Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
5 8
gripes. On gravity davits it is the responsibility of the men who let-go the gripes to
ensure that when a trigger is fitted, it does in fact fall.
Fig. 5.7 The gripes
5.1.7 Skates
Every lifeboat attached to davits, except emergency lifeboat and rescue
boats, is fitted with two skates on the inboard side, for the purpose of assisting
the passage of the boat down the side of a ship with an adverse list.
That is to say, the skates are there to act as skids and help slide or
skates the boat down the side of the ship.
When the boat is in the water, the skates ceases to have any value and
will greatly hamper the movement of the boat. Therefore, as soon as it may be
convenient, unship them and tow them.