BOA 
tion. The sides, from the floor-heads to 
the top of the gunwale, flaunch off on each 
side, in proportion to above half the breadth 
of the floor. The breadth is continued far for- 
wards towards 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. The gun- 
wale fixed to the outside is three inches 
thick. The sides, from the under part of 
the gunwale, along the whole length of the 
regular sheer, extending twenty-one feet 
six inches, are cased with layers of cork, to 
the depth of sixteen inches downwards ; 
and the thickness of this casing of cork be- 
ing four inches, it projects at the top a lit- 
tle without the gunwale. The cork on the 
outside is secured with thin plates, or slips 
of copper, and the boat is fastened with 
copper nails. The thwarts, or seats, are 
five in number, double banked ; conse- 
quently the boat may be rowed with ten 
oars. The boat is steered with an oar at 
each end ; and the steering oar is one third 
longer than the rowing oar. The platform 
placed at the bottom, within the boat, is 
horizontal, the length of the midships, and 
elevated at the ends, for the convenience of 
the steersman, to give him a greater power 
with the oar. The internal 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, 
indisputably, contributes much to the buoy- 
ancy of the boat, is a good defence in going 
along-side a vessel, and is of principal use 
in keeping the boat in an erect position in 
the 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 the stroke of a heavy wave. 
But, exclusively of the cork, the admirable 
construction of this boat gives it a decided 
pre-eminence. The ends being similar, the 
boat can be rowed either way; and this 
peculiarity of form alleviates her in rising 
over the waves. The curvature of the keel 
and bottom facilitates her movement in turn- 
ing, and contributes to the ease of the 
steerage, as a single stroke of the steering 
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 ; and, combined with 
the convexity of the bottom, and the ellip- 
tical 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 
VOL. I. 
BOB 
would be in danger of being filled. The 
internal shallowness of the boat from the 
gunwale down to the platform, the con- 
vexity of the form, and the bulk of cork 
within, leave a very diminished space for 
the water to. occupy ; so that the life boat, 
when filled with water, contains a consi- 
derable less quantity than the common boat, 
and is in no danger either of sinking or 
overturning. 
It may be presumed by some, that in 
cases , of high wind, agitated sea, and 
broken waves, a boat of such a bulk could 
not prevail against them by the force of 
oars ; but the life-boat, from her peculiar 
form, may be rowed a-head, when the at- 
tempt in other boats would fail. Boats of 
the common form, adapted for speed, are, 
of course, put in motion with a small pow- 
er ; but, for want of buoyancy and bearing, 
are over-run by the waves, and sunk, when 
impelled against them ; and boats con- 
structed for burthen meet with too much 
resistance from the wind and sea, when 
opposed to them, and cannot, in such cases, 
be rowed from the shore to a ship in dis- 
tress. 
BOATSWAIN, a ship-officer, to whom 
is committed the charge of all the tacklings, 
sails, and rigging, ropes, cables, anchors, 
flags, pendants, &c. He is also to take care 
of the long-boat and its furniture, and to 
steer her either by himself or his mate. 
He calls out the several gangs and com- 
panies aboard, to the due execution of their 
watches, works, spells, &c. He is likewise 
provost-marshal, who sees and punishes all 
offenders sentenced by the captain, or a 
court-martial of the fleet. He ought fre- 
quently to examine the condition of the 
masts, sails, and rigging, and remove what- 
ever may be unfit for service, or supply 
what is deficient ; and he is ordered by his 
instructions to perform his duty “ with as 
little noise as possible.” 
Boatswain’s mate has the peculiar com- 
mand of the long boat, for the setting forth 
of anchors, weighing or fetching home an 
anchor, warping, towing, or mooring ; and 
is to give an account of his store. 
BOB, a term used for the ball of a short 
pendulum. 
Bob, in ringing of bells, denotes a peal 
consisting of several courses, or sets ot 
changes. 
BOBARTIA, in botany, a genus of the 
Triandria Digynia class of plants, the calyx 
of which is imbricated, and contains only a 
single flower ; the corolla is a glume, con- 
Oo 
