NOTES ON LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES. 133 



when once lifted, they stay in position. When folded down they form a 

 firm platform to rest a second boat on. 



The boat illustrated is 26 feet long with a beam of 8 feet 9 inches over 

 fenders; carrying capacity, 50 persons. The design of this very practical 

 boat could only come from one who had done more than read about life at 

 sea, and it is due to one of our members, Capt. A. P. Lundin. A peculiar 

 feature of this boat is the use of a very light wooden fender to add to its buoy- 

 ancy ; the wood used is known as Balsa wood and is about 25 per cent lighter 

 than cork. 



If we look calmly on the wrecking of the Titanic, are we not forced 

 to the conclusion that the great lesson taught is prudence, and is it not 

 possible that we can go so far in providing life-saving apparatus at sea that 

 this lesson may be deliberately neglected? Yet while prudence is desirable 

 and the perfecting of appliances might mitigate against it, we certainly 

 should aim to obtain perfection. 



My ideal of hfeboat equipment is a seaworthy boat of solid construction, 

 davits which are worked from the ship's deck independently and with vari- 

 able reach, a fall which is entirely controlled by a man in the boat, and a 

 releasing device which can be made automatic or self -releasing when the boat 

 is water-borne, or that can be detached at either end or both simultaneously. 

 For returning the boat to the deck, I believe a power system should be fitted 

 to at least two boats on each side, so that for rescue work the boat can be 

 brought up with a run, to avoid being swamped in lifting. In rescue work, 

 moreover, there is no reason why power cannot be applied as it would be 

 available. The other boats carried would only be used if the ship was aban- 

 doned, and a quick power return on these is not so desirable because no master 

 would hold boat drills in weather which would endanger lives and the boat; 

 but for rescue work, it seems to me that a quick power hoist is imperative 

 and it must be under control of a man in the boat. 



To recapitulate, we can say there are three conditions which must be 

 considered in handling lifeboats: — 



1. Drill, when power is available. It must be admitted that under drill 

 conditions there is no excitement, and calm weather would undoubtedly 

 be selected for such work. The boats have to be got out and, of course, 

 got back, but the operation is performed by men more or less used to 

 life at sea, and it is safe to say that, with the appliances now at hand, drills 

 can be satisfactorily carried on. 



2. Abandoning ship, when power would probably not be available nor 

 would it be required. The conditions are likely to be : an excited, frightened 

 crowd, few of whom are used to the sea; probably a high wind and consider- 



