Shipbuilding Terms and Phrases
The following definitions are from United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation publication The Building of a Wooden Ship by Charles G. Davis (1918), a long out-of-print book that we have republished and is available on Amazon. They will be very handy when reading the works of such authors as Davis, Howard I. Chapelle, V.R. Grimwood, and others I will reference in this blog. In some cases, I have added further clarification to a definition in the form of editor's notes. These are in italic, contained in parentheses, and attribute the modern author of the clarification.
SADDLE: a forging, casting, or timber shape, bolted to the sides of masts, deck houses or other convenient points, to receive the outboard ends of booms or spars. They take the place of crutches.
SAG: the downward curvature of the deck, or anything, as opposed to camber.
SAGGING: the strain on the ship which tends to make the keel or a boom brad lower in the middle, as opposed to hogging. This condition prevails in the keel when a very heavy cargo is loaded near the midship section of the vessel with light or no cargo at the ends.
SAILMAKER: a man who cuts, sews and fits sails and awnings for a vessel.
SAILMAEER'S SPLICE: a rope or splice used by sailmakers in uniting two ropes of different sizes.
SAIL OR AWNING COVERS: a canvas cover which is placed over sails or awnings when they are furled or clued up. Their primary object is to protect the sail from moisture or destructive mildew, and also by their neatness improve the looks of the vessel.
SAIL PLAN: the side elevation of a vessel, showing the sails as they would appear when they are bent and stretched.
SAILS: pieces of stout fabric; in modern sailing vessels, usually of cotton canvas, which are attached to the masts, spar, yard or stay of a vessel, ice boat or vehicle, so that it may be spread to the wind to aid in its propulsion and also by adjustment assist in maneuvering. The distinctive parts of a sail are the head, which is the top edge along a gaff or yard; the foot, which is the bottom edge, sometimes stretched along or bent on to a boom; the leach, which is the after or outside vertical edge of the sail; and the luff, the forward vertical edge of the sail, generally against the mast. Sails are distinguished by two principal types: square sails, sails having four sides, the top side being generally bent onto a yard and nominally carried at right angles to the keel; and fore-and-aft sails, which are attached to the boom, gaffs or stays, and are nominally carried parallel to the keel.
SALT: to put salt between the planks and ceiling or in special boxes in the vessel's hold. This is an old method of preserving the timber from rot.
SALT STOP: a board fitted between the planks, ceiling and frames to prevent salt used to preserve the timber from falling down into the ship's bilges.
SAMSON POST: Belaying post; a heavy vertical post that supports cargo booms, also a heavy upright timber or post fastened through the deck for the attachment of ropes or belaying of ropes or hawsers; a single bitt, sometimes used to prevent the deck-load from shifting from port to starboard when the vessel rolls in a heavy sea.
SAND-GLASS: a glass consisting of two equal, nearly conical receptacles connected by a small opening at the vertices. One of these receptacles contains sand, which, if the glass is turned, runs through the opening into the other receptacle. The amount of sand in the receptacle is so regulated that a certain space of time is exactly measured when all of the sand has passed from one receptacle into the other. A sand-glass is used by navigating officers when heaving a log, a 28 seconds and 30 seconds glass being most commonly used. See Knot.
SCAFFOLDING: the temporary framework built around the sides and ends of the hull while on the shipbuilding ways, on which platforms or stagings are laid for the support of workmen and their tools. SCAFFOLDINO-POLE (SCAFFOLD-POLE): the uprights used to hold up the scaffolding- planks, temporary platforming or stagings for the support of the workmen and their tools.
SCANTLINGS: a term applied to small-dimension timbers, planks, etc; all small joists under five inches square are called "scantling," while all joists above that size are generally called "carlings."
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| Types of scarf joints illustration from The Building of a Wooden Ship By Charles G. Davis |
SCARF (SCARPH): the lapped joint connecting two timbers or planks together, made by beveling, notching or otherwise cutting away the sides of two timbers at the ends and bolting or strapping them together so as to form one continuous piece. Usually when assembled the joint or scarf is without increase of thickness. In building a scarf every endeavor should be made to get as near the same strength out of the scarph as either of the timbers joined would show. There are different kinds of scarfs, such as plain, flat, hook, lock, keel, doweled and keyed with treenails.
SCARFING (SCARPHING): the process of letting in or assembling one piece of timber or plank into another, with a lap in such a manner that they may both appear as one solid uniform surface. When timbers cannot be secured of sufficient size or length it is the common practice to scarph them together in order to build them up to a desired size or length. Keels, keelsons, ceiling, waterways, planks, shelves, stringers, deck beams, girders, and many of the very long continuous timbers in a ship's frame are scarfed together.
