An Improved Portable Boat, so that it can be read for and quickly To for Use.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 27th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Boat, so Jointed in all its Parts that it can
be readily Taken to Pieces for Carriage and quickly Put Together
again for Use.
I, FREDERICK ROOME, of Arrow Lodge, Alcester, in the County of Warwick,
General in Her Majesty's Indian Army, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
I first construct of wood the several principal parts, which when put together,
form what may be called the "skeleton of the boat, selecting woods for this
purpose either of a flexible nature or of a rigid one, according to the requirements
which the particular parts have to fulfil. These principal parts are in all cases
composed of short lengths, capable of being jointed together for the purposes of
elongation, or of attachment where required, and I may accomplish these ends by
any of the means in ordinary use for temporarily joining wood work, though I
prefer for the elongation of such parts as require it, a system of scarfing.
To illustrate the nature of my invention by an example-Let it be supposed
that the portable boat to be constructed shall measure from prow to stern ten feet,
shall have a flat bottom of about eight feet in length, shall measure about three
feet amidships, and be capable of being packed in a bag and carried upon the
shoulders.
Now the principal parts of the skeleton of such a boat made in accordance with
my invention, may be described as consisting of the stem and stern posts, and the
upper and lower side-frames, while the secondary parts consist of side uprights
between the upper and lower side-frames, and horizontal stays extending between
the respective sides of the lower frame.
The stem and stern posts, which are made of a rigid wood, I form exactly alike
in all respects, each one being about one foot two inches in length, flat-sided, and
in thickness about one inch and one-quarter, and pierced with two holes, one near
the top and the other near the bottom, to allow of the passage of a screw-pin.
And the upper and lower side-frames are made in precisely the same manner,
one as the other, but of a wood that is light, strong, and flexible, such as ash or
hickory. These side-frames are, in diameter, about one inch and one-quarter, and
each is composed of three or more lengths capable of being attached to each other,
for the purpose of elongation, by any system of scarfing, or by other known means
of temporarily joining lengths of wood together; and the upper side-frames, when
put together, shall form a whole length sufficient to extend between the respective
stem and stern posts at the distance apart of ten feet, as stated; about eight feet
being a sufficient whole length for the lower side-frames. The different parts or
lengths of the upper and lower side-frames are bent, each to its proper curve, by
the steaming, or other known process, and the parts of the lower side-frames are
stained of a distinctive colour to facilitate their selection for the purpose of putting
the boat together for use.
The end pieces of the respective upper and lower side-frames have, however,
an especial feature, inasmuch as where they are to be attached to the stem
and stern posts, these ends have a somewhat elongated flat "nosing," pierced with
hole for the passage of a screw-pin.
A screw-pin is also passed through the flat of the scarfing where this system is

page_text: employed, and in all cases the screw-pins are provided with nuts, by means of
which the joints can be brought closely and held firmly together. Where the
rowlocks, however, pass through the scarfing, the screw-pin is not necessary, since
these rowlocks, being made of rod, metal, are passed through a screw plate on the
scarfing of the upper side-frames, and have a screw-nut appliance which holds them
firmly in place on the lower.
In the upper and lower side-frames are also cut mortices to receive the tenons of
the uprights, which are flat strips of strong wood pierced at top and bottom with
holes for the passage of the screw-pins which hold them in place when fixed,
and these uprights when they approach either end of the boat in position, are
somewhat longer than those in the middle, since the stem and stern of the boat are
somewhat higher than this is amidships. It is also provided that two opposite
uprights shall be so arranged as to come, in position, directly under the rowing
seat or seats.
And the horizontal stays which extend across the bottom of the boat underneath
the flooring, are also strips of strong wood, having hooked or forked terminations
fitting on to the lower side-frames.
And the above describel parts of the skeleton of the boat are put together in
the following manner.
The several lengths of the upper and lower side-frames being scarfed together
and secured in the joints with screw pins and nuts, the tenons of the uprights are
inserted in their mortices, and similarly fastened. The upper and lower side-
frames are then fixed to the stem and stern posts by screw-pins passed through
these and the respective flat nosings.on the ends of the side-frames, on the lower
pair of which are fixed by the books or forks above mentioned the horizontal stays.
The rowlocks are then screwed into their place and the skeleton of the boat is
complete.
