Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 25th June,. 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th July, 1888
I, GEORGE FOWLER of No. 9 Southwark Wharf, Bankside London S.E. Shipwright,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a construction of life boat in such a manner as to provide
for safety and convenient accommodation of persons escaping from a vessel in case of
shipwreck, collision or fire.
I make the boat with a flat bottom, providing on it besides the central keel, two
broad keels one at each side consisting mostly of cork secured in wooden framing.
These, besides operating as lee boards when the boat is under sail, give buoyancy, and
should the boat be turned over, the flat bottom with the keels upon it. forms a species
of raft. The boat also can be drawn like a sledge over ice, the keels forming
runners. On each side and at each end of the boat I form a raised bench on which
persons can sit, this bench being formed over a series of watertight tanks or com-
partments, and I line each of those compartments on the side next the outer shell
of. the vessel with cork. Should the side of the boat be accidentally broken
in, only one compartment would be filled with water, the others continuing to
maintain the buoyancy of the boat.
The several compartments may be appro-
priated to stowage of water, provisions and necessaries. Owing to the buoyancy
resulting from the cork used in the keels and in the sides of the compartments,
the floatation of the boat is independent of the displacement of its hull, and con-
sequently the bottom of the boat may have openings through it, to let out such
water as may wash in over the gunwale.
I provide mast and sails which may be rigged up when necessary. I provide also
an awning and supports for it, arranging this awning in such a way that rain falling
on it flows by a pipe into one of the tanks to supply fresh water.
I also make the thwarts easily removeable, and I line the underside of each with
cork and attach it to the boat by a rope of some length. These thwarts can be thrown
overboard to serve as life buoys for rescue of persons swimming or floating, who can
cling to them and can be drawn on board.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Life Boats.
1, GEORGE FOWLER, of No. 9 Southwark Wharf, Bankside, London, S.E., Ship-
wright, 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, reference being also had to the accompanying two sheets of
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan of a life boat constructed according to my invention, and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a sectional elevation drawn on
line A. B. Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross section drawn on line C. D. Figure 3 ; and
Figure 5 is a cross section drawn on line E. F. Figure 3. Figure 6 represents the
under side, and Figure 7 an end view of one of the thwarts, Figure 8 is a plan of the
bottom of a boat according to my invention, and Figure 9 represents an elevational
view of part of a boat with an awning rigged.
In carrying out my invention I produce a boat A having a flat bottom a and
provided with, in addition to the ordinary keel B, two broad keels C, C1, Figure 8,
arranged one on each side thereof constructed of cork c, encased in a wooden framing.
These supplementary keels C, C₁, whilst acting as lee boards when the boat is under
sail, serve also to give increased buoyancy thereto, and in the event of the boat
capsizing and turning over, the flat bottom a thereof with the keels upon it serves as
a kind of raft. A watertight compartment or locker D is provided at each end of the
boat for the stowage of sails, ropes and other requisites. On each side, and at each
end of the boat, I form a number of water tight tanks or compartments E, E¹, E",
the covers of which form a raised bench or seat for the convenience of the occupants.
The hull of the boat within the watertight compartment, is lined between the ribs
thereof with cork as shown at d Figures 4 and 5; a cork lining is also introduced
beneath the flooring as shown at e Figures 1 and 4.
In the event of the boat being accidentally stove in at any part of the side thereof,
only one compartment would take the water, the other compartments continuing to
maintain the buoyancy of the boat. The several compartments E, E¹, E" above
mentioned may be utilized for the stowage of fresh water, provisions, charts and other
necessaries.
A mast and sails are provided which may be rigged and set as occasion may require.
I also provide an awning F and suitable supports therefor, arranging said awning
in such a manner that rain falling upon it may be conducted through a tube G
.secured thereto, to the tank E", provided for the reception and preservation of fresh
water.
The thwarts Figures 6 and 7 which I employ in my improved life boat are made
readily removable; and, being lined on the under side with cork as shown at g are
specially applicable for use as life buoys, and from their extreme buoyancy would
easily sustain the weight of more than one person. In order to prevent the risk of
the thwarts being washed away, they are attached to the boat by lines of some length,

page_text: thus enabling the person clinging to the thwarts being drawn towards the boat into
which the rescued person could then be assisted.
A small binnacle H is fitted in a convenient position near the steersman, and a
pump I is also provided to draw off any water that may accumulate in the bottom of
the boat and which cannot escape by way of the apertures or openings h; said
apertures being fitted with clack valves, so arranged as to allow of the egress of
water, while preventing the ingress thereof. The bead or striking band J fixed
arround the boat is preferably hollowed to allow of the fingers of a person clinging
thereto obtaining a firm grip, and thus diminishing the risk of drowning by slipping
back into the water from exhaustion.
Life lines K are also provided, attached in the usual manner. Owing to the
buoyancy of my improved life boat resulting from the cork c used in the supple-
mentary keels C, C, and the cork linings d and e in the sides of the compartments E
and beneath the flooring, the floatation of the boat is independent of the displacement
of the hull, and consequently the water which would be shipped over the gunwale in
a tempestuous sea, would flow out through the openings formed as above mentioned
in the bottom of the boat.
A boat constructed as above described according to my invention is also applicable
for use as an ice boat or sledge to be sailed or drawn over the ice, the supplementary
keels in such case serving as runners.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. In a life boat, the combination therewith and adaptation thereto of two
supplementary keels C, C₁, formed of cork encased in a wooden framing, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
3
2nd. In the improved life boat herein described the application thereto of lining
of cork substantially as herein set forth and shown.
3rd. In a life boat, the employment of removable thwarts lined with cork on
underside, and attached to the boat by long lines, substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth.
4th. In life boats the adaptation to the apertures 1, of non-return valves to allow of
the outflow of water substantially as herein set forth.
5th. In a life boat the adaptation to the exterior thereof of a hollow bead or striking
band, substantially as and the purpose herein set forth.
6th. In the improved life boat above referred to the employment of an awning
having an aperture formed therein to which latter is adapted a conduit to allow of the
collection and preservation of rain water substantially as herein set forth.
7th. The improved life boat substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty first day of June 1888.
JAMES
STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.