The machine consists, essentially, of a shaft, upon which a float is fixed, and at the end of the shaft is a small screw propeller. The shaft is put in motion by a wheel arrangement worked by the hands, and by a crank moved by the feet. The swimmer rests upon the float, with his head well above water. The float sustains him, while the propeller forces him through the water, without his feeling fatigued, at the rate of about five miles an hour. A certain amount of practice is necessary to obtain complete command of the machine, but when mastered the swimmer can proceed, without much exertion, at a rapid rate. The apparatus itself is not difficult to make, and persons who have tried it speak highly of its convenience and of the facilities it may afford. Captain Boyton’s swimming-dress is another useful invention, but the means of mechanical propulsion are wanting, while in this new apparatus the swimmer can drive himself through the sea with ease and expedition, and even a non-swimmer may thereby save life without danger to himself, or the person he wishes to rescue.
Fig. 488.—Trained seal drawing canoe.
The Nautical Velocipede, which also deserves some notice at our hands, is the invention of M. Croce-Spinelli, who tried it upon the great lake of Vincennes and also on the Seine, when it was the object of much curiosity; but when the Franco-German war broke out the experiments were discontinued, and the inventor did not live to perfect the apparatus. He fell a victim to his love for ballooning. But M. Joberts, a practical machinist, has lately taken up the idea broached by Croce-Spinelli, and has brought out a new water velocipede of very ingenious construction, with satisfactory results. The machine is described as follows. There are two hollow tin “floats” of cylindrical form, and tapered at the ends. These floats are joined together by a platform made of very light wood, on which the seat of the worker is raised, and underneath is the machinery for propelling the velocipede. The motive power is very simple, and corresponds to that employed to propel the bicycle on land, by the feet of the rider, the wheel being furnished with paddles in the water velocipede.
Fig. 489.—Double yachts.
A rudder, which can easily be worked by cords, gives the velocipedist complete control of the machine, the steering being performed by a handle similar to that which the bicyclist uses to turn the machine he rides. In fact, the “water” velocipede is an adaptation of the “terrestrial” machine so familiar to all readers. This velocipede is equally adapted for sea or lake progression, the waves of the former being, under ordinary circumstances, no obstruction, for very little motion is imparted to the sitter. For those desirous to bathe in deep water the machine offers many facilities; and in the case of attack of cramp or faintness, rescue would not be difficult, as the swimmer could support himself upon the pointed cylinders of the water velocipede till assistance arrived. On the other hand, it is very necessary to know how to swim before attempting to work the machine.
Fig. 490.—Ice boats.