Chapter I: 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.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I WHY A BOAT FLOATS 3

II THE HULL 12

III HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE BOATS, WITH AND WITHOUT POWER DRIVE 26

IV STEAM AND ELECTRIC PROPULSION 42

V AN ELECTRIC LAUNCH 66

VI A STEAM LAUNCH 75

VII AN ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN LAKE FREIGHTER 91

VIII AN ELECTRIC SUBMARINE-CHASER 98

IX BOAT FITTINGS 107

X THE DESIGN OF MODEL STEAM-ENGINES 126

XI A MODEL FLOATING DRY-DOCK 135

XII OPERATION OF FLASH STEAM POWER PLANTS FOR MODEL BOATS 149

XIII SAILING YACHTS 164

XIV TWO-FOOT SAILING YACHT 184

APPENDIX 207

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

A two-foot steam boat _Frontispiece_

FACING
PAGE

Getting ready for a trip 72

All ready to go 73

A powerful gasolene blow-torch 112

Just after the race 113

A twin-cylinder steam engine for model marine use 168

A cup-winning model sail boat 169

BOYS' BOOK OF MODEL BOATS

BOYS' BOOK OF MODEL BOATS