Improvements in the Construction of Boats.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1898-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Boats.
We, HENRY ALONZO HOUSE, Senior, of East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Mechanical
Engineer, and ROBERT RINTOUL SYMON, of 20 Abchurch Lane, in the City of London,
Gentleman, do heroby 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of boats and wore
particularly to the construction of the hulls thereof.
The object of the invention is to insure an absolutely water tight joint between
the strakes or planks forming the hull without necessitating the calking of the seams
thereof.
In the accompanying drawings, and in which like letters of reference indicato
corresponding parts."
Figuro 1 is a transvorse vertical sectional view of the hull of a boat constructed in
accordance with our invention, the left hand half of the figure representing a half
section taken near the end of the boat, and the right hand half of the figure
representing a half section taken at or near the middle of the length of the boat.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the means of securing the strakes or planks
together.
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the formation of the edges of the
strokes or plunks.
Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views showing modified means of securing the strakes
or planks together.
Figure 6 is a detail end view of one of the strakes or planks.
The bull of a boat is represented in the drawings as formed of the strakes or
planks 1. These planks may be formed perfectly straight or they may be tapered
towards their ends to compensate for the difference in the section lines at the stern,
middle or bow of the boat.
The edges 2, 3 of the strakes or planks 1 are formed substantially in the shape of
ogee or compound curves which extend in a diagonal direction from the outer faces
of the strakes or planks to the inner faces thereof, so that when the planks are brought
together, the convex and concave portions 4, 5 of the edges of the planks will match
or fit respectively into the concave and convex portions of the contiguous plauk,
theroby forming a colose union between them. It will bo noted that by forming the
planks 1 with diagonal edges, a much broader joint is obtained than would be if the
edges were at right angles to the faces of the planks.
The strakes or planks 1 may be secured together in any suitable manner as by
nails, rivets, bolts, and so forth, or, as shown in Figure 4 they may be held together
by means of a strip 6 of metal or other suitable material, which covers the seam and
is secured to the edges of the opposing plauks. The preferred manner of securing
the strakes or planks is, however, by means of rivets ? inserted diagonally through
the edge of one plank from the outer face thereof and through the edge of the
adjacent plank to its inner face. It will be observed that the direction assumed by
the rivets is substantially at right angles to the direction or the curved edges of the
planks, thereby tending to draw the edges of the planks closely together and insuro
a close union of such edges.
The particular formation of the edges of the planks or strakes 1 makes it possible
for said planks to conform to any desired section of a boat or to different sections in

page_text: the same boat, thus dispensing with the necessity of beveling the edges of each plank
separately, it being obvious that a close joint between the planks may be secured
regardless of the angle which the planks assume with respect to each other.
It will be noted that the opposite edges of the strakes or planks 1 are identical in
contour, which makes it possible to reverse the planks should it be desirable to do so
for any reason.
When one of the planks is adjusted to a sharp angle with respect to the preceding
plank, a slight separation of the outer edges of the planks occurs, and the space
between these edges may be left open; but if it is desired to impart a smooth exterior
surface to the boat, the said space may be filled with a suitable packing as at 8.
This packing, however, does not enter into the formation of the joint, or add to its
effectiveness, as the joint is formed by drawing the contacting curved faces of the
strakes or planks tightly together. It will be observed that when arranged as above
described, the faces of the planks are not flush with one another at their edgos, and
that the faces of some planks project beyond the faces of the preceding or succeeding
plank. This may be remedied by planing the faces of the projecting planks until
they are flush with those of the contiguous ones, thereby imparting an unbroken
contour and more finished appearance to the hull.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
clain is :-
1. A boat made of planks the edges of which conform substantially to ogee ourves
adapted to fit into one another substantially as described.
2. A boat made of planks, provided with edges which conform substantially to ogee
curves, and suitable securing devices passing through the adjacent edges of the planks
from one face to the other, substantially as described.
3. A boat made of planks provided with edges which substantially conform to ogee
curves, and extend in a diagonal direction with respect to the faces of the plank, and
means for securing the planks together, substantially as described.
4. A boat made of planks provided with edges which substantially conform to
ogee curves and extend in a diagonal direction with respect to the face of the plank,
and securing devices which pass through the edges of adjacent planks at right angles,
to the surfaces of the said edges at the parts where such securing devices pass through
them, substantially as described.
5. A boat plank or strake provided with edges which substantially conform to ogee
curves, substantially as described.
6. A boat plank provided with edges which substantially conform to ogee curves
and are diagonal with respect to the faces of the plank, substantially as described.
Dated this 21 of Amil 1900
H. A. HOUSE,
R. R. SYMON,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.