in the end of the boat, but also reduces the available and rounding of the comers can look

and rounding of the comers can look good, but may

deck, cockpit, and storage space. Some reverse stems result m an unnecessarily costly stmcture when done
do provide built-in swim steps and boarding ladders, in wood or metal. In fiberglass craft, such rounding
and buyers have to weigh these features agamst the adds to strength and avoids weak, sharp, easily
disadvantages of lost space. chipped comers. Still, rounding should not be exces-
Lifeboat stems like those of the North Sea pilot sive or the deckhouse will resemble an inverted bath-
boats are common in bluewater cruisers, but because tub.

of the very rounded buttocks they require they Most modem powerboats, motorsailers, and a few
almost invariably produce a slow boat and may be auxiliaries have very large windows. Although this

prone to pooping due to a lack of reserve buoyancy results in a bright, airy interior, it can also let in too
aft. Their main advantage was specific to their func- much sunlight on hot days and too much water in

tion as workboats. There was no transom comer to heavy weather. Large powerboat windows — espe-
be smashed in when the pilot boat pulled away from cially sliding or drop-sash varieties — are rarely water-

a freighter in a rough sea, or to foul the net of a fish- tight. The strongest and tightest of the opening win-
ing boat. dows are those with aluminum frames and hinged
Powerboat stems are usually of the transom type, glass. In any case, a boat with large expanses of glass
although displacement cmisers and fishing craft may should have strong storm shutters of aluminum, ply-
use double-ended hulls. Some of the Eurostyled craft wood, or plastic if it is to be taken offshore. Lexan
appear to have a reverse transom, but usually this is makes excellent shutters since it is both strong and
just a styling feature that extends past a true transom translucent.

stem and may support a swim platform. A tme Small crafi and vessels of low stability or shoal

reverse transom on a motoryacht scoops up water hulls should not be fitted wath high deckhouses in an

when going astem and does not make a great deal of attempt to gain standing headroom. Sitting head-
sense. room is quite ample for small boats in any case. How
much walking can you do in a cabin 8 feet long with
a sole 2 feet wide? The high house raises the center of

Cabin Shape
Deck structures play a large part in the appear- Pastime is a motoryacht with timeless styling. She will still

ance of a vessel and must be given considerable be handsome 50 years from now. The 48-footer was designed
hy Spencer Lincoln and built by Lyman-Morse in Thomas-
thought if they are to harmonize with the hull. The
ton, Maine.
cabin should have a flatter cur\'e than the sheerline.
Usually It is much flatter, and on some designs may
be a straight line. As a mle, the roof edge should par-

allel the LWL or increase in height as it runs aft, but it

rarely looks good if lower afi than forward.

The cabin sides must lean inboard slightly (tum-
blehome) or they will appear to be falling outboard;
'/4 inch of tumblehome per foot of height is a good
minimum ratio, although modem crafi, both power
and sail, may have much more. Heavy streamlining

AESTHETICS

67