A SCHOONER YACHT.
In this the length should be greater in proportion to its other dimensions than in the sloop yacht. The mainmast should be stepped a little abaft the middle point of the hull. The foremast is stepped about midway between the mainmast and the stem, and should be very nearly as high as the mainmast. The foretop-mast, however, should be decidedly shorter than the maintop-mast.
The bowsprit of the schooner yacht should be somewhat thicker and shorter in proportion than that of the sloop yacht, and is lengthened to the desired extent by means of a small spar resting on its top, which is called the jib-boom.
The forestay comes down to the bowsprit head, instead of to the stem. The jib-stay runs from the mast-head to the jib-boom, through which it passes a short distance from the end of the latter. The topmast stay extends from the upper part of the topmast to the end of the jib-boom. The two latter stays pass from the jib-boom to the “martingale,” a short spar, which has a hook at its upper end. This hook passes through an iron ring on the under side of the head of the bowsprit.
The martingale extends downward toward the water, while the stays pass through it, or through iron loops affixed to either side, and are fastened to the stem or the upper part of the bows.
As in the sloop, one or more stout bobstays connect the bowsprit head with the stem.
The two masts are braced together by means of certain stays, of which the most important is the spring-stay, which connects the mast-heads. Two other stays extend from the maintop-mast to the foremast head. (See figure.)
a Mainmast.
b Foremast.
c Bowsprit.
d Jib-boom.
e Martingale.
f Spring-stay.
The mainsail and its gaff-topsail are similar to those of the sloop, but the foresail is much smaller, as it must pass between the masts in tacking, and varies little in breadth from head to foot.
A schooner yacht has a maintop-mast staysail, which is used in racing, and comes down nearly to the deck. Its sheet is rove through a block at the after end of the boom, whence it is brought back to the stern and “belayed” to a cleat.
“Belaying” is the nautical term for winding a rope on a cleat or belaying pin; which is done as a boy winds his kite string, on each end alternately, in figure-eight style.
The fore gaff-topsail is not provided with spars or booms at its edges, but has rings along its luff, like those of the lower sails, which run on the foretop-mast.
The sails of a large vessel have ropes called bolt-ropes, sewed entirely around their edges, which may, of course, be dispensed with in the sails of the miniature yacht, as they will be sufficiently strong without such aid.
The reef-points are short lengths of small rope, arranged at equal distances from each other, in rows parallel to the booms; they pass through the sail and hang down on either side. There are usually two rows of these on the foresail, and three on the mainsail, while the larger headsails are also provided with them.
Before the sails are put on or bent, it will be advisable to paint the yacht. A coat of paint should have been given to the inside of hull as well as under side of deck, to prevent the wood from becoming water-soaked in case of leakage.
Custom has rigidly prescribed the colors for the exterior of a yacht, above the water line; either black or white, with a narrow gold line below the gunwale, being universally employed. Below the water line greater latitude may be given to individual taste; either dark green, brown, or black, may be used, according to the preference of the owner.
The greatest pains are taken to keep the bottom of a racing yacht in the smoothest possible condition. It is usually covered with black-lead and polished to the utmost degree. This treatment is often renewed three or four times in the course of a season.
The mast should not be painted, but stained a bright yellow, with a little raw sienna in oil. When dry it should be shellacked; in fact, the latter will form a good coating for the painted surface of the hull as well. If the shellac be thick, it may of itself stain the mast to a sufficient extent, but in that case—if thick—it should not be used on the white hull. The short space where the mainmast and topmast overlap each other should be painted the color of the hull. The bowsprit should be the color of the hull, and the jib-boom stained like the masts. The deck may be painted with white, to which enough sienna has been added to give it a buff tint.
The prow, or upper portion of stem just below the bowsprit, is usually carved and gilded; and the stem is occasionally decorated in like manner; but although there seems to be no limit to the increasing richness and elegance of the interior of our American yachts, the tendency of the time leads more and more toward a severely plain and quiet treatment of the exterior.
A yacht always carries a little triangular flag at the topmast-head called the “burgee.”
A schooner yacht, of course, flies two of them, one at each mast-head. These are simultaneously hauled down at the moment of sunset. A national flag, called the “ensign,” is generally hoisted at the peak of the mainsail.
These instructions apply equally well to the papier-maché boats described at page 90, which have the advantages of lightness and ease of construction.
Transcriber’s note:
Formats of index and Notes have been regularised.
Index, full stop inserted after ‘ib.,’ “plants for fresh-water aquarium, ib.;”
Index, ‘3’ changed to ‘320,’ “Cross puzzle, the, [320]”
Index, ‘miscroscope’ changed to ‘microscope,’ “Objects, some, for solar microscope, 225”
Page 266, full stop inserted after ‘book,’ “in this book.) Balance”