KECttSSITY Oy LIFTING SHl|rS. l^'J 



^d, as (hown in the drawing and model that accompany this 



Hatement. The upper part of the fid hole is cut to form the 



vertical wedge. The advantage derived from fidding top- It can now bs 

 II \ ' ,. . , I I n' 1 \ .L done Without 



gallant malts m this Way is, that they can be Itruck at i"e'|^^j.,j,jj,gjjjg 

 iiiorteft notice, and without flacking the rigging, which isngging. 

 frequently the caufe of fpringing and carr) ing them away, 

 particularly thofe with long pole iieads. The angle of the 

 horizontal wedges for the fids of mafts ftiould be about twenty 

 degrees. 



The aboye Account was accompanied with Certificates Certificate^ 

 from Sir John Henflow, Surveyor of the Navy ; Mr, M. 

 Bidram, mafler-fliipwright of Portfmouth-Yard ; and Mr. 

 John Carpenter, foreman of Sheernefs Dock-yard, contirming 

 Mr. Seppings's ftatement. 



Beference to the Engraving of Mf. Sepping^\i 7Ji£tho(i of obviating 

 the necejfily qf lifting Ships. Plate XL 

 This plan and fedion of a feventy-four gun fliip defcrjbes Defcriptloi^ a?j4 

 ^he method of obviating the neceffity of lifting lliips, vyhen j^^g^ ^^.^ 

 there may be occafion to put additional falfe keels to them, 

 or to make good the imperfedions of thofe already on ; alfo 

 when it maybe necefTary to caulk the garboard feams, fcarples 

 the keel, &c. by which mesons a yery confideraMe part of the 

 expenfe will be faved, and much time gained. The blocks 

 are cleared, and again returned by the following procefs. A 

 fufficient number of fliores are placed under the fhip to fuftain 

 her weight, and fet taught, ftationed as near the keel as 

 the working of the battering-rams fore and aft will admit. 

 Avoid placing any oppoiite the blocks, as they would in that Inftru^lions. 

 cafe hinder the return of the wedges with the battering-rams. 

 A blow muft then be given forward on the oute^r end of the 

 iron wedges with the battering-rams in a fore and aft direc- 

 tion, which will caufe them to Aide aft, as fliown in the plan. 

 The battering rams abaft then return the blow, and the 

 wedges again come forward ; by the repetition of this opera- 

 tion, the wedges will be with great eafe cleared, and the 

 angular block on the top will drop down. When the work 

 is performed, the block muft be replaced under the keel, 

 and the wedges driven back by working the rams athwart- 

 ftiips, as defcribed in the fedion, 



N.B. In 



