334 On Mr. Greathead'r Life-Boat. 



t>f the breadth, well forward, is a great fiipport to her in the 

 fea; and it has been found by experience, that boats of this 

 eonftruftion are the beft fea-boats for rowing againft turbu- 

 lent waves. The internal (liallownefs of the boat from the 

 gunwale down to the platform, the convexity of the form, 

 and the bulk of cork within, leave a very diminiflied fpace 

 for the water to occupy ; fo that the life-boat when filled with 

 water contains a considerable Icfs quantity than the common 

 boat, and is in no danger either of finking or overturning. 

 It may be prefumed by fome, that in cafes of high wind, 

 agitated fea, and broken waves, that a boat of fuch a bulk 

 could not prevail againft them by the force of the oars; but 

 the life-boat, from her peculiar form, may be rowed a-head 

 ti'hen the attempt in other boats would fail. Boats of the 

 common form, adapted for fpeed, are of courfe put in mo- 

 tion with a fmall power, but for want of buoyancy and bear- 

 ing are overrun by the waves and funk, when impelled 

 againft them ; and boats conftrufted for burden meet with 

 too much refiftance from the wind and fea when oppofed to 

 them, and cannot in fuch cafes be rowed from the /hore to a 

 fliip in diftrefs. An idea has been entertained, that ilie fu- 

 perior advantages of the life-boat are lo be afcribed fokly to 

 the quantity of cork affixed. But this is a very erroneous 

 opinion ; and, I truft, has been amply refuted by the pre- 

 ceding obfervations on the fupereminent conftru6lion of this 

 boat. It muft be admitted, that the application of cork to 

 cominon boats would add to their buoyancy and fccurity ; 

 and it might be a ufeful expedient, if there were a quantity 

 of cork on board of {liips, to prepare the boats with in cafes 

 of fliipwreck, as it might be expedilioufly done, in a tempo- 

 rary way, by means of clamps, or fome other contrivance. 

 The application of cork to Time of the boats of his majefty's 

 ihips* might be worthy of confideration j more particularly 

 as an experiment might be made at a little expenfe, and 

 without inconvenience to the boats ; or may prevent plea- 

 fure boats from upfetting or finking. 



The life-boat is kept ui a boat-houfe, and placed upon four 

 low wheels, ready to be moved at a moment's notice. Thefe 

 wheels are convenient in conveying the boat along the fliore 

 to the fea; butiffliehad to travel upon them on a rough 

 road, her frame would be exceedingly (haken. Befides, it 

 has been found difficult and troublefome to replace her 

 upon thefe wheels on her return from fea. Another plan 

 has therefore been adopted. Two wheelsj of nine feet dia- 



* The launches. 



mter. 



