When raising the
sail it was first partly hoisted, then the sprit was hooked in the loop
and the snotter, after which the throat halyard was drawn taut. Then the
snotter was pulled up the mast as far as it would go, flattening out the
sail. The jib-sail was made out of the large corner piece left when
cutting the mainsail. The dimensions of the jib-sail are given in Fig.
194. It was such a small sail that no boom was used with it. In place of a
rudder the steering oar had to be used. This was made of a rake handle
with a large trowel blade fastened to the end of it. The sharp blade cut
into the ice, and so steered the scow when it was running as an ice boat,
and in the water the blade offered sufficient resistance to act as a
rudder.
[Illustration: Fig. 193. The Snotter.]
[Illustration: Fig. 194. Jib-sail of Scooter Scow.]
Scooter Sailing.
But to return to our sail home to Lamington, we were not out on the open
water long before the current carried us back to the ice ledge. Reddy
jumped off and soon returned with the steering oar; then we proceeded on
our way homeward, now in the water and now on ice. Once or twice the scow
was unable to climb out of the water, because she had not sufficient
headway, and was clumsy and heavy with four boys aboard.
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