IMPROVEMENTS IN ROWING BOATS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROWING BOATS" A communication from Wilhelm August Rettig of Berlin, German
Empire, Architect, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The improvements hereinafter set forth are mainly the omission of all transverse
ribs and transverse partitions touching the outer skin of a racing boat or connected
therewith; moreover the substitution for the ribs of braces and ties passing freely
through hull or body in connection with a stiffening plate covering the whole
well or interior of the boat; furthermore substitution for the transverse partitions
serving to close in the covered ends or points of the boat of waterproof cases or
boxes inserted into the openings in the stiffening for the legs of the oarsmen
provided in the stiffening plate.
In the accompanying drawings is shown in Figure 1 the plan of a racing boat.
Figure 2 longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3. a transverse section on A, B. of figure 2 and at the parts a a through
the bow of the boat covered with varnished fabric or the like.
Figure 4 transverse section on C. D figure 2 through the parts b b.
Figure 5 a transverse section on line E F figure 2 through parts c. c.
Figure 6 a transverse section on G H figure 2 through the parts & d.
The three principal ribs or stays of a racing boat, viz the two side-pieces S and
the keel K (figure 5) have heretofore been connected by transverse ribs placed at
distances of about 30 c/m apart and upon these the outer skin M of light bent wood
used to be nailed or rivetted.
Under the alternate effects of dryness and damp, this skin or cover will, most
careful varnishing notwithstanding, shrink or expand in the direction of its width
which the ribs made from wood cut lengthwise or bent, can not follow.-When the
weather is damp, the walls or skin between the ribs bulge outwards and the parts
riveted on the ribs appear like sunk seams whilst in dry weather the ribs project
outward and the skin sinks in between them.

page_text: That the transverse corrugations thus repeated about 40 times on a racing boat
increase the friction on the water and are unsuitable for and objectionable in a
racing boat constructed for the sole object of attaining a maximum speed, needs no
proof.
Now the omission of transverse ribs and walls has for its object to obviate all
contact between the outer skin and wood the fibre of which does not lie in the
same direction with that of the outer wall and which consequently does not shrink
and expand similarly with the same so that the skin has free play in the direction
of its width.
These casings may consist of wood, metal compressed paper, water proof fabric
or any convenient material.
The object of substituting braces and ties passing through the boat in connection
with a stiffening plate V figures 1 and 5 has for its object to reproduce the
stiffness of the boat lost by omission of the ribs by as firmly connecting as possible
the two side pieces or gunwales with one another and with the keel.
The object of replacing the transverse partitions serving for tightly closing the
bows, covered with varnished fabric or the like, by cases or boxes placed into
apertures in the stiffening plates is, to enclose the interior of the boat so as to
make it water-proof without however requiring the skin to be touched.
The direct rigid connection of the keel and bows is obtained as follows.
Upon main ribs ✗ passing through the space (figures 1 and 5) which carry the
Outriggers there is rivetted a thin vertical plate of wood y (fig 5) which extends to
nearly the lower edge of the keel The connecting piece z is rivetted to the main
rib and attached to the keel by a wood screw.
At all the points at which the main ribs X are absent as at a a in the bows and
at ff and d d under the seats a horizontal beam B. is provided from which the
vertical support m extends to the keel.
A tie consisting in a metal strip e, fig. 6 drawn through the keel and nailed to
that as well as to the gunwales pulls the whole bracing together. In this manner
the keel and gunwales are rigidly united and so as not to be able of movement
relatively to one another in such a manner that the skin attached along their
edges can not vary in shape under the influence of the forces acting upon the boat
during the rowing.
In a Boat of this construction influence of the weather will be able to affect the
sectional shape only as a whole so as to make the Boat move bellying or more flat
in the direction of length however the Boat always maintains a smooth surface.
The boxes or casings J J (figures 1. 2 and 4) for accommodating the legs of the
occupants of the Boat are composed of say three pieces h i j k h¹¹ j¹ k₁ &c each
being preferably a part of a cylinder. They meet at any convenient angle, and are
closely connected with the horizontal stiffening plate V figs 1. 2 and 4 so as to
make a tight joint therewith. The central piece (i) rests upon the keel and is
attached by a little ledge or strip so that a false bottom is formed at that
part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
In the construction of Boats chiefly for racing purposes
1. The substitution for the transverse ribs, heretofore used for Boats of a
sufficient number of stays or braces x y z and metal strips e e which so connect the
keel with the gunwales or sides, that a firm frame is formed upon which the skin
may freely and without hindrance expand and contract according to temperature
and moisture substantially as specified.
2. The employment of separate waterproof casings or boxes J J for receiving the
legs of the occupants of the Boat said casings being held merely by the keel and
the stiffening plate V so that contact of these casings with the skin is likewise
avoided substantially as specified.
.

page_text: 3. In combination with the improvements described in Claims 1 and 2 the
employment of a stout horizontal stiffening plate V which imparts rigidity to the
Boat in all directions but particularly lengthwise the said plate being provided
where the seats are placed with recesses to the edges of which the casings J J are
fitted substantially as specified.
Dated thin 10th day of November 1001.