It was forever getting twisted, particularly when we tried to make a
landing. There were only a few places along the island where the water was
deep enough to permit our coming right up to shore without striking the
keel. The fastening was not very strong, and every once and awhile it
would be wrenched loose. The matter was made the subject of a special
letter to Uncle Ed, and in due time his answer was received. As usual, he
offered a first-class solution of the difficulty. "Don't use a keel," he
wrote; "lee boards are much better." Then he went on to explain what was
meant by lee boards: "The leeward side of a boat is the opposite of the
windward side; that is, that side of the boat which is sheltered from the
wind. Lee boards, then, are boards which are hung over the lee side of a
boat to prevent it from drifting to leeward, and they serve to take the
place of a keel or centerboard."
[Illustration: Fig. 121. A Lee Board.]
[Illustration: The Indian Canoe Fitted with Lanteen Sail and Lee Boards.]
Following Uncle Ed's direction we fastened a strip of wood across the
canoe about six feet from the bow, nailing it firmly to the gunwales. This
provided a support to which the lee boards were secured.
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