IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS AND EQUIPMENTS OF AND ATTACHMENTS TO THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Frederick Coombs at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1883.
HENRY FREDERICK COOMBS, of the City of Charlottetown, in the County of
Queen's, in the Province of Prince Edward's Island, in the Dominion of Canada,
Merchant, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS AND EQUIPMENTS OF
AND ATTACHMENTS TO THE SAME
My improvements consist in constructing a metallic boat having a double hull,
the external one being formed in two longitudinal halves, each half formed by
pressing or shaping it between suitable dies of any desired shape in one or more
operations, and uniting the two halves by means of rivets, bolts or solder along &
continuous flange formed from stem to stern, a vertical longitudinal plate reaching
from stem to stern being placed between the two flanges to strengthen the boat, or
the said plate may be formed with a flange which is secured to the bottom of the
boat. To the upper and outside edge of this hull I secure a hollow gunwale
consisting of a tube of any desired cross section. To this exterior-shell or bull I
secure an interior tight shell by means of ribs, consisting of metallic strips secured
to the exterior shell, the spaces between the ribs forming air tight compartments,
and the top edge of the two shells being united by a continuous strip of plate. At
the bow and stern of the boat I form an air chamber having a rounded top and
its end extending any desired distance in the boat, being formed of upward slanting
cross bulk heads having the edges securely fastened to the shell. I also place in
the boat three longitudinal metal tubes, having their ends secured in sockets, the
sockets at one end being made with a hinge and locking device to allow of easy
and quick removal of the tubes, the space between the interior edge of the
gunwale and the outside tubes being filled and fitted with pieces of wedge shaped
cork,
I provide the boat with thwarts in the usual way, also oars, rowlocks and pipes
to carry off water that may wash in. To the outside bottom of the boat I secure
rods, ropes or equivalents, to enable persons to hold themselves and climb upon
the boat should the same capsize. I further fit the boat with water tight bread
and water vessels, consisting of boxes secured under the thwarts and fitting

page_text: closely to the shell of the boat, the bread box being provided with a suitable screw
cap, and the water tank with stopper and tap. These vessels being held in their
places by two rods secured at one end to the edge of the thwart and at the other
by a socket fitted to the bottom of the boat.
Instead of the water tight compartiments at the bow and stern, compartments
not water tight may be used to hold bags of air tight material and of suitablo
shape, provided with suitable serew-caps and tubes with valves, for inflating the
same with air, and also holding, if desired, cork shavings or refuse cork. The
inner sides, of the boat above and below the thwarts may be further fitted with
air tight tubes of india rubber or other suitable material provided at one end with.
a screw cap to facilitate their being filled with cork and inflated with air.
My improved rowlock consists of the usual oar-bed upon a stern which is
adjustable in a socket by means of a set screw.
The keel of my improved boat may have added additional plates of any desired
weight to make the boat self-righting.