SCHOONER: a fore-and-aft rigged vessel; that is, a vessel carrying fore-and-aft sails only, although some vessels on the west coast are built with a yard and square sail on the foremast. This rig is common where the prevailing winds blow steadily for several days from one direction. A fore-and-aft rigged vessel may have from two to seven masts. A fore-and-aft rig is economical in the number of crew required for a given sail area, as there are not so many spars nor so much rigging, heavy hauling or gear to be handled or maintained.
SCOREDAP: a groove that is cut in the side of a block for a strop to fit into; a groove cut into the side of a frame to receive iron straking.
SCOTCHMAN: a piece of wood or leather placed on standing rigging to prevent excessive chafing.
SCRIBE: to mark or cut with a sharp-pointed knife; to use a race or rasing knife.
SCRIEVE BOARD: a large section of floor in the mold loft, on which the lines of the body plan are scribed or cut with a knife. Molds and patterns of the frame, beams, etc., are sometimes laid out on a scrieve board.
SCRIEVE KNIFE (RACE KNIFE): a tool having a very narrow U or V shaped blade, used for scrieving, cutting or marking on the face of a timber or plank.
SCUPPER: pipes let through the ship's sides from the deck. In ocean-going vessels these are generally made of lead. Scuppers are used to convey surplus water from the decks overboard.
SEAM: the opening or joint between planking or decking, or between two adjoining pieces of timber.
SEASONING: a term applied when a ship is kept standing a certain length of time after she is completely framed and dubbed off for planking. It used to be the custom to allow a vessel to stand at least six months on the ways when circumstances would permit. It is well known that timber, if cut down one year, sawed and not used until the next season, it is not so liable to shrink, nor liable to be subject to conditions of rot.
SEARCH: the process of locating a leak in a calked seam.
SEATING: that part of the vessel's floor which fays on the deadwood; that part of a transom which rests against the stem-post.
SEIZE: the method of tying or winding small stuff, marlin or spun yarn around a rope to prevent it from untwisting or to prevent rope from wearing at points where it is liable to chafe.
SEIZING: is also a term describing the method of securing two pieces of rope or ends together, by passing a lashing of small stuff, marlin or spun yarn around several times and securely uniting the two pieces of rope the end of which lap, by fastening the ends of the small stuff, so that they can't unwind.
SEIZINGS: a term applied to finished work. The different kinds of seizing are named according to their position and use as throat, round, eye, shroud, etc.
SELVAGES: rope yarn or spun yarn marled or braided, and used as a strop.
SENDING (SCENDING): a term describing the act of a vessel pitching violently into the hollow or intervals between the waves in a heavy sea.
SENNIT: rope or spun yarn braided into different forms. There are several kinds of sennit, known as flat, French, round and square.
SERVE: the act of covering a rope or spar by winding a continuous length of small stuff, marlin or spun yarn around it, and securing it at frequent intervals, so that it will not unwind if chafed through.
SERVICE: a term indicating that a rope or thing has been served.
SETTING OR SETTING TO: the act of making a plank or timber fay up close to other timbers by wedges or the use of a wrain-staff ; "to set" or "set away" during this operation means to exert more strength in order to pull the member into position. The power applied, either mechanical or otherwise, is called "a set." Many devices are used to accomplish this. Temporary ring-bolts are sometimes set into holes bored into the frame, and wrain-staffs, cleats, lashings or clamps are applied to force the timber or plank member into position.
SETTING-UP RIGGING: to tighten up the shrouds and stays by the aid of purchase tackle, handy billy, turnbuckle, or other mechanical device.
SET-UP: the process of tightening a standing part of tackle, shroud, ratline or stay.
SHACKLE: a U-shaped forging, which is closed across the points by a removable bolt. This bolt is either secured firmly in place by screwing in the threaded end, or the bolt is made long enough to have a small transverse hole through the shackle and the bolt. Into this hole is driven a small key or cotter pin, thus securing the bolt in place. When a bolt is inserted in this hole a detachable link is formed. Shackles are used to connect two pieces of chain together or to make a permanent attachment of a tackle-block to anything instead of using a hook.
SHACKLE BAR: a lever bar with a special length of chain or other device near its end, used to draw out wedges, spikes, bolts, etc, when it is necessary to use force to remove them after being driven into place.
