Improvements in the Construction of Ships Boats and in the Mode and Means of Housing the same.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 26th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 21st June, 1887.
Improvements in the Construction of Ships Boats and in the
Mode and Means of Housing the same.
I, ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL of 461 Govan Road, Govan, Lanarkshire, Shipwright,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to enable double the number of ship's boats to be
housed in the same or usual deck space, and with the usual number of lowering and
taking in davits and housing chocks and securing gear. The invention comprises
certain improvements in the construction of the boats and their fittings to allow of one
boat being housed within the other, both on even keel and gunwale up ready for being
hoisted out and in by simply duplicating the lifting block and tackle gear, one set for
each boat, the second set being secured to the davits a little in from the outer end
where the usual tackle is mounted.
The nature and novelty of the improvements consist all as follows:-In so making
the two boats, under each pair of davits, of different sizes so that the one will fit into
the other; that is, baving the outer and under boat, (which would be housed and
secured on the usual chocks below it) two feet or so longer and a foot or so wider, so
that the upper boat would be housed within the lower boat, on two, three, or more
light checked keel blocks secured across the floor or frames over the keel of the outer
lower boat. The upper boat would be constructed of wood or sheet metal, and all
housed and secured with its oars and other fittings all ready for emergency use for
being unlashed and hoisted and lowered out by the usual tackle attached to the ends
of the davits. The outer under boat of each pair, however, would, by these improve-
ments, have its outer shell constructed of light sheet iron, steel, or other sheet metal,
by preference clincher-built in long streak plates either with or without light angle or
other section ribs or frames but with gunwale and stringers of timber below the
gunwale, all as a hollow shell inside for allowing the upper boat to be housed quite
down into it; but leaving room inside on each side of the keel and under the bilges of
the upper boat for stowing the rudder, thwarts, and other fittings for making this
under boat also ready, in a few minutes while the upper boat was being lowered, by

page_text: being attached to its hoisting tackle which is also secured to the davits, for being
lowered immediately after the other boat. The stringers under the gunwale of the
lower boat would be so constructed on the upper edge with dovetailed snugs or
recesses, or other equivalent, as to fit and carry the correspondingly shaped metal ends
of the thwarts or seats, which would thus when secured in place form strong stay and
tie beams for the main open shell, which would be formed with a deep girdle fender
of cork all round the outside under the gunwale, or it may be with other equivalent
lift-boat buoyant fittings, which would make this light but strong construction of
metallic boat float even if swamped. It will be seen that any of the ordinary or
improved safety boat-lowering tackle and fittings which have heretofore been applied
to the usual modes of housing boats or their davits, is equally applicable to my said
improvements in the making, fitting, and housing of boats for giving a greater surface
of these on ship board. The oars, masts, and water "bracker or barrel of the under
boat may be lashed alongside the chocks under its bilge ready for use.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Ships' Boats and in the
Mode and Means of Housing the same.
I, ALEXANDER MCDOUGALL, of 461 Govan Road, Govan, Lanarkshire, Shipwright,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon; that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is to enable double the number of ship's boats to be
housed in the same or usual deck space, and with the usual number of lowering and
taking-in davits and housing chocks and securing gear. The invention comprises
certain improvements in the construction of the boats and their fittings to allow of
one boat being housed within the other, both on even keel and gunwale up, ready for
being hoisted out and in by simply duplicating the lifting block and tackle gear, one
set for each boat, the second set being secured to the davits a little in from the outer
end where the usual tackle is mounted.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
my improvements into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto

