On Mr. Greuiluai'' i Life- Boat. 333 



gunwale, fixed on the outfide, is three inches thick. The 

 tides, from the under part of the gunwale along the whole 

 length of the regular (heer, extending twenty-one feet fix 

 inches, are cafed with layors of cork to the depth of fixteea 

 inches downward; and the thicknefs of this cafiugofcork 

 _ being four inches, it projeds at the top a little without the 

 gunwale. The cork on the outfide is fecured witli thin 

 plates or flips of copper, and the boat is faftened with copper 

 nails. The thwarts, or feats, are five in number, double 

 banked, confequentiy the boat may be rowed with ten* oars. 

 The thwarts are firmly flanchioned. The fide oars are fhortf, 

 with iron tholes and rope grommets, fo that the rower can 

 pull either way. The boat is fleered with an oar at each 

 end; and the (leering oar is one-third longer than the row- 

 ing oar. The platform placed at the bottom within the boat 

 is horizontal, the length of the midfliips, and elevated at the 

 ends for the convenience of the fleerfman, to give him a 

 greater power wuth the oar. The internal part of the boat 

 next the fides, from the under part of the thwarts down to 

 the platform, is cafed with cork ; the whole quantity of which 

 affixed to the life-boat is nearly feven hundred weight. The 

 cork indif[)utably contributes much to the buoyancy of the 

 boat, is a good defence in going alongftde a veffei, and is of 

 principal ufe in keeping the boat in an trtSt pofition in the 

 lea, or rather of giving her a very lively and quick difpofnion 

 to recover from any hidden cant or lurch which flie may re- 

 ceive from the (Iroke of a heavy wave. But exclufive of the 

 cork, the admirable conftruclion of this boat gives it a decided 

 pre-eminence. The ends being finiilar, the boat can be rowed 

 either way ; and this peculiarity of form alleviates her in rifinw 

 over the waves. The curvature of the keel and bottom faci- 

 litates her movement in turning, and contributes toj the eafe 

 of the fteerage, as a fingle Itroke of the fleering oar has an ini- 

 inediate effect, the boat moving as it were upon a centre, Tiie 

 fine entrance below is of ufe in dividing the waves, when row- 

 ing againfl them; and, combined with the convexity of the 

 bottom and the elliptical form of the Hem, admits her to rife 

 with wonderful buoyancy in high fea, and to launch forward 

 with rapidity, without fhipping any water, when a common 

 boat woidd be in danger of being filled. The flaunehing, m 

 rpreading form of ihe boat, fmm the floor-heads to ihe gun- 

 wale, gives her a confiderable bearing; and the continuation 



F«vc of tiic benches ate only iifcil, ihc boat being generally rowed 

 with ten oars. 



t The rtiort oar is more manageable in a hi^h /la than the lani' far, 

 mad iti Ibokc isi more cirtjia. ' 



of 



