4' It Dcsciipiiun oj a Life-Boat 



twenty inches out of the water, as represented by the hue B B, 

 fig. 5. 



Secondly, she was exhibited as a hfe-boat, supposed to 

 be filled by shipping more water than bailing would over- 

 come ; till, with the plugs out, or as if a plank was stove in the 

 bottom, the water within and without board was uj)on a level. 

 In this water-logged state she was almost as manageable, and 

 rowed with nearly the same facility as when empty; — the gun- 

 nel amidships bemg 14 inches out of the water, as represented 

 by the line C C, fig. 5. 



Thirdly, she was exhibited in the same state, but with seven 

 extra men on board, which is more than is likely to be ship- 

 vvi'ecked in any vessel from this port : yet still she continued 

 so perfectly manageable, that Mr. Hamblin remarked he 

 should have full confidence, while in this predicament, with 

 16 men on board in a sea-way. During this exjioiment the 

 gunnel amidships was 11^ inches out of the water, as repre- 

 sented by the line DD, fig. 5. 



Fourthly, in the same state, but with eight men only on 

 board, she was rowed down the river and back with two men 

 constantly bailing into the vessel, without causing any material 

 increase of the water within-board ; for the water within-board 

 must of necessity be above the level of the water without, be- 

 fore it will deliver itself by self-action through the plug-holes 

 in the bottom, and down the three-inch pipes ; and when at 

 a certain height, it delivered itself so fast through these aper- 

 tures, that the bailers were incapable of raising it higher. 

 Men were now put on board her, mei'ely to see how many were 

 enough to put all the floating capacity within the boat beneath 

 the water. This was effected by increasing the number to 

 twenty-five, and is fairly corroborative of the calculation which 

 makes the floating capacity capable of sustaining 23 men and 

 40 pounds, particularly when it is considered that a portion of 

 their weight was in effect taken off by the immersion of their 

 legs in water, and that the men employed might not average 

 145 pounds. 



It must be recollected that the second, third, and fourth ex- 

 periments are representations of extreme circumstances, and 

 such as can only take place on the occasion of a plank being 

 stove in the bottom ; or when, from improper steerage, or on 

 getting into broken water, more sea is shipped than the bailers 

 can overcome, at which time it will be proper to take out the 

 plugs in the bottom of the boat. A boat however of lier build, 

 if properly steered, with her head to the sea, or with her stern 

 to the following sea, is not at any time likely to ship more 

 water than a single bailer will overcome; and (hen, with her 



plugs 



