APPENDIX I 



PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT 



Personnel. The personnel was restricted by the size of the boat to six persons, that 

 is, the Officer in Charge of Survey, an assistant, three able seamen, and one motorman. 

 During nearly the whole of the second season we did not have a motorman, one of the 

 seamen acting in that capacity. This number was rather too small and we were often 

 obliged to impress the cook of the day. In every respect the personnel came up to my 

 highest expectations. 



Equipment. The main item of equipment consisted of a motor boat 25 ft. in length 

 with 7 ft. 6 in. beam, decked, with open cockpit, a 3-cylinder petrol engine of 21 h.p. 

 giving about 6 knots speed when fully loaded. There was a fair amount of locker 

 accommodation, and extra fuel space enabling us to carry 65 gallons all told. 



She was, within the limits of her size, a good sea-boat and remained thoroughly 

 tight, although the deck had to be recaulked occasionally. The engine gave little trouble, 

 but was inclined to soot up at very low speeds. When sounding, owing to cold, she gave a 

 little trouble in starting during the first season, but, later on using aviation petrol of 

 low flash point, she always started well. We carried the sail for emergency, and could 

 make good speed with a strong fair wind ; the sail was always used with the engine when 

 possible. 



A bigger boat, if possible with twin screws, would have been an advantage for 

 passages : on the other hand for harbour work, sounding, and so on, she was an ideal 

 size, although owing to her high side rather unhandy in a strong wind. Some small 

 alterations were, however, found to be necessary, apart from fittings such as brackets 

 for the wireless telegraphy receiver. The principal change made was the addition of a 

 canvas dodger or screen supported by small brass stanchions (see Plate XL, fig. i), 

 extending across the break of the deck and to the after-end of the cockpit on either side. 

 This was essential ; for without it the cockpit became very wet in anything but a calm. 

 Later, a sloping wooden cover or canopy was built over the after-end of the cockpit to 

 prevent her being pooped. 



The mast was originally made to ship in a hole through the deck and step in the fore- 

 cabin. It was found impossible to handle it in any sea — the very time when it was most 

 likely to be required. Accordingly it was cut down and made a fixture, but swivelled to 

 fold down towards the stern. It could then be rigged exceedingly quickly, especially as 

 we kept the backstays permanently set up and the sail secured with a slip knot : the time 

 taken to up mast and set sail was a few seconds, even in a rough sea. To counteract the 

 extra strain on the deck at the mast step, the step was placed farther forward and the 

 mast given a heavy rake aft : this gave it more lift and no undue strain was noticed on the 

 deck beams. 



