MOTOR LIFEBOATS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18324, 14 February 1923, Page 7

MOTOR LIFEBOATS.

SPECIAL DESIGN OF ENGINE. The fact that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has had nearly twenty years' experience with motor-boats adapted to the special requirements of their humanitarian work adds particular interest and importance to the recent completion of a vessel in which all this experience is embodied. This boat, which is fitted with a new type of petrol engine, has been installed at her station at Penlee, in Cornwall. The engine has been specially designed by the staff of the institution to meet the arduous requirements of the service. One of its chief features is that it is entirely enclosed so as to be capable of working with the engine space flooded. Provision has been made against the effects of spray. _ Actually the engine would, continue to run if entirely submerged, provided the air intake remained above water. Although the working parts are enclosed, those details, such as valves and ignition gear, which may require attention, can be readily examined and ad-, justed. The engine has six cylinders capable, of developing 89 h.p. It is fitted with reversing gear and with a small air-cooled engine for starting, though it can also be started by hand. The weight of the complete power installation, including nil pumps and accessories, is 37cwt. The Penlee boat, which is named The Brothers, is of the Watson type, with a length of 45ft. and a beam of 12ft. 6in., and, for the meantime, will be the most powerful boat in the service, the largest boats previously used having engines of 60 h.p. It is, however, inteuded to fit the new engine in all future motor lifeboats, of which six are now under construction and eight more will be laid down shortly. The institution's fleet now includes 238 lifeboats, of which 38 are propelled by motors.