Boats deployed prior to Jutland?

Great book.

"Castles of Steel".

Remarkable for a forward that explains the origins of the war about as clearly in a dozen pages as can be done.

I an reading "Steel Castles" but haven't gotten to the battle of Jutland, but the author mentions that either German or British ships that survived with minor battle damage from previous fights, all of these ships having their boats destroyed or damage from shapnel or fire.  

Hi,

I'm not an epert on these ships, but Staff's book on German battlecruisers has an image of Derfflinger entering Wilhelmshaven after the battle and the funnel of a steamboat can be seen amidships.  It can also be seen here in this image of Derfflinger in harbour after the battle, along with a rowing boat next to it. 

Assuming the images are correctly labelled, it would show the boats on board.

After action photos of Seydlitz show at least one boat aboad, atop the starboard wing turret.  I would assume that the boats were carried, as a splintered or burning boat during battle should not pose much of threat to a dreanought.  We do know that both Bismarck and Hood carried their boats when they were sunk, although I believe that Bismarck did land a few of her smaller boats before she sortied into the Atlantic.