SHAFT: a long, round, heavy forging, sometimes made hollow, usually made in several convenient lengths, connected by flanges or bolts. The shaft delivers the power of the engine to the propeller or to any other mechanical device.
SHAFT LOG: the timbers in the deadwood forward of and fastened to the stern-post, which are bored out a suitable size and through which the tail-shaft passes.
SHAFT TUNNEL: an enclosed alleyway in the after hold, through which the shaft runs. This tunnel extends from the engine-room bulkhead to the stern of the ship at the forward end of the deadwood.
SHAKEN (SHAKEY): a natural defect in a plank or timber. This condition is indicated by splits or clefts in the face. When a timber is much shaken it is practically impossible to fasten or calk it properly.
SHEAR: to cut off, as to sheer a beam or rivet, with power or other mechanical device.
SHEATHING: a covering of metal or wood fastened over the hull planking as a protection from the attacks of the Teredo or other destructive seaworms. Hulls are sheathed in several ways; the methods in most common use are as follows:
Sheathing with copper. The bottom planking is cleaned and painted, then paper or other membrane covering which has been dipped in tar, creosote, or any antiseptic which is suitable. This paper is then covered with thin sheets of copper nailed in place.
Sheathing with wood. The bottom planking is prepared and covered with paper as described above. Cover this sheath with wood about seven-eighths inch thick, using pine, fir or other suitable material, which has been thoroughly impregnated with creosote or other antiseptic oil.
The sheathing of copper or wood covers the entire bottom of the hull and extends up on the sides to the load water line.
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| Types of Sheaves and Sheave-blocks Illustration from Wooden Ship Building by Charles Desmond |
SHEAVE: the wheel or pulley in the mortise of a tackle-block over which the rope runs.
SHEAVE-BLOCKS: the tackle commonly known as blocks or tackle-blocks; tackle-blocks have more than one sheave.
SHEAVE-HOLE OR MORTISE: the open space or hole between the cheeks or shell of a block through which the rope runs, and in which the sheave is located.
SHEAVE-PIN: the pin or shaft on which the sheave revolves.
SHEEP-SHANK: a rope knot; a quick method of knotting used by riggers to shorten a rope temporarily.
SHEER: the fore-and-aft curvature of a deck.
SHEER-PLAN: a plan or drawing used in ship construction which shows the side elevation of a vessel, rail, plank sheer, outlines of stem and stern, keel and overhang. The water lines on these plans always appear as straight horizontal lines. The frame lines always appear as straight vertical lines.
SHEER POLE: a bar of metal or wood that is seized across the shrouds just above the upper deadeyes or the top turnbuckle. The sheer pole keeps the shrouds spread in their proper location if they are slacked, and also acts as the first step or ratline in the ladder up the shrouds.
SHEERS: two spars that are raised almost perpendicularly, their upper ends lashed together and their lower ends firmly set and spread apart to give stability; they are usually supported in position by guys or a stiff-leg strut at the back; a suitable purchase tackle is secured to the upper lashing or intersection of the spars. This rigging is very handy and can easily be assembled and erected, and is often used in lifting masts and heavy weights.
SHEER-STRAKE: the upper strake of the hull planking, generally located just below the bulwarks.
SHEET: with fore-and-aft sails without booms, a rope running from the junction of the leach and foot; on boom sails from the outer end of the boom to suitable tackle or cleats on the deck. This rope controls the angle at which the sail or boom lies across the deck, thus enabling the sails to be adjusted at any desired angle.
SHEET-ANCHOR: the anchor that is carried in the waist of a ship.
SHEET-BEND: a handy bend or rope knot used by sailors and riggers.
SHEET-METAL WORKER: a man who works and fits sheet metal weighing up to about five pounds to the square foot; he makes the smoke-stack, ventilator cowls, light metal tanks, light sheet steel wire mesh and locker work.
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| Illustration of Shelves |
SHELF: a horizontal timber girder extending along the inside frames of a vessel under the deck and hold-beams. The purpose of this girder is to stiffen the hull and support the deck-beams.
SHELL: the case cover or outside of a tackle-block.
SHELL-FLANGE: the outward turn or flange of the shell of a steel block. This flange protects the rope and prevents cutting it on the sharp edge of the steel shell of the block.
SHELTER-DECK: a light deck, under which the space is partially or wholly closed at the sides, but more or less open at the forward or after ends.
SHIM: a thin strip of wood used to make up a deficiency between two timbers or things which do not fit perfectly.
