--Contributed
by Edwin Walker, Chicago, Ill.
** A Home-Made Punt [123]
A flat bottom boat is easy to make and is one of the safest boats,
as it is not readily overturned. It has the advantage of being
rowed from either end, and has plenty of good seating capacity.
This punt, as shown in Fig. 1, is built 15 ft. long, about 20 in.
deep and 4 ft. wide. The ends are cut sloping for about 20 in.
back and under. The sides are each made up from boards held
together with battens on the inside of the boat near the ends and
in the middle. One wide board should be used for the bottom piece.
Two pins are driven in the top board of each side to serve as
oarlocks.
The bottom is covered with matched boards not over 5 in. wide.
These pieces are placed together as closely as possible, using
white lead between the joints and nailing them to the edges of the
side boards and to a keel strip that runs the length of the punt,
as shown in Fig. 2. Before nailing the boards place lamp wicking
between them and the edges of the side boards. Only galvanized
nails should be used. In order to make the punt perfectly
watertight it is best to use the driest lumber obtainable.
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