANOES AND

BOATING STUNTS

How

to Build a

War

Canoe

How

to Build a

Canvas Canoe

How

to Build

an Umbrella Canoe

How

Old Shells

Can

be

Turned

into _{Boys' Boats}

Cause

of _Upsets

_Landing

_from,

and

_Embarking

in,a Shell

How

to

Mend

Checks

and

Cracks

IN making

canoes the Indians

used

birch

bark

for the cover, rock

_maple

for _{the cross-bars,}

and

white cedarfor the restof the frame.

We

will substitute

canvas

forthe birch

bark

and

_any

old

wood

that

we

can

forthe rock

_maple

and

the whitecedar.

Real

woodcraft is best _{displayed in} the _ability to use the material at hand.

David

_Abercrombie,

the outfitter,

some

time

ago

presented

Andrew

_{J. Stone, the Arctic explorer}

and

_mighty

_hunter, with

a

small piece of light, water-proof cloth to use as a shelter tent in

bad

weather.

But

Stone, like the hunter that

he

_{was, slept} un-protected

on

the

mountain

side in the sleet

and

_{driving storms,}

and

used

the _water-proof cloth to _{protect the rare}

_{specimens he}

had

shot.

One

_day

a _{large, rapid torrent lay} in his _path; there

was no

lumber

_large

_enough

with

which

to build a raft,

and

the

only

wood

for miles

around

was

small willow

_{bushes growing}

along the river

bank.

At

his

_command,

his three Indians

made

a

canoe

frame

of willow sticks, tied together with bits of cloth

and

_string. Stone set this

frame

inthe

middle

ofhis _water-proof cloth, tied the cloth over the

frame

with other pieces of string,

and

_{using only small clubs} for _{paddles, he}

and

his

men

crossed the _ragingtorrent in this makeshift,

which

was

loaded with their

guns, camera,

and

specimens

that he

had

shot

on

the trip.