130 SECURE SAILING OR LIFE BOAT. 



Or 1 may make this mechanical simile : Suppose a work- 

 man uses a chissel to smooth a surface of wood, by laying 

 too sfreat a stress on the tool it will go too far into the wood 

 for him to force it along in the direction wanted, but put 

 that chissel into a stock like a plane-stock, and set it to the 

 depth required, then the stock will prevent its going too far 

 in, and he can work easily though the plane be pressed on 

 ever so hard. A view of the engraving will elucidate this 

 comparison, as the balance bodies lie parallel with the sur-' 

 face of the water lengthways. The national importance of 

 such boats 1 leave to the public to decide. I must here ob- 

 serve, that my plan contains two distinct and separate im- 

 provements, viz. my neutral mode of building, and the 

 application of the balance bodies. 

 Two separate The first improvement relates to the building of boats, 



improvements \^^rpes ^^ j,^ general. The second is only partial, and 

 of diflFe-eni ap- & ' ' & _ J i > 



plication. applicable to boats of peculiar descriptions or uses; that is, 



all such as are wanted for dispatch, safety, or pleasure, or 

 occasionally for life boats : as there can be no question of 

 the self-balanced boats, built upon my plan, rowing and 

 sailing faster than other boats, and they may be used to go 

 to sea when others cannot ; but the application of the ba- 

 lance bodies is not meant as a general one, as it is not fit 

 for vessels of burden that are sometimes light, and at others 

 heavy laden, when the difference of the draught of water is 

 considerable. 



CHRISTOPHER WILSON. 



Opinions of the CERTIFICATE.' — We whose names are hereunto subscribed 

 advantages of have examined the boat building on Mr. Wilson's plan, 

 (which he calls the neutral plan) and are of opinion, that it 

 will be attended vvith many advantages. 



The boats can be built as light as those that are clincher 

 built, preserving a smooth surface, and will not require 

 caulking ; and they can be easily repaired by any carpen- 

 ter. 



The advantage this boat possesses by having air gunwales 

 are obvious, and. from the partial trial we have had of the 

 boat's sailing which he has altered, we are of opinion, that 



his 