SHIP: a large sea-going vessel; a term applied to vessel regardless of whether they are propelled by sails or mechanical power. There are many kinds of ships, generally known by the duty they perform or physical characteristics of their build or rig. Sailing vessels can roughly be termed those vessels which are propelled by the power derived from their sails; steam vessels are those vessels propelled by steam power, although they may also have sails as auxiliary power. Motor ships are those propelled by some other mechanical motor power than steam, as internal combustion engines or electrical motors.
SHIPS CARPENTER: a skilled mechanic who does the framing, wooden timber work, ceiling, planking, and lays the deck of a ship or vessel. This work is generally considered a special trade, although house carpenters who have been well trained and understand theory and practice of their profession, with proper instruction can be made competent ship's carpenters in a very short time.
SHIP JOINER: a man who does cabinet-making, inside finishing in and around the cabins and deck houses; a very high-grade carpenter.
8HIPSMITH: a high-grade blacksmith; a man who forges the chains, fittings, davits, bands and special forgings of a vessel or ship. This work calls for the highest class of artisan.
SHIPWRIGHT: a ship's carpenter; the work of the shipwright is the most varied of any of the shipbuilding trades and may be roughly divided into two classes:
(a), carpentry or woodwork, calling for fabricating skill and knowledge of woodworking possessed by the carpenter, such as the building of scaffolding, building cradle and launching ways, laying wood decks, installing ceilings, planking, etc.; and (
b), erecting or millwright work, such as horning frames, lining and installing stem and stern-posts, laying off for and installing deck fittings, fairing frames, keeping the ship fair or square upon the shipbuilding ways. Spar-making, boatbuilding and calking are other special classes of millwright work, and are done by special gangs of men. Inside work, such as the building of stairs, lockers, berths, paneling and inside finish in the cabins, salon, etc., are not done by the shipwright but by the ship joiner.
SHOE: a piece or pieces of hardwood set under scaffolding poles, heels or bottoms of gin and sheer-poles or under the fluke of an anchor when stowed on deck. When used to support scaffolding, gin, sheer-poles, etc., its purpose is to increase the bearing area on the ground and prevent the pole digging or settling down and injuring the stability of the structure. The oak or other hardwood protecting strip under the keel.
SHOE-BLOCK: a tackle-block having two sheaves, which are set at right angles to each other, one being horizontal and the other perpendicular.
SHORES: the timbers used to brace or support the hull during construction.
SHORT-SPLICE: a method of splicing or joining together a rope so that all of the strands are united or braided in nearly the same location. A short-splice is never made on any piece of running rigging, as the splice will not render or pass through the mortise of the tackle-block, due to the fact that the diameter of the splice is larger than that of the pieces of rope which were spliced together.
SHOULDER BLOCK: a block that has a projection on one end, to keep it in place.
SHOULDER-OF-MUTTON SAIL (LEG-OF-MUTTON SAIL): a triangular sail for a small ship's boat.
SHOWELL: the forward extension of the cradle or sliding ways, which is bolted fast to the ground ways. This prevents the movement of the ship down the launching ways while launching preparations are under way. When the ship is ready to launch the showells are sawn in two; this releases the cradle and the vessel slides down into the water.
SHROUD KNOT: a rope knot put into a shroud to join it together when it has been parted.
SHROUDS: stays which brace the masts, leading from the channels just below the bulwarks up to or just under the mast-head. Shrouds are set up taut by the lanyards rove through the deadeyes attached to the lower end of the shrouds and channels or by turnbuckles attached to the lower ends of the shrouds and to the channels.
SIDE CURTAINS: canvas screens that extend from the ridge ropes or awning ropes stretched between the awning stanchions, to the rail. These curtains are used to keep the weather, rain or spray off the deck.
SIDING (SIDES): the size or dimensions of timbers; the act of dressing timbers to the correct size.
SIDNEY: the thickness of a timber; also the act of dressing timbers to create breadth and sizes.
SIGNAL-HALYARDS: the halyards that reeve through a dasher block or through holes in the trucks in the top of the mast or any other convenient place and which are used to hoist signals or flags.
SILL: a horizontal member forming the foundation or part of the foundation of a structure of any kind. When applied on shipboard, it is the lower or foundation member attached to or set into the deck.
SINGLE BLOCK: a block containing one sheave.
SINGLE DIAMOND KNOT: an ornamental rope knot worked with strands of rope and used as a finish on manropes, etc.
SIRMARK (SURMARK): a mark upon the mold of a frame timber or plank indicating where beveling is required.
