ON LIFE BOATS, 25 



for excursions up rivers, or small inlets of the sea, or explore 

 ing clusters of islands. 



As a pleasure boat she answers extremely well. And with Excellent 

 respect to her safety I can say, that I have sailed in her from P lea * ure boat - 

 Brighton round the Cornish coast to Conway in North 

 Wales, without any accident, though we experienced some 

 very dreadful weather on the voyage. 



The following is a description of the boat, as built by Mr. Description of 

 Christopher Towill, of Teignmouth, see Plate 2. this boat ' 



Her length is 30 feet, her breadth 10, her depth 3 feet 6 

 inches. The space between her timbers is fitted up with 

 pine wood; this is done with a view to prevent the water 

 Jodging there. The pine wpod is well caulked and paid. 



She is buoyed up by 8 metal cases, 4 on each side ; these 

 are watertight, and independent of each other. They will 

 serve to buoy up six tons; but I find that all the buoyant 

 parts of the boat, taken collectively, will buoy up ten tons. 

 The cases are securely decked over, and boarded at the sides 

 with pine. There is a scuttle to each ase to put gopds in ; 

 the edges are lined with baize; and over each scuttle, m the 

 case, is one of wood, of a larger s ze, the margin of which is 

 lined in the same manner to exclude the water. Between the 

 cases are Norwegian balks, bolted to the bottom, fastened to 

 each other by iron clamps, and decked over. The depth of her 

 keel is about 9 inches below the garboard-streak, the dead 

 rising is 4 inches. Her keel is narrow at the under part, and 

 wide above, for the purpose of giving the timber a good bed, 

 which will support the bolts, in case a necessity should arise 

 to encounter sandbanks. 



In sailing over a bar, or in places where the water is shal- 

 low, the rudd.er will, with ease, draw up even with the keel, 

 and when in deep water, it will let down, instantly, and with 

 equal facility, a foot below it ; in consequence of which ad- 

 vantage, the boat is found to steer remarkably well. 



The forecastle of the boat forms a cabin 10 feet wide, fj 

 feet long, and 4 feet deep, into which women, children, and 

 disabled persons may be put. It is amply supplied with 

 air, by means of two copper ventilators. It is furnished be- 

 sides with two grapnels, very proper to be thrown on board 

 a wreck, to ride by. The grapnel ropes will assist the suf- 

 ferers 



