Buoyant Boat Cover for Life Saving
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1900
Complete Specification Left. 10th June. 1899-Accepted 12th Dec. 1800
Complete Specification Left. 10th June. 1899-Accented. 12th Dec.
1800
Buoyant Boat Cover for Life Saving (Marine).
GERARD KNIPE GANDY, 8, Cardigan Mansions, Richmond, Surrey, Master
Mariner & Lieut. Royal Naval Reserve, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention is to make the ordinary boats' cover as used on board ship, into
a floating and buoyant appliance for use in cases of emergency for saving life
when there is no time for lowering boats.
The ordinary canvas boat cover can be rendered buoyant in the following
manner. To the centre of the cover on the underneath side a light pine spar is
securely attached longitudinally, so as to fit in between the boats' tackles, this
spar to be supported with uprights off the thwarts of the boat.
Pieces of cork of any dimension or other buoyant substance or air vessels are
then attached to the underneath side of the cover in sufficient quantity, say 100 lbs.
of cork, so as to render the cover very buoyant. A light cover of canvas or other
material may be sewn over the whole underneath side of cork to render it stronger
and more compact.
To the centre spar are attached life-lines both on the top and underneath the
cover, also about half way on each side of the cover life-lines or canvas bands
may be attached longitudinally, for persons to hold on to when in the water.
This renders both sides of the cover equally effectual for holding on to whichever
side happens to float uppermost after being thrown overboard. The cover of
a 30 ft. boat would be able to support 20 men in this condition and it would
not weigh much over two hundred-weight. This "buoyant cover"
may also be
converted into a "boat" or "raft" by means of a light frame of bamboo, wood
or hollow air tight metal tubing, connected or hinged on to the centre spar, which
also may be made of hollow air-tight metal or wood.
Cane or rattans may also be used for ribs or stiffeners. The ordinary stretchers
used for spreading out the cover over the boat may also be used to form the bow
and stern and ribs of the boat. Paddles or light oars can be used for propulsion.
Several of these "buoyant boat covers "could be lashed together in the water
by means of the centre spar and would form a large and effective raft.
"
Buoyant boat covers may also be made of hollow air-tight metal such as
aluminium, copper, zinc and the like fitted to the boat in sections, halves or
whole of the area, each part to be independently air tight of the other and fitted
with life-lines these parts could be easily thrown overboard on emergency and
several of these sections lashed together would form an efficient raft.
As all boat covers have to be cleared away before the boats are lowered, these
"buoyant boat covers "could be at once thrown overboard in cases of sudden
emergency and they would thus form a life-saving apparatus for persons to hold
on to until picked up.
These buoyant covers would take up no more room than the ordinary boat
covers.
For men-o-war or torpedo boats "in action" in case of ship sinking the buovant

page_text: boat cover would be at once available for saving life and if made of cork and
canvas it would not be greatly damaged by shot.
The "buoyant cover
in ordinary cases would be hung up to the fore & aft
span between the davits and the boats could be lowered without inconvenience in
the ordinary way.
Dated this Tonth day of Sentomber 1808
Buoyant Boat Cover for Life Saving (Marine).
I, GERARD KNIPE GANDY, of 8, Cardigan Mansions, Richmond, in the County
of Surrey, Master Mariner, 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:-
This invention relates to marine life saving apparatus and has for its object
buoyant covers for a ship's boats, which covers may be readily adapted for use
as rafts or boats in case of need.
According to my invention I make a boat cover of canvas (either waterproof
or not) or of other suitable material and I provide this cover with a lining of
cork, rubber, air vessels, or with other means to render it buoyant. The said
cover is also provided with life lines and is preferably fitted with a central longi-
tudinal spar and transverse stretchers. When the said boat cover is intended
for adaptation as a boat, it is also provided with rattan or similar ribs.
A cover constructed as above stated may be secured to the boat in any well
known manner and may be suspended from the chain span between the davits,
so that the boat may be readily lowered away from the said cover without incon-
venience, or so that the cover may be quickly thrown overboard in case of necessity.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 an underside view of the said boat cover adapted for use as a raft.
Figure 3 is an underside view of the cover modified so as to enable it either to
be converted into a boat or used as a raft.
Figure 4 is a view of the cover adapted to serve as a boat.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a boat suspended from a ship's davits, with the
cover attached thereto.
a at
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is the cover of canvas or other material.
are strips or sections of cork, air vessels, pieces of rubber, or other buoyant
material, secured to the under side of said cover by stitching or pockets or other
suitable means. a a are ends. or flaps on the cover, for covering the bow and
stern of the boat. B is a central longitudinal spar, secured (preferably by lacing)
between canvas lugs b b on the cover. CC are light transverse stretchers. The
spar B, and stretchers C, C, may be of tubular steel or other metal, or of wood
or bamboo cane for lightness and buoyancy, or may be of other suitable substance.
DD are the life lines secured to the cover in convenient positions, and preferably
on both sides thereof..
When these covers are required for use as rafts they are thrown overboard, and
several of them may be lashed together by means of the spars B which have their
ends at either extremity provided with an eye fitted with a lashing for this pur
pose. These spars can be readily removed from the lugs b b if required.

page_text: Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the cover is of very similar construction to that
above described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The buoyant strips, pieces
or vessels a a are, however, modified in shape as shown, and the transverse
stretchers C C on either side of the spar B are each made in two pieces placed
end to end so as to enable the cover to conveniently assume the required shape
when converted into a boat. C* C* are transverse stretchers attached at the ends
of the cover and provided with notches at their outer extremities. cc are light
rattan or similar ribs secured to the under side of the cover. E E and E¹ E are
other stretchers which are secured to the cover by beckets e e when not in use.
When the cover is to be converted into a boat, the flaps a al are folded over
onto the under side of the cover, the transverse stretchers C* C* at the respective
ends of the cover are brought together with the said flaps a' a¹ between them,
and the free ends of said stretchers C* C* are respectively secured together by
clamps F F or equivalent means. These transverse stretchers C* C* form the
bow and stern of the boat, and the stretchers E E and EE are placed in the
positions shown in Figure 4; the stretchers E E extending between notches or
brackets on the central spar B and notches in the transverse stretchers C* C*
at the respective ends of the cover, and the stretchers E E fitting between the
sides of the boat so as to keep the latter extended.
The number of the transverse stretchers employed can be varied as required,
according to the size of the cover.
The cover can be supported, as shown in Figure 5, from the chain span G
between the davits, so that the boat may be lowered away from said cover or
that the said cover may be readily detached and thrown overboard in case of
emergency.
The cover may be provided with a light mast and sail, or with paddles, or may
be otherwise modified in detail without departing from my invention.
These covers, which do not require more room than ordinary boats' covers,
are capable of supporting a number of persons in the water, and will be found
especially valuable on account of the ease and rapidity with which they can be
thrown overboard.
Boat covers constructed as above described can also be employed as collision
mats or used for stopping leaks or slot holes.
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:
1. A ship's boat cover provided with means whereby it is rendered buoyant,
for the purpose specified.
2. A ship's boat cover constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 10th day of June 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.