STATISTICS OF LIFE-BOATS AND FISHING-BOATS. 317 
_. Practically, all Beeching’s boats retain the water at a level of 4 or 5 inches 
above the platform for three-fifths of the breadth, as shown on the diagram, 
and thus, when under sail, or laid over by a sea, this water, shifting to 
leeward, acts as a counter-ballast; and, as seen in the diagram, the Teign- 
mouth boat, with an inclination of 17°, would have her lee gunwale immersed, 
and of some three tons of water above the platform four-fifths would be on 
the lee side; and should the compartments under the platform not be per- 
fectly tight, the water ballast would also shift to the lee side, leaving air or 
vacuum on the weather side,—the alternate pressure of which and the water 
on the platform actually draws the oakum from the seams. 
The self-righting power of Beeching’s boats was obtained in the Prize- 
model by very large air-compartments in the bow and stern, occupying two- 
fifths of the length and as high as the stem above the gunwales, as shown in 
the midship section; these compartments containing 30 to 60 feet of air or 
buoyancy, forced the boat to right herself when turned over or upset; but 
experience proves that when often repeated, or in a sea way, its efficiency 
was neutralized by leakage, the increased weight of the boats rendering as- 
sistance necessary to right them. This is illustrated by the diagram, where 
the curved line shows the position of the end air-cases from stem to gunwale, 
which, when the boat is turned over, would be immersed to the level of the 
thwarts. 
SPECIAL COAST LIFE-BOAT. 
The Coast-Guard Life-boats include Hink’s, Plenty, and Howden’s model, 
the modification of the Admiralty boat, built also by Mr. Peake, and the 
many boats since built for the National Life-Boat Institution. 
The result of Mr. Peake’s experiments is shown by his last boat being four 
times as long as she is broad, with a flat floor and straight sides, but fine lines 
in bow and stern, with a considerable sheer of gunwale. The planking is of 
diagonal pine, and there is a water-tight platform or deck, one-third the 
depth, resting on four stout pine bulkheads athwart the boat, secured to the 
bottom to form air-tight compartments in bow and stern, the bilge spaces 
being filled with blocks of light pine, instead of cork or boxes as heretofore. 
In the midship part of the platform is a covered well, containing anchor, cable 
and stores, with air-boxes at the sides under the thwarts, and air-compartments 
in bow and stern up to height of gunwale. These assist in giving the power 
of “‘self-righting,” and are aided by a thick cast-iron false keel, bolted to 
keel bottom and keelson, and weighing about 1 cwt. to every 3 feet of length. 
The boat frees itself of water by six tubes through the bottom fitted with 
self-acting relieving valves at the height of the platform. She is fitted to 
steer with oars, and to pull eight to twelve oars double-banked, to carry a small 
lug sail, and is provided with improved life-belts, waterproof coats and boots, 
and everything requisite for the special service of a life-boat at most of the 
stations on our coasts. 
Thus it will be seen that the repeated experiments of Mr. Peake and 
myself have led to the adoption by both of a model very similar in its details, 
the only difference being, that whereas Mr. Peake’s is intended for a coast 
life-boat only, useful for no other purposes, mine is for giving to a fisher- 
man’s boat the properties of a life-boat when requisite. 
The annexed diagrams show the general form and the nature of the 
fittings and air-chambers of one of Mr. Peake’s Life-boats, 30 ft. in length, 
and 7 ft. 6 in. in breadth. 
In Figs. 1 and 2, corresponding to the elevation and deck plans, the 
general exterior form of the boat is seen, showing the sheer of gunwale, 
length of keel, and rake or slope of stem and stern-posts. The dark dotted 
