LIFE-BOATS. 163 



tight. The spaces between the tubes are filled by triangular- 

 shaped pieces of wood or battings, grooved so as to fit between 

 the tubes. These pieces are placed longitudinally between the 

 tubes, both outside and inside. 



In order to make the whole structure water-tight, and to give 

 the boat greater strength, these battings are covered with 

 caoutchouc and cemented in their places. They also serve to 

 form a smooth surface both outside and inside the boat. These 

 battings are further secured by bolts passing through them and 

 between the tubes of the boat. The gunwale knees and braces 

 are secured in the same manner as the boats before described. 



It will be perceived that this combination of the materials is 

 such as to give the greatest possible strength with the least 

 weight. This description may be better understood by reference 

 to the plate, fig. . 



CLUB-BOATS AND RACE-BOATS. 



Caoutchouc whalebone and whalebone board are materials 

 exactly suitable for the manufacture of club and race-boats, on 

 account of their great strength and lightness, and the cheapness 

 of their manufacture. Thin whalebone board may be used in 

 general for club-boats, but caoutchouc whalebone will make the 

 lightest and most completely finished race-boat. See plate , 

 fig. 



LIFE-BOATS. 



All the boats before specified are convertible into life-boats 

 with trifling expense at the time of their manufacture, by the 

 addition of water-tight compartments in the waste room in the 

 bottom and sides of the boat, as also at the stem and stern, as 

 represented by plate , figs. 



The long-boats before described are necessarily life-boats, as 

 they are first made of tubes, but they also may be rendered 