I then lay down the flooring: this is formed by sewing, or otherwise affixing,
strips of wood or cane upon canvas, or webbing, cut to the shape of the bottom of
the boat. This make of flooring can, when not wanted for use be rolled up for
package, in the same manner as can some kinds of table-mats.
And to give greater buoyancy to the boat, I attach around the upper frame of it,
inside, an air-tight india rubber tube, which can be inflated in the same manner as
are the tyres of pneumatic cycles.
To the body of the boat, now complete in other respects, I next attach the
covering for the bottom and sides. This covering I make of a sheet of mackintosh,
or other waterproof material, cutting it to shape and sewing it up at each end,
stem and stern. The sides, however, are left loose, like a flap, to hang over the
upper side-frames and the airtight tube, just mentioned, inside the boat, and I keep
this covering firmly in place by passing a cord alternately through eyelet holes in
the flap, and under inverted hooks fastened on to the lower frame. Slots are of
course provided in the proper places to allow of the passing through of the rowlock
heads.
The seat I construct of light strong wood (say three-quarter inch plank) and if
intended for the widest part of the boat, it will be nearly three feet in length, and
nine inches in width. This seat is hung upon the upper side-frames by means of
two metal hooks at each end which clasp upon the frames. These hooks may be
so hinged as to allow of their folding down upon the seat, for the greater convenience
of package; and if any additional seats be wanted, they may be constructed in a
similar manner.
I also provide a stretcher, which can be fixed, at any convenient distance, upon
the lower frame. It is made of wood with metal ends which fit into rope loops, or
other appliance.
The same system of jointing and disjointing connections is applied to the paddles
as well as to the boat itself; these paddles, which are about five feet and six
inches in length, having a screw joint situate about half way between the extreme
length of the paddle.

page_text: Thus it will be seen that by the above described method, I construct a boat, the
parts of which can be readily jointed together to form a craft (in the example; of
ten feet in length) and which can, when not required for use, be quickly taken to
pieces for carriage, and its several parts, with paddles and seats, be packed together
in a bag, which may be provided with shoulder-straps, so that the whole can be
carried upon the back like a knapsack.
Dated this 25th day of March 1895.
FRED. ROOME,
General, C.B.
An Improved Portable Boat, so Jointed in all its Parts that it can
be readily Taken to Pieces for Carriage and quickly Put Together
again for Use.
I, FREDERICK ROOME, of Arrow Lodge, Alcester in the County of Warwick,
General in Her Majesty's Indian Army do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I first construct of wood the several principal parts which when put together
form what may be called the skeleton" of the boat, selecting woods for this
purpose either of a flexible nature or of a rigid one according to the requirements
which the particular parts have to fulfil. These principal parts are in all cases
composed of short lengths, capable of being jointed together for the purposes of
elongation or of attachment when required and I may accomplish these ends by any
of the means in ordinary use for temporarily jointing woodwork, though I prefer
for the elongation of such parts as require it,.a system of scarfing.
To illustrate the nature of my invention by an example. Let it be supposed
that the portable boat to be constructed shall measure from prow to stern ten feet,
shall have a flat bottom of about eight feet in length, shall measure about three feet
amidships and be capable of being packed in a bag and carried upon the shoulders.
Now the principal parts of the skeleton of such a boat made in accordance with
my invention may be described as consisting of the stem and stern posts and the
upper and lower side frames, while the secondary parts consist of side uprights
between the upper and lower side frames and horizontal stays extending between
the stem and stern posts and the respective sides of the lower side frames.
The stem and stern posts which are made of a rigid wood, I form exactly alike
in all respects each one being about.one foot two inches in length, flat sides and in
thickness about one inch and one quarter and pierced with two holes one near
the top and the other near the bottom to allow of the passage of a screw pin.
And the upper and lower side frames are made in precisely the same manner one
as the other, but of a wood that is light, strong and flexible, such as ash or hickory,
or for some climates, bamboo cane. These side frames are in diameter about one
inch and one quarter, and each is composed of three or more lengths capable of
being attached to each other for the purpose of elongation by any system of
scarfing or by ferrules or other known means of temporarily joining lengths of wood
together; and the upper side frames when put together, shall form a whole length
sufficient to extend between the respective stem and stern posts at the distance
apart of ten feet, as stated; about eight feet being a sufficient whole length for
the lower side frames. The different parts or lengths of the upper and lower side
frames are bent, each to its proper curve, by the steaming or other known process
of bending wood, and the parts of the lower side frames are stained of a distinctive
colour to facilitate their selection for the purpose of putting the boat together
for use.

