Brodies’ invention for repairing ships at the Navy yard at Gosport in 1824

Not only dock yards are necessary to fit out and repair ships and vessels but also instruments, engines and ideas. A good example is the invention done by Brodie working in the yard at Gosport

P. 150: “Important Invention. Mr. Brodie, foreman of the Carpenter’s department in the Gosport Navy Yard, has invented a machine to be used by repairing ships.

p.151: which promises greatly to facilitate the repairing of damages done to vessels. It is a Box shaped to the mould of the ship, reaching from the surface of the water to the keel, and sufficiently wide to cover the part to be repaired. It is sunk alongside, and brought close to the ship by ropes, and the water is then pumped out by means of an engine. The workmen then descend and execute their task “with as much security as if they were on terra firma.” In launching the Delaware 74, an accident occurred, by which the copper, to the length of 3 or 4 feet, very low down and contiguous to the fore foot, was ripped up. Two summers passed away before the casualty was discovered, but during the third, the worm so far perforated the exposed part as to cause the ship to leak considerably. All the skill in caulking, thrumming, &c. that could be exerted, availed nothing, the leak continuing to increase. Finally it was pronounced impracticable to overcome it in any other way than by heaving the-ship down, in which operation an expense of $25,000 or $ 30,000 must necessarily be incurred. It was in this dilemma that Mr. Brodie had his machine constructed. The workmen descended with their tools and commenced operation. The injured plank has been removed, and at this moment, says a writer in the Norfolk Herald of Monday," they are bolting the new plank, nearly 18 feet under water to her side, in complete security.” “Simple as the machine is,” says the Herald, “such are the important advantages that must result from it, that it cannot but entitle the inventor to the gratitude of his country.”

Source

Joseph Dennie and John Elihu Hall. The Port Folio, vol. 18, July-December 1824. Digitized by Google.