Lady of the Lake, a boat to use where water spreads out thin on rivers, lakes, and tidal pools; where water grasses grow and crabs and crawfish hide from eager nets; where trees in green play hide and seek with drifting will-o-wisps the evening long; where solitude and tranquillity rule the little places nature made so lovely. For then a man can smoke and drink and eat; can let the stars drift by and bid the sun adieu for back he'll be tomorrow again.
Here is a little shallow draft paddle wheel cruiser designed for use on shallow water. For sheltered river and lake water an interesting and very practical kind of boat; and one that can be built for a reasonable sum and by not too expert workmen; and from materials not too difficult to get. She is 28 feet in over all length; 9 feet 8 inches in breadth; and draws only 10 inches of water. The hull is scow shaped, modeled to slip through the water easily and to handle well under power. She can be tied up to docks and her nose will run up a shelving river bank easily and without damage. If grounded she can be hauled off without harm, and will sit upright if the water leaves her high and dry. She will be fun to own and to operate with that stern wheel and, like the great river boats, will carry a white tail and mist over her stern, and the plop, plop, plopping wheel. Rainbows will play among the spokes and buckets and drift away in the summer's sun, and you will need a whistle to blast a warning when she's coming 'round the bend.
There is full 6 feet 2 inch headroom under the house top beams and really a lot of room below for a boat only 28 feet long.
The motor should be about 35 h.p. at 1800 r.p.m. and approximately 180 cubic inch cylinder displacement. The paddle wheel will turn at 60 r.p.m. and the speed of the little hooker close to 7 miles an hour. It will be necessary to reduce the engine speed to the paddle wheel speed by means of gearing, sprocket and chain or V-belt drive.