THE POPULAR OUTBOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 5

THE POPULAR OUTBOARD.

[IMPROVEMENTS IN DESIGN.

KEEN RACING ANTICIPATED

'['ho recent rapid development of tlie tmlboard Tnotor engine lias given an imjictus to, motor-boating unanticipated by i|k) keenest cutlitisiast two or tlivce years iijjo. Previously outboard engines were jiikloritood by tlioso who took casual »iotico of them to bo foreign productions ( ,i questionable reliability and doubtful <atisfadion. 'lbis hasty estimation, perhaps, was always extravagant, if it was in .some degree justified. Certainly there is nothing to substantiate an unfavourable view of tho average outboard engine ■jo-diiv. li is in some instances .still riipabU) of flirt her development, but one 4lc in tits whether there is now a model on the market that dues not. do everything its manufacturer claims fur it. Most of these little engines aie well designed, and ('(instructed »f good materials, and have overcome the objections found in the carliei models. One of the chief disadvantages of the outboard engine until very recently was j!., noi>e. Low cylinder capacity and de-j-ieiis which depended upon very high revolutions for adequate power output made .it. dillieiilt ellieientlv !o silence these machines. Tho latest typo of outboard eiu'ines have now largely grown out of .such infant weakness Tho power outpul of most models is surprisingly generous, ami the exhaust sound is by no means troublesome. Only a few days ago the ■writer had tho pleasure of trying out a jicw outboard motor boat and engine and while there was a certain amount of noise no one could ba justified in complaining about it. Another objection to earlier types was difficulty of control. With improved design has come more docile working and better power at low speeds, while tho arrangements of the control devices on (he tiller and elsewhere is now much better.

The outboard engine in practical form originally camo from America, but there arc now many British makes. Although tho purchase and care of nn outboard engine and boat is quite a simple matter, facilities for club advantages will bo welcomed by most people new to that pastime. When racing is in view membership of a club is certainly advisable.

One of tho attractions of outboard motor-boating is the economy with which it may be enjoyed. Outboard engines arc obtainable from £24 to .U9O, according to power and the particular services for which they tiro designed. Whereas a short time ago such engines wero restricted to two main divisions of about 2 to 4 h.p., and 3 to 5 h.p., outboards from 5 to 36 h.p. aro now obtainable. Generally speaking very high horse-power is not required, except for specialised racing and industrial uses.

specially designed for propulsion by outboard engines are now built in \vido variety. Within tho two main divisions of runabouts and racing hulls there are dinghies and rowboats. Outboard racing in Auckland this season promises to bo very interesting, and some exciting contests arc anticipated. / Mr. A. It. Townsend, formerly owner of Miss Arawa. has had a new double-stepper built and has equipped her with an Elto Quod engine. Hum Bug, owned hv Mr. L Stericker, will also be fitted with an Elto Quod this season. * A 13ft. single step hydroplane, tt> bo fitted with a 20 h.p. Evinrudo Speedit•win motor, is under construction for Mr. E. R. Butler. Mr. W. F. Neil has had a 13ft. outboard built and has fitted her with an Evinrudo Speaditwin. She has been named Miss Marquette, and will race in several of the clubs this year.

It is interesting to record that, at prosent the world's speed record for outboards is 47.28 miles, registered by a D class Johnson engine, Thd reorganisation of outboard racing is Auckland is now under consideration by those interested in tho sport and a meeting will bo held at. an early date to discuss various proposals.

THE TOWER CLASS.

SOME VERY FINE LAUNCHES.

Almost every season nt least two or three large, new rnotor-launches make their appearance on the Waitemata and tliis year will be no exception to tlio rulo; in fact, it will record the building of three very fine power boats. Of these the most notable is a 54ft. by lift. 6in. motor cruiser under construction afc tlio yards of Messrs. C. Bailey and Son for Mr. If. R; Jenkins, M.P, Sho is designed on the latest American principle, having a bridge dock and u great amount of flare in her bow sections. She has full headroom everywhere and is stated to be (he largest boat of her type in the Dominion. The main cabin is 12ft. long, the deckhouse 12ft., the cockpit 7ft., while there is also an engine room and a largo cabin forward. The decking and deck fitlings' arc of teal; and all tho controls will be operated from the deckhouse. Tanks of 400 gallons rapacity will bo fitted for oil fuel and 300 gallons for water. She will have cruising radius of 1400 miles. 'Jhe motive power for the now craft will be a U0 h.p. Cummins Diesel engine. 1' is a tull Diesel, four cycle, completely enclosed and full-lubricated job, self-con-tained in every way. Castings are all properly ribbed and machined; there are no loose water pipes, tlio water going directly from tho water pump into the end of the cylinder tank and through i' dividual connections up illto the cylinder Je.'.nii, then out through the cylinder heads into water-cooled manifold and out. She vill lie equipped with a Kennedy propeller specially imported to suit he re•luireiuents. Tho launch will carry an lift, dinghy in davits aft, fitted with an outooard engine. She is well in hand and will be ready for launching in November. .Another v.holesomo type of launch that v.ill .make her appearance this season is » 38ft. by 10ft. bridge deck cruiser built by .Mr. ( , Wild for Mr. A. Spencer, of Stanley Buy. Designed by her builder, this vessel lias a great deal of flare fori"iid and (hi- - , makes her somewhat resemble a, small destroyer. The flush deck aft takes (he. l place of (he usual cockpit, and, being fitted with railing and canvas screens, there is sufficient room for three deek chairs. The. v.heelhouso is amidships and is 10it. in length. Below decks the bo,-it is very comfortably appointed for f? n S luu h ' v eight. The aft cabin :s lOit. long, access being gained from the by a novel winding staircase. Jhe power for this boat is supplied by * -00 h.p. six-cylinder Kermath motor. A nev/ \-bottom cruiser is under conflruction at the yards of Mr. 1,. C'oul♦h.ird, ot Onehunga. She is 36ft. by "it. and is being built for Mr. J. llopwcofl, of Auckland. Slit* has a 7ft. centre cockpit. Oft. engineroom, a 6ft. 6in. forward cabin and an Oft. Din. mam cabin. ■' hoat lias full headroom forward and y.'ill have the latest fittings for comfort l ". holh the fore and main cabins. She ■ ill be 'equipped illl a 65 h.p. Kermath 'ugine and will lie completed early in Dec,.inbi.r.

H. >S!iillcry Im.s received :ni r,J 1 1''' fi'Jin Mr. S. Keano lor a new cruislaunch. She will Lo ."Oft. in length t. and will have an fift. main cabin a combined cngirirroorn and fore''•p. Kelvin pngirie. t "• Wild has completed a 32ft. by round l>i 1 tco launch for Mr. L. MacQi.'a't). 81:o lias a raised cabin top and «- JOlt. main cabin. will be fitted ■with ft 25 h.p. engine and will take the iV.ater about the end of the month. -V start on a 4011. work boat for the foufh will he made this week by Messrs. ' olii.nqs and Bell. This firm has also received orders for two 24ft. lighters and four 16ft. outboard motor boats of tho runabout type. Tivu of the outboards nr(; for Auckland, one for Gisborne and the other' for I'atea. Throe will be fitted Jvith El to engines and ona with a Joiintcn engine.