IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF BOATS WHICH MAY BE ROLLED OR FOLDED TO FACILITATE THEIR TRANSPORT OR CARRIAGE."
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Robert Shareman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1879.
GEORGE ROBERT SHAREMAN, of Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Foreman
to George Wilson, trading as J. C. Cording & Co. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BOATS WHICH MAY BE ROLLED OR FOLDED TO FACILITATE THEIR
TRANSPORT OR CARRIAGE."
My Invention relates to improvements in boats for the use of sportsmen, soldiers,
tourists, explorers, and others, and is designed to provide a boat which can be
expeditiously prepared and fitted when a piece of water has to be crossed, and which
can be readily rolled or folded up into a small compass and into convenient form for
transport when not wanted.
A boat constructed according to the said Invention may also be used very
advantageously as a flooring for a tent, effectually protecting the occupier against
dampness or moisture in the ground.
I carry the said Invention into practice as follows, that is to say
I provide flat strips of wood which are placed side by side transversely to the length
of the boat and form the inner surfaces of the bottom, the sides, and the ends
thereof. A separate set of strips will be employed for each of the above named
parts of the boat in order that the sides and ends may be bent upward from the
bottom when the boat is to be put into use. It will therefore be seen that there are
four separate sections of strips of wood, and the strips forming each section are
united at the back by strong strips of webbing or similar material which are attached
to the wood preferably by means of marine glue; then a sheet of canvas or similar
material is glued or otherwise suitably secured over the said strips of webbing and
to the wood, and this sheet covers the entire back surface of the wood, uniting all
the four sections. Over the said canvas sheet I place a sheet of vulcanised india-
rubber or any other suitable waterproof material which forms the outer surface of
the entire boat and makes the same perfectly water-tight. The side and end sections
of the boat are formed at such an angle at the extremities where they unite that when
brought together they will fit to each other, and may be securely fastened by lacing
or otherwise, and be thus kept firmly in place. When the boat is not in use there
will be an opening between the strips of wood at each of the four corners of the boat,
but the aforesaid india-rubber sheet extends over these openings, and when the
ends of the wood are laced together as above described this india-rubber effectually
prevents the entry of any water at the joints so made.

page_text: It will thus be seen that when not in use as a boat the strips of wood with
their backing of canvas and india-rubber spread out and form one flat piece, and
by reason of the manner in which the strips of wood are united as above described,
the boat may be rolled up with great facility into cylindrical form and into a very
small compass.
In some cases I propose to provide the sides of the boat with an outer covering
of india-rubber to form air-bags which may be inflated and will render the boat
more buoyant than when not so furnished. These bags become quite flat when
the air is exhausted and do not interfere with the folding of the boat.
Detachable seats are provided which, when the boat is not in use, may be
placed inside the roll formed by folding up the boat.
"
The sides of the boats may be strengthened by means of removable metal clamps
placed lengthwise at the upper part of the sides, and these clamps may receive the
Towlocks.