For the toys described hitherto, the chisel has hardly been required, but to carve boats from a solid block of wood it becomes somewhat of a necessity, the pen-knife being but a poor substitute. The use of the chisel has been postponed owing to the dangers which attend its use. However, when children have become accustomed to handle tools properly and to respect them, they are no more likely to cut their hands with a chisel than with a knife when sharpening pencils or peeling potatoes.
The following tools will be found useful in making exact models of boats, hollowing them out, etc.:
(1) A ½-inch or ¾-inch chisel. This is a good one to start with.
(2) A smaller chisel about ¼ inch wide.
(3) A gouge. A 3/8 inch and a 5/8 inch gouge answer most purposes. This is an indispensable tool when hollowing out a boat.
(4) A spoke-shave. This is used to smooth a curved surface after it has been roughly cut with a chisel or knife. It is not really necessary, as its work may be done with sand-paper or a file. However it is not expensive, and it leaves the wood with a 'clean' surface much superior to that obtained with sand-paper.
(5) A vice.
The best wood for making the following boats is yellow deal or American white-wood. This, though not expensive, must be bought. One does not often find a piece of waste wood suitable for boat-making.
A very simple boat can be made in the following way. Procure a block of wood about 7" × 1½" × 2". On the top surface of the block draw a plan of the boat as in Fig. 387; on the bottom surface draw the plan shown in Fig. 388. Take care not to make the keel too narrow, especially in first attempts at boat-making. The keel of this boat may be quite ¼ inch thick. See that it is really in the middle.