An Improved Lifeboat.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lifeboat.
I, JOHN HENRY RAFFETY The Acre West Worthing, Sussex Landowner, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An improved lifeboat to carry one or more passengers the lower part constructed
of steel, copper or other heavy material and the upper part of cork, wood or other
light material firmly fixed together either solid or containing water-tight compartments.
The upper part or deck to be slightly convex in form the sides of the boat not rising
above the deck. Concave seat or seats on the deck into which the lower part of the
occupants body is to be lashed or strapped leaving the upper part and the arms free.
The boat is fitted with rudder capable of being fixed in any position; a paddle; a sail
and water-tight compartments for provisions and stores. It is different in shape and
construction to any boat which has yet been built; is unsinkable and indestructable.
If capsized rights itself and lifts the occupant out of the water. It will live in
any sea.
Dated this 19th day of May fo90.
J. H. RAFFETY.
An Improved
I, JOHN HENRY RAFFETY, of The Acre, West Worthing, in the County of Sussex,
Landowner, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved lifeboat or float which is principally adapted
to be carried by vessels for the purpose of providing a convenient and ready means of
saving life in the case of accident to the vessel though the invention is also applicable
to lifeboats generally or to small pleasure boats such as might be used at seaside
places or on lakes rivers or the like.
In applying my invention to a lifeboat for use on a vessel I prefer to carry it out
in a similar manner to that illustrated in the accompanying drawing which represents
one form of same and in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a boat, Fig. 2 is a
cross section amidships, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view.
The boat as illustrated in these drawings consists of a hull a preferably of heavy
metal such as steel copper or the like, the lower portion of which may be thickened
or have a plate or piece b of greater thickness therein to give stability and righting
power to the boat or may have a heavy keel in place thereof or in addition to same.
Or the body of the boat may be of light metal such as aluminium if a thickened plate
of heavy metal such as b is kept at the bottom or if a suitable heavy keel is employed.
Or the boat may in other ways be suitably weighted toward the bottom and be provided
with a watertight compartment or compartments in the upper part.

page_text: The upper part or deck of the boat (and this may include a portion of the sides if
desired) is made of wood or some light waterproof material c on which may be
superposed a layer of cork or buoyant material d.
This deck portion is preferably rounded or slightly convex in form as shown to
allow the water to readily run off.
In this deck is a concave receptacle or recess e to contain the lower part of the
occupant or occupants body or bodies, so that the hull of the boat consists of a water-
tight compartment or the boat may be provided with more than one watertight com-
partment the rest of the boat being composed of some solid but buoyant material
if desired. The part of the occupant's body in the recess e may be secured by straps
such as ff so as to leave the upper part and arms free. The recess is also adapted to
receive a paddle and a mast and sail which are preferably strapped in place.
At the sides of the recess are compartments g g which may be protected by water-
tight hinged or sliding lids such as hh. These compartments are adapted to receive
a water vessel and articles or cases of food or the like for use in case of emergency.
At the rear of the recess is a hinged or folding back rest k.
The boat is also provided with a rudder i the steering head of which may engage
with a rack or a suitable clutch so that the rudder may be set and held in any
position.
The construction of the boat will render it unsinkable and will enable it to right
itself and to lift the occupant out of the water if overturned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A lifeboat or float, or like vessel, having a hull suitably weighted at the bottom,
and an upper part of light buoyant material, such as cork, or wood, or having an air
tight compartment the deck portion being curved or convex in shape to turn off the
water, and a recess in the deck to hold an occupant or occupants, the whole being
adapted to right itself with its occupant if overturned, substantially as described.
2. A lifeboat, or like vessel, constructed substantially as and for the purpose
described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 18th dovr of Februa 1907
J. H. RAFFETY.