NOTES ON LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES. 147 



occupants. Many instances are on record where boats so fitted have been released 

 while at the davit heads by some one who thought he ought to do something, and 

 he did it. 



In my opinion a device for releasing boats, that depends upon someone doing 

 a particular thing at the right time, at night, in a crowded boat with everybody 

 excited and a condition of sea that would call for the greatest coolness on the part 

 of the operator, is not so desirable as one that is reliably automatic and at the same 

 time is under the control of the men in the boat, if required. There are numerous 

 devices that can be operated by one person, when the boat is water-borne, but not 

 until then, when there is a strain put on the falls by the sea they cannot be detached 

 until there is slack given to the falls. This does not always permit of the boat 

 being detached, when it should be, instantly; not will a boat so fitted be detached 

 with any certainty while the vessel is under way or in a strong current, for the 

 reason that the lever may not be thrown, or the lanyard pulled at the right time. 



Again, the reasons given by Mr. Forbes for not favoring an automatic gear, 

 namely, "because the moment the boat becomes water-borne the releasing gear 

 detached, and unless the boat is held by the painter, she is adrift, " etc., are points 

 to my mind commendable in a detaching device, for the reason that a boat crewed 

 up and lowered should get clear of the side as soon as possible in order that it may 

 avoid being smashed alongside. 



Mr. Forbes says, ' ' There are times when it is not desirable that a boat should 

 be released the moment it is water-borne." When would this be? Could it not 

 be held alongside by the painter and ride more safely rather than being held by the 

 falls particularly if the sea was bad and the blocks, boat and gear weighty ? 



In conclusion my idea of a releasing device for boats is one that is reliably 

 automatic and can be controlled by the men in the boat, if required, with the falls 

 so rove as to allow both ends of the boat to detach when either end becomes water- 

 borne, irrespective of which end of the boat strikes the water first ; and yet which 

 can be readily and quickly hooked on, from the boat or deck, with the least danger 

 to the men in the boat, is what is wanted and such a device is in existence and is 

 now in use. 



Mr. Harry W. Broady (Communicated) : — Mr. Norton's and Mr. Berry's 

 arguments against the Welin quadrant davits were very interesting, and also their 

 reasons why they believe Mr. Norton's design is the last word in davits. 



The Broady turn-buckle davit was built for a yacht where the lack of space 

 made it absolutely impossible to use any other davit. The location of the center 

 of the screw support could not be in any other place, and the length of the arm was 

 given for the necessary long outreach. The bevel gears were required on account 

 of the only available space for the cranks, and the bearing support for the lower end 

 brackets was more than ample because the center line of load came inside the bear- 

 ings of one and only half an inch outside the other bracket. The davit was made 

 for practical use and not for demonstration or show purposes. Only about 30- 



