Model of Ridleys tug Marty

[magoonigal]

That would certainly explain her condition. First of all I wondered if she had been rebuilt when she arrived on the Tyne but blowing the picture up does show considerable damage. No mention of any mishaps in John's book.

[northeast]

I have asked on the Clyde forum re any knowledge of this damage to VICTOR.

[magoonigal]

OK its another negative one, but have checked the Full 1957 article about S&B in Sea Breezes and that does not mention any mishap.
Also checked the letters for the following few months, because that sometimes raises a few interesting tale's but that was negative as well.

Bill Harvey's potted history just cover's her main history as does John Proud.

[Tynesider]

The third view of the VICTOR, and the accompanying stern view showing on Dave's page, seem to show her in very delapidated, if not virtually derelict, condition. Had she foundered at some stage prior to that, I wonder?

Ron

Also in the same picture an interesting view of the old 'stepped' dock design, I have been researching the true life of William Woudhave (1751-1821) for the past 3 years now with view to a possible book, there is evidence he also designed the stepped dock so that shipyard workers could have more light whilst working below the ship as docks with straight sides were very dark to work in as lighting was not available for some considerable time later.

Of interest I have no doubt now he did design the first boat for saving lives, what is call a lifeboat, he was infact a very kind man but did not suffer fools likely and also had a foul temper.

[northeast]

Interesting comment about the better light from a stepped design, but would that really be the prime cause of building in this way, rather than just a bonus side effect?
As drydocks got larger to accommodate bigger ships, but may still be needed for the odd wee tug as in this example, the stepped sides would allow for the timber props to be safely supported at the wall end and avoid the need for very long props, while still having enough clearance at bottom level for the larger vessels, which may then be able to use more or less the same length of prop. Also minimising the amount of water to be pumped out as opposed to a dock built straight-sided at more than the beam of its largest intended vessel. And as with lock chambers from the period, vertical walls were avoided as the technique was to support walls on a 'U shape' or 'battered' basis, as can be seen in the upper drydock photo (which seems to be a different dock from the lower one).
I somehow don't think that ship repairers in that period were thinking only of the safety of workers, although a man like Woudhave clearly had a good conscience about the preservation of life.