the bottom and side to meet. This is done gradually, inch by inch, and
screws are put in place at equal distances. When the bow is reached, the
side piece is beveled to fit the bow piece, which should already have
been screwed into place. The other side of the boat is treated in a
similar manner, and the young worker should take care to keep the side
and bow piece perfectly square and upright. This may sound easy on
paper, but it will be found that a good deal of care must be exercised
to produce this result.

After the hull has been assembled it is given a good coat of paint
inside and out. When the first coat is dry the holes left by the
screw-heads are carefully puttied over, and the hull is given a second
coat of paint. This procedure will produce a perfectly water-tight
hull.

[Illustration: FIG. 58]

[Illustration: FIG. 59]

[Illustration: FIG. 63]

The stern tube is 3/8 inch, outside diameter. A hole is bored in the
bottom of the boat to receive the stern tube. This job must be done
cautiously; otherwise the bottom of the boat may be ruined. It is best
to screw a substantial block to the inside of the boat. This block
should be cut to fit the bottom and will act as a support for drilling.
It will also help greatly to make a water-tight joint around the tube.
The distance from the point where the stern tube passes through the
bottom to the stern should be about 12-1/2 inches. The stern tube should
be mounted as nearly parallel with the bottom as possible, since on this
depends the speed of the boat. As the angle of the propeller-shaft
increases, the speed of the boat will decrease. In drilling the hole the
boat-builder should be careful to keep the drill running along the
central line of the boat.

As before mentioned, the stern tube is a piece of brass tubing 3/8 inch
in diameter and 8 inches long. It is filed square at both ends, and a
brass plug is fastened with solder in each end. The tube is then filled
with melted vaseline, which is allowed to cool. The hole in the hull
around the tube is then well smeared with thick paint. When this is
done, a layer of red lead or putty is placed around the joint both on
the inside and the outside of the boat.

While the putty is drying the spray-hood or turtle-deck can be made.
This is bent to shape from a piece of tinplate and extends half way
down the boat. When the turtle-deck is finished, it is best to lay it
aside, before finally fastening it in place, until