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66 THE MARINE Bl a we ae ine on ie 21% 88 oe p= te . pny ims ceiote Ne : WOODEN VESSELS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT AN OREGON YARD steel has more than doubled in price, and this is no small item when it is recalled that each vessel requires from 100 to 120 tons of metal. Oakum was $2.50 and is now scarce at $7.50 to $8. Steel rigging was formerly about 15 per cent of total cost. Now it is from 20 to 25 per cent. All engines have risen in price and all tank work has practically doubled. It is figured that engines, installed, now cost from $70 to $80 per horsepower. Conse- quently, the builders are worried by the scarcity and high cost of all ma- terials required by them. Plenty of Power Wanted In the earlier periods of the con- struction . activity, the general ten- dency was to install two 240-horse- power engines. Now owners are in- clined to have more power and two 320-horsepower engines are more pop- ular. In the vessel designed by Mr. Erismann, tankage is provided for fuel to run the engines about 10,000 miles, and this also applies in a ma- jority of the vessels now building. While it is generally the case that auxiliary vessels will depend largely upon sail, in the case of the motor ship Orecon, building in Seattle for the Alaska-Pacific Navigation Co., en- tire dependence will be placed upon the vessel’s semi-diesel engines. The two auxiliary schooners building at the Seaborn yards, Tacoma, are unique in that they will have steam. This type is regarded as an experiment and these ships will be followéd with in- terest. The larger vessel will have a steel jigger mast which will serve the double purpose of smokestack. While some practical mariners ques- tion Mr. Erismann’s sail design, be- lieving that a topsail schooner is the better type, Mr. Erismann has at- tempted to give as much sail as is compatible with easy handling. Whether there should be topsails or not is largely a matter of taste. How- ever, as a general rule, practical men recommend a large number of small sails as against a lesser number of large sails on the grounds of economy and ease of handling. In general the auxiliary schooners building on the Pacific coast are single-deck because of the necessity for a large and unobstructed hold for handling lumber. As a rule, they have ’tween deck beams so that, if necessary, the ’tween deck can be in- stalled. Most of the tonnage being constructed in the northwest is being built to Lloyds or Bureau Veritas standards, indicating that some excel- lent vessels are being turned out. Of course, those which have been sold must be passed upon by the classification —— Gmaaes and REVIEW February, 1917 societies. While it is possible that through haste or inexperience, some of. the wooden ships on the ways on the north Pacific may fail to meet re- quirements, the general opinion is that the new wooden tonnage is far superior to that constructed on- the west coast 12 to 15 years ago. In the first place, the average size of vessels is much larger. The fact that most of the wooden tonnage is being built to Lloyds classification for a period of 12 years and then subject to ex- tension, and that great strength is being placed in the vessels on ac- count of their single deck construc- tion, indicates that the new additions to the Pacific coast fleets should give long and profitable service. Improvements in Construction Many improvements in construction methods are also in vogue, all mak- ing for a better class of ship. Air or electric drills bore better and truer bolt and trunnel holes. The bolts are driven and headed by machinery, insuring not only faster but more ex- act construction. More care is given each vessel and, all. in all, Pacife coast ship builders are profiting by experience. The new fleet of Pacific- built wooden vessels will be able to stand inspection with similar tonnage built in any other part of the world. Careful compilation of construction work in wooden _ ships, _ recently launched, now under way or contract- ed for, show that Pacific coast yards have launched 15 wooden, steam, aux- iliary-powered and sail vessels during the present season of activity. The same investigation indicates that yards from San Francisco bay to British Columbia have either under construc- tion or contracts for 70 wooden ships. As to the future of this great in- dustry, whose present activity might be likened to a tale from the Arabian Nights, no one can make an accurate A FIVE MASTED AUXILIARY SCHOONER FOR LUMBER TRADE DESIGNED BY MARTIN C. ERISMANN