IMPROVEMENTS IN BOATS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ROBERT RAYNER of 121 Skidmore Street Mile End London E in the County
of Middlesex Back and Vat Maker do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN BOATS FOR SAVING LIFE AT SEA and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
These Life Boats are constructed to enclose the occupants by being built with
wood hoops forming continuous ribs to be made of the best Ash or other elastic
timber bent to shape in layers for retaining its nature and toughness The staves
forming the skin of the Boats to be made of the best seasoned timber most suitable
for the purpose, the substance to be in proportion to the size of the Boat required,
but less from the Gunwales, and round the top of the Boat, the said staves to be
fitted and jointed edge to edge with rushes or flags between, and thus entirely
covering the wood hoops forming the continuous ribs of the Boat, the stern end
to be groved into the staves the stem of the Boat to be of Elm wood turned and
rebated to shape out of the solid to receive the ends of the .staves. Small Boats
to have double stems with a rudder fitted to one end. The joints of the staves to
be forced water tight by either Galvanized iron, copper or other metal hoops driven
to one uniform tightness on the outside as shown in Drawing N° 1 and exactly
opposite the inside wood hoops thus securing the staves tight and rigid between
the wood hoops and the metal hoops, the staves being further secured with brass
screws to the wood hoops also the metal hoops when in their places with brass
screws, half wood hoops or ribs to be bolted and screwed central to strengthen the
lower part of the Boat between the continuous hoops or ribs extra planking to be
fixed on the outside from the Gunwales downwards as may be required with cork
between the substance in proportion to the weight of the Boat for fending off when
in collision. The said planking and cork to be bolted on with copper, brass or gun
metal bolts and nuts through to an inside planking as shown in drawings 2 and 3..
The said inside planking and nuts to be covered and padded with cork shavings to
prevent injury to the occupants during collision or by a sudden lurch of the Boat.
A keel to be bolted on with copper or gun metal bolts and nuts through to an
inside batten bearing on the continuous hoops or ribs with blocks between the
batten and the staves and all screwed tight and solid, as in Drawing N° 2, the
terminations of the keel to be solid wood, between the solid terminations of the
keel is to be framed and divided into an equal number of, compartments for

page_text: '
containing sea water ballast to assist the stability of the Boat, the said compart-
ments also to be formed by screwing on metal plates with brass screws to the sides
of the framed keel as shown in the Drawings 2 and 3 the said metal plates to have
inlets at the lowest parts for the sea water to enter and outlets at the highest parts
for the air to escape, thus self filling on being launched or lowered from the ship,
and self discharging on being hoisted up or run ashore, half the compartments
filling from one side and half from the other, the containing capacity of the keel
to be in proportion to the weight of the upper portion of the Boat from the
Gunwales. The Boats to have hatchway openings at stem and stern for working
the lowering and hoisting tackles, also for steering the Boat, the openings to be
fitted with sliding metal covers or hatches to run in groves on the outside of the
hatchways framing also the Boats to have port openings at the sides from the
Gunwales upwards the openings to be fitted with sliding metal Shutters to run in
groves by the sides of the continuous wood hoops or ribs up to and under the top
of the Boat, the said metal shutters to lap over the row-locks on the outside when
closed to repel the Sea and weather, the shutters to be secured by leather straps or
other fastenings best adapted for quickness. The Boats to have box seats for the
rowers to contain small portable tanks for containing fresh water. Provisions or
extra ballast if required also false keels to assist the stability also handrails on the
outside at top for persons to grasp on leaping from the Ship also Ventilators at the
top of the Boats, also stern lights to open, and stout glass lights next to the port
openings, also portable oars to connect and disconnect by a brass socket joint in
the centre and hung in front of the seats ready for the rowers at a moments
notice.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st The great combination of strength by being built on the principle of the
arch with elastic woods hoops bent to shape to retain their natural tenacity to ease
and fend off when in collision, and afterwards return to their shape, assisted by
the extra outside planking and cork, also by the joints of the staves being forced
water tight by the outside.metal hoops thus forming one united power.
2nd The security of the occupants from being thrown out by being enclosed or
the Boat from being swamped when lowered from the ship by closing the port
openings, also the great advantage of being able to row the Boat with closed ports,
at the same time keeping the sea and weather out.
3rd Also the peculiar construction and advantage of the keel by, containing sea
water ballast to assist the stability of the Boat.
The small Boat shown in Drawing N° 4 can be adapted also for crew of a stranded
ship to communicate with the shore and assist themselves to land by the-Boat
being secured to a paying out rope from the ship, by fastening all the shutters and
hatches, enclosing plenty of rope, then fixing up a small mast and sail trimmed
and well stayed to suit the wind for driving the Boat ashore upon reaching which
unrig the mast and sail, attach the rope from inside, then work the Boat to
and fro.
Dated this 21st day of Janor 188A