Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on May 19, 2003 at 21:44:02 from 195.93.32.8 user ACB.
In Reply to: Re: Death & Glory DESIGN posted by Jonathan Labaree on May 19, 2003 at 18:17:27:
Correct. The Dulcibella was an RNLI pulling and sailing lifeboat, much modified. There was a real Dulcibella, just as there is a real Goblin, and her name was "Vixen". She survived long enough to be remembered by the firm of Laurent Giles and Partners who designed the Dulcibella in the film (and, incidentally, AR's "Peter Duck").
RNLI sailing lifeboats, which were larger than ships boats, and built quite differently, made quite practical yachts; my father had one when I was of pre-Rogerish age and I recall her very fondly. Unlike ship's boats, they were designed to sail in good earnest, with a massive steel centreboard, etc. There are still a few around, if you look closely.
There was a period, in the late 40's and 50's, when ship's lifeboat conversions were all the rage; Yachting Monthly published a slim volume entitled "Lifeboat into Yacht" just after WW2 (it was unkindly christened, by a rival Editor, "Yachtsman into Lifeboat!") and if you turn up a copy it is full of arrangements for various sizes of lifeboat. There is a later book by the same author, Michael Verney, called "Practical Conversions and Yacht Repairs" which has more designs in it and an book by John Lewis (title forgotten) as well.
The D&G was, I feel certain, a ship's boat of the smaller type, (there were several standard sizes) and there would have been a pillar under the cabin top mounted tabernacle (remember the boys' fathers were all boatbuilders!)
However, as unquestionably the worst boat in all the books, with the exception of the "Dreadnought", I cannot imagine why anyone would want to recreate the "D&G"!