By Dan Beard
Figs. 191-193
A Home-Made Catamaran
A Trap-Door or Hatch, large enough to admit one's hand and bailer, should occupy an accessible position near the stern of each boat. The trap should be built to fasten as tightly as possible to prevent any water that may splash over the boats from leaking in through the openings in the deck
Make each deck of a single board, trimmed to conform with the lines of the boat, and make holes in the deck for the hands to pass through. With bolts and bands, that have been made for you at the nearest blacksmith shop, you fasten the cross- piece supporting the deck to the moulds in the boat. Fig. 193, A, shows one of the bolts. It is understood that these bolts are securely fastened to the moulds before the hulls are decked.
The holes are then bored in the deck, come up through the deck, and the screw ends of the bolts come up through the holes made for that purpose in the cross-pieces supporting the deck. A piece of rubber from an old hose can be used for washers to fit under the bolts. The runs are then screwed home.
The deck is now floored, as shown in Fig. 191, and
The Rudder and Mast
benches are put in place, the latter at the forward and the former at the after end of the deck. Underneath the deck a keel-piece is securely bolted on. If you wish a sloop rig, a bowsprit is fastened to the keel-piece, but in regard to sails, you may make your own choice of the many styles. A good lateen will look best and is easily made, as described in the chapter on rigs. If one sail does not work to suit you, a dandy or a jigger may be added.
This style of craft may be built as large or small as you You chose to build it. In a very small catamaran that would only hold one boy he could probably steer it with a paddle or an oar, but in the larger ones a somewhat more complicated steering apparatus is necessary.
