AN IMPROVED VESSEL FOR SAVINg Life and PROPERTY AT SEA
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS. PATENT to Willian Fewster, of Pier Office, Margate, in the County
of Kent, Master Mariner and Harbour Master, for an Invention of "AN
IMPROVED VESSEL FOR SAVINg Life and PROPERTY AT SEA."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Fewster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th January 1882.
WILLIAM FEWSTER, of Pier Offico, Margate, in the County of Kent, Master
Mariner and Harbour Master. "AN IMPROVED VESSEL FOR SAVING LIFE AND
PROPERTY AT SEA."
The Invention is built in the form of a duck sitting in her nest with two heads
and two necks, one at each end, the one at the four end turned aft, and the one at
the after end turned forwards, both looking downwards, forming air pipes answering
for ventilation.
The duck is constructed in the bottom to be fitted with water tanks over which
will be a platform for provisions, passengers' luggage, ships stores and other
articles. Above this will be a deck forming the flooring of saloon, steerage and
cabins. The mast will be hollow, and stepped one third of the length of the duck
from the fore end, answering for chimney of stove, also for ventilation.
The duck will vary in size according to the size of the ship and number of
passengers she carries.
The duck's nest is built in the ship's 'tween decks, supported to and from the sides
of the ship exactly the shape of the duck and can be built either of wood or iron.
It is perforated up to the draught of the duck.
The duck itself can also be of wood or iron, and suited either to poop or flush
decks. When the ship founders the duck would float with passengers, crew,
nautical instruments, and all other articles therein contained.
The duck being placed in the after part of the ship the mast will serve
as the ships' mizen mast. In case of fire the captain would of course scuttle
the ship.
For river steamers two ducks can be used; one in the foro part and one in the
after part

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Fewster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th July
1882.
WILLIAM FEWSTER, of Pier Office, Margate in the County of Kent, Master
Mariner, and Harbour Master of Margate aforesaid. "AN IMPROVED VESSEL FOR
SAVING LIFE AND PROPERTY AT SEA."
The said Invention is to be called a duck, and is built in the ordinary way that
a ship or vessel is built, either of wood or iron, proportionate to the size of the ship
or vessel, in which it is to be placed.
It is to be built in the shape of a duck with two necks and two heads, one at
each end, the one at the fore end turned aft, the one at the after end turned
forward both looking downwards and forming air pipes for ventilation.
In the duck's lower hold are placed tanks for fresh water, which also answer as
ballast. Over these tanks is a platform or deck on which to stow provisions, ships
stores, passengers luggage, mail chest, and any other articles desired to be preserved.
Over this platform or deck is another platform or deck forming the flooring of
saloons and cabins and above this is the main platform or deck, which when the
duck is placed in the ship or vessel will be flush with the main deck of the said
ship or vessel. The main deck of the duck is fitted with skylights for giving light
to the saloons and cabins in the duck.
The duck_rests in a nest built of either wood or iron in the ship or vessels
"between decks." The bottom of the nest is on the ship or vessels beams
strengthened from the ship or vessels sides by stays. The nest is perforated up to
the draught of the duck with holes to allow the water to enter the nest when the
ship or vessel is sinking and so to float the duck.
The object of building the next in this manner is to save the duck from being
damaged as she is floating out of the sinking ship or vessel. The water between
the duck and the nest having no way of escape prevents the striking that would
be felt if the duck was resting in chocks. A pipe is fitted between the next and
the ship or vessels' deck to allow the air to escape when the water rushes into tho
nest. The top of this pipe is several inches above the ship or vessels deck, and is
fitted with a cap, which is removed by the force of the air as it rushes from the
nest when the water enters.
The duck has a hollow mast made of iron and is so constructed that it answers
as a chimney for a fire-stove in the saloon, or for purposes of ventilation. The
mast is placed one third the length of the duck from the fore end and answers for
the mizen mast of the ship or vessel in which the duck is placed.
In the event of the ship or vessel in which the duck is placed, foundering the
duck requires no hoisting or lowering as with boats, and having everything always
placed in her which it is desirable in such a situation to save such as nautical
instruments charts, mails, food and clothing and all valuables, the crew and
passengers would be as safe in the duck as they would have been had the ship or
vessel not foundered.
The duck takes up no more room in the ship or vessel than is usually set apart
as cabins or storerooins and does not therefore alter the ships stowage for cargoes,
nor does it cause any lumber or inconvenience on the deck of the ship or vessel in
which it is placed.
In the event of fire in the ship or vessel in which the duck is placed the captain
would scuttle the ship or vessel, and as everything of value as well as the
passengers, should be always in the duck which is in good trim properly

page_text: ballasted, and able to stand any sea, a great saving of life and property would be
thereby insured.
For river steamers two ducks can be used one in the fore part the other in the
after part.
In witness whereof I the said William Fewster have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty-sixth day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.