Life Buoy

Life-Buoy, any buoyant object intended for the support of a man or men in the water, and capable of being thrown or detached from a ship or pier into the sea. The naval service life-buoy, which is supposed to be capable of keeping four men afloat, is fitted with a portfire, which lights itself automatically and burns for 20 minutes, so as to indicate the position of the buoy in darkness. The ring-shaped cork life-buoy is, however, a commoner and more familiar form. Buoys of similar shape are sometimes made of rushes covered with canvas. There are many other types of life-buoy, some of which contain supplies of food and water sufficient for the maintenance of life for a week.