Chief Inspector of Life-boats THE new 42-feet by 14-feet Watson cabin life-boat, the first of which has now gone to her station at Coverack, Cornwall, is the successor of the 41-feet by 11-feet 8-inches Watson type boat, which first came into service twenty- one years ago. The 41-feet Watson type of boat is of comparatively shallow draft, specially designed for launching from harbours where there is only very shallow water at low tide, or where a shallow bar has to be crossed.

The Committee of Management has for some time been of the opinion that greater power was desirable in this type of boat in order to give maximum power when necessary and to permit the engines to be run economically at other times. After much research into the question, it was decided to power the new boat with two 48 h.p.

Gardner 4.L.W. diesel engines. These give her a full speed of 8.38 knots with a total endurance at this speed of 238 miles, as compared with the 7.78 knots and 125 miles endurance of her predecessor, which is powered with twin 35 h.p. petrol engines. The fuel capacity in each case is the same, i.e. 112 gallons.

Watertight Inner Bottom Another major modification embod- ied in the new boat is the construction of a watertight inner bottom to her engine room, which, together with its watertight wing bulkheads and water- tight forward and after bulkheads, makes it virtually a watertight box within the hull of the boat.

Among several minor modifications embodied for the first time in this type of boat are a combined mast exhaust; Kent clear-view screen; a twin R/T aerial, which gives greater range; and wooden bulwarks both forward and aft for greater protection from the sea.

Early in May, when this boat had satisfactorily completed her normal trials at Littlehampton, where she was built by Messrs. William Osborne, Ltd., she was despatched on a somewhat rigorous extended sea trial. This took her up the east coast of Britain to the Inverness neighbourhood, through the Caledonian Canal, down the west coast and back to Little- hampton. The object of the trial was to test the Gardner engines, which were new to the Institution, thoroughly, by driving them hard all the way, and to obtain the views of life-boat crews from comparable life- boat stations on her engines and the new method of watertighting the engine room.

Complete Success The trial was a complete success.

The life-boat completed 1,500 miles in 181 steaming hours at an average speed of 8.3 knots, despite very heavy weather on two occasions, without the least suspicion of engine trouble.

Altogether, before leaving her station, she completed 213 hours running, the equivalent of four or five years' normal running. During this trial, some nineteen deputations from life-boat crews were given an opportunity of going afloat in her, all of whom, with- out exception, expressed themselves as being entirely satisfied both with her engines and the new watertighting arrangement. Criticisms of her were invited but very few—and those were of a superficial nature—were received; in fact, she created a most favourable impression everywhere.

Commander E. W. Middleton, District Inspector (General), who com- manded this boat for part of her extended sea trial, made the following report on his trip: With Coxswain Upperton and Mechanic Philcox of Shoreham on board in addition to a crew of six, we left Littlehampton at nine o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the 1st of May. The weather was fine with a light south-south-westerly breeze and a smooth sea.

Feeling of Great Power On passage to Shoreham, the cox- swain and mechanic were able to inspect the new life-boat thoroughly and to test her manoeuvring qualities.

On reaching Shoreham we ran in alongside the life-boat slip, landed the Shoreham men and were away again inside ten minutes. The quiet, smooth-running Gardner diesels gave a feeling of great power, and all hands were already impressed by the new boat's qualities.

The remainder of the passage to Newhaven, where we were scheduled to spend the night, took place without incident, and soon after 12.30 in the afternoon we were rounding the break- water. Had we not been working to a fixed programme in order to allow deputations from other stations to inspect the boat, it would have been easy to have made Ramsgate that day.

When we left Newhaven at 6.15 on Sunday morning, there was a strong south-south-westerly breeze and a steep breaking sea on the bar. With the engines eased well down in order to give the new vessel a chance of learning her tricks gently, the steepest seas were ridden cleanly and easily.

Gale Conditions The wind and sea were increasing, and it was obvious we were in for gale conditions. Making a good offing, we stood well out clear of Beachy Head before bringing the wind and sea just abaft the beam on the course for Dungeness.

