T. CLAPHAM. Construction of Sharpie Boats. No. 214, 1 O1. Patented April 8, 1879.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: 3,a/. C//a46. - 7. ATTORNEYS,

M. PERS, Photo-LithogRAPHER, washingtoN, d. c. .

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS CLAPHAM, OF ROSLYN, NEW YORK. IMPROVEMENT IN construction of SHARPE-BOATs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,101, dated April 8, 1879; application filed January 25, 1879.

To all whom it may concern: My improvement consists in dispensing with Be it known that I, THOMAS CLAPHAM, of the center-board and its attachments or ap Roslyn, in the county of Queens and State of purtenances, and affixing as a substitute to New York, have invented a new and useful the bottom of the boat two or more keels, A Improvement in Sharpie-Boats, of which the A, of metal or wood, or both. By doing this following is a specification. I not only get rid of the cumbersome center Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the board and recover valuable space inboard, but, improved boat. Fig. 2 is a plan of its bottom. the length being the same, I obtain with two Fig. 3 is a section through acac. Fig. 4 is a keels of half the depth the same area of lat Section through yy. eral resistance which the center-board afforded; Similar letters of reference indicate corre consequently, without impairing the weatherly sponding parts. qualities of the boat-indeed, having improved The object of this invention is to provide a them-I have gained the advantage of sail staunch seaworthy boat or sailing-vessel of ing well in shallower waters than before. very light draft, which shall present sufficient Upon a sharpie's bottom, from the midship lateral resistance to the water to prevent her section to the stem, I build the addition shown making leeway while under sail and close at B, thus changing the flat bottom to one hauled, and which shall not be liable to keel whose cross-section is shown in Fig. 3. In or careen when lying aground. addition to this changein construction, Ichange The ordinary “sharpie' is a flat-bottomed the perpendicular lines of the cut-water to boat, with a center-board which can be raised lines curving forward, as shown at b b', in to be flush with the boat's bottom or lowered consequence of which I am enabled to further at will, and which answers the purpose of a improve the shape and sailing qualities of the keel. sharpie by giving hollow lines to the bow or The Well or casing of a center-board occu entrance, as shown at c' c' in Fig. 3. pies a great deal of the most valuable room It is obvious that these various improve amidships, and the center-board itself, be ments must tend to increase the seaworthi sides being heavy and requiring much skill ness, the weatherly qualities, and the speed of and labor for its management, must, in order to the boat, and to prevent the unpleasant pound make a boat weatherly, project below the ing or spanking above referred to. boat's bottom so much as to deprive the boat Having thus described my invention, I claim of the advantages of sailing on the Wind in as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat shallow waters. ent The bottom of the sharpie is flat from stem A sharpie-boat provided with the attach to stern, its profile being indicated by the line ment or piece B, arranged below the water. a? and its prolongation aft, Fig.1. A sharpie's line, and extending from the stem to, or nearly stem is perpendicular and its sides flat. The to, amidships, as shown and described, to pre flatness of the bottom forward of the midship vent spanking, and thus enable the boat to section is the cause of much “pounding' or always go “ in stays.” “spanking,” as it is called, when the boat is TEOMAS CLAPEIAM, under Way under a good breeze. Witnesses: It is apparent, then, that there are many C. SEDGWICK, objections to the present style of sharpie. S. L. STOWER.