What kind of boat is this?

[Fubaya]

@engineer_comp_geek

Just a WAG -

Could it be some kind of pressurized vessel that workers would use while building supports for bridges or doing some other kind of underwater work, so that they could depressurize without getting the bends?

I’ve been trying to figure out exactly where the bridge was. There’s no solid answer, but probably State Street. Anyway, while looking around, I found this which says that whole area, from State Street to Franklin, is only 21 feet deep. Would they need to depressurize? Would they even know how in 1907?

Geez, look how much this area has changed. It really looked nicer in 1907.

[engineer_comp_geek]

@Fubaya

Would they even know how in 1907?

Sure. They started to figure this stuff out in the late 1800s.

The boat may have only been docked there and used elsewhere, too. That particular location doesn’t have to be deep.

Of course, it’s still a WAG on my part with no data at all to support it.

[Whack-a-Mole]

@jjimm

Direct link to hi-res picture as it’s dropped off the bottom of the front page.

@Fubaya

It looks a little like a lifeboat.

I’m guessing lifeboat. offshore lifeboat - Google Search

[engineer_comp_geek]

Another WAG -

Some sort of narrowboat or canal boat?

http://narrowboatsforsale.com/

http://www.hellopro.co.uk/images/produit-2/8/7/2/mini-luxe-dutch-barge-laura-tugs-66278.jpg

http://www.rent-my.com/images/justadream-612.JPG

@Whack-a-Mole

I’m guessing lifeboat. offshore lifeboat - Google Search

Did they have that style of lifeboat back then?

[MarcusF]

Another WAG. How about an ice breaker? On the English canals ice was broken up by rocking a narrow boat - see this image here- and I wondered if the central rail along the top was to give more leverage when rocking the boat.