AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING ROWLOCKS, CRUTCHES, AND THOWLS TO ALL DESCRIP- TIONS OF BOATS AND CRAFT PROPELLED BY OARS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Furrell at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th May 1866.
I, FREDERICK FURRELL, of Eastgate, Rochester, in the County of Kent,
Shipowner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING ROWLOCKS, CRUTCHES, AND THOWLS TO ALL DESCRIP-
TIONS OF BOATS AND CRAFT PROPELLED BY OARS," to be as follows:-
1. I take two plates of metal or wood or metal and wood combined in
an oblong form' proportioned to the size of the boat to which this Invention is
to be applied.
2. These plates, herein-after described as the oblong plates, are affixed
together at each end by a cross plate of the same material and of such form
so as not to interfere with the quarter revolution herein-after described,
and the said oblong plates are placed at a sufficient distance from each other
so as to admit of the rowlocks, crutches, or thowls revolving between them as
hereafter specified. By the above combination of plates a kind of box will
be formed; a box cast in the shape and form above described by the com-
bination of the said plates will answer the purpose equally well.
3. I then take a bar of iron or wood with one end somewhat thicker than
the other, provided with holes for the purposes herein-after set out, and of
such length in proportion to the two plates that it can revolve between the

page_text: two plates when fastened; the bar is then placed horizontally between the
two plates, and revolves on a pin passed through the thick end of the same,
and which said pin is affixed to that part of the said oblong plates, so that
when the said bar makes the required quarter revolution, as herein-after
described, one end of the said bar is level with the top of the said oblong
plates.
4. The rowlock, crutch, or thowls to be fixed to the said bar in manner
hereafter described must be of such a form that that side of the rowlock,
crutch, or thowls pointing towards the bow of the boat when depressed, by the
quarter revolution hereafter described, shall be on a level with the top of
the said oblong plates. The rowlock, crutch, or thowls so to be fixed do not
form any part of my Invention.
5. The rowlock, crutch, or thowls of the form above described are flxed
and secured to the said bar through a hole provided for the purpose through
the thicker end of the said bar and running at right angles with the surface
of the said bar by pins or screws, and which said rowlock, crutch, or thowls
can turn in the said hole or be made fast as required; the said rowlock,
crutch, or thowls can be removed if required,
6. To prevent the said bar from being depressed and to support the pressure
of the bar in rowing or in backing water a sliding bolt is fixed to the thinner
end of the said bar underneath, which slides through a space cut through
the cross plate nearest the said thinner end of the said bar corresponding to
the size of the said moveable bolt,
7. When the said sliding bolt is withdrawn from the said space in the
cross plate as above described the said rowlock, crutch, or thowls so affixed to
the said bar revolve on the said pin, whereby the rowlock, crutch, or thowls
at one-quarter revolution, when not required for use, will be carried into the
space formed by the two plates as aforesaid, and again by the converse operation
will be raised to the gunwale of the boat,
8. The said plates so affixed together as aforesaid are so let into the
gunwale of the boat and secured to the same that when fixed the top of the
said two oblong plates and the gunwale present one level surface.