This crosspiece was
a 1-inch board 6 inches wide and 9 feet long. Braces were then run from
the ends of the crosspiece to the forward and rear ends of the backbone,
and at the rear end several boards nailed across the braces served as a
seat for the boat.
[Illustration: Fig. 164. Frame of the Ice Boat.]
[Illustration: Fig. 165. Runner Shoe.]
[Illustration: Fig. 166. The Rudder Shoe.]
Our next task was to rig up the runners. For these we used skates, which
were so arranged that we could remove them whenever we wanted to. Three
blocks of wood were used for the runner shoes. Two of them were cut from a
2 by 4 scantling and measured a foot in length. The third block was only 1
inch thick, but was otherwise of the same dimensions. The skates were laid
face downward on the blocks with the clamping levers open; then we marked
the places where the clamping jaws touched the wood and drilled holes at
these points. The forward end of each block was also tapered off to fit
flat against the face of the skate. Then by inserting the jaws in the
holes and closing the levers, the skate was clamped to the block, just as
it would be to a shoe. The two 2-inch blocks were bolted to the ends of
the crosspiece, but the third block needed further attention, as it was to
be used for the rudder or steering runner.
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