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

CHAPTER I

WHY A BOAT FLOATS

BEFORE taking up the construction of any of the model power boats
described in this book, it will be well for the young boat-builder to
become acquainted with such terms as buoyancy, displacement, center of
gravity, etc. Knowledge of these subjects