Not only does somebody have to control the descent in the davits, the system can only work in calm water with negligible rolling. In a hurricane, with the ship wallowing 45* to each side, those antique lifeboats are big fat zeroes. They cannot be used, period.
Thanks for the insight.
As an aside: in my city is a survival boat graveyard. All manner and type of survival boat is in that heap, piled high and deep. It is a fascinating trip through time and technology. Round ones, long ones, etc.
I thought they were cool and wondered if they’d let me have one for cheap, until I got close enough to smell them.