THE LIFE-BOAT. 03(? 
Jff on each side in proportion to above half the breadth 
of the floor. The brtodth is continued far forwards to- 
wards the ends, leaving a sufficient length of^ straight side 
at the top. The sheer is regular along the straight side, and 
more elevated towards the ends j the gunwale fixed to the 
nutside is three inches thick, and cased with layers of cork 
to the depth of sixteen inches downwards. The cork on 
the outside is secured with thin plates or slips of copper, 
and the boat is fastened with copper nails. Tiie thwarts, or 
scats, are five in number, double banked, consequently the 
boat may be rowed with ten oars. Ihe boat is steeied with 
an oar at each end, and the steering- oar is one-third longer 
than the rowing-oar. The plattbfm, placed at the bottom 
within the boat,, is liorizontal, the length of the midships, 
mid elevated at the ends for the convenience of the steers- 
man, to give him a greater power w'ith the oar. 1 he in- 
ternal part of the boat next the sides is cased with cork, 
the whole quantity of which affixed to the life-boat is 
nearly seven hundred weight. The cork contributes much 
to the buoyancy of the boat, and is a good defence in going 
alrjig-side a vessel ; but its pilncipal use is in keeping the 
boat in an erect position hi ilie sea ; or, rather, for giving 
her a very lively and quick disposition to recover from any 
sudden cant or lurch, which she may receive from tlie stroko 
of a heavy wave, 
The ends being similar, the boat can be rowed either 
way j and this peculiarity of form alleviates her in rising 
over the waves. The curvature of the keel and bottom 
facilitates her movement in turning, and contributes to iho 
ease of the steerage, as a single stroke of the steeiiiig-oar 
has an immediate effect, the boat moving, as it were, upon 
a centre. The fine entrance below is of use in dividing 
the waves when rowing against them 5 and, combined with 
the convexity of the bottom, and the eliptical form of the 
stem, admits her to rise with wonderful buoyancy in a high 
sea, and to launch forward with rapidity, without shipping^ 
any -water, when a common boat would be in danger ot 
being filled. The iiilcrnal shallowness of the boat irom the 
gunwale down to the platform, the convexity of die foim, 
f tid the bulk of cork within, leave a very diminished space 
lor the water to occupy ; so that tlie life-boat, when filled 
with water, contains i>, consid«rable less quantity than the 
