Berthon Boat
Encyclopedia
Berthon Boats have double linings of canvas
, sectioned in two watertight envelopes that assist buoyancy and give protection from the possibility that the outer canvas could be accidentally torn. In addition, the deck can double as a liferaft due to its support by four long air tanks.
When on the 29th June 1849 the SS Orion was wrecked off Port Patrick, the Reverend Clark, a survivor, wrote to the Reverend Edward Lyon Berthon
: "Can not you think of a way in which boats, enough for all on board, be stowed on a passenger steamer without inconvenience?". This led to Berthon's development of the Berthon Collapsible Lifeboat.
When the boat was demonstrated to Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, the Princess Royal
and the Prince of Wales
, the latter commented that a cannonball
would go through it easily. Berthon asked him what a cannonball would not go through, and the Queen was reported to have been greatly amused. The Royal Navy accepted a perfected design in 1873.
After the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the White Star Line
's owner, Bruce Ismay
, required that every passenger boat under his control would thereafter be fitted with sufficient lifeboat
s for all passengers. In his speech at the close of the Titanic inquiry, the Attorney General
called for more life saving devices at sea, including lifeboats, and regulations that would ‘apply to the vessels of all countries’ to enforce this request.
, Hampshire
, ran a boatbuilding and engineering enterprise. In 1877, he started a company in Romsey, building folding lifeboats
and "other floating machines", which (originally designed as lifeboats) were the mainstay of his business.
The prototype was developed by him at HMS Excellent
, Whale Island, Portsmouth where he was chaplain. A seaman was drowned in an early trial in 1854 after the boat was overloaded with a 13-inch mortar.
Berthon was related to the mid-twentieth century engineer, Peter Berthon, who developed the ERA
racing car in the 1930s and the BRM post-war.
The Berthon Boat Company is still operating today on the same site and is still a boat yard with a workforce of 70 skilled craftsmen specialising in the refit and repair of yachts of up to 150 feet. It also has a 280 berth deep water marina and a a yacht sales division.
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
, sectioned in two watertight envelopes that assist buoyancy and give protection from the possibility that the outer canvas could be accidentally torn. In addition, the deck can double as a liferaft due to its support by four long air tanks.
When on the 29th June 1849 the SS Orion was wrecked off Port Patrick, the Reverend Clark, a survivor, wrote to the Reverend Edward Lyon Berthon
Edward Lyon Berthon
Edward Lyon Berthon , English inventor, was born in London, the son of an army contractor and descendant of an old Huguenot family.-Life:...
: "Can not you think of a way in which boats, enough for all on board, be stowed on a passenger steamer without inconvenience?". This led to Berthon's development of the Berthon Collapsible Lifeboat.
When the boat was demonstrated to Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, the Princess Royal
Victoria, Princess Royal
The Princess Victoria, Princess Royal was the eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert. She was created Princess Royal of the United Kingdom in 1841. She became German Empress and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III...
and the Prince of Wales
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, the latter commented that a cannonball
Round shot
Round shot is a solid projectile without explosive charge, fired from a cannon. As the name implies, round shot is spherical; its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the gun it is fired from.Round shot was made in early times from dressed stone, but by the 17th century, from iron...
would go through it easily. Berthon asked him what a cannonball would not go through, and the Queen was reported to have been greatly amused. The Royal Navy accepted a perfected design in 1873.
After the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the White Star Line
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
's owner, Bruce Ismay
J. Bruce Ismay
Joseph Bruce Ismay was an English businessman who served as chairman and managing director of the White Star Line of steamships. He came to international attention as the highest-ranking White Star official among the 706 survivors Joseph Bruce Ismay (12 December 1862 – 17 October 1937) was...
, required that every passenger boat under his control would thereafter be fitted with sufficient lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s for all passengers. In his speech at the close of the Titanic inquiry, the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
called for more life saving devices at sea, including lifeboats, and regulations that would ‘apply to the vessels of all countries’ to enforce this request.
Reverend Edward Lyon Berthon
In addition to ministering to his parish, the Reverend Edward Lyon Berthon of RomseyRomsey
Romsey is a small market town in the county of Hampshire, England.It is 8 miles northwest of Southampton and 11 miles southwest of Winchester, neighbouring the village of North Baddesley...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, ran a boatbuilding and engineering enterprise. In 1877, he started a company in Romsey, building folding lifeboats
Lifeboat (rescue)
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
and "other floating machines", which (originally designed as lifeboats) were the mainstay of his business.
The prototype was developed by him at HMS Excellent
HMS Excellent
HMS Excellent is a Royal Navy "stone frigate" sited on Whale Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire.HMS Excellent is itself part of the Maritime Warfare School, with a Headquarters at HMS Collingwood, although a number of lodger units are resident within the site, the principal of which is the...
, Whale Island, Portsmouth where he was chaplain. A seaman was drowned in an early trial in 1854 after the boat was overloaded with a 13-inch mortar.
Berthon was related to the mid-twentieth century engineer, Peter Berthon, who developed the ERA
English Racing Automobiles
English Racing Automobiles was a British racing car manufacturer active from 1933 to 1954. Currently the ERA trademark is owned by a British kit-car manufacturer.-Prewar history:...
racing car in the 1930s and the BRM post-war.
The Berthon Boat Company is still operating today on the same site and is still a boat yard with a workforce of 70 skilled craftsmen specialising in the refit and repair of yachts of up to 150 feet. It also has a 280 berth deep water marina and a a yacht sales division.