BODY

See also:

• PLAN
• PLAN (from Lat. planes, flat)

PLAN  . E, Wale, or fender . F, Iron keel ballast, import-ant in general stability and self-righting . G, Water-ballast tanks . H, Drop-keel . previously held by all competent judges that a mechanically-propelled life-boat, suitable fqr service in heavy weather, was a problem surrounded by so many and great difficulties that even the most sanguine experts dared not hope for an early solution of it . This type of boat (fig . 3) has proved very useful . It is, however, fully recognized that boats of this description can necessarily be used at only a very limited number of stations, and where there is a harbour which never dries out . The highest speed attained by the first hydraulic steam life-boat was rather more than 9 knots, and that secured in the latest 91 knots . In 1909 the fleet . of the Institution included 4 steam life-boats and 8 motor life-boats . The experiments with motor life-boats in previous years had proved successful .

The other types of pulling and sailing life-boats are all non-self-righting, and are specially suitable for the requirements of the different parts of the

coast on which they are placed . Their various qualities will be understood by a glance at the illustrations (figs . 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) . The Institution continues to build life-boats of different sizes according to the requirements of the various points of the coast at which they are placed, but of late years the tendency has been generally to increase the dimensions of the boats .