conservatively rigged

[Paul Pless]

still beats rowing

[Gerarddm]

Wasn't that about the size of the rig on James Caird?

[Paul Pless]

[Jim Mahan]

The image in the OP has an optical illusion. The view across midships shows ocean and no starboard side gunwale, on that side of the cockpit, while the foredeck must be highly crowned, with that grab rail being near the apex, but suggesting to the eye the starboard gunwale of a flat foredeck, so it looks like the boat has some weird wide opening in the middle of the side. Am I seeing that right?

[Paul Pless]

turtle decks

[Breakaway]

The image in the OP has an optical illusion. The view across midships shows ocean and no starboard side gunwale, on that side of the cockpit, while the foredeck must be highly crowned, with that grab rail being near the apex, but suggesting to the eye the starboard gunwale of a flat foredeck, so it looks like the boat has some weird wide opening in the middle of the side. Am I seeing that right?

I think the photo is a composite, Jim. The image of the boat has been dropped onto a larger image of the ocean. In short, its " Photoshopped."

Kevin

[Dan McCosh]

I think the photo is a composite, Jim. The image of the boat has been dropped onto a larger image of the ocean. In short, its " Photoshopped."

Kevin

Also looks like the Great Lakes, rather than the ocean. Boat in the background looks like a laker.

[TerryLL]

I think it was Yeadon who said a boat hoisting a sprit sail was a sure sign of distress, or words to that effect. Having sailed a sprit-rigged dory 900 miles up the BC coast, I totally agree.

[The Ranger]

United States Life Saving Service rowing/sailing surf boat. Station name is on the forward compartment but I can't make it out.

[JimD]

Tilikum

[J P]

United States Life Saving Service rowing/sailing surf boat. Station name is on the forward compartment but I can't make it out.

Looks like maybe "ERIE Life Saving Station".

[Peerie Maa]

It is a Pulling and Sailing life boat
I cannot make out the abbreviation of which Life Saving Service she belongs to. It might be The Royal Life Saving Society of Canada.
The badge on the bow looks like the emblem in the middle of this medal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Life_Saving_Society_UK

This is the RNLI version

[Rumars]

Erie yes, 34ft lifeboat, converted to motor. https://www.eriemaritimemuseum.org/surfmenexhibit

Boat plan, unfortunately not a great quality. http://www.trdring.com/merryman-type...t-34-foot.html

The successor 36ft model had standing lugs, 18 and 16.5sqft, plus jib, 8 tons displacement. https://www.tomsriverseaport.org/new...motor-lifeboat

The grabrail is not on the apex of a halfround deck, the deck has indeed a flat top and curved sides, with a grabrail each side.

Emblem on the bow is this: https://www.history.uscg.mil/US-Coas...to/2002156479/

[Jim Mahan]

I think the photo is a composite, Jim. The image of the boat has been dropped onto a larger image of the ocean. In short, its " Photoshopped."

Kevin

Now that you point it out, I see it, and it makes sense. Now I'm curious as to why someone would do that, but I'll let it go.

[Peerie Maa]

The image in the OP has an optical illusion. The view across midships shows ocean and no starboard side gunwale, on that side of the cockpit, while the foredeck must be highly crowned, with that grab rail being near the apex, but suggesting to the eye the starboard gunwale of a flat foredeck, so it looks like the boat has some weird wide opening in the middle of the side. Am I seeing that right?

I can see the starboard gunnel and an oar lock standing in it. The camera may have caught the boat rolling to bring both gunnels level with the camera.

[Nicholas Carey]

The image in the OP has an optical illusion. The view across midships shows ocean and no starboard side gunwale, on that side of the cockpit, while the foredeck must be highly crowned, with that grab rail being near the apex, but suggesting to the eye the starboard gunwale of a flat foredeck, so it looks like the boat has some weird wide opening in the middle of the side. Am I seeing that right?

It's a Dobbins Life Boat, self-righting and self-bailing, in the service of the United States Life Saving Service (see the trail board aft).

https://nmgl.org/captain-dobbins-and...t-spring-1959/

[David G]

I thought you were going to show a boat with masts offset to starboard... resulting in poor performance and inherent instability...

