MOTOR BOATING FOR THE MAN OF SMALL MEANS.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume XII, Issue 45, 7 April 1910, Page 3

MOTOR BOATING FOR THE MAN OF SMALL MEANS.

ANY /BOAT CAN BE ADAPTED

Never before has the man of small , means been able to avail himself so read'ily of the recreations indulged in by his wealthy neighbour as today. This condition has been brought about wholly by mechanical development, and applies to many forms of sport. It is only necessary to recall how very quickly the improved methods of manufacture brought the cost of bicycles down, to see how the man on a small salary was given the benefit of “mass production” by the development of automatic machinery. In much the same way the pleasures of motoring and motor boating are to-day being rapidly brought within the reach of persons of small means. For instance, a complete outfit Of engine, propeller, batteries, and tanks for quickly converting a skiff or other row-boat or small sail-boat into a power craft, can be acquired very cheaply. The man who already owns a small row-boat can become the possessor of a motor-boat at 1 about half the outlay of the one who 1 has tot purchase the hull as well as the engine and propelling mechanism. Conversion of such a craft into a 1 power boat is made simple and in--1 expensive by of a so-called “outboard” outfit, which is a complete power unit, that can be attached to the stern post of almost any , small boat by tightening with a wrench three bolts in two stout ■ metal clamps that grip the upper and lower ends of the post. No alteration in the boat is necessary, and no other tool than a small wrench is required. The outfit can be removed as easily as it is fitted. This same outfit can be attached to sailing vessels up to five , tons displacement, and used as an auxiliary to drive the boat home in event of being becalmed. Such an outfit has been brought out in France under the name of “motogodille.” It comprises not only the motor and propeller, but the steering apparatus as well. Under the best conditions it is capable of driving an 18-foot row-boat at a rate of seven miles an hour. To the upper ‘ end of the upright column that is clamped to the sternpost is secured a single-cylinder, two-cycle, water-cooled engine. This has a cylinder of 2* inches diame- ! ter, and 3-inch stroke of piston, and ; at 750 per minute it de- . velops 2 horse-power. ’ By means of bevel gears and a i vertical abaft turning inside the up- • right column, the engine drives a ; two-bladed , propeller of 11 inches , diameter, turning it 500 revolutions i to the 750 of the motor. A submeri ged plunger pump, located on the l bottom bracket forward of the pro- • peller, supplies cooling water to the 1 water jacket. A cylindrical fuel supply tank for the gasoline is carried on top of a wood tiller that extends forward over the rear of the boat. ' By means of this tiller the position 1 of the propeller is altered to change 1 the direction of the boat, thereby obviating the need of. a*rudder. Ignition current is provided by k four cells of dry battery and a > spark coil-carried in any convenient ■ ! place within the boat. The engine 3 is started by means of a detacb--1 able crank that can be applied , at ' the top of the driving shaft, which extends beyond the top of the up--1 right column for this purpose. Car- • . buretter" and lubricator are attached 5 directly . J to' the motor, which ex--1 hatists tbrougb.a, muffler at the back. Tfie circulating-■ water-is discharged > from the" top of the Water jacket : through a downwardly 5 curved pipe. L : Makers* motolfs /for boats are legion£~ and * there are: many ahali « ' power motors, that-can'.,be„ ; bought 4J>r .ft fev|? pounds. & Thus ;a' small "outlay will enable the small boat owner to enjoy the pleasures 3 of motor boating as well as his - more fortunately situated neighbour. - “pAnnliir flcienCß Sittings •,1 - ' '• - i ' , '