The breeches buoy was favored over earlier inventions like the (an enclosed metal capsule) because it was lighter, quicker to deploy, and easier to transport across sandy beaches in rescue carts. The Breeches Buoy - Cape Hatteras - National Park Service
The was a vital maritime rescue device used primarily from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century to extract people from shipwrecked vessels. It was a staple of the United States Life-Saving Service and the Coast Guard, saving countless lives before the advent of modern helicopter rescues. Design and Mechanics The device itself was relatively simple: breeches buoy
: Rescuers used a Lyle Gun —a small bronze cannon weighing nearly 200 pounds—to fire a thin "shot line" from the shore to the ship. The breeches buoy was favored over earlier inventions
: It consisted of a circular life ring, usually filled with cork for buoyancy, with a pair of sturdy canvas "breeches" (pants) sewn into the middle. Design and Mechanics The device itself was relatively