316 REPORT—1857. 
The peculiarities of Mr. Beeching’s model and patent mode of fitting life- 
boats will be seen by reference to the annexed diagram of the midship sec- 
tion, from a drawing and specification of a 28-feet boat, which was tried at 
Woolwich dockyard in November 1851, in the presence of the Committee 
who awarded the prize. This boat, estimated at 22 cwt., weighed 293 ewt., 
and with oars, sails, and crew, 50 cwt. She had 19 ewt. of water ballast, and 
when upset under a crane righted herself readily. With crew on board, she 
drew 20 to 21 inches of water, the tubes admitting water 4 or 5 inches on 
top of platform. (See diagram.) This boat was sent to Teignmouth and 
tried 15th January, 1852, and when turned over under the crane laid bottom 
up three or four minutes, and with a crew of twelve men the water rose to 
within 2 inches of the thwarts. In December 1851, the Lytham boat, of 
the same dimensions, was tried at Liverpool, and when upset under the crane 
she righted herself; but on the suggestion of Mr. Beeching, some fourteen 
or sixteen men getting on one side, she upset, and remained bottom up three 
or four minutes, till assisted by the Liverpool life-boat men, most of whom 
expressed their opinion that she would prove dangerous. 
Beeching’s Prize Life-bout. 
EVELOF WATER 
TEIGNMOUTH BOAT 
PERMANENT LEV 
ON PLATFORM 
In 1852 the Shipwrecked Fishermen’s Society sent the Prize-model boats to 
Tenby, Llanelly, Port Madoe, and Newhaven. The annexed midship section 
of one of these boats shows their form and fittings. The results of their trial 
being most important, I will here give a description of one of them. The 
platform, or air-tight deck, is one-third of the depth above the bottom. The 
principal feature is the water-ballast tank, extending over three-sevenths of 
the length and three-fifths of the breadth amidships. A 28-feet boat will 
contain upwards of a ton of water. The air space at the side and end is 
obtained by filled bladders, Eight 4-inch tubes pass through the ballast- 
tank and bottom, relieving the boat of water to the level of flotation, ., .. 
