138 STABILITY OF LIFEBOATS. 



watertight and the stability curve even when light has all the characteristics of that 

 of a raft, with its quick-rising curve of righting moments for very small angles 

 and reaching zero stability at an angle vastly less than the standard type of boat 

 (see Plate 8i). 



In closing I wish to express our appreciation and thanks to the Welin Marine 

 Equipment Company for their kindness in furnishing facilities for carrying out 

 these tests. 



Note. — Since the above article was written I have received a copy of the Re- 

 port to the Secretary of Commerce of the Committee on Lifeboats, dated October 

 14, 1913, and it is of interest to note that it is their recommendation that "* * * 

 collapsible boats or folding boats should not be allowed as any part of the re- 

 quired life-saving equipment." 



DISCUSSION. 

 The Chairman : — iDiscussion is now in order on paper No. 5, "Stability of Lifeboats." 



Professor C. H. Peabody^ Member of Council: — The author of this paper is quite com- 

 petent to present and defend his paper, but there are some statements which, perhaps, I can 

 make to advantage. The investigation upon which this paper is based was assigned to two 

 students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, upon which they were expected to 

 base a thesis. Professor Everett was instructed to superintend the carrying out of the work. 

 The responsibility for the condition of the boats at the time they were tried, the method of 

 carrying out the work, and the writing of the paper, all belong to the author. There was 

 no compensation received by any person who was interested in carrying on the work. After 

 the work was finished, with the advice of myself, this paper was' prepared and is presented 

 before the Society. 



The paper, further, I think wisely, does not undertake to designate the advantages of the 

 several types of boats, except as indicated by the facts presented. There may be a consider- 

 able difference of opinion, and to show that this is not imaginary a member of the Society, 

 not present, called my attention to the fact that in his opinion, while the wooden boat did 

 not show up so well as the steel boat, it was preferable as a lifeboat and he gave good reasons 

 for that. 



It is not at all sure that the third boat which, in some ways, shows remarkable qualities, 

 is the best boat. I may say that the designer of this boat has explained its properties to me 

 at length and has communicated to me tests which have been made on the boat, and still I 

 cannot be convinced that this type of decked lifeboat is the best one. It may seem a little 

 venturesome for a landsman to express an opinion counter to that which is presented by an 

 accomplished seaman who has had large experience in handling boats at sea. Perhaps I may 

 justify myself, if the Society will allow me to do so, by stating that for more than ten years 

 I was the Chairman of the Board of Lifesaving Appliances for the United States Lifesaving 