page_text: The end pieces of the upper and lower side frames may however, have an
especial feature, inasmuch as when they are to be attached to the stem and stern
posts by one system of attachment which I may adopt these ends have a somewhat
elongated flat "nosing" pierced with a hole for the passage of a screw pin.
And the purpose of this will be seen by referring to Fig. 1. In this A represents
the top of a stem or of a stern post; and BC end portions of the side frames
either upper or lower, and D D the flat nosing at their extremities, while E denotes
the screw pin which passes through the three pieces of wood and holds them
together. As it is desirable to avoid the loss of anything necessary to construction
this screw pin like others used for this same purpose may be provided with a swivel
and short light chain by which it may be attached to some part of the framework
of the boat where its use is required.
Or when the current or disposition of the water upon which the boat has to be
used, requires a firmer mode of attaching the side frames to the stem or stern post
I may cause to be cut out of sheet metal a form resembling that of the letter T but
with elongated arms. The upright member of the T form I affix permanently
with screws to the inner side of the stem or stern post, and then the arms of the
T form being suitably curved inwards I attach them to the inner side of either side
frame by screw pins.
Or I may attach the ends of the side frames to either stem or stern post by
providing the ends of the side frames with slide bolts shooting into a common barrel
either fixed upon the stem or stern post or bored in them as shown in Fig. 2
wherein A. denotes the top of a stem or stern post; BC the ends of a side frame;
DD the slide bolts affixed, and E¹ the common barrel into which they shoot and
this method of attachment I prefer inasmuch as there are no loose pieces to get
mislaid or to be lost in packing or unpacking.
And the ends and curves of the side frames may be somewhat altered so as to
suit any of these kinds of attachment.
Where a system of scarfing is employed to connect the lengths of the side frames
screwpins of the kind before mentioned are passed through the scarfing as shown in
Fig. 3 which represents the kind of scarfing which I prefer. In this A and B
denote parts of two lengths which have to be scarfed together, and C C two screw
pins provided with nuts by means of which the joints are brought closely and firmly
together. In case however that the rowlocks pass through this scarfing these
screw pins are unnecessary, since the uprights of these rowlocks being made of rod
metal are passed through a screw plate on the scarfing of the upper side frames,
and have a screw nut appliance which holds them firmly in place in the lower and
this binds the scarfing together.
I may, however in place of the above described system of scarfing, use ordinary
ferrule joints such as are used for temporarily connecting the several lengths of a
fishing rod, and where bamboo or a cane of a similar kind is used for the side frames
this system is preferable.
In the upper side frames are also cut mortices to receive the tenons of the
uprights, which are flat strips of strong wood, and these uprights when they approach
in position either end of the boat, are somewhat longer than those in the middle
since the stem and stern of the boat are somewhat higher than this is amidships.
It may also be provided that two opposite uprights shall be arranged so as to come
in position directly under the rowing seat, or seats, for the purpose of support.
The mortices mentioned in the preceding paragraph I line with sheet metal, say
brass, and the tenons of the uprights are "shod" with the same material, to prevent
any inconvenience which might arise from the expansion of the wood if it should
get damp or wet, and in place of a mortice and tenon arrangement for the lower
part of the upright I prefer to attach this to one of the lengths of the lower side
frame by a brass hinge, since this allows the upright to be folded down and yet be
kept in connection with the part of the boat where it is required for use.
And the horizontal stays which extend across the bottom of the boat above the
flooring instead of underneath it, as stated in my Provisional Specification are also

page_text: strips of strong wood having hooked or forked terminations, or other simple means
of fitting on to the lower side frames. The foregoing parts constitute the skeleton
of the boat.
The flooring form by sewing or otherwise affixing strips of wood or cane upon
canvas or webbing cut to the shape of the bottom of the boat. This make a
flooring can, when not wanted for use, be rolled up for package, in the same manner
as can some kinds of table mats.
And to give greater buoyancy to the boat I provide an air tight india rubber
tube which can be inflated in the same manner as are the tyres of pneumatic cycles,
and this I attach around the upper frame of the boat, inside.