page_text: appended an explanatory sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are
used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2
are respectively a longitudinal elevation and corresponding plan showing my new or
improved arrangement of housing two boats A, B; the lower boat A being shown as
fitted in its chocks C, C and secured or lashed as usual by the hooks c over the
gunwale and chains c¹ to eyes in the deck Z; and the upper boat B as having been
hoisted up from within the lower boat A, and ready for being lowered into the sea
from its davits D, D'. Figure 3 is a transverse section showing in full lines the
upper boat B as housed on light checked keel blocks C2 within the outer boat A
secured on its chocks C, C; and also showing in dotted lines a transverse section
broken away of the upper boat B as swivelled out on its davits D, D', ready for being
lowered to the sea by its inner blocks and tackleb, b'. Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse
section through the lower boat A; and Figure 5 shows an edge view and plan
respectively of the thwarts or transverse seats S of the under boat A as fitted,
according to my improvements, with one end S¹ dovetailed to fit into correspondingly
shaped brackets S2 riveted on the inside of the lower boat A.
Referring to these Drawings:-The nature and novelty of my improvements
consist all as follows:-In so making and mounting the two boats A, B, under each
pair of davits D, D¹, of different sizes as that the one B will fit into the other A;
that is, having the outer and under boat A (which would be housed and secured on
the usual chocks C, C¹, below it on the deck Z or skids), two feet or so longer and a
foot or so wider, so that the upper boat B would be housed within the lower boat A,
on two, three, or more light checked keel blocks (2 secured across the floor or frames é
over the keel A' of the outer lower boat A, and having the thwarts and side seats
portable or removable. The upper boat B is constructed preferably of wood, but it
might be of sheet-metal in a usual manner, preferably with end close air compartments
at B', to make it floatable as a lifeboat, and all housed and secured with its oars and
other fittings all ready for emergency use for being unlashed from its securing rope
passed over it and attached to the main lashings c, c', of the under boat A, and hoisted
and lowered out by the usual arrangement of tackle b, b, attached near the ends of the
davits D, D¹. The outer under boat A of each pair, however, by these improvements,
has its outer shell constructed of light sheet iron, steel, or other sheet metal, by
preference clincher-built in long streak plates, either with or without light angle or
other transverse ribs or frames, but preferably with keel, stem and stern post of
timber, and also the gunwale A², stringers e, and bottom board e' over keel A' of
timber, all as a hollow shell inside for allowing the upper boat B to be housed quite
down into it; but leaving room, as seen at in Figure 3, inside on each side of the
keel and under the bilges of the upper boat B for stowing the portable or removable
rudder, thwarts S, and other fittings of this under boat A, which can thus
also be made ready, in a few minutes, (while the upper boat B is being lowered) by
loosening its clamps and lashings c, c¹, to the deck Z; and afterwards attaching this
boat A to its hoisting blocks and tackle a, a', which is also secured to the davits B, D¹,
preferably at the extreme outer end of the swivelling posts D of the davits D, D', for
being lowered immediately after the other boat B. When stringers e are used under
the gunwale A of the lower boat A they would be constructed on the upper edge with
dovetailed snugs or recesses or other equivalent, but preferably this would be done by
fixed dovetailed brackets S2, on the one side, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, so as to fit
and carry the correspondingly shaped ends S₁ of the thwarts or transverse seats S,
which would thus when secured in place form strong stays and tie-beams for the
main open shell. The other ends of the thwarts or transverse seats S would not be
dovetailed but be attached to hinged brackets s, by screw bolts s¹ passing through
oblong holes s² and secured by thumb or butterfly nuts, which can pass through the
slotted holes. Longitudinal seats T are also fitted on each side of the lower boat A
between the transverse seats S. These seats T are secured by hinges T¹ riveted to the
side of the boat so as to fold down when not to be used, and when folded up for use
are secured at each end by slip or sliding bolts t into slotted staples t¹ secured on the
under side of the thwarts Š.

page_text: The side chocks of the lower boat A are preferably hinged to the lower main part C
secured to the deck Z, or skids, as usual, as shown dotted in in Figure 3, so as to be
easily folded down when required, and thus facilitate the launching of this boat. The
thwarts S, are preferably attached by loose ropes at their dovetailed ends S¹ to eyes.
in the brackets S2, or it might be to the other ends, these loose ropes being long
enough to allow the thwarts S to lie in the bottom of the boat A under the bilge of
the upper boat B, all ready for being shipped and fixed as stated after removing the
upper boat B. The main open shell of the lower boat A is fitted with a deep girdle
fender of cork E enclosed within canvas all round the outside, under the gunwale A²,
secured by screws and narrow strips of iron at E', or it may be other equivalent life-
boat buoyant fittings, which would make this light but strong construction of
metallic boat float even if swamped; and the upper boat B would preferably have
portable cork fenders E² to prevent it from chafing within the under boat A.
It will be seen that any of the ordinary or improved safety boat-relieving or
letting-go tackle and fittings, which have heretofore been applied to the usual modes
of letting-go boats from their davits, are equally applicable to my said improvements
all as described for the making, fitting, and housing of boats, for giving a greater
or barrel of
service of these on ship board. The oars, masts, and water "breaker"
the under boat. A may be lashed alongside the chocks C, C¹, under its bilge ready
for use.
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 :-
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts of ship's
boats, substantially as and for the purposes and advantages herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The housing of two ship's boats, the upper one within the lower, on checked
blocks C2, the hull of which is made of sheet metal with loose thwarts and with or
without transverse fixed frames or timbers for that purpose, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. In ship's boats, the constructing of the stringers e, or equivalent brackets S²,
with dovetailed snugs or recesses S¹ to receive the correspondingly shaped ends of the
thwarts or transverse seats, substantially as herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The fitting of ship's davits with double swivelling blocks and tackle b, b¹,
and a, a¹, for raising and lowering the respective boats B and A, housed within each
other, all substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.