Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume X.djvu/427

 LIFE BOAT 421 produced a plan for a boat which was adopted and used for more than 20 years with very successful results. In 1850 the duke of North- umberland, then president of the institution, offered a premium of 100 guineas for the best model of a life boat. The defects of the then existing ones were pointed out to guide inventors, chief- ly as follows: I.They do not right them- selves when upset. 2. FIG. 8. Cross Section. They are too heavy to be readily launched or transported "along the coast. 3. They do not free themselves from water fast enough. 4. They are too expen- sive. A committee was formed to examine and report upon the models, and a regular competitive examination was organized, marks being assigned to the different necessary qual- ifications as follows: 1, rowing boat in all weathers, 20 ; 2, sailing boat in all weathers, 18 ; 3, sea boat, i. e., stability, safety, buoyan- cy forward for launching through surf, 10; 4, means of freeing from water readily, 8 ; 5, extra buoyancy, nature, amount, distribution, mode of application, 7 ; 6, power of self-right- ing, 9 ; 7, suitableness for beaching, 4 ; 8, room and power of carrying passengers, 6 ; 9, moderate weight for transport along shore, 3 ; 10, protection from injury to bottom, 3 ; 11, ballast, as iron (1), water (2), cork (3), 6 ; 12, access to stem and stern, 3; 13, timber heads for securing warps, 2 ; 14, fenders, life lines, &c., 1 ; total, 100. In the following year the committee patiently examined 280 models and FIG. 4. Carriage for Life Boat. plans, and awarded the prize to James Beech- ing of Great Yarmouth, his boat having re- ceived 86 out of the 100 marks. A fine boat terward improved under the auspices of the life-boat institution, and became its standard boat. Its general arrangement is shown in figs. 1, 2, and 3. The important properties of this boat are: 1, maxi- mum of stability ; it can only be capsized under ex- traordinary circumstan- ces ; 2, rights instantly af- ter being upset ; 3, when filled with water, it will discharge the same in 25 seconds ; 4, is easily han- dled under canvas or with oars. The boat is trans- ported on a carriage so arranged that it may be launched as from a ma- rine railway, with the crew in place and ready for service. The royal national life-boat insti- tute has 240 of these boats on the coast of the American Life Boat FIG. 5. Sheer Plan. FIG. 0. Deck Plan. FIG. 7. Cross Section. United Kingdom and the Channel islands, and sim- was built upon Beeching's plan, and being tested by severe trials proved the correctness of the committee's award. This boat was af- ilar boats are used on the coasts of France, Germany, and Kussia. Although many pat- ents for life boats have been applied for in