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Swiftsure Marine
Surveyors
Box 11, Consecon ON K0K1T0
Canada
1-613-921-8331
email:
askasurveyor |
SMS Nautical Notes - Trivia
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Here's another piece of Canadian marine history on the books...
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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May 2005
Did you know...
The marine screw propeller that is still the most common form of
propulsion today was invented by Mr. John Patch of Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia in the early 1800s. The first trial of the propeller
used two bent fans attached through gearing to a hand crank.
This invention's maiden voyage was made after dark on a small boat
in Yarmouth Harbour in 1833. And it worked! Due to the
success and some great marketing, Mr. Patch managed to convince
Captain Robert Kelley to install a prop of this design concept on
the 25-ton schooner, the Royal George. Again, the prop
was a success for when the wind died down on a trip to St. John, the
Royal George managed to continue on while other ships were
stranded.
Now, there is some question as to why Mr. Patch did not receive
the rights to his invention despite the product's installation on
large sea-going vessels, but he did not patent the idea and never
received any money for the the invention. As an aside, the
people of Yarmouth petitioned to have the government provide Mr.
Patch with a small pension for his contribution, but the petition
was rejected, and Mr. Patch died penniless in a Yarmouth poorhouse.
A man from Britain holds the patent on the marine screw
propeller.
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