1904 British Reliability Trials

The "Reliability" Trials For Motor-Boats

We have received from the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland an abstract of the report to be made to the club committee on the 8th inst., on the recent "reliability" trials for motor-boats, an account of which appeared in The Times of July 28.

The judges--Major Lindsay Lloyd, Lieutenant Mansfield Cumming, and Captain R. E. T. Dixon--after dealing with the number of competitors and general arrangements of the trials, express their satisfaction at the results and at the proved "reliability" of the boats taking part. Only two of the 16 starters failed to complete the 20 hours' run, five boats making complete non-stop runs. The report proceeds with an appreciation of the good performance of the Seal and the Vosper boats using ordinary paraffin, and of the good general condition of all the boats at the termination of the 20 hours. One of the most important recommendations of the report is dealt with at some length--namely, that of the safety of boats fitted with internal combustion engines, and the effects of this recommendation should be evident in next year's trials. The question of convenience of general arrangement of details is also treated, the Napier Minor and the Maudslay boat being taken as examples of excellence in this direction. Suggestions are made as to further points for marking in future trials, with a recommendation that further trials should be held. The report concludes by recommending the following awards:--:

Class I None      
Class II Seal Motor Company 2 1/2 h.p. 18 ft. launch gold medal
Class III Vosper and Co 12 h.p. 22 ft. launch gold medal
Mitchum Motor Company 6 h.p. 22 ft. launch silver medal
Class IV Maudslay Motor Company 20 h.p. 25 ft. launch gold medal
Woodnutt and Co. 10 h.p. 30 ft. launch silver medal
Class V Mr. S. F. Edge 35 h.p. 35 ft. launch gold medal
Class VI J.I. Thornycroft and Co. 20 h.p. 30 ft. launch silver medal

The judges expressed their satisfaction with the admirable fashion in which Mr. Basil Joy, the secretary, had organized the trials.

(Transcribed from The London Times, Aug. 5, 1904, p. 9. )

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