PREFACE

Every boy likes to build boats. The interest in boats seems to be born in the race. The little three-year-old chap is instinctively attracted by a puddle of water in which to sail his "boat," which may take the form of a piece of shingle or common board. Few men have passed through their boyhood days without having built boats at some time.

The author was an ardent boat-builder, and he well remembers how he combed the Children's Department of the local library in search of a book that would tell him something about boats, and especially for information regarding the construction of models. He found books on model airplanes, toys, electricity, radio, and chemistry, but alas! nothing about model boats. He vowed then that when he became a man he would write a book on model boats—a book that would contain all the treasured information he had accumulated during his boat-building years.

This book is the result of that vow, and the author earnestly hopes that it will gladden the heart of every boy who builds and sails a boat. There are probably few happier moments in a boy's life than when he sees his little model steamer proudly make her way across the park pond, or his little sail-boat respond to the summer breeze.

The author takes this opportunity to thank his wife, who acted as his amanuensis in the preparation of this manuscript.

Raymond Francis Yates.

CHAPTERPAGE

I Why a Boat Floats3

II The Hull12

III How to Make Simple Boats, with and without Power Drive26

IV Steam and Electric Propulsion42

V An Electric Launch66

VI A Steam Launch75

VII An Electrically Driven Lake Freighter91

VIII An Electric Submarine-Chaser98

IX Boat Fittings107

X The Design of Model Steam-Engines126

XI A Model Floating Dry-Dock135

XII Operation of Flash Steam Power Plants for Model Boats149

XIII Sailing Yachts164

XIV Two-Foot Sailing Yacht184

Appendix207