The Vogue of the "Botor."

Press, Volume L, Issue 14971, 19 May 1914, Page 6

The Vogue of the "Botor."

The, enormously increasing vogue 0 c i tho motor-boat was tho fact which impressed itself -forcibly on an American ; expert who was present at tho last anr.ij.il motor-boat show in Madison Square Garden, New York. Ho comments on the surprising variety of models, designed both for pleasure and for business, and adapted to conditions of every conceivable sort. At this exposition a 150-dollar 16-foot boat, equipped with a littjo two-cycle motor, might be seen side by side with a 10,000 dollar 50-foot cruiser, representing the highest skill obtainable in design, construction and equipment, a vessel in which tbo owner, his family, and guests might live for months wit,i case and comfort. A striking exhibit, reflecting tho present widespread tendency towards safety of life at soa, was that of a lifeboat cruiser, a vessel which could live through any sea, being fire-proof, leak-proof, selfrighting, and non-sinkable. All this was an accomplished fact in a boat S'j feet long. This was a model which bad been adopted by tho United States Life-Saving Service for use in coastal work. Another examplo of the "safety first" idea was a motor lifeboat for use aboard ocean vessels. In appearance it resembled an ancient Viking ship, and could hold .65 people. On each side were fastened heavy sponsons or fenders of South American raft wood, which is lighter than cork, fairly strong in texture when pitched, and waterproof. This craft was put to several searching tests by the United States Government, which quite demonstrated its uubreakableness. Lowered over the side of a vessel until it swung just clear of the water, it was pulled as far as possible from the vessel by a powerful tug and then suddenly released and allowed to crash against the steel hull r>f ;he ship. No damage of any kind resulted. The boat was equipped with a 25 h.p. motor, ha,d a compartment or food and water storage, and was pro%-ided with a wireless outfit. Another of tho many interesting and varied types exhibited was a "runabout," in which the propeller turned in a sort of tunnel or box. Tho boat could bo N run in only a few inches of water. Such a boat could climb rapids and run up shoaly nountain streams with ease, and some of this typo have been solccted • this purpose by the Roosevelt expedition in South America.