BLACKPOOL.—The boat, which has recently been sent to this station by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIM-BOAT INSTITUTION, was designed by Mr. G. L. WATSON, Con- salting Naval Architect to the Institution, specially to meet the views of the Black- pool Life-boat men. She is of a n on- set f-righ ting type, bat is insnbmergible.

Her dimensions are: length extreme, 36 ft. 2 in.; beam extreme, 8 ft. 10 in.; depth amidships from bottom of keel to gun- wale, 3 ft 8 in., by which it will readily be seen that she has considerable beam and consequently great stability. She is particularly intended for work under oars, of which she pulls twelve; the thwarts being 3 ft. 5 in. apart gives ample room to the men; she is also provided with one mast, and sets a standing lag and jib. One of the great objects of her designer has been to keep the weight down as much as is compatible with sufficient strength to withstand the severe strain to which Life-boats are put. Her weight is 2 tons 19 cwt. 2 qrs.

The iron keel has been made as moder- ate us possible, only weighing 7 cwt.; but to supplement this two water-ballast tanks are arranged for, which will take in about 1 ton of water. The mean draught of the boat, with crew and gear in and tanks empty, is 19.J inches, with tanks full 21£ inches, and with everything in its place she floats about 2 inches by the stern. In order to save weight her de- signer has dispensed with the usual method of filling up the under-deck spaces with wooden air - cases, and has in- geniously substituted waterproof bags in each compartment, which are inflated by means of a bellows, the nozzles of each bag being brought np to small scuttles in the deck which are closed by brass screw- plates. There are however copper air- i cases attached to the hatches of the I ballast-tanks to keep the water low down and to prevent it washing about. Another ; feature introduced with a view of saving ! weight and lowering the centre of gravity is the arrangement of side seats (a I method adopted by Mr. RCBIE, assistant- I surveyor to the Institution, in the boat I specially designed by him for Dungeness I No. 1); these could be used by any ship- wrecked crew, and by placing them where i they are the weight and windage of such passengers would not be so detrimental.

The boat has a bow and a stern end box; the tops of these are about 2 ft.

above the deck. The bow end box is 6 ft. 3 in., and that at the stern 4 ft 7 in.

long. The boat is a handsome model, which was to be expected seeing who de- signed her. Up to now no opportunity has occurred for giving her a good trial.

Like the boat she superseded she isnamed the Samuel Fletcher of Manchester.

It 'will be remembered by our readers that some years since the QUEEN, in view of the intention of the late Mr. SAMUEL FLETCHEB, of Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, to bnild and endow a Life- boat, was graciously pleased to direct that a portion of his property which, owing to his intestacy, had devolved on Her Majesty in right of her Duchy of Lancaster, should be appropriated to the building and maintaining in perpetuity by the Institution of a Life-boat to be named after the testator..