a boat so constructed would wet those on board very much; but this is not the case, as the buoyancy is so great that very few waves break over the platform. Those that do come on board, being principally in front of the mast, disappear through the open-work before mentioned. When on a cruise and lying at anchor, a waterproof tent can be rigged up on deck, in which there will be a clear inside space of 8ft. by 6ft., sleeping berths being provided for four persons in the boats as before mentioned. A permanent cabin on deck is in my opinion very objectionable, as it interferes with the working of the sails, and is a serious hindrance to beating to windward. I had various opportunities during the last two summers of testing the qualities of this boat. The best oppor tunity was afforded during last summer by a cruise along the Antrim coast, and by frequent sailing in the Irish Channel, sometimes in half a gale of wind. I always found her to stay well, and go to windward in a very satisfactory manner. The greatest speed attained was ten knots an hour. During the summers of 1868 and 1869 she was moored in the centre of Bangor Harbour (which is a tidal one), without any trouble. When the
tide ebbs the boats sit down on an even keel, and I consider it a great advantage to be able to run into harbour at nearly any state of the tide, as it takes away the risk of mooring in an exposed bay ; or if running for shelter, you are much more likely to be able to enter a harbour than with an ordinary boat." In America a double boat has recently been introduced called a catamaran. The boats are connected by iron stays working in ball and socket joints so that the weather boat would not be likely to be lifted out of water under strong wind pressures. One of these boats has been imported to this country by Mr. H. N. Custance. She is called Duplex. Her dimensions are—Length, 30ft. ; breadth of each hull, 2ft.; depth, lft. 6in.; distance between the hulls, 12ft. Each hull is fitted with centre-board and rudder. These catamarans are quite unfit to be sailed in wave water, as the lee boat is almost certain to go bow under, and then the whole construction would be torn all to pieces if the sail were not instantly lowered. Off the wind they have attained a speed of sixteen miles.