TRACTORS FOR LAUNCHING LIFEBOATS.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1923, Page 14

TRACTORS FOR LAUNCHING LIFEBOATS.

Three years ago the Royal National Lifeboat Institution first experimented with motor caterpillar tractors, such as are used for agricultural purposes, to see if they could be made suitable for launching lifeboats. The experiments were successful, and several tractors have sinco been adapted to_ make them amphibious. They are now in use at seven lifeboat stations at Home, while another nine tractors are being so adapted. On a. number of occasions they have shown how much mve promptly it is possible to launch with them than, with horses, and in one of the most recent launches, no less than three hours were saved. These tractors, however, have their limitations, and experience has shown that whero shingle, mud holes, or creeping sand_ exist, somethinc more powerful: is required. With this fact in view,' the Citroen Ketrresse Company has carried out a preliminary experiment, on behalf ot the institution, with one of its special tsn horse-power cars, similar to those which crossed the Sahara some months anp. The company intends to continue its experiments in the hone that the Kegresse track, which is fitted with these cars, may move to be. or can be made, suitable for launching heavy lifeboats off the different kinds of beach round oiu- coasts. This self-layine track, which is used on the car in. place, of the back wheels, is of flexible rubber and canvas creeper bands.