SISTER-BLOCK: a tackle-block that contains two sheaves which are placed one above the other. The shell of this tackle-block has a score around the outside at the middle between the two sheaves, to receive the becket, grommet or strop by which the block is attached to anything.
SKYLIGHT: an opening in the deck to give light and air to the compartment below, fitted with a removable or hinged cover with glass lights.
SLABS: pieces of wood fitted between whelps.
SLEEPERS: the knees that connect the transom to the after timbers at the quarters in the hull.
SLING (STRAP, STROP): the iron or steel chains or a length of rope with its ends spliced together, used as a means of handling cargo. Slings are used around boxes or bales which it is intended to hoist or lower into the hold. The two bights are brought together and one bight is passed through the other, then attached to the hook. A strain is put upon the lifting rope, or fall, the sling is then drawn tight so that the boxes or bales are wedged firmly together and cannot slip. By this means many packages can be handled at one time.
SLIP: a foundation of transverse timbers laid upon the ground or upon pile foundations; upon these timbers the vessel is built. These timbers are also used as a foundation to erect the sliding ways under the vessel, after she has been constructed, upon which she is launched into the water.
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| Common bends, knots, hitches & splices |
SLIP-KNOT: a rope knot.
SLIPPERY HITCH: a rope knot formed of a loop or half bow knot so tied in a rope that it will not jam but will untie quickly by pulling it on the hanging or loose end.
SLIP-ROPE: a rope so knotted that it may be slipped or let go quickly.
SMALL STUFF: a term given to marlin, spun yarn, etc.
SMOKESTACK: the large vertical pipe or funnel used to lead the smoke and hot gases from the boiler furnaces up into the atmosphere. The smokestack is similar to a chimney in a house or power plants.
SNAP: to bevel the end of anything so that it will fay upon an inclined plane.
SNATCH-BLOCK: a block that contains one sheave and has an opening in the side of the shell so that the bight of a running rope may be passed into it. This block is used where it is necessary to change the lead or direction of the rope quickly, as it obviates the necessity of reeving the end of a rope through the mortise of a tackle-block or leader.
SNY: the upward curving of the planking at bow and stem.
SNYING: a term applied to a plank when its edge rounds or is accurately curved upward. The greatest sny occurs in vessels with full bows or buttocks and is only to be prevented by the intervention of steelers in the planking strakes.
SOLE BLOCK OR SHOE: a wide piece of wood on which the heel of gin, scaffolding poles or sheer legs rest. This prevents them from sinking into the ground when they are under pressure and endangering their stability.
SOUNDING: the process of determining the depth of water by the use of a pole, sounding line or machine. In deep water navigation the depth is generally given in fathoms equal to a depth of six feet.
SOUNDING-MACHINE: a special machine for taking deep soundings at sea while the vessel is under way. Such soundings are not taken by measuring the length of line or wire run out, but they are measured by the compression of air in a glass tube which is sealed at one end and is coated on the inside with a special chemical preparation which becomes discolored by contact with the water. This glass tube is placed in a special receptacle on the side of the sounding lead. As the lead sinks to the bottom, the pressure of the water compresses the air in the glass tube and allows the water to enter and come in contact with the coated interior surface of this glass tube. When sounding the operator feels the sounding wire to which the sounding lead is attached with a special steel hook, which he holds in his hand pressing down on the wire as it runs out over the tafrail. As soon as the lead touches the bottom he feels the wire slack. The wire is then reeled in, the glass tube is taken out of the receptacle and the length of the discoloration in the tube from the open end is measured with a special scale orrule so graduated that the reading given is in fathoms, which is the depth from the surface of the water to the greatest depth that the lead reaches.
SOUNDING-PIPES: vertical pipes running from the deck to the bottom of the hold or to tanks, used for ascertaining the depth of the water in the hold or of oil, water or other liquid in tanks.
SOUNDING-ROD: a graduated rod lowered down through the sounding-pipe until it touches the bottom, and by the immersion of this rod, the depth of water, oil or other liquid which is contained in the tank can be determined.
SPALL OR SPALE: a temporary wooden brace to a timber or frame generally used to keep the correct width or breadth of a vessel's timber frame, while the hull is under construction.
SPALLING (SPALING): to fix or brace a timber or frame with spalls.
SPAN: a rope that has both ends made fast, with a purchase tackle hooked at the bight or loop; the length from the deadeyes or turnbuckle of one side of the vessel up over the eyes of the rigging at the masthead and down the deadeye or turnbuckle on the other side of the vessel.
