'Experimental trials have recently been made at Portsmouth with a new steam launch, designed and built, both hull and engines, by Mr. John Samuel White, of East Cowes, Isle of Wight. The main object kept in view in the design of the new boat has been to render her machinery as noiseless as possible when under steam: and secondly, to obtain such accommodation for officers and crew and storage of fuel, water, & c., in a boat only 35 ft. long and 9 ft. broad, as to make her available for any service entailing a lengthened absence from the ship… The boats fitted with steam machinery, and supplied to Her Majesty's ships, have, on an average, the following dimensions: Steam launches of the old or general description - length, 42 ft.; breadth, 11 ft. 6 in.; depth, 3 ft. 9 in. White's lifeboat steam pinnaces - length, 37 ft.; breadth, 8 ft.; depth 4 ft. 2 in. White's lifeboat steam cutters - length, 23 ft. 5 in.; breadth, 7 ft. 2 in.; depth, 3 ft. 2 in.'