TRANSPORT

SIR — It has been suggested to me that a brief description of the method I recently employed to transport overland my 16’ by 5’ unballasted centreboard canoe yawl might interest some readers of The Yachting Monthly. The sketches sufficiently explain the method employed. The canoe rests, as in a hammock, on a spruce plank (13’ by 9” by 1¼”) which is pivoted at the front end to a crossbar which rests on, and is lashed to, the boot of my 11.9 hp car; whilst the back end is supported on a wooden framework (2” by 3” deals), which is bolted to the elliptical springs, which in their turn are bolted to the axle of two old iron-shod van wheels for which I paid 8s. A stout doubled rope passes from the back axle of the car to the ends of the van wheels’ axle. On this carriage the canoe rode very smoothly, and so easily that I was able to transport her a distance of 25 miles in two hours without any mishap or harm done. The heavy iron plate was removed and carried on the car. The whole carriage takes to pieces and can pack on the car when the boat is not in tow.

A J Fairlie Clark