lateen sail, but is set differently, the lower part of the main-sail of a sliding-gunter being laced to the mast, whereas the whole of a lateen sail, from peak to tack, is laced to a long yard. The sliding-gunter has a short mast, but a long pointed yard, the upper part of which stands high above the mast, though parallel with it, and is contrived so as to slide up and down the mast by means of two iron travellers, called gunter-irons. Either one, two, or three masts and sails of this rig, may be fitted to a boat. The opposite engraving represents a twomasted sliding-gunter; and such are more commonly used than single-masted. The sliding-gunter is one of the safest rigs possible for open boats, and for general convenience it is almost unequalled; and this probably accounts for its being a favourite rig for first-class ships' boats. And it is, besides, one by which the sails may be quickly set and as quickly furled : the masts being low, they are very convenient for unshipping, in case of using the boat for rowing; reefing this sail is also easily and effectively accomplished, the widest part, or that having the greatest pressure on the boat, being shortened to such an extent, that two reefs will generally take up nearly half the sail. No better rig can be used for open boats in bad weather; and in fine weather, no rig looks prettier for a pleasure-boat than a two-masted sliding-gunter. The sail should be well peaked up, and the luff laced close to the mast and yard. The following dimensions and calculations for rigging and fitting a pleasure-boat or ship's pinnace upon this plan may be relied on; they have all been carefully tested, and are therefore appended with confidence, as an accurate guide to any one who may be desirous of fitting out a two-masted boat, of the size stated below, upon the most approved slidinggunter plan. Diameter of main-mast same as fore-mast. Diameter of fore and main yards, 3 inches at the stoutest or lower part; 2 inches at top. The bowsprit may be run through the gammon, in the usual way, and the heel secured as in other boats. The lower ends of the yards, from four feet downwards, should be at least three inches square, tapering gradually from the upper gunter-slide to the heel; the tapering to be on the aft side only, leaving it the same width, but reduced in thickness down to an inch and a half: by this means the sail is brought closer to the mast, and stands better, less gap being left under the yard than when kept of the same substance. The gunter-irons should be covered with leather, or at least the circular part which slides up and down the mast; the square into which the yard is fitted should be of flat iron, one inch deep, with one or two small holes for screws to secure the square for the upper iron should be three inches dia it; meter, the circle five inches the two being connected by a strong short neck, well welded into the other parts; the lower iron must be of the same sized circle, but the square, three inches athwart-ships, and only one and a half inch fore and aft. There is considerable strain upon the neck of the upper gunter-iron; it is therefore very important to have it strong and well made. There should be seven cloths in the foot of the main-sail, six in the fore-sail, and four and a half in the jib, each worked to twenty-two inches. The fore-sail and main-sail should be secured to the yards by a small marline, which answers better than grommets; but from the lower iron of the yard downwards to the tack clew a running lacing is best, and will be found most convenient for casting off when about to trice up the tack; small metal thimbles must be worked into the luff of these sails, to facilitate the working of the ratline, when fitted with a lacing. The brail-rope, if overhauled by a boathook, will serve as a tack tricing line; and the fewer ropes the better: those necessary are,- -a single rope for jib-halliards, which should reeve through a small block hooked to the masthead; fore and main-halliards, which should consist of a single whip-purchase, one inch; and a tye of one and a half or one and three-quarter inch. To one end of the tye a single block must be spliced to receive the whip-purchase, the other end is rove from the fore side through the sheave-hole at the mast-head, passing through the upper ring of the gunter-iron, and round |