SPANISH BURTON: a peculiar type of purchase tackle. There are two kinds: single Spanish burton, double Spanish burton. See Burton.
SPANISH WINDLASS: an extemporized purchase made by attaching a rope lashing made of several parts and inserting a lever in the hitch or bight of the rope. By twisting or passing the lever round and round the lashing, a considerable strain can be produced.
SPAR: a long round or oval timber, as a mast, yard, boom or gaff.
SPAR VAUNISH: a varnish of superior quality, not affected by salt water, soap, grease or ammonia fumes, which is used as a coating for spars, and all outside exposed woodwork; also used on any place or wooden thing where varnish of durable quality is required, sometimes called spar composition.
SPECTACLE IRONS: sometimes called spectacle shackles; three-eyed irons used in lashing rigging.
SPIDER: a small iron crane or projection from the side of a mast or bulwark, used to keep a tackle-block clear, so that it will not foul.
SPIDER-BAND: the band of iron or steel around the mast just under the top, to which the futtock-shrouds are secured.
SPILLING (Spiling is modern spelling -jeh): the act of measuring, marking and scribing the contour and beveled edged curve of a planking strake on the ship's hull.
SPIRKETING: a thick strake or strakes wrought inside upon the ends of the shelf or water-ways.
SPREAD: distance at right angles from the center line.
SPRING: to bend a beam, timber, mast or any other thing by force.
SPRING STAY: horizontal manila or wire rope stay which extends from one lower mast- head to another lower masthead.
SPRIT: a small staff or spar which extends diagonally from the mast and is used to support the peak of some fore-and-aft sails which are not provided with a gaff and peak halyards. The upper end of the sprit is thrust into an eye in the bolt-rope or a small grommet, and the lower end is fixed into a becket or snotter which is adjustable and is fastened around the mast with a loose end having an eye. This becket can be raised or lowered and thus adjusts the peak at the right height.
SPRITSAIL: a fore-and-aft sail which has its peak supported by a sprit. Formerly a spritsail was a sail suspended under the bowsprit from the spritsail yard; now obsolete.
SPRITSAIL KNOT: a rope knot that is made by weaving or joining the strands of a rope together so that they form an eye.
SPRUNG: anything that is forced or bent out of its original shape.
SPUN YARN: two or three rope yarns twisted or spun together into a cord.
SPURLING-LINE: a small line that connects the tiller or quadrant with a telltale, located on the bridge or point from which the vessel is navigated. The telltale is the mechanical device which indicates the angle at which the tiller stands. This device is of great use to the helmsman in steering a vessel.
SPURS: pieces of timber fixed temporarily to the bilge ways, their upper ends being bolted to the vessel's side above the water. These spurs help support the vessel during launching operations. Also curved pieces of timber serving to support the decks at the hatches where a deck beam cannot run the whole width of the ship.
SPUR-SHORES: a timber or post set slightly diagonally and used to brace or support the hull of a vessel, while on the building ways, against the lateral movement when under construction.
SQUARE FRAME: a frame that sets square or at right angles to the line of the keel.
SQUARE-RIGGED: a vessel that carries yards and square sails on one or more of her masts.
SQUARE-STERN: a vessel the stern of which is almost perpendicular or has no overhang.
SQUARE TIMBER: a term applied to a timber which sets square or perpendicular to the keel.
SQUARE-TUCK: name given to the after part of the vessel's bottom which terminates in the same direction, up and down, as the wing transom. The planks of the bottom end in the rabbet at the foreside of the fashion piece, whereas ships with a round stern or buttock are round or circular, and at the bottom, end upon the wing transom.
STABILITY: the ability of a ship to remain on an even keel or upright position.
STAFF: a light flagpole.
STAGE PLANK: a thick, wide board laid on the scaffolding beams or thwarts to form a platform for the support of workmen.
STAGGER: to arrange in a zigzag way.
STANCHION: a pillar, column or upright post.
STANDARD OR STANDING KNEE: an inverted knee placed above the deck instead of beneath it. The vertical leg of the knee is upright. This knee is used to brace bitts, etc.
STANDING OR STANDING PART: that portion of rope or cable that is secured to some- thing, but is not used for hauling; the part of a hook opposite to the point or shank.
STANDING BACKSTAYS: the stays which are set up abaft the shrouds on each side and which support the topmasts when the vessel is under sail.
