Improvements in Stowing Ships' Boats.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stowing Ships' Boats.
I NICHOLAS ELLIS PORTER of 101 Leadenhall Street London in the County of
Middlesex Marine Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
The object is to provide means for stowing ships boats so that all or a greater
number of such boats may be readily lowered from the lee side in case of collision
foundering or other accident, rendering the abandonment of the ship or vessel
necessary.
The invention consists essentially in constructing ships or vessels with a boat deck
extending from side to side and free of all obstructions such as hatches sky lights,
ventilators, stovepipes and the like, in fitting the said deck with skids for carrying
boats longitudinally side by side and in providing in the wake of the deck at each side
thereof davits, cranes, or equivalent devices and tackle for hauling the boats across
the deck to the lee side and lowering them into the water. A beam or girder may
advantageously be fitted across the davits to facilitate attachment of hauling
devices.
The skids and davits may be of any usual or suitable construction.
Per pro J. T. KING,
J. Johnson,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stowing Ships' Boats.
NICHOLAS ELLIS PORTER of 101 Leadenhall Street London in the County of
Middlesex Marine Surveyor, 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 object is to provide means for stowing ships boats so that all or a greater
number of such boats may be readily lowered from the lee side or side most readily
available in case of collision foundering or other accident rendering the abandonment
of the ship or vessel necessary.
The invention consists essentially in constructing or fitting ships or vessels with a
boat deck extending from side to side and free of all obstructions such as hatches,
sky lights, ventilators, stovepipes and the like, in fitting the said deck with skids and
chocks for carrying boats longitudinally side by side and in providing in the wake of
the deck at each side thereof davits, cranes, or equivalent devices at such a distance
apart that the boats may pass freely outboard with tackle for hauling the boats when
necessary across the deck to the lee or required side and for lowering then into the
water. A beam or girder may advantageously be fitted across the davits to facilitate
attachment of bauling devices and lowering tackle.
The skids and davits may be of any usual or suitable construction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations at right angles to each other and fig. 3 a plan of my
improved system of stowing ships boats. a is the ships deck. b boat deck carried on
standards or stanchions c. The said deck extends from side to side of the ship, is about
thirty feet in length fore and aft and is free from all brakes or obstructions. d are
skids about fourteen feet apart and about eight feet from the ends of the deck. Said

page_text: skids are of hard wood or other suitable material about ten inches square.
e are chocks
hinged to the skids d at f so that the said chocks may be turned down in such
manner as not to be higher than the upper faces of the skids. gare davits in the
wake of the deck at each side thereof and about thirty feet apart. tackles for
lowering the boats into the water. When the boats are to be lowered the davits are
stayed in the position shown in fig. 3 by means of a beam or girder secured thereto
or by stay ropes i. The tackles are attached to the boat nearest the davits the chocks
are thrown down and the boat is hauled across the deck weighed in the tackles and
lowered into the water. The next boat is treated in the same way until as many boats
as required have been launched.
The number and size of the boats carried would vary according to the size of the
ship a large ocean steamer would have a deck about the area above mentioned and
would carry five 28 feet life boats one large Berthorn boat and a boat at each side on
the davits with a total accommodation for four hundred people. When at sea the
davits would be permanently secured in the position shown in fig. 3.
Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations at right angles to each other and fig. 6 is a plan of a
modification in which movable skids and chocks are used. Here the skids d are pro-
vided with wheels which run on lines k. are grip stays attached to the boats and
skids to hold the said boats in position. m are tackles for easing the boats along the
decks when the grip stays are detached.
Fig. 7 is a transverse section and fig. 8 an elevation on a larger scale showing
movable chocks & fitted with sliding bilge pieces d². nare wedges for holding the
bilge pieces in position.
Fig. 9 is an elevation and fig. 10 a transverse section of movable skids and chocks
in which the wheels j'are coupled to the skids d by means of links o.
p are levers for
giving motion to the links o so that the wheels may be moved into position to allow
the skids to rest directly on the lines when the boats are to be secured, or to bring
the wheels in contact with the lines when the boats are to be moved. 9 are hooks to
prevent the skids from leaving the rails. Pads of hard wood are advantageously
placed between the rails and the deck.
In all the views like letters denote the same parts.
My improved system of stowing ships boats posses amongst others the following
advantages. By means of a clear deck in conjunction with properly spaced davits
permanently outrigged at seal,
it is possible to get the boats outboard without the usual
swinging or partial swinging of the davits. Boats on one side the deck may be
brought across the deck and lowered from the other side, so that it is possible to choose
the side or sides from which the boats are lowered. The boats on this clear deck are
stowed in such a manner on their keels that by cutting the lanyards of the grips or
by knocking up the link of the same (as the case may he) the boats will rise out of
the chocks and float clear of the vessel in the case of a sudden foundering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
The improvements in stowing ships boats herein set forth.
Per pro J. T. KING,
Per J. Johnson,
Agent.