[Paddlewise] 1874 sponson patent

I was looking for paper boat patents, but came across patent number 151,400 
dated May 26, 1874 called An Improvement in Lifeboats. It describes it as 
so:

"... a pair of flexible and expansible bustles, attached to the outer sides 
thereof, below the gunwales, which bustles, when inflated, will serve to 
increase the buoyancy of the boat; also where boats are fitted with such 
bustles, to provide metallic outriggers and fenders to protect the said 
bustles."

Look like sponsons to me. Is this one of the earliest sponson patents out 
there? Any others?

Paul


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