168 



Framing of the 

 deck. 



IMPROVED METHQD OF G^NSTRVCTINO SHIPS. 



The framing of the deck, is alfo divided into triangular com- 

 parlments, as fpecified in my patent, as to preclude the ufe 

 of lodging-knees entirely ; which compartments are formed by 

 fix pieces of timber, which proceed obliquely at each fide, from 

 the top of each beam to the fore and aft rib ne>tt adjoining, into 

 which they are dovetailed and bolted ; long carlings from beam 

 to beam, at each fide of the hatchways, with thefe pieces, 

 fupport fmall ledges, on which the deck is laid in the ufual 

 manner. 



The vcflel in coming round from Southampton water failed 

 remarkably fad, and flayed and fleered admirably well. 



Advantages of 

 the method : 



ih price of tim- 

 ber} 



ufe of ftorter 

 pieces, &c.; 



knees fupcr- 

 fededi 



Advantages of this Mtthod of framitig Ships. 



1ft. Timber of lefs than one fourth of tiie ufual girth can be 

 ufed, in this method, in conftru6ting large veifels, for nearly four- 

 fifths of their frames. 



This will be a direft faving in the difference of price of fmall 

 timber and large for the quantity ufedj for large veffels this 

 will be confiderable, and, according to the [)re(ent contract 

 prices for naval timber, not lefs than from two to four pounds 

 per load. Befidcs this, it is a great national benefit in another 

 point; for, by this means, timber of half the number of years 

 growth, or lefs, can be ufed for naval purpofes ; and thus forty 

 or fifty years, or even lefs, be fufficient to produce timber fit 

 for the navy, inftead of the vaft period of near a century, now 

 neceflary ; by which the land will not only produce a double 

 crop in tlie fame time, fit for this purpofe, but all danger be 

 removed of there being a ftoppage of building, lor want of a 

 fupply of timber, at any future period; an event extremely 

 probable to take place, from the increafing difficulty of getting 

 the large kind ufed at prefent in the Royal Dock Yards. 



2d, Much (horter timber may, in forming the futtocks, be 

 ufed, without any danger of weakening the fliip, on account 

 of the great fupport given to them by the fore and aft ribs, and 

 other internal framing, before defcribed. 



The advantage of this is, that it renders the compafs timber 

 for futtocks eafier to be procured, and prevents any neceffity of 

 ufing any timber cut acrofs the grain. 



3d. The ufe of kneeii of every kind h fuperfeded by this 



mode of building, as the triangularframing of the decks gives 



5 all 



