THE LIFE-BOAT. JOURNAL of the Batfonal %Ffe=Boat Jnstftutfon
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THE LIFE-BOAT. JOURNAL OF THE Batfonal %ffe=Boat Jnstftutfon. (ISSUED QUARTERLY.) VOL. XXII.—No. 247.] IST FEBRUARY, 1913. [PniCE 3d. THE MOTOR FLEET. THE review of the Institution's Motor of the expectations of either the Institu- Fleet, which it is usual to make at this tion's officers or the makers. Of this trio, time of the year, reveals the fact that the Campbeltown boat was the first to we are feeling our way slowly, but be completed, and after very successful surely, in the use of Life-boats installed river trials, during which she attained with motor power. Ten years ago a speed of 7 • 6 knots, with a consump- there waa no Motor Life-boat on the tion of thirty-eight pints of petrol per coast. There are now seventeen at hour, and further sea trials at Harwich, their stations and five in the building- she left the latter port on the 4th of yard. In. the year 1904 a self-righting July, under her own power, and pro- boat was installed with an 11 H.P. ceeded up the East Coast. Passing Fay & Bowen motor, and the experiment through the Forth and Clyde Canal, proved such a success that, after a long with its forty locks, the reverse gear— series of further tests, three more Life- and the motor engine itself—received a boats were converted into motor-boats severe test; but no hitch was ex- during the following year. Details of perienced in any way, the boat arriving these boats will be found in the Life- at her station on the 25th of July, boat Journal, Vol. 19, Nos. 213 and 218. having proved herself a thoroughly good So satisfactory did these experimental sea boat, and giving great satisfaction boats prove that the Committee of to the District Inspector and her crew. Management felt justified in beginning Beaumaris.—This boat is completed, to build special boats for the purpose, and will go to her station in the early and three such boats were completed in spring. 1908, two in 1909, three in 1910, two Peterhead.—The boat for this station in 1911, and five in 1912. These last proved herself rather more successful on five boats have all been completed since her river trials than her sister boat for the last review of the Motor Fleet was Campbeltown, attaining a speed of 7 • 75 published in February, 1912, and it is knots, but with an increased consump- proposed to give a brief account of them, tion of petrol, the consumption being at so as to enable our readers to form some the rate of forty-four pints per hour. idea of the advance that has taken place. Her sea trials at Harwich commenced Campbeltown, Seaumaris and Peter- on the 3rd of December, the results head.—These are three sister boats of being all that could be expected. During the largest Watson type (43' X 12' 6"), the six running days she covered an installed with powerful Tylor motors, approximate distance of 238 miles, at designed for 50 B.H.P. at 700 revs., an average speed of 7| knots per hour, but which on trial actually developed 60 the motor running at an average of B.H.P. at 600 revs., a result far in excess 650 revs, per minute. The consumption VOL. XXII.—No. 247.—LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL. THE LIFE-BOAT. FEBRUARY, 1913. of petrol for the whole time amounted from sheer cussedness, leaving the motor to 174 gallons, which gives an average gloomily silent for about an hour and a of 5 • 48 gallons per hour. No trouble half. However, all were glad at 11 A.M. of any kind was experienced during the to sight Flamborough Head looming trials with the motor or reverse gear, i up through the mist. The boat had and on the llth of that month she left ! been steered on a single course from the Harwich for her station under her own j Cockle Lightship, a convincing testimony power, in charge of Lieut. 0. H. Forbes, j to the accuracy of the compass. From R.N., the Institution's Inspector of j Flamborough to Scarborough a W.N.W. Life-boats for the Northern District. j gale was experienced, and with the The following is an extract from the j spindrift finding its way through their log-book kept during the passage. It j oilskins, all were glad enough to reach will be seen that a certain amount of | Scarborough shortly before 1 o'clock in salt water has got into the account' the afternoon. Admitting the time lost which we have not thought necessary j by the sparking-plug trouble, the to dry out: passage of 132 miles had been done at "Arriving at Gorleston at 2.40 P.M. an average of 8 knots speed, and with on the llth, it was found that the south I a consumption of less than five gallons cone had just been hoisted, and it | per hour of petrol. appeared wise, in view of probable " On the 13th inst., at 8 A.M., a start approaching bad weather in the Long was again made in a westerly gale, the Deeps, to abandon the proposed night's boat making a great run to the Tyne. rest at this port, and to face a further j It was blowing very hard indeed, and lengthened run at sea. The petrol- ja nasty short sea was met when off tanks were therefore replenished irn- ! the mouth of the Tees, some minor mediately, provisions for the trip taken, ! trouble being experienced here owing the recommended way to carry them | to the failure of the circulating water, being ' inside,' and three hours later but this was rectified immediately, the Gorleston was left in the distance, with Tyne being entered, after a very cold a fine fair wind, but the whole of the trip, at three in the afternoon. It was flood tide against her. Shortly after i found that the boat had averaged 8 • 2 starting it was discovered that the knots for a little more than five thermos flask which becomes a gallons per hour consumption. necessity in these motor-boat passages, "On the 14th inst. the gale still if hot tea is in any way to be considered continued, but had veered to the north- as a comfort—was broken, the resultant west when the boat sailed at 8 A.M., remarks constituting a serious danger and consequently a good dusting was with a deck cargo of petrol. Good experienced in reaching Blyth, which it progress was made under sail and motor was thought prudent to enter to give power until 1 A.M. on the 12th, when all hands a lengthened night's rest, the the wind flew to the northward, and passage being again resumed on the headed her, it becoming bitterly cold ; j 16th, under the unusual conditions of and as the boat was washing down in j a moderate W. gale and a very hard the short tidal sea, the elements of i frost. Under these wintry conditions, the weather seemed to cut right through i but with the help of a fair tide, Berwick her occupants. The following morning i was reached at 2 P.M., the average speed at about 6 A.M. the wind drew round attained being 8 knots. to the westward, enabling better pro- " On the 17th she cleared from Ber- gress to be made. Shortly afterwards, wick, the •wind having backed to the No. 3 ignition plug blew, and, after S.W., and on this day the fastest run being refitted, evidently did it again was made during the trip, in spite of a IST FEBRUARY, 1913.] THE LIFE-BOAT. heavy sea being met on the Firth of been too much for the pulling Life-boat Forth opening out, the boat averaging stationed there. It is therefore un- 9 knots on the whole run to Montrose, doubtedly one of those stations which which port was entered at four o'clock will reap great benefit from a Life-boat in the afternoon. with motor power. The boat built for " On the 18th a short run was made it is a self-righter, 40' x 10' 6", installed to Aberdeen, to enable the inhabitants with a 40 H.P. Tylor motor. Her of this city to see the new motor passage from London to St. David's, boat, the afternoon being given up to during some of the bad weather of short runs in Aberdeen Harbour, as a last autumn, was a very severe test of result of which the boat and her handi- the qualities of both boat and engine. ness were very much admired. Her log shows that on six out of the " On the 19th a final day's run was nine days at sea she encountered gales commenced at 9.45 A.M., the boat of wind accompanied by heavy seas, and achieving another 9 knot average to she had to pass through the centre of her destination, which was reached the well-known tide races of St. Alban's early in the afternoon. Here a hearty Head and Portland Bill. The District welcome was received from the entire Inspector, who was in charge of her fishing population, the arrival of the during this voyage, reports that she was boat having been anxiously looked an exceptionally dry boat, and that 110 forward to by all. trouble whatever was experienced with " During the passage from Harwich the motor throughout the entire run.