STANDING GAFF: the gaffs that are kept throated and peaked aloft, and on which fore- and-aft sails are set by means of an out-haul and furled against the mast by means of brails. Vessels using this rig do not use a boom on the foot of the fore-and-aft sails.
STANDING RIGGING: all the rigging of a vessel, such as stays, shrouds, etc., which are secured permanently in place and are not hauled up and down.
STARBOARD: the right-hand side of a ship when looking from aft forward, as opposed to the left-hand or port side of a vessel.
STARBOARD TACK: when a sailing vessel is under way and her boom and spars are on the starboard side and the wind is coming from the port side, the vessel is said to be on the starboard tack.
STAY (STAYING): a fore-and-aft manila or wire rope running from the top of the mast- head down to the forecastle deck at the stem or at the foot of the next mast forward; the fore-and-aft manila or wire rope running from the topmast head down to the mast- head of the mast next forward or to the forecastle deck at the stem; the process of bracing a mast sideways and fore-and-aft.
STAYS: the manila or wire rope used to brace the masts or spars extending from another mast or spar or from the head of the mast to the side of the ship or deck. Fore-and-aft stays are stays that lead from the mast or topmast heads forward. The backstays are the stays which lead from the masts or topmast heads to the vessel's sides at the bulwark channels.
STEALER OR STEELER: a name given to the foremost or aftermost plank in a strake which does not terminate at the stem or stern-post. Stealers are used on vessels with very full bows or buttocks, and where the planks have a very large sny.
STEERAGE: the deck of a passenger vessel on which the steerage or third-class passengers live.
STEERING BRIDGE: the bridge on which the steering wheel is placed and from which the vessel is steered.
STEERING-GEAR: the mechanical apparatus for controlling the rudder.
STEERING-WHEEL: the wheel that is connected with the tiller or to the steering engine, by which the vessel is steered.
STEM: a heavy timber forming the extreme bow of the ship extending from the keel to the forecastle deck. The forehood planking terminates at the rabbet and is firmly fastened in place on the stem.
STEM BAND: an iron or metal strap fastened to the front end of the stem extending around over the gripe down on to the under side of the keel shoe. This band is a protection to the stem.
STEMSON: a piece of compass timber, wrought on the after side or the inside of the stem apron, the lower end of which scarfs into the keel or forward deadwood. The upper part is continued high above the water-line to the upper deck, and is used to back up or support the scarf of the apron.
STEP OR STEPS OF THE MAST: a step is a wooden socket in which the heel or lower end of the mast is firmly fitted; generally made of large pieces of hardwood. The step of the foremast is generally attached to the keelson, those of the mizzen and jigger-masts to the lower deck-beams on top of the shaft tunnel. The holes, recesses or mortise in the step into which the tenon on the foot or heel of the mast steps, should be equal in strength to the tenon or fitted projection on the heel of the mast. The mortise in the step should be cut rather less than the tenon on the heel of the mast to allow for shrinkage.
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| Stern framing illustration from The Building of a Wooden Ship By Charles G. Davis |
STERN: the after end of a vessel; that part of a hull which is furthest from the stem or bow.
STERN-DAVITS: the davits that project from the stem and on which the ship's gig is suspended.
STERN-FRAME: the combination of strong frame timbers at the after end of the ship, composed of the stern-post, transom, fashion pieces, rudder-post, etc., all of which form the stern supporting structure.
STERN-LADDER: the ladder that is hung over the vessel's stern for use of the gig crew, to get into the boat when hung from the stern davits.
STERN-PORT: a window or porthole in the stern of a vessel.
STERN-POST: a wooden piece secured at its lower end to the after end of a keel, the upper end supporting the transom and the horn timbers. To the stem-post is fitted stern-post knees, deadwood, deck-beams, etc., all this construction tending to make the ship very strong and rigid at this part of the hull. The after-hold planking terminates at the rabbet in the stern-post, and is securely fastened to the deadwood and stern-post.
STERN-TUBE: the metal tube or lining to the hole which is bored through the shaft log and rudder-post for the tail shaft.
STICKS: a name sometimes applied to masts.
STIFF LEGS: struts or straight timbers which brace or support the masts of a derrick.
STIRRUPS: short ropes that have eyes spliced on one end. The other end is seized or lashed to a standing stay.
STOCK: horizontal crosspiece of an anchor; this may be either wood or iron. It is always placed at right angles to the anchor arms or flukes.
STOOLS: small channels which are placed abaft the regular channels on the bulwarks, and to which the deadeyes or turnbuckles for the backstays are attached.
