Hawser cutter: The hawser cutter is used to cut the hawser near the ship after the last victim is rescued. The cutter rides along the hawser and is pulled back and forth by the surfmen pulling on the whip line. The blades are carefully angled so that the hawser cutter moves freely along the hawser when being pulled seaward, but slices the hawser in two when pulled toward the shore. Beach cart: The beach cart is a most essential part of the beach apparatus. Without the cart, it would be impossible for the surfmen to transport the equipment to the site of the wreck. The cart is pulled by two surfmen, pushed by two and steered by two. The beach cart rides on two wheels and fully loaded can weigh nearly . It also is crucial that the cart is loaded in a specific order where the first item loaded is the last item unloaded. Lyle gun: The Lyle gun was used to shoot the shot line. See also Manby mortar Breeches buoy Henry Trengrouse References Shanks, York, and Shanks, The U.S. Life-Saving Service: Heroes, Rescue, and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard, Costaño Books, Petaluma CA 1996, Rescue equipment