I also provide a covering for the bottom and sides of the boat. This covering
I make of a sheet of mackintosh or other waterproof material, cutting it to the
shape and sewing it up at each end, stem and stern. The sides, however are left
loose like a flap to hang over the upper side frames and the air tight tube before
mentioned as running round the upper frame of the boat inside. And this covering
I keep firmly in place and by means of it the whole boat compact, by passing a
cord alternately through eyelet holes in the flap, and under inverted hooks fastened
on to the lower side frame. Slots are of course provided in the proper places to
allow of the passing through of the rowlock heads.
Having now described the parts which constitute the skeleton of the boat and
also other parts which pertain to the body of the same I will explain how they are
to be put together. The several lengths of the upper and lower side frames being
scarfed together and secured in the joints with screw pins and nuts, or otherwise
connected by means of ferrule joints, the tenons of the uprights are inserted in their
mortices. The upper and lower side frames are then fixed to the stem and stern posts
by screw pins passed through these and the respective flat nosings on the ends of the
side frames, or otherwise secured to these by one of the systems before described.
Having thus put together the skeleton of the boat I lay down the covering, and
upon this place the flooring and to this adjust the skeleton. I then insert between
the stem and stern posts and upon the flooring, the longitudinal stay namely, the
one which runs lengthways of the boat, and then cross this with the latitudinal stay
or stays, which extend between the sides, and having attached the inflated india rubber
tube round the upper side frame draw up the waterproof covering until the flaps of
it hang down inside the boat. I then pass the cord alternately through the eyelets
in the flap, and under the inverted hooks fixed on the lower side frame and by
drawing this "taut" brace the whole boat compactly together.
Fig. 4 represents one half of a boat made in accordance with my invention. In
this illustration the waterproof covering is removed from the part of the side
nearest to the view, and therefore discloses one half side of the framework or
skeleton, while the opposite half side shows the manner in which the waterproofing
is secured inside the boat.
In this fig. A denotes what may be either a stem or a stern post since one half of
the boat is the counterpart of the other. B and B are lengths of the upper side
frame scarfed together in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and connected with the stem
or stern post in the manner illustrated in Fig 1. C and C2 lengths of the lower
side frame connected in the same manner. D one of the uprights hinged at E to
the part C, F. F. is the longitudinal stay and G the latitudinal one while
HH denotes the flooring of strips of wood or cane.
On the opposite half side of the boat I I I I denote the flaps of the waterproof
covering brought over the upper side frame and kept "taut" by the cord KK
which passes alternately through eyelet holes in the flap and under hooks fixed on
the lower side frame, M M the rowlock heads.
And here I may state that I prefer to use rowlock heads only, for a boat of this
size, since the rod part is unnecessary as an upright, and by dispensing with it I gain
lightness. These rowlock heads are of course screwed or otherwise affixed to the
upper side frame.
I have now to describe the accessories which are necessary for such a boat. The

page_text: seat I construct of light strong wood (say three quarter inch plank) and if intended
for the widest part of the boat it will be nearly three feet in length and nine inches
in width. This seat is hung upon the upper side frames by means of two metal
hooks at each end which clasp upon the frames. These hooks may be so hinged
as to allow of their folding down upon or underneath the seat, for the greater
convenience of package; and if additional seats be wanted they may be constructed
in a similar manner.
For the convenience of package I also apply the system of jointing and disjointing
to the paddles, these paddles which are about five feet and six inches in length,
having a screw joint situate about half way between their extreme length.
Thus it will be seen that by the above described method, I construct a boat the
parts of which can be readily put together for use, forming a craft in the example
of ten feet in length and which can when not required for use be quickly taken to
pieces and its several parts, with paddles and seat be packed up in a bag which may
be provided with shoulder straps so that the whole may be carried upon the back
like a knapsack, while larger boats of the same make can be packed in a saddle
bag and slung across the back of a horse.
And a boat made in accordance with my invention is applicable for the purposes
of fishing, the pursuit of water fowl, for exploring expeditions and for military
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
The above described method of constructing a boat which can readily be taken
to pieces and quickly put together again for use, the whole weight of which when
packed shall not exceed that which can be carried by a porter or a packhorse, or
by ordinary means of conveying packages on journeys.
100
Signed
FRED. ROOME,
General, C.B.
on behalf of Fred. Roome, General, C.B.,
By J. M. Woodward.