STOP: a fastening of small stuff or canvas tape; a ribband used to secure a sail to a boom or gaff after it has been furled.
STOPPER: a short, handy length of rope, one end of which is secured conveniently near a running rope or hauling part or cable. The stopper is used to check or regulate the motion or speed of a running rope, hauling part or cable by wrapping the loose end several times around the standing part. If a purchase has been used on a winch, hawser or capstan and it is desired to secure it permanently on the bitt or cleat, the stopper is used to hold the strain on the purchase rope until the purchase can be transferred and secured.
STOPPER-BOLTS: the ring bolts located in the deck at convenient points and to which stoppers, hooks or tackles can be attached.
STOPPER-KNOT: a double wall knot on the end of a deck stopper. This prevents the rope from stranding out or unwinding.
STOPPING-UP: a term applied to the poppets and timbers used to fill up the vacancy between the upper side of the cradle, launching or bilge ways and the ship's bottom. This structure supports the ship forward and aft when she slides down during launching operations.
STOPS: short pieces of ropes or canvas tapes used for securing two things together, also used to tie around a sail or awning when it is furled.
STOP-WATER: pieces of soft wood coated with lead and driven tight into grooves cut in between two adjoining timbers. A stop-water is used to prevent water from leaking in and to provide a water-tight joint.
STORES: a shipbuilding and outfitting word, indicating supplies, more particularly applied to expendable supplies and food.
STOW: to put cargo or stores into the ship's hold or into the proper receptacle or compartment of the hold.
STOW OR STOW THE CARGO: the process of placing the cargo in the ship's hull compactly, so that it will not shift when the vessel is in a rough sea.
STRAIGHT OF BREADTH: the space before and abaft the dead flat, in which the ship is the same uniform breadth, and where the bottom commences to rise; that part of a vessel's hull that has vertical sides.
STRAIGHTEN THE SHEER: to give a ship's sheer a carve of longer radius.
STRAKE: a continuous breadth of planking or ceiling, generally running from stem-post to stern-post on the outside of the ship's frame. The process of putting on a strake is called planking.
STRAND: any number of rope yarns twisted together, forming a strand; several strands twisted in the opposite direction form a rope.
STRAP: a length of rope, the ends of which are spliced together so as to form a ring or continuous length of rope. Straps are used for handling cargo or for attaching a tackle to any object. See Sling.
STRAPPING: narrow steel or iron bands fastened diagonally in both directions to the outside face of the wooden frames of a wood ship. The purpose of strapping is to stiffen and strengthen the frame structure of a vessel.
STRENGTHENING PIECES: extra pieces of canvas which are sewed in the comers of sails or awnings, also at the cringle or along the luff. These reinforce or strengthen the sail or awning at these points.
STRINGER: a strake of planking around the inside of a vessel close to the under side of a beam, sometimes located over the stanchion running fore-and-aft and forming at the hatch openings the bottom side of the hatch coaming.
STROP: a binding of rope which encircles and is fitted into the score or groove on the outside or shell of a tackle-block. The strop is made long enough so that an eye can be formed in the drift end. This eye is made by seizing the rope below the bight in such a manner that the strop is forced tightly into the score. It is used to support the tackle-blocks.
Modern or manufactured blocks are usually made with iron strops, either fastened outside the block or extending along the sides of the mortise to the point below the sheave-pin.
In this type of block the strain on the sheave-pin is carried on the strop, the shell being only a protection for the sheave.
STRUT: a compression member or brace, as a column, either horizontal, diagonal or vertical; a V-shaped bracket which supports the outboard beaming, stern end of tail-shaft and propeller. The beaming is attached to the apex of the V, and the two legs are securely bolted to the hull of the ship at one of the cant or half-frames.
SUPPORTERS: long timbers under the cat-heads.
SURMARK: see Sirmark.
SWALLOW: that part of the mortise or opening in a tackle-block through which the rope is rove when passing over the sheave.
SWASH CHOCKS: see Blow Chocks.
SWIFTERS: the forward shroud on each set of shrouds, attached to the lower mast on the port and starboard sides, are called "swifters"; also the length of rope employed to keep the capstan-bars in place.
SWIVEL: a metal link turning or revolving upon an axis; it is used on chains or cables or on long lengths of wire rope. The purpose of the swivel is to keep the twists, turns or kinks out of rope, chain or cable. Swivels are also fitted on iron-bound blocks and on hooks.
SYPHERING: the process of wrapping the edges of planks over each other, as in bulkhead construction.
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