The prices of the various builds enumerated above depend much upon the materials used, whether oak, mahogany, cedar, or pine; and also upon length of keel, and upon fittings, such as oars, sculls, cushions, stern-rails, &c., masts and sails. Figures vary from about 40l. for a best quality randan skiff, all found, to as low as 20l. for a gig, and 12l. for a dingey, turned out new from the builder’s yard.

It is customary to fit all rowing boats such as above described with a hole in the bow seat, and also in the flooring below, in order to carry a lug or sprit sail when required; but the shallow draught of such vessels as are not fitted with centreboards causes them to make a good deal of leeway and so disables them from sailing near the wind.

Racing boats are generally built of cedar, sometimes of white pine. The history of the introduction of the various improvements of outriggers, keelless boats, and sliding seats, has been given in other chapters. We propose here simply to give a few samples of dimensions of racing boats.

Various builders have various lines, and no exact fixed scale can be laid down as correct more than another.

Dimensions of a sculling-boat
recently used by Bubear in a sculling match
for the ‘Sportsman Challenge Cup,’
built by Jack Clasper.

Length31ft.0 in.
Width0ft.11 in.
Depth, amidships0ft.53⁄4in.
„forward0ft.31⁄2in.
„sternpost0ft.21⁄4in.

Historical Eight-oars (Keelless).

Length.Beam.Builder.
1. Oxford boat,[9] 185754 ft. 0 in.2 ft. 21⁄2 in.Mat Taylor.
(at No. 3’s rowlock)
2. Eton, 186357 ft. 0 in.2 ft. 1 in.Mat Taylor.
Depth at stern 6 in.
3. Radley, 185856 ft. 0 in.2 ft. 03⁄4 in.Sewell, for King.
Depth at stern 71⁄2 in.
4. Oxford, 187857 ft. 0 in.1 ft. 10 in.Swaddell & Winship.
Depth at stern 6 in.
5. Oxford, 188358 ft. 0 in.1 ft. 101⁄2 in.J. Clasper.
Depth at stern 61⁄2 in.

[9] The first keelless eight that won a University match.

These boats are selected because each in its turn won some reputation, and also because they exemplify the builds of different constructors.