Off Beachy there was a big lump of sea, and with the engines at full operational revolutions it was a good test of the new boat's running qualities.

Every now and then she would pick up and run on the top of a breaking wave in exhilarating fashion, but she always left the helmsman a feeling of complete control, with never any sug- gestion of broaching.

Under the lee of Dungeness we were able to embark Coxswain Tart and Mechanic Oilier of that station, and once more a complete inspection and opportunity to handle the boat was arranged.

Somewhat to my surprise the Dunge- ness men were in their Sunday best, and on my remarking that this was not quite the gear I should have chosen in such weather, Coxswain Tart replied: "Well, we didn't expect to get wet in a fine new boat like this." They didn't.

Yachts Capsize A message by radio telephone in- formed us that the Walmer deputation, were unable to get off the beach owing to the bad weather, so arrangements were made to pick them up at Dover.

Off Dover harbour there was the usual confused sea produced by the tide in gale conditions, and there was a nasty break across the eastern entrance. However, the life-boat took both in her stride and without ship- ping anything other than spray. A quick change over in the Camber, and we were away again, with Coxswain Fred Upton and Mechanic Percy Cavell of Walmer on board. Again the boat was inspected and tried out and pronounced "very good indeed" by these two most experienced life- boatmen.

The entrance to Ramsgate harbour looked very unpleasant when we arrived, with a confused breaking sea and masses of spray. Inside were a number of French trawlers, which had come in for shelter, including two which had been escorted in by the Ramsgate life-boat shortly before our arrival. Four or five yachts capsized at their moorings, and conditions generally were in keeping with what is often called life-boat weather. We felt the new boat had had a vigorous introduction to her job.

Lively Passage From Ramsgate to Whitby the weather continued changeable, with fresh or strong winds from all points of the compass. A further deputation was embarked at Aldeburgh and landed at Lowestoft, and the next night was spent at Gorleston.

Gorleston to the Humber is rarely a smooth-water trip, and on this occasion the wind soon found its way into the north-east and gave us a somewhat lively passage from Cromer to Spurn.

In the short steep seas of the Wash the boat again behaved excellently, and not once did she fall into the trough with that teeth-chattering crash which some seamen refer to as "hitting a milestone".

At Spurn we refuelled and fed and got away to sea again before midnight.

After passing Flamborough Head at first light, we were entering Whitby harbour at nine in the morning, tired, but ready for breakfast.

Of the rest of the long journey north, through the Caledonian Canal, down the west coast and along the south coast back to Littlehampton, I can only tell at second-hand, as I left the life-boat at Whitby.

Commander S. W. F. Bennetts, the Deputy Chief Inspector, who was in command from Whitby to Berwick, made a night passage under very unpleasant conditions.

"A Grand New Boat" The wind was south-westerly up to four in the morning, when it started to blow hard and veer to the north- west. For the last two hours of the trip the boat was plunging into a big head sea and once more received a severe testing, which she came through splendidly.

For the rest of the trip scarcely any bad weather was encountered, but many crews were embarked and allowed to examine the boat and see how she handled. Crews from Whitby, Berwick, Dunbar, Whitehills and Buckie all made trips in her, and without exception all pronounced her "a grand new boat".

The Northern District Inspector was in command as far as Troon, then the Western District Inspector took over, and after calling at the Isle of Man and Moelfre in Anglesey, handed over to the Irish District Inspector at Dun Laoghaire.

Down the coast of Ireland and across to Newlyn, where the Southern District Inspector took over, the voyage lasted only twenty-eight hours.

At Coverack a special welcome had been arranged, and not unnaturally the new life-boat was received with even greater enthusiasm than any- where else. Up channel to the Solent, where further speed trials were run, and then, just twenty-three days after her departure and exactly on schedule, the life-boat steamed into Little- hampton, where she was built.

Throughout this long and exacting trial there was not a falter from the engines or a sign of a defect in the boat itself. For what better reward could her designers and builders wish ?.