[Canoeyawl]

A very interesting tiller arrangement...
We need a better picture of that detail
(I might argue that yes there is only one grab rail centered on each deck)

[Peerie Maa]

A very interesting tiller arrangement...
We need a better picture of that detail
(I might argue that yes there is only one grab rail centered on each deck)

I think that you are right about one grab rail, but each one runs off to Starboard.
The steering on the motorised boat, after conversion, shown in the drawings link, is a geared quadrant, with either a crank handle, or a vertical axle wheel on the coaming of the stern turtle back.
Before conversion, the sailing version was drawn with a yoke, and possibly a Scandinavian type push-pull tiller.

[Canoeyawl]

18336BEC-7CF8-419E-A55D-5F4ABA287DA9.jpg

edit: https://nmgl.org/captain-dobbins-and...t-spring-1959/

[Rumars]

I think that you are right about one grab rail, but each one runs off to Starboard.
The steering on the motorised boat, after conversion, shown in the drawings link, is a geared quadrant, with either a crank handle, or a vertical axle wheel on the coaming of the stern turtle back.
Before conversion, the sailing version was drawn with a yoke, and possibly a Scandinavian type push-pull tiller.

I don't like posting photos to wich I don't have the rights, so I'll only provide the link: https://uslife-savingservice.org/lif...tor-lifeboats/
You zoom in on the first photo, the 34ft Merryman you will see the second grabrail just at the edge of the foredeck and aftdeck blending in with the water.
Same thing here, https://uslife-savingservice.org/lif...ing-lifeboats/ the two handrails appear as a V shape on the decks.

[Peerie Maa]

I don't like posting photos to wich I don't have the rights, so I'll only provide the link: https://uslife-savingservice.org/lif...tor-lifeboats/
You zoom in on the first photo, the 34ft Merryman you will see the second grabrail just at the edge of the foredeck and aftdeck blending in with the water.
Same thing here, https://uslife-savingservice.org/lif...ing-lifeboats/ the two handrails appear as a V shape on the decks.

The photos in the link in your post#13 suggest that no two boats were alike. In your first link, the photo of the motor version has nav lights set into the bow turtle back, whereas the sailing version does not.
This debate could go twice round the moon and back without settling on an answer.

[lupussonic]

The image in the OP has an optical illusion. The view across midships shows ocean and no starboard side gunwale, on that side of the cockpit, while the foredeck must be highly crowned, with that grab rail being near the apex, but suggesting to the eye the starboard gunwale of a flat foredeck, so it looks like the boat has some weird wide opening in the middle of the side. Am I seeing that right?

I think you are asuming the bow deck is reasonably flat, so the starboard gunwhale should come aft where you see it on the port side of the bow.

But I think the bow deck is heavily cambered, meaning the starboard gunwhale could run aft much lower, hence below where you think it should be.

If that makes sense?

Those grab rails forward and aft are not at the starboard gunwhales, they are at the crown of the cambered bow / stern decks.

[J.Madison]

I think it was Yeadon who said a boat hoisting a sprit sail was a sure sign of distress, or words to that effect. Having sailed a sprit-rigged dory 900 miles up the BC coast, I totally agree.

Ha! That is pretty funny, and also my experience.

[TerryLL]

I think this is a pic of Yeadon in his sprit-rigged peapod on Lake Washington. He knew what he was talking about.

Screen Shot 2023-03-06 at 5.41.19 PM.jpg

[JamesCaird]

Back to Post #2 about James Caird: I do know something about the boat- much smaller than #1 photo with likely at third or less the volume. The mizzen on JC is about 8 ft from deck to masthead and the mizzen sail is a bit of a hankerchief although effective for trim. I sailed it jib and jigger a good bit. The boat was less than 1000 lbs plus maybe 1500 lbs of ballast. Only 24ft overall and a bit over 7 ft beam. Two people can stand in the cockpit or a cramped third one. Steered with tiller ropes.
Cheers/JC