142 NOTES ON LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES. 



Mr. a. p. lyUNDiN, Member: — I am quite pleased at the general interest mani- 

 fested in this paper. It seems to have created almost as much discussion as the 

 steam turbine usually causes in this assemblage. 



It is singular that the discussion so far seems to center in the different types 

 of davits, whereas, in my opinion, the proper way to consider this question is as a 

 whole, i. e., in order to get a really efficient and practical boat equipment it must be 

 considered in a scientific and systematic manner, both as regards lifeboat construc- 

 tion and davit installation for handling them, not to mention other accessories such 

 as chocks, blocks, tackles and releasing gear, etc. 



This problem is not as easy to decide as might be supposed ; there are certain 

 difficulties to overcome, in the solution of which it might be well to profit by the 

 experience and co-operation of an old tar, or of those who are really experienced in 

 launching and handling boats in all kinds of weather and conditions. 



In looking back over my various experiences of twenty years at sea, I might 

 say that it would have been well at times if I could have had some of you here 

 present with me. I have found that there are times at sea when all the science of 

 engineering and clever ingenuity of navigators count for less than a strong stomach 

 and a steady hand ; for instance, when you are hanging by your eyebrows to a yard- 

 arm, trying to reef a top-sail, with the ship rolling so heavily that your particular 

 yard-arm is describing an arc of loo degrees or so; or when you have to be in the 

 fire-room and the bilge pumps are out of order and your ship wallowing about so 

 that the bilge water swamps the floor plates and bakes into them before the fires of 

 the boilers, causing an odor that nauseates all but the strongest; and finally, when 

 you come alongside a large vessel in a lifeboat filled with humanity and the sea 

 running so high that one moment you think the onrushing wave will land you on 

 the deck while in the next your little boat is trying to dive under the bilge — all these 

 are moments when sound stomachs count for much, because dizzy heads and nerve- 

 less fingers cannot do the work at such times. 



Considering all this, in order to get up something that is efficient and really 

 useful in the way of lifeboat equipment, it will be advisable that naval architects 

 and engineers work in co-operation with sea-faring men. 



It is pleasing to note that during the last few months the U. S. Government, 

 as well as other governments, are taking a little more interest in this matter; they 

 are beginning to give the details of the construction of lifeboats due consideration. 

 It is to be hoped that in the future it will not so much be a question of how much 

 a boat or a pair of davits cost but quality and efficiency will be considered, which 

 is the most important matter. 



Mr. Forbes' paper is very interesting, yet I cannot quite agree to all that he says. 

 It seems to me, offhand, that his paper looks somewhat mixed. As regards his 

 belief that at least some of the lifeboats should be equipped with one-man hoisting 

 and lowering controls, I cannot agree with him on this point. I have personally 

 had the experience of coming alongside ships with lifeboats in a rough sea and 

 believe even Mr. Forbes, had he been present, would have been glad to leave the 

 hoisting to those on deck who were standing on a firmer footing. 



