BOAT LOWEKLNG

85

ably fool-proof launching apparatus of a mechanical type which would
be effective in an emergency with the ship in a seaway and listed to a
considerable angle.

Modern davits are of three types designed on the radial, the quadrant
and the gravity principles, as shown in the various illustrations.

The Two Davit Radial Type is a survival of sailing ship days when
only man-power and rope tackles were available at sea. They are
still being fitted in steamships, but the system has little to commend it
as it is cumbersome, slow and awkward to work, especially when the
boats are housed inboard.

The Welin Quadrant Davit is well known, and is specially adapted for
handling one boat, or two boats stowed either abreast or over each
other, or for nested boats, the davit being designed for the rapid and
effective lowering of the life-boats in an emergency by persons who
may have had but little practice in the operation.

Fig. 2. — Welin-JVIaclachan Gravity Davits. Boats ia stowed position.

The Welin-Maclachlan Gravity Davit enables one man to lower a
life-boat of any size, and fully laden, from its stowed position on the
ship down to the water by* the simple process of operating a hand
lever. Tlie boat is stowed OB cradles mounted on rollers which, move
over parallel trackways laid at right angles to the ship's side and
carried down to the embarkation deck. The trackway or launching