The canvas was also coated with "linseed oil, soft soap, and yellow ochre" to make it waterproof.
[1] The Prince Consort commended it to the Royal Navy, but the Admiralty complained there was nowhere to mount a gun.
In his speech at the close of the British Wreck Commissioner’s inquiry into the sinking of the RMS Titanic, 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.
In addition to ministering to his parish, the Reverend Edward Lyon Berthon of Romsey, Hampshire, ran a boat building and engineering enterprise.
The prototype was developed by him at HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth, where he was chaplain.