IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS FOR SAILING OR ROWING
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Peter Dormay, of Wandsworth, in the County
of Surrey, James Shirley Aikenhead, of the same Place, Boat Builder,
and Thomas Johnson, of the same Place, Boat Builder, for the Invention
T
Scaled the 4th March 1862, and dated the 30th December 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Peter Dormay,
James Shirley Aikenhead, and Thomas Johnson at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 30th December. 1861.
We, JOHN PETER DORMAY, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey, JAMES
SHIRLEY AIKENHEAD, of the same Place, Boat Builder, and THOMAS JOHNSON,
of the same Place, Boat Builder, severally do hereby declare the nature of
the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOATS FOR SAILING
OR ROWING," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the mode of attaching or
jointing the planking or skin of a sailing or rowing boat, such improved
mode being styled by us "flush clinch work," with bent timbers or ribs
formed by preference in one length or piece from gunwale to gunwale, so as
to obtain great strength combined with extreme lightness and neatness. For.

page_text: this purpose instead of the edges of the planks being put together square, and
then caulked as hitherto practised in building "carvel" boats, each edge of
each plank according to our improvements is bevelled and fitted together, then
nailed and clinched at certain intervals, a washer being placed by preference over
the point of each nail before clinching it, by which means not not only a flush
or smooth skin is obtained to the boat, but great strength, secure joints with-
out caulking, lightness, less resistance in passing through the water, and more
correct outline is obtained, than by the methods in use for this purpose. And in
the application of our improvements to boats of light construction great advan-
tages are derived owing to the facility with which they can be repaired. We
prefer to heat or steam the planks in order to shape or form them to the out-
line of the boat when applying them thereto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Peter Dormay, James Shirley Aikenhead, and Thomas
Johnson, in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 30th June 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
PETER DORMAY, of Wandsworth, in the County of Surrey, JAMES SHIRLEY
AIKENHEAD, of the same Place, Boat Builder, and THOMAS JOHNSON, of the
same Place, Boat Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Peter Dormay, James Shirley Aikenhead, and Thomas Johnson, Her
special licence that we, the said John Peter Dormay, James Shirley Aikenhead,
and Thomas Johnson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said John Peter Dormay, James Shirley Aikenhead, and Thomas
Johnson, our executors, administrator, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF BOATS FOR SAILING OR "ROWING," upon the condition (amongst others) that
we, the said John Peter Dormay, James Shirley Aikenhead, and Thomas
Johnson, our executors or adminstrators, by an instrument in writing under

page_text: our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said. Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Peter Dormay, on behalf of myself
and the said James Shirley Aikenhead, and Thomas Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the mode of attaching
or jointing the planking or skin of a sailing or rowing boat, such improved
mode being styled by us "flush clinch work "with bent timbers or ribs formed
by preference in one length or piece from gunwale to gunwale so as to obtain
great strength, combined with extreme lightness and neatness. For this pur-
pose instead of the edges of the planks being put together square, and then
caulked as hitherto practised in building "carvel" boats, each edge of each
plank according to our improvements is bevilled and fitted together, then nailed
and clinched at certain intervals, a washer being placed by preference over
the point of each nail before clinching it, by which means not only a flush or
smooth skin is obtained to the boat, but great strength, secure joints, without
caulking, lightness, less resistance in passing through the water, and more
correct outline is obtained than by the methods in use for this purpose.
in the application of our improvements to boats of light construction great.
advantages are derived owing to the facility with which they can be repaired.
We prefer to heat or steam the planks in order to shape or form them to the
outline of the boat when applying them thereto.
And
And in order that our Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into practice, we will proceed to describe the means we prefer. to
employ in constructing a boat or vessel according to our improvements,
wherein the joints of the planking are formed with bevilled edges throughout,.
or from stem to stern.
In proceeding to construct a boat or vessel for sailing or rowing according.
to our Invention, we adopt the system well known and practiced in the
building or construction of boats with transverse diagonal planking laid cross-,
ways in opposite directions, and commonly known as "diagonal work "wherein-
the outline or skeleton of the intended boat. is first set up in what is usually
termed the "shadow," upon which the diagonal planking is laid in constructing

page_text: the skin or shell of the boat. For this purpose, the keel and the stem and
stern posts are first put together, to form the "frame of the intended.
boat, a series of frames, or what are technically termed "moulds," are then:
prepared, which are supported and fixed at suitable intervals apart transversely
upon the keel. The outline of these "moulds" when placed in position,.
represent correct transverse sections at those parts of the intended boat witliin
the planking. A series of longitudinal strips or "ribbons" of wood are then:
fixed to the outer edges of the "moulds" from the keel to the upper edge of
each side of the intended boat, thus forming a skeleton frame commonly
called the "shadow" in "diagonal work.".
Figure 1 of the Drawing hereunto annexed, shews à transverse section of
a frame of this description suitably arranged for the purposes of our Inven-
tion, a, being one of the "moulds," and b, b, the longitudinal strips affixed
thereto.
Having thus prepared the "shadow" or outline of the intended boat, we
then proceed to fix the ribs or timbers c (shewn by the red line) in their correct
positions to the keel, and to the longitudinal strips b, and for boats con-
structed with bevilled planking according to our Invention, we prefer to employ
bent ribs or timbers running in one piece from gunwale to gunwale, such ribs
being bent to form by heat or steam as is well understood. By this means
we obtain great strength with extreme lightness of construction. Each rib c
when fixed in position, determines the correct outline of the inner surface of
the planking of the boat at that part when fixed thereto. When all the ribs
are thus arranged and fixed in position upon the keel, we proceed to lay and
fix the planking d, d, thereon, commencing on each side of the keel e, and
removing the strips or ribbons 6 as the planking progresses, and on examining
Figure 2 of the Drawing, it will be seen that the planks d, d, are formed with.
bevilled edges, which extend from end to end thereof fitting closely together,
and when secured together, and to the ribs or timbers c by nails as shewn, they,
form a tight and secure joint without caulking. By this means sailing or
rowing boats can be constructed of great strength and comparative lightness,
with a smooth skin, and perfect outline, whereby superior floating qualities
are obtained in boats or vessels constructed according to our Invention.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the best means we
are acquainted with for carrying the same into practice, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details herein described,
so long as the peculiar character of our Invention be retained; but what we
claim is the construction of sailing or rowing boats having the planking put

page_text: together with bevilled edges to form the joints of the skin throughout, sub-
stantially in the manner herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Peter Dormay, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34, Southampton Buildgs.,
W. C.
JOHN. P. DORMAY. (L.S.)