Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1888
Specifc tion Accepted. 26th Oct., 1888
We, HENRY WINTHROP WELLS, Oyster Planter, of Rowayton, Fairfield County,
Connecticut, United States of America, and ALDEN SOLMANS, Manufacturer, of
South Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States of America, City Hotel,
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:
The invention has for its object to so construct and attach a centerboard that it may
be readily shipped and unshipped, and cannot become locked in position in use, while
at the same time leakage around the trunk shall be wholly prevented, the use of
independent parts be avoided, the durability of the board increased, and the cost of
production lessened.
With these ends in view we have devised the simple and novel construction, of which
the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specifica-
tion, numbers being used to denote the several parts.
Fig. 1, is an elevation of a small sailing vessel, showing the raised and lowered
positions of the board where an open top trunk is used.
Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of a closed top trunk, the center board being shown
in elevation in position ready for use, and in dotted lines a partially lowered position
thereof; and
Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the center board lifted away from the supporting
pin, as, when the latter is to be removed, or in open trunk boats, when the center
board is to be lifted out at the top.
1, denotes the keel of the vessel, and 2, the trunk, which may be of the usual or any
preferred construction, and with either an open or closed top. 83, denotes the center-
board, and 4, a pin passing through the keel, by which the center board is held in
position. The special feature of our improved construction is that we provide at the
bottom of the center board near its forward end, a slot 5, which extends upward and
forward from the lower edge. This slot may be made in the center board itself, and
reinforced in any suitable manner. We preferably, however, make the slot in a

page_text: casting 6, which is secured at the forward. lower corner of the center board by screws,
or in any suitable manner. The casting is thus made to form a guard for the board,
and also to serve as a means for attachment. The operation is as follows:
We pre-
ferably place the pin in the keel, as that avoids all danger of leakage, which it is
practically impossible to prevent if the pin passes through the trunk, as great strain
necessarily comes upon the pin in use. In hoats having open top trunks the center
board may be entirely removed from the trunk and replaced in position from the top
without beaching or docking the vessel. This in small vessels is a great advantage as
it enables the centerboard to be readily moved whenever there is danger of the trunk
freezing up, and as readily replaced when required. In placing the center board in
large sized vessels or those using a closed trunk, the board is drawn up into the trunk
back of the pin, and then forward to the position shown in Fig. 3. It is then ready
to be dropped down to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, when it is ready for
use. The board in being lowered in use swings freely on the pin, which rests in the
top of slot 5. The centerboard is operated and retained in any desired position by
means of ropes 7, attached at the upper corners thereof. So far as we are aware, in
other detachable centerboards the slot extends inward from the front toward the back,
instead of toward the front, as in our improved construction. When the slot extends
inward from the front, a key, or some sort of retaining device is required to keep the
board in position which must be very strong, as the entire wear is upon it. As the
tendency of a centerboard is always backward, our improved center board stays in
position without retaining devices of any sort other than the usual ropes, and cannot
get out of place unless lifted. In use centerboards that have retaining devices are
constantly getting out of repair; furthermore as all center boards necessarily spring
more or less in use, those having retaining devices are apt to get wedged in place so
that they cannot be moved either up or down.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1st. In a vessel the combination with the keel and trunk, and a pin passing through
the keel, of a centerboard having at its lower forward end a slot extending from
the lower edge upward and forward, and adapted to engage the pin when in operative
position.
2nd. A centerboard for vessels having at its forward lower corner a casting 6,
provided with a slot 5, which extends from the lower edge upward and forward.
Dated this 25th day of September 1888.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicants.