A1, the highest classification given to vessel by Lloyds and other insurance organizations.

A.B. , an abbreviation for an able-bodied seaman; a man who should be able to do all work reuired of a
seaman. !ee "rdinary !eaman.
ABA#$, a term a%%lied to a vessel whose yards are so trimmed that the wind is on their forward side and
tending to drive her astern. Laying the &to%sails to the mast& is deliberately in maneuvering shi%, but when by
accident, either through a shift of wind or sea, less steering, the shi% is said to be 'taken aback(. Being taken
aback has accounted for the loss of many shi%s. A fore-and-aft rigged vessel caught aback with boom tackles
set may be in trouble.
ABA)*, towards the stern.
ABA)* *+, B,A-, any direction between the beam and the stern.
AB,A- or ")) *+, B,A-, the direction at right angles to the line of the keel.
AB,..A*/"0, a slight a%%arent change in the %osition of a heavenly body, or the movement of the earth
during the interval of the %assage of light from a heavenly body to the observer.
AB"A.1, on or in a vessel. #lose aboard is to be in close %ro2imity to a shi% or obstruction. 3ith starboard
tacks aboard, a %hrase which signifies that the yards of a sailing vessel are braced u% so that the starboard
lower corner, the tack, is to windward and forward, being hove down to then sailing close-hauled on the
starboard tack.
AB"4* !+/5, to tack shi%.
AB"6,B"A.1, above decks; also, without concealment or deceit.
AB78, the heed yards and after yards being braced on o%%osite tacks. !uare-rigged shi%s formerly used to
lie this way when it was desired to maintain a %ro2imate %osition for gamming or awaiting a %il.
AB.,A!*, o%%osite or at right angles to.
AB!,0* )LA9, a small suare blue signal flown a yacht:s starboard s%reader to signify that the owner is not
aboard.
AB4.*"0, casks stowed end-to-end athwartshi%.
A##,L,.A*/"0, the increasing motion of a body. /t is also the correction necessary to be a%%lied to mean
time to change it into terms of sidereal time.
A##"--"1A*/"0 LA11,., a flight of ste%s leading down a shi%;s side by which small boats may be
entered or the vessel boarded.
A##"40*, *" 9" "0 *+,, the term used when a sailor turned %irate.
A#"#$B/LL. the %osition of an anchor when it hangs by the chain over the bow.
A#"4!*/# #L"41!, areas of atmos%here through which sound is im%eded, deflected or sto%%ed. !uch a
condition accounts for the occasional erratic rece%tion of fog signals and a steamer:s whistle.
A#* ") -A0, the action of the master of a vessel in sacrificing s%ars, cargo or furnishings for the
%reservation of the remainder. 4nder such circumstances all %arties interested in the shi% and cargo stand
their %ro%ortionate share of loss. /t becomes a case of 9eneral Average.
A#* ") 5."6/1,0#, or 9"1, an accident to s%ars, vessel or cargo occurring through the action of wind
and weather over which the master has no control. 4nder such circumstances the insurance is ad<usted by
%articular average, where each loss is se%arately settled.
A1 6AL".,-, %ro%ortionate to value.
A1/ABA*/# =-eteorology>, variations in volume or %ressure not accom%anied by gain or loss of heat.
A1?4!*-,0* ") A #"-5A!!. the method of %lacing magnets and iron masses about a com%ass so as to
o%%ose the magnetism e2isting in the shi% and her fittings, with the %ur%ose of com%ensating the deviation as
nearly as %ossible.
A1?4!*-,0* ") *+, !,8*A0*, the %rocess of testing and rectifying the %osition of the glasses of the
instrument in their relation to the frame and each other. !ee !e2tant.
A1-,A!4.,-,0*, the work of measuring the various dimensions, ca%acities and tonnage of a shi% for
official registration.
A1-/.AL, the commanding officer of a naval fleet. *here are four grades-)leet Admiral, Admiral.
6ice-Admiral and .ear Admiral. *he largest size of wooden fid 6 called an admiral.
A1-/.AL*@ LA3, that branch which deals with cases connected with the duties and rights of shi%%ing. /n
the 4nited !tates all such cases differ from common law is that they are tried only in 4nited !tates courts.
A1./)*, without being fast to a stationary ob<ect.
A16A0#,, the amount a vessel moves in the direction of her original course after the helm has been %ut
over and until she has turned through A7B. Also, money %aid to a seaman u%on &signing on& for a voyage. /t
was usually a month:s %ay. *he advance was deducted from his future wages-a %ractice now illegal in the
4nited !tates. -oney advanced to sailors in intermediate %orts of a voyage on account of a final settlement.
/n the 4nited !tates a seaman is entitled to one-half the wages due in any %ort.
A16,0*4.,, small consignments of goods sent abroad in a shi% to be sold by the master, or bartered, for
foreign merchandise. /n former days the shi%master acted as an agent for his relatives and friends, even his
children, who desired to indulge in a little s%eculation.
A,./AL, a fine wire, or set of wires, used to %ro%agate and receive the radio waves. *he aerial is usually
rigged between trucks.
A)).,/9+*-,0*, a contract for chartering a vessel in whole or in %art for the trans%ortation of
merchandise.
A)L"A*, the condition of resting buoyantly u%on the water, the u%ward %ressure being eual to that of
gravity.
A-).A-, 1,../#$, a ty%e in which the mast is formed by two timbers crossed by aground timber at the
foot; the foot of the boom is ste%%ed in the ground timber; two additional ground timbers also torn an A and
serve as a foundation.
A)*, towards the stern.
A)*,. B"1@, the stern section of a vessel.
A)*,. 94A.1, the men detailed to tend the gear at the after %art of a vessel. Also, the officers, who have
their uarters aft; the owner of a yacht end his guests.
A)*,. 5,A$, a com%artment in the very stern; the after %eak bulkhead forms the forward side of the after
%eak and %rotects the vessel in case of an accident to the %ro%eller =tail> shaft or stern bearings.
A)*,. 5,.5,01/#4LA., a vertical line at the after edge of the stern%ost.
A)*,. @A.1!, those abaft the foremast.
A9A/0!* *+, !40, a term a%%lied to a rotary motion that is o%%osite to the hands of a watch.
A9"0/# L/0,, one of no variation.
A9."401, on the bottom.
A94L+A! #4..,0*, a branch of the !outh /ndian ,uatorial #urrent which flows down through the
-ozambiue #hannel along the eastern coast of Africa. 4%on arriving off the Agulhas +ank it is
deflected to the southward and later to the eastward.
A+"@, a customary hail to a boat or vessel.
A-+4LL, a term a%%lied to d vessel hove-to under bare %oles with helm alee.
A/., a term meaning a movement of air, as, a light air.
A/. AL-A0A#, %ublished at four-month intervals, is %rimarily for aviators, but through the facility of its use
has favor with surface navigators. /t furnishes data at ten-minute intervals and to 1: of
arc, which navigators find of sufficient accuracy for their ordinary needs.
A/. )400,L, one of the air courses for ventilation between the frames, calling and %lanking of a wooden
shi%.
A/. 5".*, a found o%ening, which a usually closed, with a heavy glass hinged cover.
A/. !*.A$,!, ducts for ventilating the holds.
A/.5LA0,, a %latform u%on which is loaded a draft of cargo-is hoisted by a bridle attached to a cargo hook.
/t is a %allet.
ALBA*."!!, the largest sea-fowl. is found chiefly in the !outhern +emis%here. *hey have a wings%read that
sometimes reaches 1A feet. *hey are ca%able of the most remarkable long sustained flights. *here was
formerly a su%erstition that the soul of a de%arted sailor animated the albatross and d for this reason seamen
were reluctant to kill them.
AL,,, away from the direction of the wind, usually referring to the helm.
AL/1A1,, an instrument for taking bearings.
ALL +A01!, the whole shi%:s com%any.
ALL /0 *+, 3/01, every sail snaking.
ALL 0/9+* /0, a night:s slee% with no watch.
ALL !*A01/09, to be fully eui%%ed; to be uickly brought to. A sto% is said to be brought u% all standing.
*o turn in all standing is to retire with one:s clothes on.
ALL-A-*A40*-", all gear hauled taut; shi%-sha%e.
ALL/9A*". 0A6@, the force consisting of am%hibious craft.
AL-A#A0*A.!, circles %arallel with the rational horizon on the celestial s%here.
AL")*, above the decks; overhead.
AL")* *+,.,C , the customary hail to men aloft.
AL"09!+".,-,0, the handlers of cargoes.
AL"09!/1,, by the side of a %ier or of a vessel.
AL"3, low, near the decks; sometimes meaning below decks.
AL"3 and AL")*, a term used when a vessel is carrying all sails --including stunsails.
AL5+AB,* )LA9!, of the /nternational #odeD Alfa, Bravo, #harlie, 1elta, ,cho, )o2trot, 9olf, +otel, /ndia,
?ulietD $ilo, Lima, -ike, 0ovember, "scar, 5a%a, Euebec. .omeo, !ierra, *ango, 4niform, 6ictor, 3hiskey, 8-
ray, @ankee, Fulu.
)or com%lete information see 5ublication 17G, /nternational #ode of !ignals, of the 4.!. 0aval "ceanogra%hic
"ffice.
AL*/*41, =Alt.>, the height of a body above the horizon. *he altitude as measured with a se2tant is the
observed altitude and in the case of the sun needs correction for di%, refraction, semi-diameter, %aralla2 and
inde2-error =see individually> in order to obtain the true altitude.
AL*/*41, AF/-4*+, a method of obtaining the bearing of the sun or a star by solving the astronomical
triangle for the azimuth, or angle at the zenith. *he altitude gives zenith distance; the declination the %olar
distance; the latitude by dead reckoning the co-latitude.
AL*/*41, 1/)),.,0#,, the amount the com%uted altitude differs from the true altitude of a body in the
determination of %osition lines. *he true attitude being that measured by the se2tant. /f the true altitude is
the larger, the altitude difference is measured from the assumed %osition of the shi% towards the body,
otherwise away from it.
AL*"-#4-4L4! =A-#u.>. clouds are %artially shaded white or grayish, com%osed of large globular masses
which often become confused.
AL*"-!*.A*4! =A-!.>, clouds form a thick veil of a dee% gray color through which the sun or moon can be
easily seen.
A-A/0. all at once, on the run.
A-B,.9./!, a light grayish substance used in the %re%aration of %erfumery where its singular blending
uality is of great value. /t comes from an intestinal secretion in a s%erm whale.
A-/1!+/5!, usually in the line of the keel, but sometimes midway between bow and stern; usually
corru%ted to :midshi%s.
A-5L/*41,, the angle at the zenith between the %rime vertical and the vertical circle %assing through the
observed body. /t is sometimes considered as the arc of the horizon from the true ,ast or 3est %oint to the
body at rising or setting. An am%litude should be observed when the sun is about one a%%arent diameter
above the horizon. *he bearing is taken by com%ass and com%ared with the calculated or true am%litude. *he
difference is the error of the com%ass. *he true am%litude is found by using *ables GH and GI Bowditch or by
adding the secant of the latitude and the sine of the declination, which gives the sine of the true am%litude.
A0#+"., a device of iron so sha%ed as to gri% the bottom and hold a vessel by the chain or ro%e attached.
Anchors are of many ty%es, some for the same %ur%ose, others for different uses. *he largest or heaviest
anchor of a vessel is known as the street anchor; those in ordinary use are called bowers; stream anchors for
light work and easy handling; kedges for running war%s. *hey ere lighter than stream anchors. *here are also
gra%nels, bearing many flukes for dragging %ur%oses and mooring small boats. !ome anchors have movable
flukes end some are stockless. *he latter are the most used owing to the ease of stowage, being merely hove
u% in the hawse %i%e and made fast. Another division is made in the kinds of anchorsD A solid anchor is one
where the shank and flukes are forged together, while a %ortable anchor is ca%able of being. taken to %ieces.
An anchor is said to be acockbill when it hangs by the chain over the bow, and a%eak when the chain is hove
short and the anchor is ready to break out. An anchor is said to bite when it takes a good hold in the bottom,
but comes home when it begins to drag, while to bring home an anchor is to heave the shi% to it. *o shoe an
anchor in to bolt %lanks to the flukes in order to enlarge their area for use on a soft bottom. -odern anchors
of light weight and high tensile strength are %o%ular for vessels of small tonnage; es%ecially yachts. *here are
also sea anchors.
A0#+". B.A#$,*, /nstead of resting on a shi%:s rail and billboard, anchors often are made fast on
brackets on the bows, hence the name.
A0#+". #+A/0, heavy stud-linked chain attached to an anchor for mooring or anchoring %ur%oses.
A0#+". 1,#$, a very short forecastle for the stowing of the anchor.
A0#+". +"@. a lighter eui%%ed with derrick for the handling of
heavy anchors.
A0#+". L/9+*, a white light visible all round the horizon shown from the forward %art of a vessel at
anchor. "n vessels 1J7 feet or more in length a similar light is also shown aft, but 1J feet lower than the
forward light. Also called riding light. 6essels of less than IJ feet may anchor without lights in !%ecial
Anchorage Areas shown on the charts.
A0#+". L/0/09, a number of stri%s of wood or iron to %rotect the shi% against in<ury from the bill of the
anchor.
A0#+". or -""./09 5"L,, is often used by a small vessel or boat when obliged to anchor in an
e2%osed %osition. *he cable from the anchor is shackled to the lower end of the %ole and the cable or
%endant from the bow is shackled to the u%%er end of the %ole. *his arrangement tends to absorb the shock
on the anchor.
A0#+". 5"#$,*, a recess at the hawse %i%e into which the anchor flukes are hove. giving the vessel a
clear flush bow for maneuvering around the docks.
A0#+". 3A*#+, a detail of the crew kee%ing watch while a vessel is at anchor.
A0#+".A9,, an area set a%art for anchored vessels; a suitable %lace for anchoring. 5rohibited anchor age,
a section of a harbor ke%t free of anchored vessels.
A0#+".: ! A3,/9+, when it is off the bottom.
A0,-"-,*,., an instrument which turns by the strength of the wind in a horizontal %lane. *he im%ulse is
given to cu%s set vertically on horizontal arms. *he velocity is recorded by the revolutions of the vertical shaft
on an indicator by means of gears.
A0,."/1 BA."-,*,., like the mercurial, an instrument for measuring the %ressure of the atmos%here. /t
resembles a clock in sha%e anti a%%earance. *he dial is graduated into isobars and into inches, tenths and
hundredths, u%on which a hand indicates the atmos%heric %ressure. *he variations of %ressure are e2erted
u%on a metallic bo2 from which most of the air has been e2hausted, and a combination of levers sensitively
ad<usted communicates the movements of contraction and e2%ansion to the inde2 on the face.
A09A.@, ./9+* "), is given a belligerent under stress of necessity to seize the shi%s of a neutral for its
own use.
A09L, #"LLA., a circle formed with an angle iron.
A09L, /."0 or ).A-,, a bar of /ron bent longitudinally, so that it shows an angle in cross section.
A09L, ") .,5"!,; the greatest angle at which a bulk cargo will rest without shifting.
A00/, "A$L,@, a ventilated s%innaker with several stabilizing holes.
A004AL 6A./A*/"0, the amount the magnetic com%ass changes in a year, due to changes in the earth:s
lines of force. /t varies in different localities, and is not consistent change.
A004LA., %ertaining to or having the form of a ring. An annular ecli%se e2ists when the moon covers the
middle %ortion of the sun but leaves a ring of light overla%%ing it.
A0"-AL@, the angle at the sun between the line drawn from the sun to %erihelion and the radius vector,
reckoned in the direction of the earth:s motion.
A0!3,./09 5,00A0*, a red and white vertically stri%ed %ennant flown when answering a signal.
A0*A.#*/# #/.#L,, the northern margin of the Antarctic zone, which is in KKB LG: !. Lat.
A0*,00A, an arrangement of conductors, usually aloft, for the rece%tion and sending of radio waves.
A0*/-#".."!/6, 5A/0*, a%%lied as a first coat to steel in order to %revent corrosion of the %lates.
A0*/#@#L"0/#, a condition where the winds blow out from a center of high %ressure. *he direction is
o%%osite to the cyclonic movement and is of an outward s%iral nature. /t is associated with atmos%heric high
%ressure with clockwise winds in the 0orthern +emis%here and counterclockwise in the !outhern +emis%here.
A0*/-)"4L/09 #"-5"!/*/"0, a %aint for vessels: bottoms containing co%%er, mercury, or other
chemicals for the destruction of marine growth.
A0*/5"1,A0 1A@, the day gained in crossing the meridian of 1I7B when sailing eastward. *hat is, there
may be, for instance, two -ondays, -ay HMth.
A0*/5"1,!, the %oint or country on the side of the world diametrically o%%osite; 0ew Fealand and Australia
are often referred to as the Anti%odes by ,nglish %eo%le.
A0*/!#".B4*/#, a food which has a counteracting effect on scurvy, such as onions, %otatoes and lime
<uice.
A5,A$, the %osition of an anchor when hove short and about to be broken out.
A5+,L/"0, is the %oint in the earth:s orbit that is farthest from the sun.
A5"9,,, the %oint in the moon:s orbit that is farthest from the earth.
A5."0, an inner stem of a vessel fayed on the after side of the main stem for its reinforcement.
A5!/1,!, L/0, "), connects the %erihelion and a%helion of the earth:s orbit.
AE4A./4!, the eleventh sign of the zodiac.
A.#+ #"0!*.4#*/"0, a system in which the deck beams are of unusual size and strength, relieving the
necessity for lower beams and allowing a clear interior for bulk cargoes.
A.#+ 5/,#,, the member of a shi%:s structure forming the arch over the %ro%eller.
A.#+,1 !E4ALL, one whose advancing front is higher in the middle than at the sides.
A.#*/# #/.#L,, the southern limit of the Arctic Fone, which is in 1!t. KKBLG: 0.
A.#*/# #4..,0* =Labrador #>, a cold flow of water to the southward along the Labrador and
0ewfoundland coasts. /t encounters the 9ulf !tream off the 9rand Banks. *he ice in various forms met on the
steamer lanes is brought down from 9reenland:s waters by this current.
A.,*-"0 -A!*, an ancient s%ar serving as a foremast and raking somewhat forward. *he sail served the
same %ur%ose as <ibs of modern vessels in kee%ing the bow off. *he modern bows%rit grew out of the
artemon mast with a gradually diminishing &steeve& or angle frown the horizontal.
A./,!, the first sign of the zodiac. !ee )irst 5oint of Aries.
A.-, the %art of an anchor between the crown and the flukes. !ee also @ardarm.
A.-/09, the %rocess of filling the cavity in the bottom of a lead with tallow by which s%ecimens of the
bottom are obtained, which aide the mariner is locating the %osition of the shi%.
A..,!*. *he detention of a vessel in the custody of the law until a claim or <udgment is satisfied.
A.*/#L,!, the contract. signed by a seaman u%on <oining a merchant vessel.
A.*/)/#/AL +"./F"0, a device by the use of which the altitude of a heavenly body above the horizon can
be obtained on land. /t consists of a small basin of mercury %rotected from disturbance by the wind. *he
actual reading of the se2tant is twice the altitude of the body; if the lower edge of the sun:s image is used
then the semi- is additive; there is no di% correction. -olasses or any other viscous fluid may be used instead
of mercury.
A.*/!*, a mariner of former days who was versed in navigation when the %ractice of the science was
considered an accom%lishment.
A!+ B.,,F,, %rogress made with oars in a calm. =!ometimes a 3hite Ash Breeze.>
A!+".,, on the bottom or on the shore; aground.
A!!4-,1 5"!/*/"0, /n the establishment of a %osition line by celestial observation a %oint is taken in the
vicinity of the 1... %osition. *he altitude of a body is com%uted, or taken from the tables, for this %osition.
3hen the com%uted altitude is com%ared with the measured altitude of the body by se2tant, the difference
between them is the altitude difference. =.v.>
A!*,.0, backwards; behind the vessel.
A!*."LAB,, an old-fashioned instrument for taking altitudes of heavenly bodies.
A!*."0"-/#AL 1A@, GM hours of solar time reckoned from noon to noon.
A!*."0"-/#AL LA*/*41,, the angular distance from the euator to the zenith; as shown by the %lumb
line or a%%arent zenith.
A!*."0"-/#AL */-,, starts at noon =7 hours> and runs to the succeeding noon, through GM hours. /t is
thus 1G hours behind civil time.
A!*."0"-/#AL *./A09L,, a s%herical triangle on the celestial s%here, one of whose angles is at the
%ole, one at the body observed,. and the other at the zenith of the observer. *he sides are 5olar 1istance
=A7B N d>, Fenith 1istance =A7B-Alt.> and #olatitude =A7B-Lat.>. *he angle at the %ole is the +our Angle and
the angle at the zenith is the Azimuth. *he 0orth 5ole is used in north latitude and the !outh 5ole in south
latitude.

A*+3A.*, at right angles to the fore and aft line of a vessel. Also Athwartshi%s. Athwart the tide, a%%lies to
a vessel lying across the current.
A*+3A.* +A3!,, across a vessel:s bow or anchor chain.
A*LA0*/# .A09,, the coast of the 4nited !tates bordering the Atlantic "cean.
A*LA0*/!, L"!*. /n early times, references were made to a large and o%ulent land in the Atlantic which is
su%%osed. to have settled and is now referred to as the Lost Atlantis.
A*"LL, a circular islet nearly or entirely enclosing 2 lagoon; usually of coral formation.
A*./5, when the anchor is broken out and leaving the bottom.
A49-,0*A*/"0 =Aug.>, the a%%arent increase of the semi-diameter of a celestial body as it, a%%roaches
the-zenith. 4sed in navigation %articularly in reference to the moon:s semi-diameter. 3hen the moon is
directly overhead, the observer is occu%ying the %art of the earth that is nearest the body, but when the
moon is on the horizon. the observer is the same distance from the body as the center of the earth, hence
one half of the earth:s diameter farther away than when the body is overhead. !o it follows that when the
body is in the horizon the a%%arent semi-diameter is less, and increases towards the zenith because it is
getting nearer.
A4.".A A4!*.AL/! and B".,AL/!, southern and northern lights. A luminous %henomenon su%%osed to
be electrical in its origin which illuminates the %olar skies at times with scintillating beams of light, often in
color. *hey move from the horizon towards , the zenith. !ee also -erry 1ancers.
A4!*.AL, %ertaining to southern regions.
A4*"-A*,1 !+/5, one in which the steamer:s %ower is controlled and o%erated from the bridge, thereby
reducing the %ersonnel of the engineers: de%artment.
A4*4-0AL ,E4/0"8, the moment =about !e%tember GGnd> that the sun crosses the ,uator, bound
south. /t is also a%%lied to the %osition of the sun at the intersection of the euinoctial and the ecli%tic. -
A48/L/A./,!, small engines for winches, %um%s, dynamos, etc.
A48/L/A.@, a vessel %ro%elled both by sails and by mechanical %ower.
A48/L/A.@ A09L,, a subsidiary angle which facilitates the %rocess of a calculation.
A6A!*, an order to sto%, to cease hauling.
A6,.A9,, there are two kinds of average-5articular and 9eneral Average. ,ach is a %rocess of arriving at an
ad<ustment of insurance for loss at sea.
A6,.A9, B"01, given by the owners of merchandise, in a case of 9eneral Average, %ledging that they will
%ay their share and no
detain the vessel or delivery of the cargo.
A3A!+, the condition when the seas wash over a wreck or shoal, or when a vessel is so low that water is
constantly washing aboard in uantities.
A3A@, an order to shove oI &Away boats.& *o lower a boat or draft of cargo-&Lower away.&
A3,A*+,., towards the direction of the wind, to windward.
A3,/9+, the %osition of an anchor which has been broken out and is off the bottom.
A30/09, a canvas %rotection from the sun, taking name according to its location, as, forecastle awning,
bridge awning, etc.
A30/09-1,#$,1 6,!!,L, a ty%e having a continuous u%%er deck of light construction, and the sides
wholly enclosed above the main deck.
A8/!, the line around which a body revolves. *he a2is of a channel is a line through its center.
A@, A@,, !/., a term used by a subordinate to his su%erior in acknowledgement of an order.
AF/-4*+. *his element is so im%ortant to the navigator that great familiarity with it is desirable. An azimuth
is a bearing of a heavenly body; it is measured from the elevated %ole, that is, in north latitude from the north
%oint of the horizon through LK7O An azimuth may also be e2%ressed as the angle at the zenith lying between
the meridian of the observer and the vertical circle %assing through the body. *he true azimuth may either be
com%uted =see Altitude and *ime Azimuths> or taken from tables, or from a diagram. Azimuth is used by
engineers where seamen use the word &bearing.&
AF/-4*+ #/.#L, =Bearing )inder>, a metallic circle made to fit on a com%ass for the %ur%ose of taking
azimuths. *here is a revolving mirror on one side by which the reflection of the sun is caught and thrown into
a %rism situated directly o%%osite, also or. the rim. of the circle. *he rays, here thrown downward in a thread
of light u%on the rim of the com%ass card, indicate the sun:s bearing. *here are also sight vanes for use in
taking bearings of landmarks.
AF/-4*+ #/.#L,, a vertical circle originating at the zenith, and intersecting the horizon at right angles.
AF/-4*+ 1/A9.A-, a convenient device by which the azimuth may be obtained gra%hically without
troublesome inter%olation.
B.5. , between %er%endiculars, .v.
B.*.4. , British *hermal 4nit.
BAB@ ?/B *"5!A/L, the smallest of the <ibs usually carried by yachts, end is set well aloft on one of the
outer stays.
BA#$, to back an anchor, is to send an e2tra anchor to the bottom with its shank made fast along the
cable to assist the first anchor, or to shackle the e2tra anchor to the chain near the lower one before letting
go. *he wind backs when it changes against the hands of a watch, but veers if it changes with them. !uare
sails are backed or aback when the wind is on their forward side throwing them against the mast. /f this
occurs through a shift of wind or a careless helmsman, a shi% is said to be taken aback. *o back water with
oars is to %ush instead of %ull. *o back any %iece of gear is to set u% a %reventer.
BA#$ !/9+*, to bring a body to the %oint of the horizon directly o%%osite that %oint used in a fore or
ordinary eight. /t is used as a test for e2cessive refraction, or when intervening land or a fog bank obstructs
the fore sight. 1ue to the mechanical limitations of the instrument it can be taken only when the celestial
body is in high altitude. A back sight se2tant reading should be subtracted from 1I7 degrees.
BA#$ !5L/#,, a method of finishing the end of a ro%e by tucking the strands back from the. -end which is
crowned.
BA#$ 3A!+, the water thrust aft by the action of the screw or %addle wheels. 3aves running out through a
%revailing sea after striking a cliff or sea wall.
BA#$ 3A*,., to %ush on the oars, making sternway.
BA#$ 3/01, the flow of air from sail against another on the wrong side. /n a yacht an im%ro%erly set head
sail may so interfere with the efficiency of the mainsail.
BA#$ A @A.1, is to brace it in such a way as to bring the wind on the forward side :of a sail.
BA#$B"A.1, a rest board set athwartshi%s in the stern of a small boat.
BA#$B"0,, the ridge ro%e of an awning; into it are turned the %arts -of the crows-foot for tricing it u%.
BA#$+A01 ."5,, .left-handed ro%e,
BA#$/09, winds changing against.
the hands of a watch in the northern hemis%here; changing clockwise in southern hemis%here. !ee 6eering.
BA#$/09 A01 )/LL/09, a sailing shi% working u% a river on a flood tide with a head wind, fills or backs
her sails, sets or takes in the <ib and s%anker, as necessary to maintain a %osition clear of the banks. *his is
known as backing and 5iling. /t was e2tensively %racticed on the #hinese rivers in early days. *he %rocess of
working latitude and longitude alternately forward and backward is called backing and filling.
BA#$LA!+, shocks caused by %lay in steering gear or other mechanical devices.
BA#$."5,!, stay the dol%hin striker from aft; they lead in to the bows.
BA#$!*A@!, %art of the standing rigging of a shi%. *hey lead from the to%mast, t:gallant and royal
mastheads to the chains abaft the rigging to su%%ort the mast from aft. 3hen carrying a heavy %ress of sail in
strong winds e2tra or %reventer backstays may be set u% tem%orarilyD /n some small fore-and-aft-rigged
vessels backstays are set u%. on each tack and the lee ones cast off to allow a freer swing to the boom.
*hese are. called shifting backstays or runners. !ingle-masted yachts with inboard rig use %ermanent or
stand- backstays. *he forward backstays in a shi% are called breast backstays.
BA#$!*.A55,1, a term a%%lied to a vessel underway and unable to stem the current; or sometimes to one
becalmed under high land.
BA))L, =BA))AL> 5LA*,!, are set vertically in tanks to %revent the violent shifting of liuids from side
BA))L/09 3/01!, are freuently shifting winds and light airs.
BA9, sails with leeches taut and canvas slack are said to bag.
BA99ALA, an Arab vessel of the /ndian "cean. /t has two masts and is a swift sailer.
BA99@ 3./0$L,, a form of chaffing gear made by hitching a great number of short ro%e yarns around two
lengths of small stuff, so that the ends come out between them. /t is wound in close contact round a stay,
giving a bushy a%%earance, and saves wear on a sail at the %oint of chafe.
BA9-5/5,, to shift the sheet of a sail in such a way as to bring the sail aback.
BA9-.,,), a term a%%lied to a single reef in a fore-and-aft or suare sail.
BA94/", a ty%hoon in the 5hili%%ines.
BA/L, to di% water out.
BA/L,., a device of many sha%es used to remove water from a boat.
BALA0#, L49, a small boat rig. *he sail sets from a small yard and carries a boom which %ro<ects forward
of the mast.
BALA0#, .,,)-BA01, runs from the <aws of the gaff of a fore-and-aft sail about %arallel with the boom,
making a triangular sail when balance reefed.
BALA0#, .411,., one that has a certain amount of its area =weight> forward of the %ivoting %oint.
BALA0#/09 ./09 or BA01, a ring fitted with a link at a %oint on the shank of an anchor, where, when
hoisted, it will balance the anchor. *he anchor is stowed by hooking the fish fall into this ring and hoisting it
on deck.
BALA01.A, a coastal craft of western !outh America. /t is of crude workmanshi%, rather high sided, and
rigged as a sloo% or schooner.,
BAL1+,A1,1 !#+""0,., one without to%masts.
BAL,, alternate form of Bail.
BAL,-BA01, is found =sometimes> at the mast-head su%%orted by the ca%, into which the flying <ib stay is
made fast.
BALLA!* L"9!, are lashed alongside to %revent ca%sizing.
BALLA!* 5A!!A9,, one made in ballast, but es%ecially referring to the em%ty %assage of a tank steamer.
BALLA!* *A0$!, are in the lower holds of vessels for carrying water ballast, also called 1ouble Bottoms.
*hey can be %um%ed out and flooded at will. and used to trim shi%.
BALL/09,., an obsolete vessel of about 177 tons having a small freeboard but good length, and ada%ted
for sail and oars. *he ty%e originated on the shores of the Bay of Biscay in the 1Mth century.
BALL""0 ?/B, a very large head sail of light material used on yachts and fishermen in light and moderate
weather.
BALL"3, dee% water inside a bar.
BAL!A, a raft or catamaran used in the coastal trade of !outh America; also a very light, buoyant wood used
in the manufacture of life rafts.
BAL,,0, whalebone. A horny slave hanging from the u%%er <aw of a right whale like a fringe. /t is by means
of this baleen that the whale strains its food from a mouthful of sea water.
BALLA+"4, a 3est /ndian schooner whose masts are raked at different angles, usually the foremast and the
mainmast aft. Although fast-sailing they were not trim in a%%earance; hence the term has now come to be
used for old and lubberly a%%earing vessels.
BALLA!*, a uantity of iron, stone, gravel or other weighty substance %laced in the lower hold of a vessel, or
in some cases metal bolted to the keel, to increase stability by lowering the center of gravity. !%aces used for
water ballast such as double bottoms, %eak tanks, dee% tanks, and cofferdams are not included in net
tonnage. A vessel sails in ballast when she carries no cargo. 3ater, sometimes oil, in ballast tanks is the most
common method of ballasting a large vessel.
BA0$, a large shoal with a sufficient de%th of water to %revent the sea breaking and is usually navigable.
1angerous reefs and shoals may e2ist on banks. *o double bank the oars is to %lace two men at an oar. A
boat is double banked if two men are %ulling on one thwart. )ires are banked when ke%t %artially smothered
by coal, or ashes. *he right bank of a river is
the right side when headed downstream.
BA0$,., a large fishing vessel which freuents the offshore fishing banks.
BA., a shoal usually of sand or mud o%%osite a river mouth or harbor entrance.
BA. B"401, held in %ort by heavy seas on the bar.
BA. LA**/#, B""-, is constructed of latticework steel and serves as a cargo or derrick boom.
BA.BA., a strong cutting wind of the 9ulf of !t. Lawrence which is filled with %articles of ice.
BA.B,**,, a bulging %lacement for a secondary battery in the side of a naval vessel.
BA.1,0, the method of installing grain fittings as described under that heading.
BA., 5"L, #+A.*,., one in which the bare shi% is chartered with no crew. !ometimes called a bare hull
and even bare boaD charter. *he charterer for a sti%ulated sum takes over the vessel with a minimum of
restrictions.
BA., 5"L,!, a term given when a vessel underway is without - sail set. A vessel is sometimes hove to
under bare %oles when no canvas will stand.
BA.9,, a general name given to a large %ulling boat. /t is often given to flat-bottom craft, but more
%articularly to vessels built for towage %ur%oses, to carry bulk cargoes, as sand barge, coal barge, etc.
)ormerly the term was a%%lied to the elegantly fitted boats or vessels of state, and we still have the admiral:s
barge, which is a fine fast motorboat for this officer:s use. *here to a ty%e of work boat in ,ngland called a
barge. *he so-called *hames barge is of the ketch or yawl rig with a large loose-footed =no boom> mainsail,
the %eak of which is su%%orted by a s%rit. /t is fitted with brails and usually a to%sail is carried; if it has only
%ole masts it is called a stum%y.
BA.9/09, /s a maneuver used at a starting line by a yacht contending for a windward %osition. !he tries to
force her way between other yachts and the windward end of the line, all being on the same tack. By gaining
an overla%, after the starting gun, such a barging boat would shout for &room,& destroying a well-%lanned
start of the yachts to leeward. *his %ractice is now eliminated by the &anti-barging rule.& A leeward boat
a%%roaching a starting line, after the gun, is not now obliged to give way to an overla%%ing yacht shouting for
room. *he leeward boat must not head above the course for the first mark, nor luff to interfere with a yacht
to windward.
BA.$ =BA.E4,>, a three-masted vessel suare-rigged on the fore and main but fore-and-aft on the mizzen.
A four-masted bark is suare-rigged on the fore, main, and mizzen, but fore-and-aft on the after mast,
according to most common usage, although this rig by some authorities is called a shi%, and even a
shi%entine. *he term &bark& was first a%%lied to a small ty%e of galley, early in the history of shi%s.
BA.$AL"09A, a !%anish ty%e of vessel having two or three masts lug rigged. /t was used in the
-editerranean and occasionally came to the 3est /ndies in early days.
BA.$,0*/0, =Baruenti ne>, a three-or-more-masted vessel suare-rigged on the fore; and fore-and-aft
on the main and mizzen or any additional masts.
BA.0A#L,!, small shellfish which attach themselves to the sides of vessels, %iers, and driftwood.
BA."9.A5+, an instrument which automatically registers barometric %ressure. /t consists of a cylinder
driven by clock gear, around which is secured a sheet of cross-section %a%er. A self-inking %en actuated by an
aneroid barometer is brought in contact with. the revolving %a%er and leaves a record.
BA."-,*,., is an instrument for measuring the barometric %ressure. *here are two ty%es. Aneroid: and
-ercurial Barometers.
BA.E4,, alternate s%elling for Bark.
BA..A*.@, the willful casting away of a shi% by her master; also any breach of trust on his %art.
BA..,L, a rece%tacle for liuids which has different ca%acities for various uses. As a barrel of crude oil is MG
gallons; in whaling days a barrel was L7s gallons.
BA..,L-B"3,1, a%%lies where the bow is nearly circular at the deckline gradually assuming shar%er lines
to a finer entrance at the waterline.
BA../,. .,,), a %rotecting reef that skirts a coast, taking the force of the sea. 6ery often small vessels
can navigate in com%aratively smooth water inside a barrier reef. 0otable among barrier reefs is the 9reat
Barrier .eef off the eastern coast of, Australia.
BA!! ."5,, coir ro%e.
BA*+@-,*./# #+A.*!, are those that em%hasize the curves of eual de%ths; they facilitate contour
navigation.
BA*+@!5+,.,, a %ressure-resisting vessel, in which scientists are lowered to great de%ths where through
windows they can study marine life and collect oceanogra%hic data. *he most advanced device for this work is
the navy:s *rieste, cylindrical in sha%e, ca%able of moving slowly over the bottom and has reached e2treme
de%ths.
BA**,0 #L,A*!, right-angled brackets welded to a hatch coaming into which the battens are dro%%ed and
drawn firmly against the tar%aulins by wedges.
BA**,0 5"#$,*!, are sewed into sails to hold the -battens at desired angles. .
BA**,0!, stri%s of iron that fit over brackets welded to the sides of a hatch coaming and secure the
hatch-covering tar%aulins. 3hen securely wedged the hatches are said to be battened down. 3ooden or
%lastic battens are long slender stri%s :%laced in sails to su%%ort and hold their form, es%ecially to
flatten the leaches of racing sails. Battens are %laced about the rigging to save the gear from chafing. #argo
battens are long %lanks in the holds and :tween decks along the shi%:s side to %rotect cargo from sweat and
rust.
BA**L, 5".*!, are dead lights. that is, no light-the covers of solid metal for air %orts.
BA4L$, a heavy suared %iece-of timber.
BA3L,@, a small ,nglish sloo% which carries a gaff to%sail and whose mainsail has no boom, brailling to the
mast.
BA@A-", a violent suall on the south. coast of. #uba.
BA@"4, an inlet from a bay or river; a term commonly used in the !outhern !tates.
B,A#+, the sandy shore washed by the surf; to beach a vessel is to run her ashore for a %ur%ose. A seaman
unem%loyed is &on the beach.&
B,A#+#"-B,., a derelict seaman not an2ious for em%loyment, but living off the country and the bounty of
visiting shi%s: cooks. *hey are seemingly entranced with the %ort they are in-usually in a foreign country.
B,A#"0, an aid to navigation, usually unlighted. Beacons take various forms to be cons%icuous acid
characteristic. *hey usually carry either cages, bells, diamonds, or cones as to%marks. !ee .adio Beacon.
B,A$ or B,A$-+,A1, first used in the days of the galleys when
much de%endence in attack was %laced on a ram forward, known as the beak. Later a %latform raised on the
forward %art of the u%%er deck of medieval shi%s =%robably to facilitate the actions
7f the fighting men> was called the beak-headD /n our own early sailing shi% days the term lost its romantic
atmos%here and the term &head& was a%%lied to a s%ace for the crew:s latrines between the figurehead and
the forecastle bulwarks.
B,A-, a thwartshi% timber or member of a vessel u%on which the decks are laid. *he de%th of a beam is
called the moulding, its breadth the siding. *he greatest breadth of a vessel. A vessel may be referred to as a
five-beam vessel, meaning that her length is five times her beam. A cli%%er shi% was from five to si2 times her
beam in length.
B,A- ,01!. A vessel is on her beam ends when listed to an angle where her beams are almost
%er%endicular, and her righting %ower gone so that she does not return to her normal u%right condition. *his
occurs usually through shifting of the cargo or ballast; it may be caused in a sailing craft by a sudden suall or
by a heavy sea inducing too dee% rolling.
B,A- )/LL/09, cargo in small %ackages convenient for filling the s%ace between the beams.
B,A- $0,,, the enlarged end of a beam =for se%arate right-angled %iece> by which it is attached to a
name.
B,A- L/0,, the line of the to%s of beams, indicating the intersection with the frames.
B,A- *.A3L, !ee "tter trawl.
B,A- 3/01, one that blows athwart a vessel:s fore and aft line. at right angles -with the keel.
B,A-@, having an unusual breadth of beam in %ro%ortion to the length.
B,A., a hydraulic machine for %unching holes in the structure of a vessel. 1eck bear a heavy mat loaded
with sand, stones or grate bare hauled back and forth on the deck, by ro%es, for scouring %ur%oses. *o bear
down is to a%%roach from windward. *o bear u% is to come u%. to the wind, or to an ob<ect. *o bear off the
land is to stand offshore. *o bear off is to %ush, fend or breast a, boat off a wharf, float or a vessel:s side.
Bear away is to steer away from anything, es%ecially from the direction of the wind.
B,A. A +A01, to hurry work; to lend hel%.
B,A.1/09, the forward %art of a rudder; the reduction of surface in a timber from a given line, as is seen in
the stem of a vestal.
B,A.1/09 A09L,, the angle the stem takes with the keel %lates.
B,A.1/09 L/0,, the trace of the inner surface of the shi%:s skin on the keel, stem or stern%ost. /t is closely
associated with the rabbet of the keel.
B,A./09, the direction of an ob<ect e2%ressed in terms of com%ass %oints or degrees.
B,A./09 A01 B"401/09. 3hen only one known ob<ect is in sight and there is no o%%ortunity to use a
four %oint bearing, or two bearings and the run between, a single bearing may be laid down on the chart and
by taking a sounding an a%%ro2imate %osition may be obtained %rovided the soundings are characteristic and
that there are not several %ositions where the de%ths are the same.
B,A./09! ") A 6,!!,L. the widest %art at the water line when in trim. *he buoyant su%%ort of a vessel
forward.
B,A*/09, working to windward by successive tacks.
B,A*/09 *+, B""B@, swinging the arms from side to side to accelerate the blood:s circulation.
B,A4)".* !#AL,, indicates the wind:s velocity and is tabulated as
followsD
6elocity =a%%ro2.>
)orce 3ind $nots
7. #alm ..... Less than 1
1. light air . . 1 to L
G. Light breeze . . . M to I
L. 9entle breeze . H to 17
M. -oderate breeze .11 to 1I
J. )resh breeze 1H to G1
I. !trong breeze . . .GG to GH
H. -oderate gale . GJ to LL
I. )resh gale . . ... LM to M7
A. !trong gale . M1 to MH
17. 3hole gale . . MI to JJ
11. !torm JI to 7J
1G. +urricane .... over KJ
+urricanes are numbered 1G to 1H according to velocity, 1J being for winds of A7-AA and 1H for those of
177-11I knots.
B,#AL-, to blanket a sail or vessel by interce%ting the wind with other sails or with another vessel. A vessel
unable to make %rogress through the lack of wind is becalmed.
B,#$,*, a small %iece of ro%e made into a #ircle for various uses. Also a small %iece of ro%e with an eye in
each end to hold the foot of a s%rit at the mast of a small boat, or sometimes to hold an oar. *he term is
often a%%lied to any sim%le eye which receives the hook of a block.
B,#$,* B,01 =!heet Bend>, an efficient bend used for the %ur%ose of uniting two ends of ro%e or a
ro%e:s end to en eye. /t <ams with the strain, will not sli% and is easily cast loose.
B,#4,/09, a method of securing the ro%e to a small anchor for use on rocky ground, by which a shar% <erk,
breaking the light seizing, shifts the %ull on the line from the ring to the crown of the anchor and effects its
release when caught among the rocks.
B,1, is the general term given to the foundation of an engine, boiler or any other ob<ect of weight.
B,,!, %ieces of wood attached to the sides of the bows%rit through which %ass the fore-to%mast stays,
thence in to the bows where they are set u% with lanyards.
B,)"., *+, -A!*, -en living in the forecastle are said to be before the mast.
B,)"., *+, 3/01, having the wind coming from astern.
B,LA@, to make fast; to cease.
B,LA@/09 5/0, a device of brass, iron or wood which is set in the %in or fife rails for securing the running
rigging.
B,LL B4"@, a floating =usually unlighted> beacon eui%%ed with a bell so installed as to ring by the motion
of the waves.
B,LL 54LL, a wire connection from the deck to the engine-room by which a gong is sounded, giving signals
to the engineer.
B,LL ."5,, a short %iece of ro%e made fast to the cla%%er of the shi%:s bell by which it is rung.
B,LL: ! 54.#+A!,, com%rises four single blocks of which two are movable and two are fi2ed. A bight of the
fall is fast to one moving block
B,LL@, the swelling of a sail.
B,LL@ BA01, a strengthening cloth of canvas below the lower reef band.
B,LL@ !*.A5, a ro%e around a small boat from which an anchor is sus%ended when carrying out a kedge.
B,L"3, beneath the deck.
B,01, a combination of turns and tucks by which one ro%e is fastened to another, or to a s%ar. As a verb-to
secure a sail to a yard or other s%ar. *o shackle the chain to the anchor.
B,01/09 !+A#$L,, connects the chain to the anchor. /t is heavier than the shackles between the different
shots of chain.
B,01!, the .hick %lanks of a vessel, strokes of which e2tend from the main deck to the turn of the
bilge or the waterline. #aisson disease is known as the bends.
B,01@ ./9, is used on small racing craft. *he sha%e and com%osition of the mast lends itself to fle2ibility; a
careful ad<ustment of headstay, shrouds and backstays controls the bend of the mast, contributing the
efficiency of the mainsall.
B,0,A5,1, *he s%ring tides being the highest high water oblige a vessel, so unfortunate as to ground at
this time, to wait two weeks for the ne2t s%ring tide to release her. !uch a vessel is- said to be benea%ed.
B,0*, a section or s%an of a bridge.
B,0*/0#$!, triangular courses. *he Bentink boom is a s%ar across the foot of a suare foresail, sometimes
formerly used by whalers.
B,./-B,./, a disease of the nerves which causes %aralysis, swelling of the legs and a condition of dro%sy. /t
occasionally a%%ears on vessels trading in the ,ast.
B,.-, a small shoal s%ot in the delta country of #alifornia.
B,.-41/A0 =: -41/A0> ./9. A vessel s%arred and rigged for mutton. leg sails, it having reached a high
state of efficiency in those islands. *his rig has largely su%%lanted the conventional gaff rig.
B,.*+, a %lace to slee% aboard shi%; a %osition for a vessel to tie u% or to anchor; a %osition of em%loyment
aboard shi%. A margin of safety in %assing a dangerous obstruction, as, to give a rock a wide berth.
B,!,*, enclosed by drifting ice.
B,!* B"3,., the heavier of the two anchors carried on the bow.
B,*3,,0 1,#$! =:*ween 1ecks>, the s%ace between any two decks, but es%ecially that in a cargo vessel
below the main deck.
B,*3,,0 3/01 A01 3A*,., the %art of a vessel -along the waterline.
B/BB!, heavy wooden solid brackets bolted to the hounds to su%%ort the trestletrees.
B/1A..A, a light staunch boat used in Bering !ea. /ts framework /s of- light strong wood secured by thongs
and covered with water%roof canvas. *hey can carry J or B tons of cargo. *hey are called !kin Boats locally.
B/9+*, any %art of a ro%e within the ends, a bend. Also a cove or indentation in the coastline.
B/LA01,., a two-masted sailing vessel once seen in ,uro%ean waters with large tra%ezoidal mainsail set
from a lateen yard. *he vessel was otherwise suare-rigged.
B/L9,, the turn of the hull below the waterline; when the curve is shar% the craft is said to have hard or
shar% bilges; if the curve is slow, she has easy or slack bilges; that %art of the inside hull about the keelson
where bilge water collects is called the bilges. *he %art of a cask having the greatest, diameter is the bilge.
B/L9, BL"#$!, are hauled under a vessel:s bilge in dry dock before the water is %um%ed out to su%%ort the
vessel somewhat as on a cradle. *he bilge block chains %ass from the inner end of the bilge blocks to the
o%%osite side of the dry dock and are used to haul the blocks close under the hull as she settles on the keel
blocks. !imilar su%%orts are used when a vessel is. hauled on a marine railway.
B/L9, A01 #A0*L/0,, a method of stowing casks where the lower tier is arranged chine and chine =or
bilge and bilge> and the ne2t tier lies in between the lower rows. *he lower tier is the ground tier; those
above the riders.
B/L9, ).,,, the bilge of a cask being clear of the deck by resting on skids.
B/L9, $,,L! =B/L9, #+"#$!> , keels at the turn of the bilge to offer resistance to the rolling motion of a
vessel. Also called rolling chocks.
B/L9, !+".,, a timber %laced at the bilge of a vessel in dock, or on the ways, to kee% her u%right.
B/L9, !*.A$,!, the e2tra heavy %lanking or %lating at the bilge, either outside or the ceiling inside.
B/L9, !*./09,., a fore and aft stringer %laced across the frames at the bilge to give strength. *he ,nglish
call this a bilge $eelson.
B/L9, 3A*,.. collects by see%age or leakage -into the bilges.
B/L9,1, a vessel stove at or near the bilge. *o fail an e2amination and be dro%%ed from an institution.
B/L9,3A@!, timbers laid beneath a vessel under construction, %arallel with the keel and inclined towards
the water.
B/LL, the ti% of an anchor. Also called the %ea.
B/LL-B"A.1, an inclined steel or iron %late at the rail of a vessel by the cathead to receive the fluke of the
anchor when secured.
B/LL ") +,AL*+, a document asserting that the health of a crew is good u%on leaving %ort. *he document
further shows the number of contagious diseases e2isting in the %ort of de%arture. /t is obtained from the
health officer or American consul, and is visaed by; the consul of the country of destination. /t is %resented to
a similar officer or other authority u%on arrival.
B/LL ") LA1/09, a document in which the master acknowledges the recei%t: of goods aboard. /t is a
descri%tion of the goods shi%%ed and an agreement to deliver them in good condition, e2ce%t for the dangers
of the sea and foreign enemies.
B/LL,*, an assigned %lace to slee%.
B/LL,*-+,A1, a small scroll used in %lace of the more %retentious figurehead. !ometimes a%%lied to the
loggerhead of a whaleboat.
B/LL@ B"@, a ty%e of ketch in ,ngland.
B/L"8/ -,A0 94L) L,6,L, is a datum 7.HI ft. above the mean level of -ississi%%i .iver mouth.
B/00A#L,, a bo2 or nun-magnetic metallic container for the com%ass. /t is fitted with lam%s, both oil and
electric for night work. 3hen %rovided with attachments and rece%tacles for magnets used in the
com%ensation of magnetism,
it is known as a com%ensating binnacle.
B/00A#L, L/!*, a sicklist-the names of those e2cused from duty by the doctor.
B/0"#4LA.!, a double telesco%e arranged for both eyes. *here are two kinds, the 9alilean, which
embodies the old %rinci%le of sim%le lenses, and the %rismatic, which gives a wider field by use of an
arrangement of %risms. *he 9alilean ty%e is used for night glasses.
B/.1: ! 0,!*, a defect of distended strands in wire ro%e caused by a kink. : B/.,-,, an ancient vessel
%ro%elled with two banks of oars. !ee *rireme., , B/!#4/* */0, an airtight tin or galvanized iron rece%tacle for
the life boats: emergency ration.
B/!+"5: ! ./09, a ring around the sun usually with its outer edge of reddish color. /t is %robably due to
%articles of dust in the air as it is seen after all great volcanic eru%tions.
B/** A #ABL,, to make fast to the bitts by a turn under the thwartshi% %iece and again round the bitt head;
to double or weather bitt a cable an e2tra turn is taken.
B/** +,A1!, the u%%er %arts of the bitts.
B/**,. ,01, the last end of a ro%e or cable that is doing im%ortant work. *he bitter end of an anchor chain
is made fast in the bottom or side of the chain locker.
B/**!, a %air of iron or wooden heady set vertically to which mooring or towing lines are made fast. /n small
craft a bitt is a single vertical timber head, forward or aft, with a thwartshi% %in through it, around which
mooring and towing lines are secured.
B/*4-A!*/# #,-,0*, an anticorrosive %aint for tanks.
BLA#$ B""$, a name often given to Lloyd:s .ecord of Losses.
BLA#$ 9A09, the . coal firing. force.
BLA#$ !,A -""./09, is GM7 feet in length consisting of 1I7 feet of ten. inch PcircumferenceQ manila; one
end s%liced into a s%ecial handwrought thimble. *his thimble takes the end of a I7 ft. length of 1ARs inch
=diameter> galvanized %low steel wire ro%e. /n the end of the wire is a J-foot eye s%lice. :
BLA#$ !*.,A-. !ee $uroshio.
BLA#$3ALL +/*#+, a turn of a line around the hook of a block in such a way that the line binds itself. A
double turn makes a double blackwall hitch. /f made around the bill and shank of the hook it is a bill blackwall
hitch.
BLA1,, a wing of a %ro%eller or a wing of a %atent log. *he flat art of an oar. *he edge that cuts the water is
the leading edge and the after side the trailing edge; the forward side of a blade is the suction side. *he %art
of the arm of an anchor located back of the %alm.
BLA0$,*. 3hen a sailing vessel gets to windward of another, taking wind from the other:s sails, the latter is
said to be blanketed. Blanket %ieces, in whaling, refer to
stri%s of blubber taken from a whale.
BLA0$,* L,,, a snug berth.
BL,,1,.!, %lugs in the bottom of oil tanks.
BL/01,.!, a shar% mounting swell over a submerged rock that does not break e2ce%t in. heavy weather.
!ometimes called Blind .ollers.
BL/0$, a glow on the horizon, being reflected light from fields of ice at sea. Land blink is-the same %he
nomenon a%%earing above snowcovered land.
BL/0$,., is a set of electric lam%s at a mast-head or s%readers, connected with a telegra%h key. 3ith this
device signals are sent in /nternational -orse code with great facility.
BL/0$,. 940, a hand-held device
for the same %ur%ose, its light visible only in the direction in which it is %ointed.
BL/!*,., an outer skin constructed on the hull of a vessel to increase the beam and stability or to %rovide:
tankage. /t is used in naval construction for tor%edo %rotection with com%artments within. /f in the original
design, it may %rotect the whole underbody, but if added to a vessel it may only go down a short distance
below waterline. *here are smaller blisters for other %ur%oses such as submarine bells.
BL/FFA.1, a gale of wineP with a tem%erature below freezing and accom%anied by snow.
BL"#$, a contri vance consi sti ng of a frame or shel l whi ch su%%orts a sheave or rol l er over
whi ch ro%es are run. *here i s a great vari ety of bl ocks i n sha%e, si ze and desi gn, such as
si ngl e, doubl e, trebl e, secret, gi n, l eadi ng, cl um%, si ster, check, <eer, dasher, snatch, al l
of whi ch see el sewhere. Bl ocks wi th a ro%e through them form a tackl e. =5ronounced
*aycl e.>
BL"#$ A01 BL"#$ =*wo Blocks>, the condition when two blocks of a tackle come together; the tackle
must then be overhauled before another %ull.
BL"#$ #",))/#/,0*. !ee #oefficient of )ineness.
BL""1 -"0,@, a fee given by a master to a , shi%%ing, master or crim% for the %rocuring of seamen; a
%ractice which has added many dismal incidents to the history of the waterfronts.
BL"30 45, a stevedore:s term given when a cargo has been so stowed as to raise the center of gravity
above that of ordinary stowage.
BL4, 0"!,, a facetious name given to a 0ova !cotian.
BL4, 5,*,., the letter 5 flag of the international #ode-blue with a white suare center. /t is flown at the
foremast when a vessel e2%ects to sail within GM hours.
BL4, 5/9,"0, the hand lead.
BL4)), full-bowed vessel, in contradistinction of shar%-bowed, or fine; a stee% shore.
B"A.1, a leg or tack when closehauled. *here may be long boards and short boards. *o go on board a
vessel. ,By the board is to be carried overboard.
B"A.1 0,**/09!, nets formerly hoisted above the rails to ham%er the enemy in reaching the decks.
B"A.1/09 5/$,, was a s%ear-like wea%on s%ecially devised to re%el boarders. Both boarding %ikes and
nettings were used by ca%tain !amuel .eid of the American %rivateer 9eneral Armstrong at )ayal, where he
defended his shi% against a vastly su%erior British force. +e inflicted losses on the enemy greater than in any
other naval engagement of the 3ar of 1I1G.
B"A*, as used by seamen the term does not a%%ly to a vessel, but to small craft, although river and
e2cursion steamers are uite generally called boats, as are smaller submarines. *o boat your oars is to lay
them across the thwarts after rowing. Boat, as distinguished from the general term vessel or shi% is
constructed of bent frames and a vessel or shi% of sawn frames. =*his is the o%inion of a shi%builder.>
B"A*-B""-, a s%ar swung out horizontally and at right angles from the side of a vessel su%%orted by
to%%ing lift and guys. A small boat rides to it without fouling the shi%.
B"A* B"8, a rece%tacle for a2es, lanterns, matches, tools and small eui%ment of a lifeboat.
B"A* #+"#$!, cradles in which a boat rests on the deck of a vessel. B"A* #"-5A!!, a small bo2 com%ass
made convenient for use in small boats.
B"A* 1,#$, that u%on which the lifeboats are secured.
B"A* +""$, a device for catching hold of a ring bolt or grab line in coming alongside a vessel or %ier in a
small boat.
B"A* *A#$L,, a tackle for hoisting boats.

B"A*!*,,.,., a sort of %etty officer fn a whaler; he is the har%ooner. +aving thrown the har%oon he
e2changes %ositions with the officer, who leaves the steering oar and goes forward to lance the whale.
B"A*!3A/0 =Bo :s: n>, a subordinate but valuable officer; a warrant officer of great im%ortance in naval
service, who has direct charge of work under the general su%ervision of the officer of the deck or the
e2ecutive officer. "ld men of sail used to %ronounce the word Bo:z:n
B"A*!3A/0: ! #+A/., a short narrow board sus%ended by a bridle. /t is used to sway a man aloft for
scra%ing masts, tarring, rigging, etc.
B"A*!3A/0: ! #+,!*, is given over to boatswain:s stores, such as marlines%ikes, rigging screws, marline,
ro%egear, sail needles, %alms, twine, etc.
B"A*!3A/0: ! -A*,, a %etty offi. cer %roficient in seamanshi%.
B"A*!3A/0: ! 5/5,, a %eculiarly sha%ed whistle having a shrill call used to give orders or to get attention
when orders are to be given on naval vessels and some large yachts.
B"A*!3A/0: ! !*".,!. !ee Boatwain:s #hest.
B"BB/09, the condition of a vessel lying very close to the wind and sea, as a %ilot schooner so often does,
making very little way.
B"B!*A@!, chains or heavy wire rigging running from the end of the bows%rit to the vessel:s stem to
su%%ort this s%ar in %osition from beneath. !hould a bobstay %art, a vessel:s masts ere in great danger of
carrying away and falling aft. +ence a vessel in this emergency should be uickly %ut before the wind to
relieve the strain.
B"1@ 5LA0, the end view of the curves and frame lines of a shi%; central vertical tine divides the views of
the forward and after sections, the latter being on the lefthand.
B"99/0 L/0,!, a length of chain and a wire %endant shackled to the rudder horn; their %ur%ose is to retain
control of the rudder and facilitate steering in case of accident.
B"/L,. !*""L, a heavy bracket resting on the tank to%s or floors and under the boilers.
B"L1, a%%lied to a stee% shore.
B"L,, a small boat.
B"LLA.1!, two vertical heads of iron or wood to which mooring lines are made fast. !ometimes called
nigger heads.
B"L!*,.!, %ieces of soft wood resting on the trestletrees under the eyes of the rigging, which %revent
cutting of the rigging. Also the &li%& under the hawse %i%e to take the chafe of the chain.
B"L*, a roll of canvas.
B"L*."5,, a ro%e sewed to the edge of sail to give it strength and %revent the ri%%ing of the fabric. /t is
named for the side of. the sail, as in a suare sail, the head ro%e, the leech ro%e, etc. /t is usually of, hem%,
but in yachts is sometimes cotton. *he term is now a%%lied to a su%erior uality at ro%e having long fibers of
manila, or hem%. 3ire boltro%es were used on the last of the suare-riggers.
B"0A6,0*4.,, mizzen sail, lateen fn character carried on the after-most mast of ancient vessels. !ee
-izzen.
B"0,, the white foam created at the bow by the onward motion of the vessel. !he is said to carry a bone in
her mouth or teeth.
B"00,*, an additional stri% of canvas laced to the foot of a <ib or suare sail for use in fair weather but
which is easily removed when necessary to reef. !ee Laskets.
B""B@, a tro%ical bird so-called by sailors because of its e2traordinary stu%idity. /t is sooty brown in
a%%earance and is about L1 inches in length.
B""B@ +A*#+, a small o%ening in the deck forward or aft of the main hatches. /t is used to facilitate
communication below or to the deck. A com%anionway with sliding hatch in small craft.
B""-, a s%ar with many trees; the foot of a fore-and-aft sail is laced or tracked to a boomD boat booms
swing out horizontally from shi%:s side for small boats to ride to; cargo booms, which rest at the foot of the
masts, are raised and lowered by to%%ing lifts and swung from side to aide by guys according to where the
%ieces of cargo sus%ended from them are to be %laced. *here are studding sail =stunsail> booms, e2tensions
of the yards from which studding sails are set. A line of floats or logs secured end to end forming a floating
chain for the %ur%ose of obstructing the %assage of boats or to restrict a uantity of logs to a certain area, is
known as a boom.
B""- #.A1L,, a contrivance so sha%ed as to receive and hold secure the cargo booms when lowered into
a horizontal %osition for sea.
B""- +".!,, a circular device of iron made into the boom band for the sheet block to travel on.
B""- /."0!, bands or wlthes at the end of a yard arm through which :s stun-sa:1 boom is rigged out.
B""- "4* A !A/L, *", to e2tend a corner of a sail with a s%ar.
B""- *A#$L,, leads forward from the end of the boom of a fore-and-aft sail. /t serves to steady the s%ar
when running before the wind. /t also has been called the kicking stra%, end more recently the vang.
B""-$/0, a small s%ar e2tending over the stern to carry the sheet block aft for an overhanging boom. !ee
Bum%kins.
B""-!, an elevated rack above the s%ar deck, usually forward of the mainmast, for the stowage of s%ars
and boats.
B""*, a newly enlisted man.
B""* +""$, a long-handled caulking tool used to drive oakum into out-of-the-way %laces.
B""*-*"55/09, a band of %aint at the water-line; usually red; .the %articular kind of %aint used is called
boat-to%%ing. *his is the most vulnerable %art of a vessel and should be %ainted at least every three months.
B".A, a very violent suall characteristic of the northern Adriatic. *he weight of the cold air of the high
surrounding land accelerates its flow to the sea. *his is ty%ically a $atabatic wind.
B".,, a sudden rise of tide which rolls u% certain rivers and bays in the form of a breaker. /n the !eine .iver
it reaches a height of eight feet. !ee !and Bores.
B"!"- $0,,. !ee $nees.
B"!"- 5/,#,, a butt stra% for angle bars.
B"!!, the swelling %ortion of a shi%:s hull around the %ro%eller shaft. *he rounding hub of a %ro%eller.
B"!! 5LA*,, a %late curved to fit the swelling %ert of the hull due to the emerging of the %ro%eller shaft.
B"**L, 5A5,.!, blanks furnished to shi%masters by the 4.!. 0aval "ceanogra%hic "ffice u%on which they
state the latitude and longitude, name of vessel and date. *hey are sealed in bottles and thrown overboard.
*he date and %lace of their ultimate recovery furnish valuable information concerning the currents.
B"**"-.@ B"01, a lien on vessel %laced by a master who is obliged to raise money for re%airs and who is
out of communication with his owners. /f the lien is on the cargo it is called a .es%ondentia Bond. *he money
derived from such liens can only be used for re%airs, takes %riority over all mortgages, and is %rimarily for the
%ur%ose of getting a vessel to her home %ort.
B"401A.@ 5LA0$. !ee -argin 5lank.
B"3, the forward %art of a vessel. !ometimes used in the %lural as, &in the bows of a shi%.&
B"3 A01 B,A- B,A./09, a convenient and universal method of locating a shi%:s %osition by bearings of
a known ob<ect. *he log is read when the ob<ect bears MJB off the bow, the course is not changed until the
ob<ect bears abeam =A7B from bow> when the log is again read, and the distance run between bearings is
obtained. *his is the distance of the shi% from the ob<ect when abeam, for we have a right angle triangle, and
all three angles combined eual 1I7B; take away the right angle =A7B> there is A7B leftD we know one of the
remaining is MJB so the other must be also MJB. ,ual sides must lie o%%osite eual angles, hence the
distance run is the distance off. /t is also called a )our 5oint Bearing. /t is im%ortant that-allowance be made
for current as the distance must be that made over the ground.
B"3 L/0,, a term sometimes a%%lied to that %art of a buttock line which is forward :of the midshi% section.
*he line =hawser> leading forward from the bow chock when a vessel is tied u% to a wharf.
B"3 5".*. !ee #argo 5ort.
B"3 *+.4!* 5."5,LL,., in a recess below the waterline of a steamer:s bows a %ro%eller is installed. /t
is o%erated from the bridge and is of great assistance in maneuvering about the docks.
B"31/*#+, 0A*+A0/,L =1HHL-ILI> the author of the American 5ractical 0avigator, the great American
e%itome of navigation, known %o%ularly among seafarers as Bowditch. *he latest edition is 1AJI. /t
is %ublished by the 4.!. 0aval. "ceanogra%hic "ffice.
B"3,.!, heavy anchors carried in the forward %art of the vessel, and ordinarily used in anchoring. *he
heavier of the two is the best bower. /n weight the bowers lie between the sheet and stream anchors. !ee
Anchor.
B"3+,A1. !ee 3hales.
B"3L/0,, one of the most useful knots it is tied in such a way as to make an eye in the end of a ro%e. A
bowline on a bight is a similar knot made with the bight of a ro%e. !ee )rench Bowline. Also, a bridle on the
leech of a suare course =sail> by which it is hauled forward, letting the wind into the sail when full and by.
B"3L/0, B./1L,, a short length of ro%e each end of which is s%liced on the leech of a course to facilitate
the bowline tackle in hauling the leech to windward when on the wind.
B"3!,, to haul with a tackle, usually downward, as in the case of taking in on the fore tack.
B"3!,. B"A*. a craft fitted with tanks carrying gasoline for the bunkering of sea%lanes.
B"3!5./*, a heavy s%ar %ro<ecting forward of the vessel from which the head sails are set. /t is guyed by
bows%rit shrouds at each side, a bob-stay from beneath, and the fore to%mast stay from above and forward.
Bows%rits are rigged to slide inboard on some craft, the Bri2ham trawlers, for e2am%le. *hey are known as
sliding bows%rits in contradistinction to standing bows%rits. A standing or semi%ermanent bows%rit that is
rigged in for re%airs or to clear: s warehouse is said to be housed. !ee Artemon mast, also ?iboom.
B"3!5./* B/**!, two heavy timbers vertically %laced, between which the heel of the bows%rit rests.
B"3!5./* #A5, a heavy double band; the lower band goes over the outer end of the bows%rit, and the
<iboom is rigged out through the u%%er band and on the bows%rit.
B"3!5./* !+."41!, heavy standing rigging which su%%ort the bows%rit at the sides, leading from its end
in to the catheads.
B"8 B,A-, a built-u% beam, hollow and bo2-like in a%%earance.
B"8-+A4L/09, to wear shi% within a small s%ace by backing the head yards to %ay the bow off uickly
under sternway, letting them run suare when before the wind, and tending all braces as the vessel comes to
the new tack.,
B"8 ")), to falloff from the wind with sternway by backing the head yards.
B"8/09 *+, #"-5A!!, naming the %oints =and uarter %oints> of the com%ass from north through south
to north and return backwards. )rom Bo2ar, old !%anishto sail around.
B.A#,!, long whi%s leading aft from the ends of the yard arms =forward on the last mast if it is
suare-rigged> by which they are swung at different angles with the keel but still in horizontal %ositions. @ards
arc braced aback when the wind is on the forward side of the sails; abo2 when the fore yards are aback, and
the after yards are filled; they are braced in when they are brought more athwartshi%s; they are braced u%
when brought nearer a fore-and-aft line; shar% u% when they are as far as they will go. 3hen on the wind a
suare rigger is braced u%; when the wind is free she is braced in.
B.A#$,*, a small %late used to connect two or more %arts such as deck beam to frame, or a frame to
margin %late.
B.A/L, a ro%e of a fore-and-aft sail, leading in from the leech to the mast. /t is used to gather the sail in and
aid in securing. *he lee brails are always used when taking in a sail. *he verb is to broil in ,
B.A$, B,A-!, handles by which the windlass or %um%s are worked.
B.A$,!, the handles of a deck %um% and windlass. !ee )riction Brakes.
B.A0#+, certificate given by %ilot commissioners to a com%etent %ilot; in ,ngland by *rinity +ouse. A full
branch is without restrictions.
B.A!! B"401,., a British sea a%%rentice.
B.A!! +A*, a naval officer with grade of commander or above.
B.A6, 3,!* 3/01!, the westerlies of the north tem%erate zones. !ee .oaring )orties. -=British
Admirality.>
B.AF/L #4..,0*, flows southwestward along the coast of !outh America from #a%e !t. .oue.
B.,A#+, is made by seas that break com%letely across a vessel. *his is called a clean breach. 3hales when
their throw themselves well out&of water are said to breach.
B.,A1*+. *he moulded breadth is the distance between the outer faces of the frames, while. the registered
breadth is measured between the outside of the shell %lating. !ee Lloyd:s Breadth.
B.,A$, a sudden rise or dro% in a vessel:s deck line. *o break out any gear is to take it out of stowage. A sea
breaks when it falls forward in a mass of broken water. *o break bulk is to commence discharging cargo. An
anchor breaks ground as it is hove from its bed. *o break off is to sto% work.
B.,A$ B4L$ #A.9" !*,A-,., a steamer in which shi%ments are discharged at different %orts.
B.,A$ +,. !+,,., a %hrase a%%lied when a vessel, riding to a %ort anchor, for instance, is sheered to
starboard =%erha%s by a little right rudder>, but-swings with the turn of the tide =or change of wind> so as to
%ass over, or to %ort, of the anchor instead of to starboard, the direction in: which she was headed. By
swinging clear to starboard she would kee% her sheer and avoid fouling the anchor.
B.,A$ ") *+, 5""5 =or )".,#A!*L,>, the %oint where these decks sto% and ladders lead to the main
deck or well.
B.,A$,., a broken sea that has been tri%%ed by shoaling water. A water-cask used in a shi%:s boat.
B.,A$! 9."401, when an anchor is broken out of its bed.
B.,A$3A*,., an artificial embankment, usually of rocks, to break the force of the seas and furnish shelter
behind it. A low bulkhead on the forward deck to take the force of a boarding sea and %rotect the hatches.
B.,A-/09, the %rocess of cleaning a vessel:s bottom with a torch.
B.,A!*, to meet the sea. *o breast off a boat from a wharf or vessel is to fend her broad off. A steamer
may be breasted off to allow a lighter on the %ier side.
B.,A!* +""$, a %late structure in a steel shi% fitted inside the hull near the bow to give local strength to
the shell %lating. A horizontal knee in a wooden -easel set in the bows of a boat as well as a vessel.
B.,A!* L/0,, is used to secure a vessel to a wharf. /t leads directly to a cleat abreast the vessel without
leading forward or aft. Breastro%e or band, a guard for the leadsmen in the chains.
B.,,#+ ") A BL"#$, is the %art o%%osite the swallow-o%%osite from the end through which the ro%e
%asses.
B.,,#+,! B4"@, a ring buoy fitted with canvas breeches for
bringing shi%wrecked %ersons ashore. !ee-Lyle 9un.
B.,,F, ") 3/01, a redundancy often em%loyed in a favorable sense, but also as an understatement in
referring to a severe gale.
B./#$)/,L1,., a hot northerly wind in the southern %art of Australia.
B./#$LA@,.: ! #L,./#, one who goes to sea but who feels above it.
B./19,, an elevated thwartshi% %latform from which the vessel is navigated and all activities on deck are in
%lain view. !ee also )lying Bridge.
B./19, #.A0,, an arched structure having over-reaching cantilever e2tensions at each end. *he cargo
%endant is sus%ended from a carriage which travels under the bridge; the whole moves on rails.
B./19, 5/,#,, that forming the arch over the %ro%eller well; it bridges between the .stern frame and the
rudder %ost.
B./19, !/90, a %ainted sign on a movable stand set on the loading %latform of a %ier to &s%ot& a docking
vessel so the hatches will line u% with %ier doors. *his is called &s%ot docking.&
B./1L,, a %iece of ro%e or chain each end of which is fast to a s%ar or ro%e. *he %urchase to be a%%lied is
hooked to the bight. A bridle often com%rises three or more %arts.
B./1L, 5".*, a gun %ort forward on the gun deck.
B./9, a two-masted vessel, suare-rigged on both masts. *here are
also herma%hrodite and <ackass brigs =see Brigantine>. *he shi%:s %rison.
B./9A0*/0,, !omewhat before the turn of the century the brigantine in America was suare-rigged on the
fore and on the main-to%mast, but carried a fore-and-aft sail on the main mast. *he suare sails aloft on the
mainmast of the American brigantine were found to be more trouble than worth and were abandoned, leaving
the brigantine on both sides of the Atlantic, a two-masted vessel suare-rigged on the fore and fore and aft
rig on the main with the familiar gaff-to%sail. American sailor, %erha%s <eeringly, called this rig an
herma%hrodite brig, or in their lingo a &morfidite.& *he term &morfidite& died naturally though slowly.
*he <ackass brig was similar to the brigantine but its fore-to%mast and to%gallant mast was in one single s%ar.
*he early a%%lication of the word &brigantine& or &brigandine& was in the -editerranean and referred to a
small galley %ro%elled by oars.
B./9+*3".$, all brass that is ke%t %olished. while bright woodwork is that ke%t scra%ed and varnished in
natural wood.
B./09 *", to heave a vessel to =the wind>; or with a shot heave another shi% to. /n desiring to anchor the
term is to bring the shi% to an anchor. *o bring lo a sail is to bend it.
B./09 45, to come to a sto%, sometimes with an anchor, sometimes by fouling an obstacle or the bottom.
*o bring u% all standing is to sto% suddenly as in running ;shore. *o bring u% with a round turn is to sto%
some action, or the movement of a ro%e, abru%tly.
B./!*"L )A!+/"0, is a seaman like style. *he %hrase is -- !hi%sha%e and Bristol )ashion.
B./*, a red or sometimes a yellowish organism which floats in vast uantities on some %arts of the sea, and
serves as a food for whales; a very small fish an inch or so long.
B./*/!+ *+,.-AL 40/* =B.*.4.>, the amount of heat necessary to raise the tem%erature of -a %ound of
water 1B). when at LA.GB).
B."A#+ *", to swing to the wind when running free, through bad steering or by the force of a heavy sea.
*his dangerous situation is a freuent cause of foundering, or loss of s%are at least.
B."A#+/09 #A.9", the act oS breaking into the shi%:s cargo and a%%ro%riating food, drink or other
articles for individual use.
B."A1 ")) =or "0> *+, B"3 ". E4A.*,., the term a%%lied to an ob<ect that bears about MJB from
the bow or stern, res%ectively.
B."A1+".0, a flat-boat used on the western rivers of the 4nited !tates.
B."A1!/1,, the side of a vessel above the water. *he simultaneous firing of all guns on one side of a
warshi%.
B."A1!/1, "0, sideways, o%%osite to end on.
B."$,0 !*"3A9,, where the stowage of cargo is interfered with by %arts of the shi% that e2tend into the
hold, and odds and ends of freight are used to fill the s%aces.
B."$,0 !*./5,, ,a sleeve mark of rank worn by a boatswain or other warrant officers oS the 0avy. *he
stri%e of alternate gold and blue silk ribbon. Broken-stri%er, .a warrant officer.
B."$,0 3A*,., where the regularity of the waves is broken by shoal water or a breaking sea.
B."$,., a shi% agent who acts for her owners or charterers, securing cargos and transacting the shi%:s
business. +e also charters, buys and sells shi%s.
B."*+,.! ") *+, #"A!*, an organization of very daring %irates who freuented the !%anish -ain; the
organization embraced a thousand shi%s. *hey o%erated under a strict code of disci%line, the notable %enalty
of which was marooning; they carried accident benefits for those in<ured in action.
B."3, a gangway to a vessel.
B."3 LA01/09, a %latform -attached to the side of a shi% at deck level to su%%ort the brow.
B4BBL, !,8*A0*, is designed for use when the horizon is not visible. A bubble attachment serves the
%ur%ose of an artificial horizon. At sea it is difficult to :o%erate this instrument accurately. /t is used %rinci%ally
by air%lane navigators.
B4##A. !ee Buzzo.
B4##A0,,., a %irate, es%ecially a%%lied to those who formerly infested the 3est /ndies. *he term was
derived from , the word =)r.> bucane, to smoke meat. *his was done by bands of lawless men who made T
their headuarters at *ortuga /sland. *heir hunting and marauding e2%editions changed later to sea %iracy on
a large scale.
B4#$L/09, the dangerous bending of a s%ar under a heavy stress. *he war%ing under stress of any member
of the vessel:s structure.
B4))AL" .A/L, a rail rising to a low height above the forecastle deck of a vessel.
B49,@,, a small vessel characteristic of #hesa%eake Bay, with a %ointed stern, mutton-leg or <ibheaded sails
and two e2tremely raking masts.
B4/L1/09 !L/5, the location where a shi% is built; where the foundation and groundways are established.
B4LB /."0, a frame bar with an angle at one side and a bulb at the other.
B4LB $,,L, a dee% keel used in racing yachts consisting of a fin with a mass of lead or iron at the bottom; it
served to increase stability.
B4LB"4! B"3, has a &swollen& stem below the waterline.
B4L9,, a longitudinal swelling or blister constructed along the hull of a vessel below the water-line to serve
for greater steadiness.
B4L$ #A.9", usually a homogeneous cargo stowed in bulk such as wheat or coal.
B4L$+,A1, a vertical %artition e2tending athwartshi% or fore and aft of a vessel. *he main bulkheads are
mostly watertight, and are known as such. *hey are eui%%ed with watertight doors which are so filled with a
rubber gasket and dogs as to make a tight contact through which no water will %ass. /f the bulkheads only
e2tend u%wards to a certain deck this is called the bulkhead deck which is sufficiently high to %reserve
seaworthiness in a one or two com%artment shi% if these com%artments are flooded. *he floor %late in a
single bottom shi% at a bulkhead is known as the bulkhead floor. *he connecting angle around the bottom of
a bulkhead is the bulkhead shoe. )ore and aft or longitudinal bulkheads are seen at the sides of the
engine-room and fireroom where they form the sides of the side bunkers. /n order to drain water from one
com%artment to another, bulkhead sluices or o%enings are found in the bilges and are o%erated from deck.
*he bulkheads are reinforced by angle irons called stiffeners and often a web %late is further %rovided at the
center of the bulkhead. /n large tanks wash bulkheads, or baffle %lates are set vertically to cut down the
violent motion of the liuid. *he collision bulkhead is most im%ortant, being as its name im%lies, near the bow
of the shi% to restrict sea water from the larger com%artments in case of damage forward. A bulkhead is said
to be ste%%ed when it is carried forward or aft for the accommodation of machinery and is not all in the same
vertical %lane.
B4L$+,A1 L/0,, the outer limit of solid filled %ierheads as laid down by Army ,ngineers. !ee 5ierhead
Line.
B4LL L/0,, used to run cargo out of the wings to a hatch convenient for hoisting. *he line is carried to a
winch. 3hen lead blocks are
used longshoremen should stand out of the line of the strain.
B4LL ."5,, a line lei ding out through a bull:s eye in the end of the bows%rit to a mooring buoy in order to
%revent its striking against the bow. A line leading from forward through a bull:s eye on the boat boom for a
boat to ride, to. !ee 9eswar%. +ull .o%e, by another use %asses from the ca% of a suarerigged mast through
the heel block of the to%mast, through a cheek block on the lower mast head =or block hooked to ca%> thence
to the deck, for use in hoisting or striking a to%mast.
B4LL0"!,, a sort of hawse %i%e set in the to% of a vessel:s stem for the accommodation of mooring lines or
a towline.:
B4LL: ! ,@,, a round %iece of lignum vitae, doughnut-sha%ed and scored around the edge to receive the eye
of a ro%e. A heavy %iece of glass set in the deck to let light below. A bit of blue sky often seen at the center of
a tro%ical storm.
B4L3A.$, a vessel:s frames e2tend three or four feet above the weather deck and are %lanked forming a
solid &rail.& /t serves the crew:s safety, hel%s secure deck cargo and kee%s out a certain amount of water in
rough weather.
B4L3A.$ 5LA*/09, the stroke or strokes above the sheer-stroke which form the bulwarks.
B4L3A.$ !*A@, an iron brace set at an angle from the deck to a bulwark %late to strengthen it.
B4- B"A*, a small craft used to bring off %eddlers who su%%ly the crew with fruit, tobacco, %arrots and
%erha%s illicit wants.
B4-5$/0!, short %ro<ecting iron bars, %ort and starboard, on the shi%:s side well aft on the uarters; the
main brace leads to their outer ends. Also on the bows to which the fore tack is bowsed down. A similar strut
aft from which .the %atent log is streamed. *he iron stays which secure the bum%kins in %osition are called
bum%kin shrouds.
B401, a seawall or embarkment.
B409 45 A01 B/L9, ).,,, a %hrase used in the stowage of casks. /t obviously means that the bungs
should u% and that the casks should rest on skids so as to raise the bilge, or middle of the cask, clear of the
deck.
B409!, the name given to the coo%er aboard a whaler.
B40$, a built in bed aboard shi%.
B40$,./09, the charge for %utting coal or oil fuel aboard in bunkers or tanks.
B40$,.!, com%artments of a vessel for the stowage of coal. *here are side bunkers, reserve, wing, cross or
athwartshi% bunkers. *he term also a%%lies to fuel oil.
B40*, is the middle %art of a suare sail.
B40* ?/99,., a light tackle which hel%s to lift a suare sail u% on the yard in furling.
B40* 3+/5, !ee Bunt ?igger.
B40*/09, a thin woolen fabric of which flags are made.
B40*L/0,!, ro%es that are fast to the foot of a suare sail. *hey lead u% through blocks that are located
above the yard. *he buntlines gather u% and bring under control the body of the sail when being furled.
B4"@ A0 A0#+"., to make a line fast =clove hitch> around the crown of an anchor with a buoy bent on at
a de%th at highwater. *his indicates its %osition and aids in recovering it. /t is called a buoy ro%e.
B4"@!, floating beacons, which by their sha%e and color convey to the mariner valuable information as to his
%osition. *he various ty%es in the 4nited !tates com%rise s%ar, can, nun =conical or truncated>, cask, bell,
whistle. and lighted buoys. /f %ainted red they are to be left on the starboard hand in entering %ort, if black
on the %ort hand; the red buoys :carry even numbers and black odd numbers. A black and white vertically
stri%ed buoy indicates a fairway, and should be %assed close aboard. A buoy %ainted in red- and black
horizontal bands indicates a danger and should be avoided. A s%ar buoy moored close to a bell or lighted
buoy is called, and is, a marker. A buoy is watching when it is on station and floating %lainly visible. 9reen
buoys in foreign waters are %laced to mark wrecks. 3hite buoys indicate naval anchorages or %ractice areas
and at times race courses. A uarantine anchorage is indicated by a yellow buoy. !ee )og buoy.
B4.1,0,1 6,!!,L, the one obliged to kee% clear of those having the right of way.
B4.,A4 6,./*A!, a )rench society for the classification of shi%s. B4.9,,, a swallow-tailed flag.
B4.9"", boiled oatmeal; mush.
B4.*"0, a ty%e of %urchase. 3here three single blocks are used it is called a single !%anish burton; if
double blocks, a double !%anish burton. *he whi% or-tackle of a cargo boom reaching over the shi%:s side and
working in con<unction with another boom guyed over a hatch. *his is also called the yard tackle among
seamen. !ere also -arried falls.
B4.@ ") A -A!*, that %art below decks.
B4!+, to mark the sides of a secondary channel with young cedar or birch trees which have been stri%%ed of
branches e2ce%t for a tuft at the to%.
B4!+/09, a re%lacement lining for a shaft <ournal or other moving %art. *he shell of a s%ark %lug.
B4!!, a two-roasted schooner rigged vessel having a galley house for-, ward and a cabin house aft. /n
earlier days the buss carried a suare sail on each mast sometimes a main to%sail; there was also a
riggermast with a suare sail. *hey were very full lined forward and aft. *hese vessels were early used by the
1utch in the herring fisheries.
B4**, the end of a %lank or %late; the %lacing of two %lanks or %lates end to end and caulking the seam. A
barrel-like container of 1GK gallons. /f steel %lates ere butted a small %late is riveted over tae <oint called a
butt stro%. *o start a butt is to have the end of a %lank loosen.
B4**,.)L@ 04*, a not with two wings to turn by hand. Also called 3ing 0ut.
B4**,.-./99,1, a%%lied to ,nglish to%sail schooners in which the to%gallant sell =as -r. #hatterton says>
is set flying by hoisting the yard each time.
B4**,.3".*+ !@!*,-, of cleaning oil tanks. /t consists of -a hose with two nozzles rotating in right
angled %lanes. !team is cut into the .line forcing very hot water at high %ressure against every %art of the
tank. *he cleaning begins at the deck and works downward.
B4**"#$, the rounding %art of a vessel:s stern.
B4**"#$ L/0,!, re%resent what would be longitudinal saw cuts vertically through a vessel:s model made
at different distances from the line of the keel; sometimes confined to that %art of the line which is abaft the
midshi%s section.
B4@ BALL"*: ! LA3, states that by standing with one:s face to the wind the atmos%heric %ressure.
increases towards the right and decreases to the left in the northern hemis%here. *he center will be to the
right hand from I to 1G %oints. *hese conditions are reversed in the southern hemis%here.
B4FF", a ca%acious cargo carrier of the 6enetians, %ro%elled by sail rather than oats.
B@ *+, +,A1, when a vessel is dee%er than her normal draft forward.
B@ A01 LA.9,. !ee Large.
B@ *+, L,,, the situation when a !uare-rigged vessel running free on one tack is thrown off by a sea or
bad steering sufficiently to bring her sails aback on the other tack. *his is a very serious situation. 3ith a
fore-and-aft rig, running by the lee is likely to cause .a <ibe, but is sometimes done %ur%osely when racing as
a tem%orary e2%edient.
B@ *+, !*,.0, when a vessel is dee%er than her normal draft at the stern, out of trim by an e2cess of
weight aft.
B@ *+, 3/01, sailing closehauled.
B@ *+, 3/01 !A/L". =6el el l a s%i rans>, a form of marine life, not greatly unlike the 5ortuguese man o:
war, having swimming bells and long tentacles, and found in warm waters.
#, clouds.
#. 1. ). , cost, insurance, freight.
# A01 !. annotations in a liberty book indicating that a returned seaman is clean and sober.
#. *., chronometer time before being corrected for chronometer error=# ,>.
#-3, the difference between the navigator:s watch time and the chronometer time. *he watch is set near
local or shi% time. -*o get #-3 subtract 3.*. from #.*., adding 1G hours to #.*. if necessary. +ence to get
#.*. add #-3 and 3.*. #-3 is used in both ,. and 3. longitudes. !ee 3-#.
#A./09 3+AL,!. !ee 3hales.
#AB/0, the uarters of the ca%tain on naval vessels and merchant sailing shi%s. /n %assenger steamers the
word becomes more general and includes the uarters of officers and %assengers. *he enclosed s%ace of a
decked small boat.
#ABL,, a heavy ro%e or chain. /t is used attached to anchors, or in towing. /t is, also a term of
measurement, being G77 yards or one tenth of a nautical mile.
#ABL,-LA/1 ."5,, - is com%osed of three ro%es laid u% like strands from right to left-handed =holding the
end away from you>. *he ro%es which serve as strands are laid u% from left to right =right-handed>. *his is
often called +awser-laid .o%e in this country. !ee .ighthanded .o%e.
#AB""!,, a cookhouse or deck.
#A/E4,, a small sailing vessel of the eastern -editerranean !ea; a small rowing skiff of the Bos%horus.
#A/.0, a %ile of stones formed to serve as a beacon.
#A/!!"0, the gate at the end of a drydock which e2cludes the water after %um%ing out the dock. *he
%um%ing engines are often located in the caisson.
#A/!!"0 1/!,A!,, an affliction to which divers are sub<ect due to increased atmos%heric %ressure and
artificial conditions. Also called the bends.
#AL1,.,*A, a hot shar% suall from the mountain gorges of northern 6enezuela.
#AL/B,., the diameter of the bore of a gun, measured at the muzzle. *he length of a gun is e2%ressed in
terms of the-caliber.
#AL/B.A*,, to determine and rectify the error in the graduated scales of instruments. .adio 1irection
)inders are %eriodically calibrated in order to furnish accurate bearings.
#ALL, the boatswain:s whistle.
#ALL A3A@ =3haleboat>, a %reliminary order given when a boat is to leave the shi%. &Away =3haleboat>.& is
the order given by the boatswain.
#ALLA" ."5,, a uniue mooring line for lighters lying alongside a steamer anchored in a seaway. /t
consists of two lengths of wire ro%e =about 1J feet> one fast to each end of a resilient fabrication of woven
cordage like a fender about 1 foot in diameter and 1J feet long. 4nder heavy stress this loosely woven section
stretches, relieving the shock of, the %assing
!well.
#AL-, a condition of no wind.
#AL6/09, the %rocess by which icebergs are made. as the foot of a glacier breaks u% in the sea or, the
breaking of fragments from a berg at sea.
#A-B,., the athwartshi%s crown of a vessel:s decks. /t is usually U inch to the foot. A %rotected area for
small boats.
#A-,L, a floating stage very stoutly constructed and used as a fender to kee% a vessel off a wharf or %ier.
Also a buoyant device chained to the sides of a shi% to raise her and reduce the draft so as to allow %assage
over a bar.
#A-"4)LA9,, dece%tion by means of low visibility or structural changes. Low visibility consists of %ainting a
shi% with such colors as will reduce the contrast between shi% and sky under. favorable conditions. *he dazzle
camouflage of the )irst 3orld 3ar was a form of %rotection consisting of a distortion of the normal lines of
the vessel, thereby making it more difficult for the enemy to determine her course and s%eed.
*his system was largely abandoned in 3orld 3ar // in which two fore-and-aft bands of differing shades of
slate gray were used with considerable success.
!tructural camouflage consists of the elimination of high %arts for low visibility, the offsetting of masts, stacks
or other %arts normally referred to for an indication of the vessel:s course.
#A0 B4"@, a cylindrical buoy usually %ainted black, marked with an odd number and indicates the %ort side
of a channel when inward bound.
#A0 =#A0*> +""$!, used in hoisting casks by hooking into the chines.
#A0#,., the fourth sign of the zodiac.
#A01L,5"3,., a unit of the luminous intensity. of light arrived at by, international agreement.
#A01@ !*"3A9,, cargo %erishable by heat, such as candy, wa2 %a%er %roducts etc.
#A0",, a light craft of canvas, skins, bark, thin wood or aluminum, %ro%elled by %addles on inland or
sheltered waters. A hollowed log used by %rimitive %eo%le. A light %ulling boat used by %ilots.
#A0*, to turn a vessel in a river or harbor.
#A0* B"1@, that %art of a vessel near the bow or stern where the frames de%art from the %er%endicular.
#A0* ).A0F, one not suare to the keel line. !uch frames occur at the bow and stein.
#A0*/L,6,. *A0$!, are located in the gunwales and are also known as gunwale tanks.
#A0*L/0,, the recess at the center of four casks stowed bilge and bilge. *he bilge of a cask of the u%%er
tier rests iiD the cantline of those below.
#A06A!, a woven cotton =or fla2> fabric used for sails, awnings and many other shi%board %ur%oses. /t is
numbered from 77, the coarsest, to 17, the finest weave. !ynonym for sails.
#A5, a %iece of wood or a metal casting having a suare hole, which fits over the lower mast head, and a
round hole directly forward through which the mast above %asses and is secured. *he bows%rit ca% serves a
similar %ur%ose with the bows%rit for the <ibboom.
#A5 ?/B, that head sail whose stay is made fast to an eye in the bows%rit ca%.
#A5 L"9, the heavy timber forming the edge of a wharf.
#A5 !+".,, a su%%ort for the ca% =of a mast> to %revent its sli%%ing down on the forward side.
#A5, A00 "A.!, those with a suare shaft at the gunwale and used with thole%ins. "ne could not feather
with these oars.
#A5, +".0 #4..,0*, the general easterly drift in the vicinity of #a%e +orn and )alkland /slands.
#A5, +".0 ),6,., a, feigned illness of malingerers.
#A5, 5/9,"0 =1a%tion ca%ensis>, a black and white %etrel very common in southern seas, es%ecially in the
!outh Atlantic.
#A55A04!, a worm that bores into the wood of the underbody of a vessel.
#A5!/F,, to turn over.
#A5!*A0, a cylindrical device usually standing on the forecastle and used for heaving in anchors, hoisting
yards and other heavy work. /t is revolved by steam or electric %ower or by hand. /f, by the latter, ca%stan
bars are inserted in %igeon holes at the to% of the drum head and manned /ts %arts com%rise the s%indle,
barrel, drumhead, %igeon holes, %awls and %awl-rim.
#A5!*A0 $0"*, a very useful knot for making a line fast. /t <ams itself and will not sli%.
#A5*A/0, the master of a merchant vessel. /n the navy, the commissioned rank ne2t below that of
rear-admiral =commodore in certain circumstances>; also, by e2tension, the commander of any naval vessel,
irres%ective of commissioned rank.
#A5*A/0: ! B./19,, the bridge of the ca%tain:s uarters on a steamer below the navigating bridge.
#A5*A/0: ! 3AL$, a narrow balustraded gangway constructed on the ridge%ole of old shi%masters: houses
where a vantage %oint could be gained to view the shi%%ing and at the same time %rovide for the seaman:s
traditional e2ercise of &%acing the deck.&
#A. )L"A*, a large decked scow fitted with tracks for carrying railroad cars.
#A.A6,L, a vessel of the 1Jth and 1Ith century. -any great voyages of discovery were made in caravels,
including those of #olumbus. *hey were distinguished over other vessels of their time by having better lines
that contributed to s%eed and seaworthiness. 3hile the rigs varied they usually carried four masts, suare
rigged at the fore, and lateen rigged on the after masts. *he foremast raked forward, the stern was suare
and there were forward and after castles.
#A..A#$, a vessel of about the 1Kth century and the largest of that general %eriod. *he rig varied but may
be said to have had three masts, large main, small foremast and lateen mizzen.
#A.1/0AL 5"/0*! are the 0, !, ,, and 3 of a com%ass. =0ortheast, !outheast, !outhwest and 0orthwest
are inter-cardinal %oints.>
#A.,,0, to list. A vessel is hove down by careening her, when in a light trim, by use of tackles to a dock or
trees on a riverbank for the %ur%ose of cleaning her bottom. )ormerly %articularly well-ada%ted locations were
called careening %laces, as a careenage.
#A.9", merchandise carried for %ayment of freight. *here is bulk, general, %ackage, and homogeneous
cargo.
#A.9" BA**,0!, %lanks s%iked or bolted across the frames to kee% the cargo from contact with the shi%:s
side.
#A.9" B""- or 1,../#$, a heavy boom resting at the foot of a mast. /t is elevated by a to%%inglift
tackle and controlled by guys. /t is arranged to work cargo through deck hatches.
#A.9" #L4!*,.!, grou%s of electric lights fitted under a reflector to give light for working cargo.
#A.9" ?A#$, a screw <ack for moving and stowing cargo, es%ecially where it is to be forced into small
s%aces; cotton is always <acked into a hold.
#A.9" 0,*, a suare net of heavy ro%e. /t is used to sling case goods or small %ackage freight. 3hen old,
they are sometimes used to catch and save %ieces of cargo that break adrift from the slings by stretching
them between the shi% and the %ier abreast a working hatch. Also called a save-all. *he save-all is of lighter
construction and larger; not necessarily made. of old cargo nets.
#A.9" 5LA0, a %lan showing the %ro%osed stowage of cargo. /t is usually %re%ared in the office of the %ier
su%erintendent with the endorsement of the master. *he cargo is stowed according to this %lan, a co%y of
which goes with the shi% for the aid of the stevedore at %ort of discharge.
#A.9" 5".*, a large, o%ening in the side of a vessel for removing and loading cargo. !chooners were
often seen with an o%ening <ust below the hawse %i%e for the %assage of long timbers. *his is called a :lumber
%ort.
#A.9" !L/09!, a %iece of ro%e with ends s%liced together making a stro% =a circle of ro%e>. !lings are used
around a draft of cargo to hoist out or in. *rays or %allets are used when the draft consists of fragile bo2es or
cartons. *hey consist of a wooden flat tray with a bridle at each end for hoisting; a s%reader %revents the
%arts of the bridle inclining inward and causing damage to the cases. *hese trays are also called &air%lanes.&
3hen the cargo consists of very small articles a tray is used with sides %erha%s a foot high called a &scow.&
#A.9" *"0, occu%ies 177 cubic feet of s%ace.
#A.9" 3".*+@, a term a%%lied to a vessel ada%ted to carry the %articular cargo being considered.
#A.L/09 B"8, is fitted between the beams and carlings and flush with their lower edges.
#A.L/09 =#A.L/0,> $0,,!, are right-angled su%%orts set horizontally to reinforce the earlings.
#A.L/09!, or #A.L/0,!, %ieces of fore and aft timbers between deck beams.
#A../#$ B,01, used %rinci%ally for bending two %ieces of ro%e together. *here are the single, double and
o%en carrick bends.
#A../#$ +,A1!, the to%s of the old-fashioned windlass bitts.
#A..@ A3A@, to give way; break; %art, or wash overboard. 4sed to describe an accident to s%ars, sails,
hull, cargo or any fi2tures.
#A.*,L, a vessel used to negotiate with an enemy under a flag of truce, usually bearing %risoners of war for
e2change. 5rivateers made a %ractice of dis%osing of their %risoners by turning a ca%tured vessel into a cartel.
#A.6,L-B4/L*, smooth-sided. 5lanking edge-to-edge on frames and caulked.
#A!#", a natural suare-ended flat-bottomed craft of -anila Bay. *hey are used as lighters.
#A!,, see <unk.
#A!*, to throw a vessel to %ort or starboard in getting underway by use of headsails or rudder for sternway
or by a s%ring line to a kedge. /t is a seaman:s term to throw, as to cast the lead.
#A!*-A3A@, to be forced from a shi% by disaster. /t may be through foundering when the crew are cast
away in the boats; or -by stranding when they may be cast away on a barren island. A seaman in this
%redicament is a castaway.
#A!* ")), to let go a line.
#A*, see #atamaran.
#A* *+, A0#+".. !ee #at +ead.
#A* BL"#$, a heavy three-sheave block with a heavy hook, used in catting an anchor. !ee #at +ead.
#A* B"A*, a shallow draft, broadbeamed craft with mast ste%%ed far forward. *he single sail is usually
large with gaff and overhanging boom. *he name #at was early a%%lied to a heavy vessel of !candinavia. !he
carried %ole masts and the suare sails were lowered to the deck for furling.
#A* 1A6/* or #.A0,, is similar to a boat davit from which the cat fall of old-fashioned vessels is rigged.
#A* +,A1, a heavy timber %ro<ecting horizontally from the bow of an old-fashioned vessel through which
the fall of the cat tackle is rove, the sheaves being set in the cat head. *his tackle heaves the ring of the
anchor to the cat head. *he %rocess is called #atting the anchor.
#A* +"L,!, through which a stern line %asses in the older shi%s.
#A* ": 0/0, *A/L!, an im%lement of, %unishment in the old navy. /t consisted of nine cords each with
three knots, all lashed to a short heavy %iece of ro%e. *o be so %unished was to be introduced to the gunner:s
daughter. Also called #at.
#A* !#+""0,., an early American coastal vessel with fore and aft gaff sails, but no head sails or bows%rit.
By some also called a %eriguger.
#A* @A3L, a two-wasted boat carrying a main, small mizzen, no bows%rit nor head sails.
#A*A1/"5*./#, a lighting system em%loying the #ato%tric and 1io%tric systems.
#A*A-A.A0, a two-hulled craft <oined by a cross structure. Be coming %o%ular in yachts for their ualities
for s%eed. Also called cats.
#A*#+ A #.AB, to get an oar blade caught flatwise under water or as some, %robably erroneously, inter%ret
the term -- to miss the water in making a stroke with in oar.
#A*#+ .A*L/0,, every fifth ratline. /f the ratlines cross only a %art of the shrouds the catch ratline crosses
all of them.
#A*,0A.@, the curve of a ro%e sus%ended between two %oints, as the catenary of a towing hawser.
#A*+A.5/0 =9> !, short legs of ro%e fast to each shroud a shoat
distance below the to% and leading in to the mast. *hey serve to take u% the slack of the shrouds and allow
the yards to be braced u% more shar%ly.
#A*+,1.AL +4LL, a design in which bottom sections form an arch on each aide of the keel. /t %lanes
readily with a smooth ride.
#A*"5*./# L/9+* =."4!,>, one in which the reflecting %rinci%le of light is em%loyed.
#A*!-5A3, the ruffled surface of the water caused by a flaw during light airs. A %eculiar twist in the bight of
a ro%e, by which two eyes are formed. *he hook of a tackle is %assed through them for hoisting %ur%oses.
#A*3AL$, an elevated fore and aft bridge connecting the midshi% house with the forward or after %art of a
vessel. /t %rovides a safe %assage in heavy weather and with low freeboard when the well decks are liable to
be awash.
#A4L$ =#AL$>, to drive oakum or cotton into the seams of a deck or shi%:s side. *he tool used for this
%ur%ose is a flat, chisel-like affair called a caulking iron. *he %articular kind of wooden mallet used is a
caulking mallet. *he steel %lates at their la% and butt <oints are said to be caulked when made water-tight by
working their edges down to a close contact. #aulk off, to slee%. *his came from taking a na% on deck and the
tar of the seams marked the slee%er:s white clothes.
#A4L$/09 -A*, an old sail laid on the deck at night under which seamen, not immediately needed, were
allowed to crawl and slee%. /n naval %arlance, any deck covering from a news%a%er u%, on which a sailor may
slee%.
#A4L$/09 *""L!, those used in the %rocess of caulking.
#A6/L, a large fore and aft cleat for belaying lines.
#A6/*A*/"0, caused by a %ro%eller revolving so fast that the head of water %ressure cannot su%%ly solid
water for the screw to work in and the blades cut across the suction column of the %ro%eller instead of
working in it. *his %roduces heavy vibrations and consumes additional %ower without effective thrust.
=!tandard !eamanshi%.> #avitation is due to a number of causes; too small a %ro%eller. thickness of trailing
edge, %oor stream-lining of the blades, %ro%eller too near the surface. *he head of water is the %ressure
which forces the water to follow the blade and amounts to .MAM lbs. %er suare inch for every foot of water
over the blade, added to which is 1M.H lbs. for atmos%heric %ressure. +ence a %ro%eller should be as dee% as
%ossible to increase the %ressure and aid in %reventing cavitation.
#A@4#A, a dugout canoe once used by the /ndians of 5anama.
#,/L/09, the inside %lanking of a shi%. A ceiling of %lanks is laid over the tank to%s to serve as a floor and
%rotect the tanks.
#,L,!*/AL ,E4A*"., the %ro<ection of the. earth:s euator to the celestial s%here. )or a %erson
standing on the euator the celestial euator is directly overhead. /t is everywhere A7V from the celestial
%oles. /t is also called the ,uinoctial.
#,L,!*/AL +"./F"0, is defined by the e2tension of a %lane at the center of the earth to the celestial
s%here which is at right angles to a %lumb line at the observer:s %osition. /t is the same as the rational
horizon. *he rational and sensible horizons on the celestial s%here are se%arated by the amount of the
semi-diameter of the earth.
#,L,!*/AL LA*/*41,, the angular distance of a %oint northward or southward of the ecli%tic.
#,L,!*/AL L"09/*41,, the arc of the ecli%tic lying between the )irst 5oint of Aries and the circle of
latitude %assing through the body.
#,L,!*/AL !5+,.,, an imaginary shell, re%resented to us, in a way by the blue sky of the heavens as its
inner surface, situated at an infinite distance away. 4%on this s%here all celestial bodies are assumed to move
regardless of their actual distance. /n order to assist us in locating these bodies the s%here is laid .out with. a
system of %oles, euator, %arallels and meridians similar to that of the earth. *he earth is assumed to be the
center of this infinite s%here.
#,LL4LA. 1"4BL, B"**"-!, the se%arate com%artments between the inner and outer bottoms, formed
by fore and aft girders and the athwartshi% floors of a modern steamer.
#,L"-0A6/9A*/"0, the science of finding a shi%:s. %osition by means of observations of heavenly bodies
and the mathematical calculation attending them.
#,L!/4!, a measure of tem%erature formerly known as centigrade =.v.>.
#,0*,. ") B4"@A0#@, the center of dis%lacement. /t is the center of u%ward or buoyant action.
#,0*,. ") ,))".*, the center of wind %ressure on the sail area.
#,0*,. ") )L"*A*/"0, that %oint about which a vessel rotates when slightly inclined in any direction
from her free %osition of euilibrium by the action of an e2ternal force without change in her dis%lacement.
=!hi%building #yclo%edia.>
#,0*,. ") 9.A6/*@, the center or balancing %oint of downward %ressure. *he whole weight of a shi%
and cargo is assumed to act downward through this %oint.
#,0*,. ") LA*,.AL .,!/!*A0#,, the total lateral resistance centered as a single force in a %oint
where its effect will be the same on the vessel.
#,0*,.B"A.1, a keel-like device that is ca%able of being hoisted and lowered in a well for the %ur%ose of
adding keel area to a sailing craft. 3hen down the leeway is much reduced. *he water-tight bo2 inside the
vessel that receives the board when hoisted is called the centerboard trunk. *he centerboard is sometimes
called a dro% keel. *he %rimary ob<ect of a centerboard is to im%rove the sailing ualities of a shoal draft boat
in working to windward.
#,0*,./09 #+A/0!, ere swung across a dry dock carrying a red and white disc by which a vessel is
centered on the keel block in con<unction with range sights.
#,0*,.-L/-B B4L$+,A1, one running fore and aft amidshi%s.
#,0*/9.A1,, a measure of tem%erature where 7W is freezing and 177W boiling. *o change a centigrade
reading to )ahrenheit take ARJ of centigrade reading XLGW. *his measure of tem%erature is now called
#elsius.
#,0*/5,1,, a length of ro%e or stri%--of oak on each side of the bows%rit and <ibboom through which are
%assed at intervals short sto%s with which the head sails are secured.
#,!!,. #LA4!,, a clause a%%earing in a charter %arty which reads a%%ro2imately as followsD &#harterer:s
liability to cease when the shi% is loaded, the master having lien u%on the cargo for freight, dead freight and
demurrage.(
#+A1B4.0, the name by which the masters and mates of the 9reat Lakes refer to the engine room
telegra%h.
#+A)/09 BA**,0, a stri% of wood along the side of a yard to take the chafe of the gear.
#+A)/09 9,A., a winding of canvas, ro%e, or other material, around the rigging, s%ars and rodes to take
the wear. !ee also. Baggy 3rinkle.
#+A/0, the term usually a%%lied to the anchor cable. A shot of chain is usually is fathoms. *here are two
ty%es of chain-the stud-link and o%en-link.
#+A/0 B/**!, heavy vertical iron castings forward of the windlass to aid in securing the anchor chains. A
turn or two of the chain is taken around the bitt and further secured with sto%%ers.
#+A/0 9.AB, the wildcat of the windlass.
#+A/0 +"/!*!, a combination of gin blocks and chain falls. *hey %ossess great %ower and are an im%ortant
%art of a steamer:s eui%ment.
#+A/0 +""$!, handled hooks for the %ur%ose of hauling the heavy chain cable about the decks or from the
lockers.
#+A/0 L"#$,.!, com%artments for the stowage of anchor chains. *hey are each fitted with a ringbolt to
which the end of the chain is secured.
#+A/0 5/5,, the casting in the deck through which the chain leads to the locker. !ometimes called also the
!%urling 9ate.
#+A/0 5LA*,!, iron or bronze stri%s bolted to the side of a shi% or yacht to take the stress of the rigging. /f
these chain %lates %ro<ect out to a narrow %latform, abreast the rigging, the whole is. called the chains or
channels. *his arrangement glues greater s%read to the rigging, but is not often seen on modern vessels.
#+A/0 ./6,*/09, two rows of rivets where each is o%%osite and not alternated with those of the
other row. /f alternated they are said to be staggered.
#+A/0 !L/09!, short %ieces. of chain %rovided with hooks for handling rails end similar cargo.
#+A/0 !5L/#,, a method- of securing a ro%e to s chain.
#+A/0 !*"55,., a short length with a sli% hook and a turnbuckle for securing the anther chain, *he
anchor is often let go by casting off the sli% hook from which the anchor is already hanging.
#+A/0 !3/6,L, is made into as anchor chain to %revent kinking. "ne is usually found between the anchor
and the 1J-fathom shackle, and another at HJ fathoms.
#+A/0 */,.,., one who stows the chain in the lockers.
#+A/0 3AL,!, the strokes in old shi%s to which the chain %lates were bolted.
#+A/0!. !ee #hain 5lates.
#+A0#,, a breeze.
#+A00,L, the dee%er courses of a river, harbor or %assage between sections of land; they may be dredged
or natural.
#+A00,L ),6,., nervousness of a bridge officer in constricted waters.
#+A00,L /."0, a three-sided angle iron somewhat resembling a P in cross-section.
#+A00,L!. !ee #hain 5laten.
#+A0*@ =#+A0*,@>, a song formerly always and now rarely sung aboard shi% to lighten and unify labor at
the ca%stan, sheets and halyards. *he soloist is known as the charity-man and is usually a man of leadershi%
in the forecastle. +e is something of an im%roviser, for those es%ecially successful make their verses
a%%licable to the e2isting conditions is the shi%, indulging in slight hits at the %eculiarities of the different
officers. *he vociferousness of the chores indicates the relative delight with which these suibs are received
by the men. *hin was the only %rivilege allowed to %ass in the old days of iron-,lated disci%line. *hey were
com%osed for various kinds of work such as ca%stan charities, which were timed to be rhythmic with the
steady tread around the ca%stan. *hey usually dwell u%on the <oys of being homeward-bound and farewells to
the %ort =and ladies> they are heaving u% the anchor to leave. *he to%sail halyard charities are the most
stirring as they, at their best, are sung in s gale when the reefed to%sail is being mast-headed. *here are also
short %ull and long %ull charities.
*he words of some are not for %ublic %rint and are in the main rather meaningless, but in tune they are very
melodious and are made romantic by the uniue and stirring surroundings in which they ere sung.
5ronounced as if s%elled shanty.
#+A5,L!, grooves in a built-u% mast. *he a%%earance of a vessel was enhanced in the sailing shi% days by
%ainting the cha%els in contrast with the general color of the mast.
#+A55,L/09, the evolution of wearing a vessel taken aback, around before the wind to her original course
without bracing the yards. /t is not %racticable e2ce%t in light airs. "lder authorities refer to cha%%eling as the
act of a careless helmsman. /t is said, he has built a cha%el.
#+A.L,@ 0"BL,, the enlisted man:s name for the galley smoke %i%e. /t is uite the custom to sand each
leadsman to And #harley 0oble, a hunt which causes endless amusement for the older men.
#+A.* !@-B"L!, characters used on charts to re%resent the aids to navigation, character of land, and the
bottom.
#+A.* 3".$, the laying off of courses. and distances, %lotting of %ositions, and the study of
hydrogra%hical and to%ogra%hical features.
#+A.*,., a contract for the em%loyment of a vessel. *here are time charters where the crew is furnished
and shi% ke%t found, and there are bare %ole or bare hull charters in which the charterer does all the detail of
o%eration. *here are also lum% sum, voyage, and tonnage forms of charter.
#+A.*,. 5A.*@, a document written for -letting to freight the whole or %art of. a vessel for one or more
voyages r s certain length of time.
#+A.*-+"4!, =or .""->, a com%artment designed for the stowage of charts and books, and usually
eui%%ed with -a table for chart work.
#+A.*! are to the water and coasts what ma%s are to the load. *hey show a fund of information for the use
of the navigator, such as all landmarks, contours of the lands, character of the shore, the de%ths of water,
character of the bottom, shoals and reefs, aids to navigation and information concerning tides and currents,
etc. *hey are constructed on different scales, the general, covering large areas, being of .small scale; the
/ntermediate or coast charts, and the large scale harbor charts. *he larger the scale the greater the detail.
*hey are constructed mainly on the -ercator %ro<ection, but also on the %olyconic and gnomonic %ro<ections.
#+A!,, a vessel %ursued.
#+A!!, -A.,!, a small )rench vessel of the lugger ty%e. /t carries a bows%rit and <ib and three masts, the
fore and mizzen being ste%%ed in the e2treme bow and stern, res%ectively. *he mainmast is lug-rigged with a
suare or lug to%sail.
#+,A*,., a small staysail used as a save-all under a %arachute s%innaker. Also called !%innaker !taysail.
#+,BA##" B"A*, a seaworthy fishing boat of 0ew ,ngland about Ao feet, double ended, masts ste%%ed
forward, no bows%rit or head sails; %o%ular about 1I77.
#+,#$, to slack off slowly, to sto% at vessel:s way gradually by a line fast to a: dock or anchor on the
bottom.
#+,#$ ./09, at the base of a %intle to allow the removal of its lignum vitae stri%s.
#+,#$,.,1 5LA*,!, used for engineroom flooring, having raised sections which tend to %rovide a
foothold. *hey are used on ladders.
#+,,$ BL"#$, one whose sheave is set against the side of a s%ar with only one cheek to su%%ort the %in.
#+,,$!, %ro<ecting %arts of a mast worked from the &stick& or substantial %ieces of timber bolted a short
distance below the to% of a mast to su%%ort the trestletrees. *he sides of a block are called cheeksD
#+,,!,-#4**,., a ty%e of centerboard.
#+,.4B L"9, a taffrail log which,. rings a small bell as the miles %ass.
#+,!! *.,,!, %ieces of wood with a sheave in the end; fayed and bolted to the to%sides so as to %ro<ect at
a %oint convenient for hauling down the main tack.
#+,6."0, the insignia of rank of a %etty or non-commissioned officer. *here are also service and wound
chevrons.
#+/,), the %o%ular name given to the chief engineer. Also to a chief %etty officer of the 0avy.
#+/L,A0 #4..,0*, or +umbolt #urrent flows northward from Antarctic off the west coast of !outh
America.
#+/LL,1 #A.9", that carried at a tem%erature of GAW) to MGW).
#+/0,, the line of intersection between the sides and bottom of a flat-bottomed boat; the angle in the
%lanking of a 6-bottomed boat. *he %art of the waterway which is left above the deck that the lower seams of
s%irketting may more conveniently be caulked. =)alconer> *o #hine "ut is to hollow out. *hat %art of a cask
=sometimes called chime> at the end of the staves; chime hooks, the term usually em%loyed, ere used to hoist
casks by catching them under the chines. *hese are also called can and cant hooks.
"0, A01 #+/0,, a%%lies to casks stowed end to end.
#+/0""$, a relatively warm wind caused by flowing down from mountain heights and raised in tem%erature
by com%ression.
#+/0!,, to caulk lightly where the %lanks will not stand the force of heavy blows.
#+/5, to remove %aint or rust with hammers.
#+/5 L"9, a device now restricted to a few sailing vessels. /t consists of a wooden uadrant about J inches
in radius with lead %laced in the circular edge which causes it to float u%right. /t is made fast to a log line by a
threw %art bridle. *he %art fitted to the u%%er corner is slightly shorter than the other two %arts of the bridle
and has a socket and a %in which %ulls out when a strain is %laced u%on it. *he chi% then is easily hauled
aboard. *he chi% is cast over =streamed> with the %in in %osition. *he first 1J or L7 fathoms of line is called
the stray line which is marked by a %iece of red bunting. *he line from this %oint is divided into %arts of MH ft.
L in. each called a knot. *hey are marked by %ieces of cord tucked through the strands with knots in their
ends corres%onding to the number of knots : out. ,ach knot is subdivided into fifths and marked with a white
rag. *he log line is allowed to run out while a GI-second glass is em%tying itself. *he result is the rate of
s%eed of the vessel. *he length of the knot was derived from the %ro%ortion that one hour =AI77 sec.> is to GI
seconds as one mile =I7I7 ft.> is to the length of a knot =MH ft. ! in.>. *he cli%%er shi% )lying .#loud off #a%e
+orn once ran out eighteen knots and there was still a little sand in the glass.
#+/5!, a nickname for the shi%:s car%enter.
#+"#$, an iron casting which serves as a lead for lines to a wharf or other vessel. *here are several
ty%es-o%en, closed and roller chocks. A roller chock reduces friction and wear on a line when working a vessel
around the docks. A convenient block of wood for shoring u% boats, weights, etc. :the chocks of a whaleboat
were formed in the stem which was grooved down vertically to carry the whale line. A chock %in of oak held
the line in the chock.
#+"#$-A-BL"#$ =two blocks>, the situation when two blocks of a tackle come together. 3hen a hold or
cask is full to the to%.
#+"$,-*+B-L4)), to %ut the end of a ro%e across the sheave of a block to <am the fail and %revent its
rendering.
#+"5, a name given to a %lace where tides meet and cause an irregular sea. *he <unction :of a channel with
the sea is sometimes called the cho%s of the channel, as in the ,nglish #hannel.
#+"3, a sailor:s term for food.
#+"3 #+"3, ri%s or overfalls, of the -in .iver in %articularD
#+"3 .A9, the meal %ennant.
#+./!*-A! *.,, ./9, an arrangement of lines. in a towing o%eration. At a %oint in the main towline is
shackled a triangular %late with an eye in each- a%e2D it is known as- the flounder %late. /nto, say the %ort eye
of this %late, is shackled a chain %endant to %rovide a catenary -- a di% to take the shock of stress. *his chain
%endant is shackled to another flounder %late into whose after eyes is shackled a chain bridle,. the legs of
which lead to %ad eyes or bitts at each bow of the first tow. .eturning to the forward flounder %lateD /nto the
starboard eye of this %late is shackled a chain %endant of such length as to %rovide a dee% catenary for the
necessarily low riding wire ro%e leading to the second - tow far astern. *his wire is similarly shackled to -a
third flounder %late with a chain bridle leading to the bows of the second tow.
#+."0"-,*,. a sea-going clock. fitted with gimbals .to neutralize the motion of the vessel. /t is made
with very su%erior workmanshi% and of accurate design, having a variable lever and a com%ensated balance
wheel. *his instrument for the %ur%oses of navigation carries 9reenwich mean time =9. -. *.>.
#+."0"-,*,. #"..,#*/"0 =#. #.>, the amount of instrument to fast or slow on correct 9. -. *. /t is
now ascertained by radio time signals broadcast by all countries. Before this invention came into use time
balls, dro%%ed from a cons%icuous %oint in all the %rinci%al %orts of the world, were de%ended u%on. Bat
before the days of telegra%hy navigators took careful observations while in %ort, or even at sea off a well
established %oint like !t. +elena,- and the amount =in time> their longitudes differed from the true known
longitude was the error of their instrument. *his method was sub<ect to many errors. *he observations taken
in %ort reuired the use -of an artificial horizon when no sea horizon was available, but as the mean of many
observations was taken, very satisfactory accuracy was obtained.
#+."0"-,*,. 1A/L@ .A*,, is the amount the instrument gains or loses each day. /t is established by
dividing the error accumulated over a certain %eriod by the number of days ela%sed.
#+."0"-,*,. ,.."., the amount the instrument is fast or slow on correct 9. -. *. /t is another name
for chronometer correction.
#+4BA!#"!, violent easterly sualls on the western coast of 0icaragua. !hort shar% sualls on the "rinoco.
#+4*,, an abbreviation for %arachute s%innaker.
#/.#L, ") /LL4-/0A*/"0, the twilight line which se%arates the illuminated from the shaded hemis%here.
#/.#L, ") ./9+* A!#,0!/"0, a %eat circle that %asses through the %oles of the euinoctial or celestial
euator.
#/.#L,! ") 1,#L/0A*/"0, celestial meridians or hour circles.
#/.#L,! ") ,E4AL AL*/*41,, the circles u%on which the altitudes of a body are eual. /f an observer
walked out a distance from 3ashington -onument where the altitude of its to% was seventy degrees, he
would find by e2%eriment that at the same distance in every direction the altitude would still be seventy
degrees, a circle of eual altitude. !ubstitute the sun for the to% of the monument and a similar condition will
be found to e2ist. A system of concentric circles each with it own %articular altitude lies around the sub-solar
%oint.
#/.#4---,./1/A0 AL*/*41,, an observation for latitude shortly before or after noon. Also called an
,2--eridian Altitude.
#/.#4-0A6/9A*,, to sail around the world.
#/.#4-5"LA., a body is said to be circum%olar when during its diurnal revolution in the heavens it does
not set for the observer, remaining always above the horizon.
#/.."-#4-4L4! =#i -#u>, white flaky clouds or small rounding masses with little or no shadow. Also
called -ackerel sky.
#/.."-!*.A*4! =#i -!>, a thin whitish veil occasionally covering the whole sky. /t- is this veil that usually
brings out halos of moon and sun.
#/..4! =#i >, clouds that generally take the form of delicate white feathers. *hey are usually detached but
sometimes form belts across the sky; they are the highest clouds and are com%osed of ice crystals.
#/..4! 6,/L, a thin mist-like cloud covering the sky as a forerunner of a hurricane or ty%hoon.
#/6/L 1A@, is GM hours long, mean time, divided into antemeridian and ,%ostYmeridian %eriods of 1G .hours
each. *he civil day begins at midnight. A method being e2tensively used is to e2%ress midnight as 7777; I.L7
a.m. as 7IL7; noon as 1G77; I.1J %.m. as G71J, etc. !ince 1AGK the American 0autical Almanac has counted
the hours of the day in civil instead of astronomical time. #ivil time is measured from midnight.
#LA-5 1"30, to swab a deck when it is not desired to turn on the hose and wash down.
#LA-5!, the heavy %lanks or timbers forming the ceiling u%on which the deck beams rest. *he clam% of the
forecastle is the strake under the forecastle deck beams. Likewise, the %oo% or raised uarterdeck clam%s.
#LA-!+,LL B4#$,*, a device for moving coal, ore. or mud. /t consists of two scoo%s like a clam:s shell
hinged at one %oint so they can be o%ened as the whi% lowers it to the %ile of coal or the bottom, but so
arranged as to close when the raising tension is a%%lied.
#LA55,., sometimes called the tumbler, or tongue, a movable fitting between the <aws of a gaff to %revent
<amming.
#LA3/09 ")), the maneuver of working a shi% off a lee shore.
#L,A0, a term a%%lied to a vessel:s lines. /f they are very fine at her entrance and at the counter, going
through the water without disturbing it unduly, she is said to be clean-lined.
#L,A0 !+/5, a whaling vessel that returned from a voyage with no oil.
#L,A., to observe the formalities in connection with shi%:s %a%ers at the customhouse - when a vessel is
about to sail. *o leave the land. *o em%ty a hold. *o work by a shoal. *o straighten out a tangle of rigging.
*o clear away a boat for lowering.
#L,A. A+,A1. A yacht is said to be clear ahead of another, under racing rules, when every %art of the
leading yacht is ahead, in the direction of the course they are sailing, of an imaginary line drawn at right
angles to that course, through the forwardmost %art of the other yacht.
#L,A. A!*,.0, A yacht is clear, astern of another when every %art of her is abaft a corres%onding line
drawn through the aftermost %art of the other yacht.
#L,A. or "5,0 +A3!,, when both anchors are down and the chains are not crossed.
#L,A. )". .400/09, when the gear is coiled down on its ends, so when cast off the %ins it will run out
uickly without becoming tangled or fouled.
#L,A. 6/,3 !#.,,0, a device for giving an officer on the bridge a clear vision. A circular disk of %late
glass turned at high s%eed by a motor is ke%t clear of snow, rain or -sleet by the centrifugal action.
#L,A.A0#,, the %ermission to sail given by the custom officials to the mister of a foreign-going vessel. *his
is given after the master has called at the customhouse and %resented various %a%ers, including his shi%:s
registry, the crew list and articles. recei%ts for %ort charges, and bill of health. +e swears to the accuracy of
the manifest and is granted clearance. A vessel is then said to have cleared.
#L,A.-+A3!, 5,01A0*, a short %iece of chain used in clearing hawse, or in, using a mooring swivel.
"ne end is fitted with a sli% hook and the other with a shackle with a long tail or wire ro%e s%liced into it.
#L,A./09 )". 94A-, clearing for no %articular %ort. "riginated in gold rush days when there was no
homeward cargo and shi% sailed to seek one.
#L,A./09 +A3!,, the %rocess of clearing the turns in the chains which usually occur when a vessel lies in
a tideway with both anchors down.
#L,A./09 5".*!, o%enings in the bulwarks, to free the decks when a sea has been shi%%ed.
#L,A*, a %iece of wood or metal with two horns around which ro%es are made fast.
#L,6/!, a shackle.
#L,3 #./09L, =or /."0>, a s%ectacle iron set in the clew or a suare sail.
#L,3 1"30, to bring the yard down when the sail is well filled, let go halyards hold sheets and haul down
by clew lines. =!ee #lew 4%.>
#L,3 9A.0,*, the clewline of a lower =course> suare sail.
#L,3 ?/99,., a handy tackle made fast aloft for various uses about the decks.
#L,3 L/0,!, the ro%es leading from the clews of a sail to the uarter of the yard and thence to the deck.
*hey haul the corners of the sail u% towards the bunt on the after side of the sail %re%aratory to furling sail.
#L,3 ."5,, a single ro%e to haul down the clew of a course.
#L,3 ") A !A/L, in a fore and aft sail the lower corner aft, in a suare sail the two lower corners.
#L,3 45, lower away on halyards of a yard, let go sheets, and haul u% the clews by clew lines. =!ee #lew
1own.>
#L,3!, the small ro%es at the ends of a hammock.
#LA#$, the %awl that dro%s to the rack-wheel of the windlass or ca%stan as it goes ahead and %revents a
reverse movement.
#L/0#+, a bend by which a bight or eye is made by seizing the end to its own %art. *here are two kinds
known as the inside and outside clinches. A clinch ring is an oval washer used on s%ikes end bolts where they
are used in wood construction.
#L/0$,. or #L/0#+,. B4/L*, a method of %lanking in which the lower edge of a %lank overla%s; the
u%%er edge of the one below it. *his is also celled lo%stroke. *his is also done with steel %lates by %lacing a
ta%ering liner underneath and on the frames.
#L/0"-,*,., an instrument which indicates the %itch or roll of a vessel . according as it is %laced on a fore
and aft or thwartshi% line.
#L/5, a short angle bar.
#L/5 +""$!, are two hooks similar in sha%e and so beveled .as to lie together and form an eye, also called
!ister hooks.
#L/55,. B"3, one with a very graceful incurving stem. !trictly s%eaking it .should have concave
water-lines forward, but the latter feature is no longer considered.
#L/55,. B4/L*, a term a%%lied to vessels with very fine lines.

#L/55,.!, swift sailing vessels of narrow beam and very fine lines. *heir length was about five times the
beam with concave lines at the water-line forward. *hey necessarily needed high freights in order to %ay,
owing to their restricted cargo s%ace. *he term com%rises e2treme, half and medium cli%%ers. *he Lightning
was %robably the fastest cli%%er in the world, having sailed MLI nautical miles /n GM hours, the highest
authenticated record. !he was designed and built by 1onald -c$ay of ,ast Boston for ?ames Baines Z #o. of
Liver%ool for the Australian trade.
#L"!, AB"A.1, in close %ro2imity to.
#L"!, #,/L/09, the edges of the ceiling %lanks very closely fitted.
#L"!,-+A4L,1, the term a%%lied to a .vessel with sails trimmed to sail as close to the wind as %ossible. A
fore and aft vessel usually sails within four %oints of the wind, and a suare rigger si2.
#L"!,-L/0$,1 #+A/0, that which has short links making a com%act chain.
#L"!, 3/01,1, a vessel ca%able of sailing very close to the wind.
#L"*+, a width of canvas in a sail. 5lural, clothes.
#L"41 !#AL,, indicates the amount of the sky overcast. /t ranges from 7 when there are no clouds to. 17
when there is tr. blue sky.
#L"41!, *hese floating masses of condensed va%or take on many different sha%es and colors due to
atmos%heric conditions. *hey are described . under their different names.
#L"6, +/*#+, a most useful and efficient method of making a line fast to s%ar or to other ro%e.
#L"6, +""$!. !ee #li% +ooks.
#L4B, a s%ar serving as a boom on a foreto%mast staysail or fisherman:s <umbo; the s%ars which s%read the
club to%sail are clubs.
#L4B )""*, a broad fore foot, giving added dis%lacement in the e2treme forward section at the lowest %art.
*his section, however, tumbles home ra%idly to the load waterline.
#L4B +A4L/09, an evolution resorted to in heavy weather on a lee shore when a sailing vessel is cast on
the o%%osite tack by use of a line from a kedge anchor leading to the lee uarter. As the vessel comes to, the
anchor is let go forward on the lee bow, a strain is %ut on the kedge by sternway %roduced uickly by backing
the head yards, and she falls off, if successful, on the other tack; the hawser is then cut.
#L4B L/0$, the link of s%ecial and heavy construction that connects the chain to the anchor.
#L4B *"5!A/L takes the %lace of a gaff to%sail. /t is larger, being e2tended by lacing its foot and luff to two
s%ars, called clubs, which e2tend beyond the gaff and to%mastD
#L4BB/09. riding with the current with an anchor <ust dragging on the bottom. *his is also called
kedging or dredging among some seamen.
#L4-5 BL"#$, a single sheave, roundish lignum vitae block. *hese blocks are used in the sheets of the
head sails. *heir - rounding sha%e facilitates in hauling them across the stays when tacking shi%.
#"A#+ 3".$, %laited mats and made of hard laid cotton cord.
#"AL B40$,., a storage %lace for coal used in furnaces.
#"AL #+4*,, a small round hatch in the deck with a tube leading to the bunkers.
#"AL !A#$, a %atch of the southern sky near the !outhern #ross a%%arently devoid of stars.
#"AL/09 5".*, an o%ening in the side of a vessel for the handling of bunker coal. Also a %ort or harbor
that offers facilities for coaling. #"AL/09 !+/5, filling a vessel:s bunkers.
#"A-/09, the name a%%lied to the structure raised about a hatchway to %revent water getting below, and
to serve as a framework to receive the strongbacks and hatchcovers and for the securing of the tar%aulins.
*he slightly elevated rail of a yacht. Also cock%it coaming.
#"A-/09 B4L$+,A1, additional or double %lates reinforcing a bulkhead at to% and bottom.
#"A!* 5/L"*, a man unusually familiar with a certain cost along which he acts as %ilot. A book of sailing
directions is %o%ularly called a coast %ilot.
#"A!* 5/L"*/09. *his highly im%ortant %art of navigation reuires a %eculiar skill of the coastal mariner.
/t: does not reuire a knowledge of #elonavigation, but a great familiarity with the coast and coastal
waters. /t reuires skill in the use of instruments for taking bearings, of the lead and log. *he courses are
laid from light to light and a vessel in the coastal trade is not usually out of touch with some landmark for
more than two or three hundred miles.
#"A!*,., a vessel engaged 1n coastwise commerce.
#"A!*3/!,, a term %ertaining to the navigation of the coast, in distinction from offshore navigation.
#"BBL,, a small ,nglish craft with high flaring bows; the greatest draft is forward which diminishes until aft
it is almost flat. *his is to facilitate beaching which is done stern first. *he cobble is usually lug-rigged. Also
coble.
#"#$ B"A*, a very small rowing boat used at a tender. /t carries a long dee% rudder, sails fast and very
close to the wind.
#"#$B/LL, to trim the yards by the lifts in a diagonal manner, as, %ort yardarm u%land starboard downD
#"#$B/LL,1, a term a%%lied to yards when to%%ed to an acute, angle with the mast. *his is necessary in
lying alongside a %ier. An anchor lie cockbilled when hanging over the bows, by a sto%%er, ready to let go.
#"#$5/*, a small well where the steering wheel or tiller is located in the after %art of the u%%er deck of
some sailing vessels. )ormerly the uarters of <unior officers on the lower gun deck of a man of war; also the
%lace where the wounded were treated, below the water-line.
#"#$!#"-B/09, the covering of a ring, rail or becket with turns of white cord, fitted snugly and locked
with a half-hitch at each turn. *here are several designs used.
#"1, )LA9, of the /nternational #ode /s the so-called answering %ennant having red vertical stri%es
alternating with white.
#"1L/0,, eighteen-thread stuff.
#",))/#/,0* ") )/0,0,!!, is that fractional %art that the volume of a vessel bears to a bo2 of same
length, breadth and de%th. *hat is the amount the shi%:s lines de%art from the bo2; it may be, say 7.H.
#")),, 9./01,., a winch located aft or amidshi%s in a racing yacht. /t is used %articularly to so bring in
the sheet of a genoa, balloon <ib or s%innaker. *he drum is o%erated through gears on a vertical shaft
turned by two cranks, 1I7W a%art, worked by hand. *he sheet is led through a cheek or snatch block on
the rail and made fast to a cleat on to% of the winch.
#")),.1A-, a heavy bulkhead on a naval vessel and some ty%es of cargo vessels, %articularly tankers. /t is
doublewalled in construction with a s%ace of L to J feet between. /t can be used for water ballast or oil. A
tem%orary enclosing dam built in the water and %um%ed dry, to %rotect workmen.
#"9, a double-ended, full-lined, bluff bowed draft of early days in !candinavia and +olland. /t was clinker
built and was originated on the )riesian #oast.
#"/L, to lay a ro%e down in circulate turns; if the ro%e is laid u% right-handed it is coiled from left to right
with the hands of a watch; if left-handed, from right to left; hem% ro%e is always coiled from left to right.
.o%e is sold by the coil which contains G77 fathoms standard length and 177 fathoms in so-called half coils.
#"/. +A3!,., a ro%e made of coconut husks and sufficiently light to float; it has about one-fourth the
strength of manila ro%e.
#"L, a neck of low %ressure between two areas of high %ressure. /t is an area of light variable winds,
freuent thunderstorms, and uncertain weather conditions.
#"-LA*/*41,, is the com%lement of the latitude, A7B -Lat. Y #o. lat.
#"L1 )."0*, is the line of se%aration between a mass of cold heavy air flowing in beneath a mass of
warmer lighter air. *here is an abru%t dro% in tem%erature in the %assing of the cold front. Also a %ronounced
change in the barometric gradient, hence a wind shift.
#"L1 3ALL, is a counter current of- cold Arctic water which flows southwestward close inside the 9ulf
!tream. /t is so close at times that the tem%erature between that at the bow of a steamer may be G7B in
variance with that at the stern when crossing the line between the cold wall and the 9ulf !tream.
!uch a contrast is most marked in the vicinity of the 9rand Banks.
#"LLA, a brisk south or southwest wind in the 5hili%%ines.
#"LLA.!, the eyes of standing rigging that go over the mast-head.
#"LL/,., a vessel in the coal trade..
#"LL/,. 5A*#+, an e2%edient of %lacing tar over a thin %ortion of an old sail.
#"LL/!/"0, vessels coming into destructive contact. *hey are said to have been in collision.
#"LL/!/"0 B4L$+,A1, a %artition in the forward %art of the shi%, built of sufficiently heavy material to
stand the great strain should the bow become damaged through collision.
#"LL/!/"0 #+"#$!, %reventer brackets at both ends of a boiler to %rotect against the dislodging of the
boilers in case of collision.
#"LL/!/"0 #"4.!,, one which if %ursued would lead to a collision, es%ecially a%%lied to the burdened
vessel.
#"LL/!/"0 -A*, a %iece of e2tra heavy canvas ro%ed and fitted with hogging lines s%liced into each
corner. /t is thickly covered. with %ieces of oakum stitched to the canvas. /t is drawn over a damaged section
of the hull below the waterline to %revent the inrush of water.
#"L".!, a shi%:s national flag. *he naval ceremony which takes %lace at hoisting of the colors at I a.m. and
the lowering at sunset.
#"L*, a short %iece of ro%e which boatswain:s mates used to carry in
the boats to use as a &starter& on those slow in obeying orders.
#"-B #L,A*, a wooden board with a row of holes to lead the running rigging fair.
#"-B,., a high breaking sea in dee% water.
#"-,, a term of several meaningsD *o come to, is to turn towards the wind; also to anchor. *o come u%, is
to come forward on a ro%e and slacken it. A kedge anchor comes home when it fails to hold.
#"--A01,., the commissioned naval rank below that of ca%tain, corres%onding with lieutenant colonel in
the Army. A commander wears three gold stri%es :RZ inch wide on his sleeves.
#"--/!!/"0 5,00A0*, the official %ennant flown from a vessel when in command of a commissioned
officer of less than flag rank.
#"--/**,, B"A*, with race committee aboard lies near starting and finish lines flying a blue flag with
letters ..#.
#"-5A0/"03A@, a series of ste%s or &stairs& leading below from the s%ar deck. 3ith some authorities,
com%anions are skylights, which cover the hatches allowing light and air below; but with others it only a%%lies
to the covering leading to a stairway, called a com%anion-ladder. *he latter a%%ears to be the best usage.
#"-5A.*-,0* !+/5, is so called when one or more com%artments can be flooded and the vessel remains
afloat. *hus a steamer may be a two-com%artment shi% if she floats when two com%artments are flooded but
would sink if three were flooded.
#"-5A.*-,0*!, s%aces below between bulkheads.
#"-5A!!, is the most valuable instrument in navigation as it directs the course of the shi%. /t is known as
the mariner:s com%ass. *here is also the gyro com%ass.
#"-5A!! #"4.!,, the direction of the shi%:s head based on the shi%:s com%ass. A direction shown by the
com%ass is sub<ect to the errors of both deviation and variation. *he com%ass course can be corrected by
a%%lying these errors to the right when easterly and to the left when westerly, %rovided the directions are
taken from an assumed %osition in the center of the com%ass.
#"-5A!! 1/A9.A-, the re%resentation of the com%ass on a chart. Also called a com%ass rose. )rom this
diagram courses are taken.
#"-5A!! ,.."., the amount the shi%:s com%ass is deflected from the true direction by variation and
deviation combined. /t is the difference between the true bearing or azimuth of a body and that shown by the
com%ass. /t is named ,ast if the true azimuth it to the, right of the com%ass azimuth, if the eye is assumed to
be at the center of com%ass; otherwise it is 3est.
#"-5A!! 5"/0*, A com%ass card is divided into LG %arts or %oints, each covering an arc of 11
1
RM:.
#"-5A!! ."!,, a graduated circle engraved on a chart from
which courses and bearings can be taken with %arallel rulersD #om%ass roses are graduated by %oints, or
degrees, or both, one within the other. *hey are true or magnetic, de%ending u%on whether the north and
south line lies with the true or the magnetic meridian. *he magnetic rose gives by ins%ection the amount of
variation e2isting at the s%ot indicated by the location of the rose on the chart.
#"-5A!!,!, a drafting instrument with two legs for transferring distances. Also called dividers.
#"-5,0!A*/"0, the reinforcing of %lates, beams and stringers around a hatch by adding strength to offset
the weakening of the deck by cutting the hatch. #om%ensation of the #om%ass, the %lacing of bar magnets in
such a manner beneath a com%ass as to counteract the semi-circular deviation, and by setting a s%here of
soft iron at each side of the com%ass to rectify the uadrantal deviation.
#"-5L,-,0* ") A0 A09L,, what it lacks of A7W
#"-5"!/*, !A/L/09. 3hen the great circle course between two %oints leads into dangerous latitudes or
intervening land, recourse is made to #om%osite sailing. *his e2%edient com%rises three sections, a great
circle to the %arallel of latitude %assing comfortably on the safety side of the danger, a course along this
%arallel until the danger is %assed, then another great circle to the %ort of destination. *he two %rinci%al
routes where com%osite sailing is %racticed are from the #a%e of 9ood +o%e to Australia where a great circle
course leads into the far Antarctic; and is the 5acific on the run from #a%e )lattery to @okohama where the
Aleutian /slands intervene.
#"-5"!/*, 6,!!,L, one whose hull is %lanked with wood u%on a steel frame. #om%osite sometimes also
is used to describe boat hull construction of other dissimilar materials, such as wood and fiberglass-reinforced
%lastic.
#"-5.,!!"., a device which gri%s the out-going anchor chain by choking it against the side of the s%urling
gate or deck %i%e.
#"0 =or #"00>, to direct the helmsman as to the movements of the helm; es%ecially in maneuvers, in
narrow channels, or heavy traffic. "ne is said to be at the con when one is directing a vessel:s movements in
this way. *he e2%ression a%%ears in an old 0avy log &!tood into the *agus with the %ilot at the conn.&
#"0#L41/09 L/0,, a small ro%e rove through the middle of the ste%s of a ?acob:s ladder. =!ouse:s 0aval
*erms.>
#"014#*/"0, is the %rocess of carrying heat from one molecule of an element to the ne2t. Air in contact
with the warm earth is at first heated by conduction before convection sets in. #onduction is a slow %rocess of
transmitting heat.
#"0/#AL B4"@, is in sha%e as its name im%lies. /n the 4nited !tates it is usually red in color, marked with
an even number to indicate the starboard side of a channel when entering %ort.
#"0?40#*/"0, two heavenly bodies are said to be in con<unction when one %asses over the other. .
#"00,#*/09 B./19,. a fore and aft structure or walkway leading from the bridge deck to either the %oo%
or the forecastle. /t is sometimes called the flying bridge or in a sailing vessel monkey bridge.
#"00/09 *"3,., the armored control station of a fighting shi%.
#"00/09 A 6,!!,L, to direct the uartermaster as T he steers through narrow or congested waters.
#"0!"LA0 =#"0!"L>, is an electronic system that %rovides bearings from a #onsolan station which
transmits dots and dashes in alternate arcs of about 1JW. *he moving boundary between the dots and
dashes gives signals that are indeterminate as they overla%. *he observation should be made at the moment
that this boundary %asses. *he dots and dashes, of which there are so, should be counted then. /f less than
77, several being lost Cn the blurred boundary, the lack should be distributed between the dots and the
dashes. *he bearing is obtained by referring to a table or s%ecial chart.
#"0!*A0* =latitude>, a formula used to e2%edite the re%orting of the latitude of noon to the ca%tain. By its
use the %roblem is worked in advance and the observed altitude is merely added to or subtracted from the
constant to obtain the latitude.
#"0!*,LLA*/"0!, %articular grou%s of stars.
#"0!*.4#*/6, *"*AL L"!!, when the damage e2ceeds the value of a stranded vessel.
#"0*A/0,. !+/5, a vessel so constructed as to receive and closely stow freightcar sized containers in turn
stowed full of merchandise. By this method one draft handles a large amount of cargo with greater facility
than by older %ractices.
#"0*/0,0*AL !+,L), is roughly limited by a line which indicates the contour where the declivity of the
coastal slo%e stee%ens to the ocean de%ths. *his is usually at 177 fathoms.
#"0*/04"4! )L""., an unbroken steel frame from the keel to the turn of the bilge in a cellular double
bottom.
#"0*/04"4! 6"@A9,, 1"#*./0, "), the %rinci%le which <ustifies the ca%turing of contraband of war
when consigned to a neutral %ort but really intended for a belligerent.
#"0*/04"4! 3A6,, a ty%e of radio transmission in which the freuency and am%litude do not vary. /t is
of very low freuency and is used for radio direction finding. /n broadcast %ractice the continuous wave is
changed by modulating its am%litude =the height above or below a median line>. *he result is the A- of voice
radio. 3hen freuency is modulated the result is )- broadcasts.
#"0*"4. L/0,!. if on the land, re%resent the line of a certain elevation; if in the water, the line of a
certain de%th. )or instance, if a great imaginary saw should cut the hills off everywhere, 177 feet above the
sea, the edge would be re%resented by the 177-foot contour nine.
#"0*.A 5."5,LL,., stationary blades attached to the rudder %ost air forward of the %ro%eller, by which
the benefit of a thrust is derived from the currents of the revolving %ro%eller.
#"0*.ABA01, munitions or other goods %rohibited entry into a belligerent state. *here is absolute
contraband which is always recognized, and conditional which may be declared contraband.
#"0*."LL,., a device by which the anchor chain is <ammed and controlled when riding to the anchor or
when heaving in.
#"0*."LL/09 1,5*+, the least de%th in the a%%roach and channel to a %ort which governs the draft of
vessels that can enter.
#"06,#*/"0, a term much used in meteorology and oceanogra%hy. /t is the %rocess of transmitting heat
by the movement of the heated air or water. *he heat of the earth e2%ands the air at the surface, it becomes
lighter and rises. *he cooler air above then descends to take its %lace. *his is also true of the waters of the
oceans; warm water rises and the cooler flows to the lower de%ths.
#"06"@, one or more merchant vessels %roceeding under the %rotection, of naval vessels.
#""LA!+/ 3A*#+, all hands standing by, with no regular watches set.
#""5,.. a member of the shore %ersonnel who lays dunnage, shores. braces and toms cargo. )ormerly the
man who made and maintained the water casks and barrels for whale oil.
#"".1/0A*,!. a system of lines, %lanes or angles. by which, with certain data, a %osition can be
determined. A line or %lane is selected from each system as a %rime or reference line =as the 9reenwich
meridian from the system of meridians and the euator from the system of %arallels of latitude>. *he lines or
%lanes cut each other at right angles in the geogra%hical or s%herical system used %rinci%ally in navigation.
*he given number of degrees is measured from each line or %lace of reference and the %oint desired lies at
the intersection of the secondary lines.
#"5,5"1!, %rimitive crustaceans resembling tiny shrim%s. *hey feed on minute %lant forms and in turn
constitute food for fish.
#"55,.!, large cooking kettles usually connected with the vessel:s boiler.
#".B/*A, an ancient .oman merchantman. !he was high-%oo%ed, one mast with suare sail and rafted
above, bows%rit and s%ritsail. *he mast was heavily stayed.
#".1. several yarns with an e2tra twist laid u% the o%%osite way.
#".1A9,, collectively, ro%e, hawsers and small stuff.
#"./0*+/A0, an amateur sailor.
#"./"L/! ,)),#*, is the tendency of ocean currents, drift ice. hurricanes, air%lanes. etc., to drift to the
right in the northern hemis%here =left in southern>. /t is due to the rotation of the earth.
#".$ ),01,., a bag of granulated cork covered with woven tarred stuff.
#".$ L/9+*. wholly without cargo.
#".$ 5A/0*, used to %revent sweating on the inside of a steel vessel. 9ranulated cork is- mi2ed in the
%aint.
#".0,*, a signal for all hands to re%ort aboard a naval vessel at once; a general message from a flagshi% to
a suadron; a signal for every shi% to %re%are to receive a message.
#"."0A, a small ring of JW radius around the sun or moon, the colors of which range from blue on the
inside through the s%ectrum to red on. the outside. *hey are caused by diffraction of light on the %articles of
ice and water.
#".5"!A0*, a ball of glowing electrical energy a%%earing about the s%ars of a vessel. /t was considered a
good omen among the old sailing shi% sailors when a cor%osant was seen to rise, but bad luck if it descended
to a lower %osition; it was also ill luck to have the light of a cor%osant shine on one:s face.
#".!A/., a %rivateer of the -editerranean, whose activities often verged on %iracy.
#".6,**,, an armed vessel with a row of guns along one deck only. /t ranked ne2t below a frigate and was
called a sloo% of war in the, 4nited !tates. /t was used on light cruiser service. /n 3orld 3ar // the corvette
was a lightly armed vessel used for convoy %rotection and %atrol. /t carried about one-half they crew of a
destroyer.
#"**A, a native vessel of the -alabar coast, having two masts lateen rigged.
#"-*/1AL +"4., the interval between the moon:s transit of 9reenwich meridian and the time of high water
at any %ort.
#"-*/1AL L/0,!, those along which the tide is high at the same time.
#"**"0 #L"41!, a%%ear beneath the cirrus veil and are forerunners of a tro%ical cyclone. *hey are sualls
clouds and usually drive low.
#"40*,., the after %art of a vessel:s hull where the lines converge towards the stern; the under side of the
overhang.
#"40*,. B.A#,1 @A.1!, a situation when those of the fore are braced on the o%%osite tack from those
on the main mast, as in tacking shi%; abo2.
#"40*,.-#4..,0*. An ocean or tidal current usually is accom%anied by a counter-current outside its own
limits which flows in the o%%osite direction. /nside the 9ulf !tream, that is, between it and the American
#ontinent, is a cold current flowing southward counter to the 9ulf !tream. *he counter-current is of less
volume and slower than the main current.
#"40*,.)L""1/09, is the action of admitting -sea water to unin<ured com%artments for the %ur%ose of
overcoming a dangerous list =or trim> caused by damage water in flooded com%artments.
#"40*.@, the s%ace ad<acent and used for access to a com%artment or uarters, as, the cabin, wardroom
or hatch country and head country.
#"4.!,, the direction steered by a vessel; the sail set from slower yard.
#"4.!, -A1, 9""1, that course which a vessel would have steered had she sailed directly for her %oint
of arrival. /t disregards different intermediate courses, current set, leeway, etc.
#"4.!, 5."*.A#*"., an instrument consisting of a com%ass rose and a movable arm by which courses
may be laid down on a chart or bearings noted. /t serves the %ur%ose of %arallel rulers.
#"6,, a recess in a coastline. *he arch moulding sunk in the lower %art of the taffrail, as +amersly says. A
sailor.
#"6,./09 B"A.1!, %lanks that cover the to% of the frames; %lank sheers.
#"6,./09 !*.A$,!, narrow steel %lates covering the <oint of %lating laid flush.
#"3 +/*#+, a lanyard hitch.
#"3L, the u%%er %art of a ventilator which flares out bell-sha%ed at .right angles to the main tube. *his is
faced in the direction of the wind.

#"8#"-B, a small %iece of wood sawtoothed on the u%%er side and bolted to the yardarm to kee% the turns
of the reef Baring from sli%%ing inward.
#"8: ! *.A6,.!,, freuent %ersonal errands for the %ur%ose of evading work.
#"8!3A/0 =%ronounced co2s:n>, a %etty officer in charge of a. small boat.
#"8!3A/0 B"8, the s%ace behind the backboard of a cutter or whaler.
#.AB, s small ca%stan or winch.
#.ABB,.: ! ,@, $0"*, a running eye that will not <am.
#.A1L,, a frame of timber erected under a vessel to su%%ort her on the ways until she is waterborne.
!u%%orting skids under a boat; a rest for the lowered ends of a cargo boom at sea; the bracket which holds
the lower to%sail yard out from the mast.
#.A0#, or #.A0F, /."0, a band at the head of the bows%rit fitted with eyes to receive the bows%rit
shrouds and bobstay. A boom iron.
#.A0,, an a%%aratus for hoisting %ur%oses a%%earing in many forms,
ads ada%ted for many demands. !ome cranes ere designed for heavy and others for light weights, even to it
single davit used for a minor %ur%ose. A trolley crane consists of a car on a %ro<ecting track over a hatch from
which de%ends a whi% fast to a bucket or cargo hook. A revolving crane consists of a small
structure, containing machinery and an o%erator, which is ca%able of circular movement; a derrick boom
eui%%ed with a cargo whi% reaches over the hatch of a vessel and swings its load to a %ier. !ee ty%es of
derricks& and cranes vizD A-frame, stiff-leg derrick, guy derrick, tower crane, hammerhead crane, bridge
crane, gantry and straight-line crane.
#.A0$ =not cranky>, a term given to a vessel which is unstable and tender. /t is due to bulld or the
stowage of cargo.
#.A0$ +A*#+, the o%ening in the deck of a side-wheel steamer over the engines.
#.A@,., a food shi% which attended a fleet in early days.
#.,,5,., an iron contrivance with %rongs for dragging the bottom.
#.,54!#4LA. .A@!, fan-like rays of red and dark color a%%arently radiating from the sun at dawn and
twilight. *he dark beams are shadows of distant clouds.
#.,!!,*, a light formerly dis%layed from the stern of vessels. An iron basket-like rece%tacle to hold burning
material in a whaling vessel.
#.,!*, the highest %oint of a wave.
#./BB/09, the blocking under the keel blocks.
#./-5, a des%icable %erson who %reys u%on seamen, getting their advance and other money frown them by
various underhand and contem%tible %ractices. *he term is also a%%lied to <oggled %lates.
#./09L,, the %iece of a *o%e worked into a circular eye on the leeches or clews of sails. 4sually it is made
around a clew iron or thimble.
#."?/$ =#."!!-?A#$>, the lowest yard on the mizzen-mast.
#."!! B,A./09!, are two or more bearings of as many known ob<ects, taken and %lotted on the chart.
*he shi% being somewhere on each bearing will be at their intersection. /n taking two ob<ects, an error may
cree% in without detection, but if three ob<ects are used and they %lot at or close to the same intersection, the
mariner may feel confidence in this %osition.
#."!! B/**, a horizontal timber across two bitt-heads.
#."!! B40$,.!, those running athwartshi%s.
#."!! 1,#$ *A#$L,!. !ee *hwartshi% *ackles.
#."!! +,A1, the fi2ture at the rudder head connecting with the hand steering gear.
#."!!-?A#$ =#."?/$>, the lowest yard on the mizzen-mast of a sailing shi%.
#."!! L,,#+, a ro%e sewn in the middle of a stri% of tabling which runs from the head cringles of a suare
mainsail to the middle of the foot where the midshi% tack is shackled. *he reasonD sometimes when running it
is desirable to clew u% the weather half of the mainsail to let wind into the foresail.
#."!! !,A, confused, irregular and often running contrary to the wind. /t is caused usually by the shifting
wind of a cyclonic storm.
#."!! !5AL,!, timbers tem%orarily fastened across the frames to secure them until the deck beams are in
%lace during the construction of a vessel.
#."!! !5./09, a line used in maneuvering about a %ier or in mooring with lines to a wharf.
#."!! !*A)), an old-fashioned device for measuring altitudes.
#."!!-*.,,!, com%aratively light timbers %laced thwartshi%s across the trestletrees. *hey su%%ort the to%s
and s%read the rigging. *he term without ualification refers to those, at the to%mast head. !ee $ing 5ort.
#."!! 3+/!*L,, to answer a steamer:s signal with another of different meaning as, for instance, when
one blast is answered with two blasts. *his is unlawful. /f the signal received cannot be com%lied with, four or
five short blasts should be given.
#."!! 3/.,! or +A/.!, fine wires or s%ider web %laced at right angles to a2is in the focus of ob<ect and
eye%iece glass of a telesco%e.
#."!! @A.1!, to lower them into a horizontal %osition after they have been sent aloft on end.
#."31, to carry e2cessive sail. *o steam or sail close to a vessel that has the right of way.
#."3)""*, a bridle of many %arts made fast along the ridge ro%e of an awning which is hoisted and
sus%ended in %osition by the #rowfoot halyards.
#."30, the %art of an anchor where the arms are welded to the shank. !o to tuck the strands of a ro%e:s
end as to lock them, and to %revent unravelling by backs%licing the. strands. A wall knot with a crown on to%
of it forms the beginning of a man ro%e knot.
#."3: ! 0,!*, a lookout station usually %laced on the foremast. /t is usually cylindrical in form for
convenience and %rotection. /t was carried by whaling and e2%loring vessels at a very early date.
#.4/!,., a naval vessel of light armament and wide cruising radius. A day cruiser is a small-cabined
motorboat suitable for short runs. An e2%ress cruiser is one ca%able of making high s%eed.
#.4/!,. !*,.0, one in which overhang does not e2ist, the %ro<ecting %art of the stern being under water.
*he rudder in this ty%e is well %rotected. "r, a %ointed, somewhat %ro<ecting, rounded stern.
#.4/!/09 .A1/4!, is calculated with two %oints of view-one, the vessel:s ca%acity in miles without
refueling; the other, her ca%acity to remain at sea e2%ressed in days running at normal s%eed.
#.4*#+, a stanchion so formed at its u%%er end as to receive and su%
%ort a boom or other s%ar. #rutches are breasthooks at the stern. *he term is sometimes a%%lied to rowlocks.
#.@!*ALL/FA*/"0, a structural change in metals, causing the colla%se of shafts, hooks and chains. /t is
often called &fatigue,& a condition that is induced by heavy loading.
#4#$"L1: ! 0,#$, the round turn thrown in the standing %art when making a bowline.
#411@, a cabin in a small boat; the cookhouse on deck.
#4L 1, !A#, an inlet connected with the sea by a small entrance.
#4L-/0A*/"0, the %osition of highest altitude of a body, when it %asses the meridian. *his is the u%%er
culmination. 3hen the body crosses the meridian below the %ole it is called the lower culmination, thus a
circum%olar body makes two culminations each GM hours. .
#4-4L"-0/-B4! =#u-0.>, clouds rising high above the horizon forming into many ma<estic sha%es which
are characteristically shower clouds.
#4-4L4! =#u.>, clouds which lie horizontally near the horizon but whose u%%er edges are rounded with
dome-like sha%esD *he sunlight according to its direction makes remarkable changes in them from dark dee%
shadows to great brilliance. *hey are %o%ularly called wool %ack clouds.
#4..,0*, the movement of water in a horizontal direction. *here are the %eriodic currents due to the effect
of tides, seasonal currents due to seasonal winds, and the %ermanent flowing currents of the ocean.
#4..,0*, 1,*,.-/0A*/"0 "). #urrent is the difference between the dead reckoning %osition
=corrected for all errors such as, leeway, bad steering, and scend of the sea> and a fi2 by astronomical
observations, electronic readings or land bearings. *he direction and velocity of current is thus estimated. *he
leeway of a steamer should not be ignored.
*he log =corrected> registers the amount of water distance that %asses by the rotator, and the %ro%ellers of
the shi% turn u% a sufficient number of revolutions to drive her this water distance. *his number of turns is in
no way affected by current, %rovided it e2tends down well below the keel. Locally the whole ocean is moving,
arid the current has no more effect than would be the case were the steamer in a great tank which was being
carried along over the bottom at the same rate and direction as the current moved. +ence there can be no
effect on the %ro%eller revolutions due to a uniform current.
3hen a log shows an increase or decrease of s%eed with engines running the same r.%.m. it is due to wind
%ressure, wave effect or irregular currents about the shi%. 3hen the r.%.m. increase or decrease the alteration
is due to mechanical changes, wind, or wave influence and not to a uniformly moving current.
#4..,0* !A/L/09, laying the courses in such a manner as to offset the drift of the current and bring the
vessel to the desired destination.
#4!5, a horn of a crescent of the moon or similar %ro<ecting %oint.
#4!*"- +"4!,, the %lace where im%orts are entered, clearance %a%ers are obtained, and other official
nautical business is transacted.
#4!*"- ") *+, 5".*. *he rules and regulations that form the manner of doing business in the %ort.
#4*-")-*+,-?/B, the a%%earance or im%ression of a %erson or vessel; something characteristic.
#4*-!5L/#,, made with two ro%e ends so s%liced as to make an eye.
#4* @"4. 5A/0*,., a term meaning to be on your way.
#4**,., a single masted vessel of %articular design, the cutter being narrower of beam and dee%er of draft
than a sloo%. )ormerly they were characterized by a straight %lumb stem and fidded to%mast. !trictly, in the
cutter the mast is ste%%ed farther aft than in a sloo% to admit a double headsail rig. *he mast of a sloo% is
farther forward as it carries a single head rig. *he small %owerful seaworthy %atrol vessels of the #oast 9uard
are called #utters, a term %robably handed down from the fast sailing craft of the service.
#4* 3A*,., is the forward side of the stem.
#4**/09 A ),A*+,., the onward movement of a vessel rolling of a wave of foam at the bow.
#@#L"0,!, circulation of air around a vorte2; violent agitations of the atmos%here where the wind blows in
s%irally to a vorte2.
1. 1., the enlisted maws laconic abbreviation of 1ishonorable 1ischarge.
1. 3. *., dead weight tonnage.
1A#."0, a te2tile made of synthetic fiber which is desirable for use in ro%e and sail-making. /t holds sha%e
tad resists mildew.
1A99,., a steel bar used to release a vessel when launching. /t acts as a trigger when the dog shore is
knocked out.
1A99,. $0,,!, those formerly set at an angle with the beams.
1A/L@ -,-".A014-, mimeogra%hed sheets %ublished by the 0aval "ceanogra%hic "ffice in the late
afternoon containing im%ortant items of navigational information that are received during the day.
1A/L@ .A*!, the amount a chronometer gains or loses each day.
1A-A9, #"0*."L, consists of methods of design and action of a shi%:s %ersonnel in resisting the
conditions which cause vessels to sink. /n design multi%le com%artments have vertical access rather than
bulkhead doors add resistance to foundering. !erious flooding stay cause the ca%sizing moment to take
charge and <udicious use of reserve buoyancy by carefully flooding in certain com%artments might counteract
the list. /t is a com%le2 sub<ect with many %hases, including fire e2tinguishing.
1A-A9, 3A*,., is the sea water which has entered a shi%:s com%artments due to collision. e2%losion or
structural failure.
1A0 B4"@, a small float to mark fishing gear and mine swee%ing o%erations. A light staff, often of bamboo,
from which flies a signal flag, %asses -through the center of the float. /t is e2tensively used for vacant yacht
moorings.
1A01@, a yawl rig seen in British waters in which the <igger is a mutton leg sail.
1A01@ )40$, a man-of-war %udding of other days, consisting of broken crackers and molasses.
1A09,. A09L,, an angle, between two. ob<ects, which if- not allowed to get larger =or smaller as the case
may be> as the vessel %roceeds, will clear an offlying danger. )or instance, if the horizontal angle between
two lighthouses is 1G7W on a safe course outside a danger, a navigator would not allow the se2tant to show
a greater angle than 1G7W. 6ertical angles are also used on ob<ects whose height is known.
1A09,. B,A./09, a method by which the navigator is warned by a com%ass bearing when the course is
leading into danger. *he danger is avoided by laying off a bearing from a lighthouse or other landmark to a
%oint well clear of the rock or shoal. !o long as the bearing of the light from the shi% does not alter so as to
show the shi% on the dangerside of, the charted bearing she is safe.
1A09,. B4"@, a buoy of any sha%e but %ainted in red and black horizontal bands. *hese buoys are
moored close by dangerous reefs, rocks, and sunken wrecks in 4nited !tates waters. /n ,uro%ean waters
wrecks are usually marked by buoys %ainted green.
1A09,. !,#*"., a red sector of a light indicating the %resence of rocks or shoals within it.
1A09,."4! !,-/#/.#L,, the right-hand side of a storm track in the northern hemis%here.
1A04B, .411,., an e2tension to after edge of shi%:s rudder to increase the effect.
1A04B, .4L, =for %ro%elling %ower deductions>. *he so-called 1anube .ule states that to machinery and
boiler s%aces should be added HJ %er cent of such s%ace for %ro%elling machinery deductions, in the case of
screw vessels, and J7 %er cent in case of %addle steamers. As an e2am%le take a shi% in which machinery and
boiler s%ace is eual to 1M %er cent of the gross tonnage; the deduction for %ro%elling %ower under the
1anube .ule euals 1M %er cent 8 1LM euals GM.J %ercent of the gross tonnage. =-r. ?. L. +ates.>
1A.B/,!, handcuffs.
1A!+,. BL"#$, the ensign halyard block at the %eak of the gaff.
1A*4-, a level to which de%ths and elevations are referred, as, -ean Low 3ater =-L3>, the reference for
soundings on #oast !urvey charts.
1A6/1, a small boat carrying a tor%edo and submerged until almost awash. Boats of this ty%e were
constructed by the #onfederates in the #ivil 3ar.
1A6/1: ! !*A)), an ancient instrument for taking altitudes of the sun.
1A6/*!, small cranes that %ro<ect over the shi%:s sides for hoisting boats. -any im%roved styles are now in
use by which a boat is ready swung outboard and inboard. *he davit guys trim them at the side while a s%an
of wire ro%e, chain or s%ar maintains the %ro%er s%ace between a %air of davits. *he wire or chain is called a
s%reader or check, the s%ar a strongback. *he 3olin 1avit has a cogged uadrant cast on its lower end and
by a geared crank is swung out and in with great facility. 9ravity davits, consist of two movable cradles from
which the lifeboat is sus%ended and are mounted on two slo%ing frames that turn downward at about MJW to
the deck at the sheer stroke, thence down the shi%:s side. *he cradles and boat, when released by a lever, roll
on rollers down the .slo%ing frames and thence to the water.
1A6@ ?"0,!: L"#$,., the bottom of the sea where all things thrown overboard find their way.
1A@ L"!* A01 1A@ 9A/0,1. #locks are geared to show an hour;s time while the sun travels 1JW from
east to west. A westbound vessel steaming fn the same direction as the sun breaks u% this unison of
movement between the clock and the sun by causing the latter to e2ceed the hour in moving an =a%%arent>
is. !o the hands of the clock are %ushed back to kee% %ace with the sun. *his amount is euivalent to the
shi%:s change of longitude =in time>. After doing this each day on a voyage around the world the seamen on
the vessel have lived each of these small amounts twice by the clock, and they have formed a fictitious day in
the aggregate. /n order to kee% the calendar date correct, a day is dro%%ed when crossing the 1I7W
meridian.
"n the contrary, an east-bound vessel meets and %asses the sun as it were, causing it a%%arently to travel its.
1JW in less than an hour, and it becomes necessary to %ush the hands of the clock ahead to ad<ust its
reading with the sun:s bearing =or hour angle>. /n this way the seamen are cheated of a %art of each day:s
time, but u%on crossing the 1I7W meridian the day is used twice, that is, there may be two -ondays -ay
1Mth in the log book, and the time %roblem is suared.
1A@: ! 3".$, consists, at least, of the dead reckoning from noon to noon, morning and afternoon time
sights for longitude, and a meridian altitude for latitude.
1,A1 "0 ,01, a wind directly ahead; dead ahead.
1,A1 ).,/9+*, money earned, or claimed, on s%ace reserved by a shi%%er but not used.
1,A1 +,A1, a s%ar or log floating en end and mostly submerged. A %ile %ro<ecting above a wharf, to which
lines are made fast. A wooden buoy.
1,A1 +".!,, the debt incurred by a seaman by the advance of a month:s wages to the boarding house
runner to %ay bills and credit for a last wild night. /t was the occasion of a uniue celebration aboard shi%
among the crew when their advanced money was worked u%. An effigy of a horse was fashioned out of any
available material, and the &animal& hoisted clear of the rail and overboard into the sea with ceremony and
boisterous hilarity.
1,A1 L/9+*!. the round brass %lates working on hinges that screw down u%on the air %orts and serve as
%reventers to the glass %ort lights in heavy weather. *he term given by some to the glass bull:s eyes set in
the deck. *hey are also called battle %orts.
1,A1 -,0, loose .ends of gaskets hanging from a yard; /rish %ennants.
1,A1 -4FFL,., a strong head wind.
1,A1 5,9, to work directly to windward. .
1,A1 .,#$"0/09 =1. ..>, the calculation necessary to ascertain the shi%:s whereabouts by using the
courses steered and distances run. *he influences of current and wind, as well as the errors of the com%ass,
are taken into account to determine as closely as %ossible the latitude and longitude without the aid of
celestial observation. *his is the real test of a navigator:s skill. *he dead reckoning %osition is nowadays
sometimes referred to as that latitude and longitude worked
u% without an allowance for current, but the name is erroneously a%%lied.
1,A1 ."5,, one for a hauling %ur%ose with no block to assist the work.
1,A1 !+,A6,, a half sheave which is stationary but allows a line to %ass over it regardless of friction.
1,A1 3A*,., that water which is drawn along with the vessel at her waterline and es%ecially aft. *here is a
%henomenon known as dead water in which there is a dee% overlay .of fresh or brackish waterD 3ith this
condition slow s%eed vessels of sail or very low %ower e2%erience a loss of headway due to the generation of
subsurface waves between the lighter water above and the heavier salt water below.
1,A1 3,/9+* #A.9", merchandise with a stowage factor that is M7 cubic feet or less to the ton.
1,A1 3".$, a vessel:s sides above the water.
1,A1,@,, a round block of lignum vitae somewhat similar to the shell of a block. /t has several holes
through it and a groove around the edge to receive the lower eye of a shroud or the stra% of a chain %late.
*he deadeye, of a shroud and that of a chain %late are connected by a lanyard rove through them. A shroud
tackle hooked in a stro% well u% on the shroud or stay is cla%%ed on the end of the lanyard which, well
greased, renders through the deadeye, setting u% the stay or shroud.
1,A1./!,, the rise of the floor of a vessel above the horizontal. /t is the rise of the aides of a vessel:s
bottom above the base line at the intersection with the moulded breadth line.
1,A13,/9+*, the carrying %ower of a vessel beyond-her own weight.
1,A13""1, the solid timbering at the bow but mainly at the stern of a vessel <ust above the keel.
1,#$. 3hat- floors are to a building so are decks to a vessel. *heir arrangement and character de%end on
the ty%e of vessel and the trade engaged in. A cargo steamer usually has a main deck with a raised section
forward and one aft known as forecastle and %oo% decks =these two terms also a%%ly to men-of-war>; there is
also a midshi% section .over the engine and boiler rooms containing uarters, galleys and navigating bridge
and chart rooms. Between these different sections the main deck is called the well deck. *he deck below the
main is called the :tween decks. 3here in larger vessels there are several decks, the first above the tank to%e
or holds is called the lower, the second the main, the third the u%%er deck. "n %assenger steamers a%%ears a
fourth or %romenade deck and the hurricane or sun deck the highest of all. /t is customary for the benefit of
sim%licity to name the decks below the 5romenade A, B, #, 1, and ,. /n novel vessels the u%%er deck was
formerly known as the s%ar deck, the ne2t below as the gun deck and the berth deck ne2t below. At
%resent, .however; the highest full length deck is called the main deck; and the latest ty%es carry a deck, aft
to the mainmast called the u%%er deck; it is becoming the %ractice to number the decks of these shi%s from
highest down. A deck heavily armored is called the %rotective deck, while one of lighter armor is called the
s%linter deck. A deck not e2tending to the side of a naval vessel is called a su%erstructure deck. A %artial deck
below the main deck is known as a %latform deck. !ee also uarter, %oo%, :tween and orlo% decks. An officer
of the watch is said to have the deck. "n deck is a hail from a man aloft, from the bridge, from below or from
a boat alongside to draw the attention of someone on the deck.
1,#$ B,A., a bo2 of stones, scra% /ron or other heavy material hauled back and forth on the deck for the
%ur%ose of cleaning and whitening.
1,#$ #+,!*, a rece%tacle for wash. deck gear.
1,#$ 9A09 =or 1.: !> enlisted men of the seaman branch in the 0avy-as o%%osed to the black gong, or
engineer branch.
1,#$ +".!,, a heavy iron rod %laced athwartshi%s and %arallel with the deck for the traveler ring of a
sheet tackle to run on.
1,#$ +"4!,, a com%artment of light construction erected on deck.
1,#$ L"A1 cargo carried on deck.
1,#$ 5/5,, the fairlead for. the chains through the deck.
1,#$ !*"55,., a ro%e with a -hook, or a short %iece of chain and a hook, by which the anchor chain is
secured when the anchor is down.
1,#$ !*./09,., a stri% of %lating that ions along the outer edge of deck.
1,#L/0A*/"0, the angular distance, a body is north or south of the celestial euator. *he sun:s declination
ranges between GLB GH:. north to GLW GH: south; the moon:s from about GIB north =ma2imum> =about 1IW
minimum> to a like distance south; the %lanets: declination varies in a com%le2 manner for their orbits differ
greatly in size, but they travel within a belt about IW each side of the ecli%tic, and this great circle de%arts at
its verte2 about GLB GH: from the euator.
1,#L/0A*/"0 ") *+, #"-5A!!. *he com%ass needle, if freely sus%ended by a thread, will tie in the
direction of the earth:s lines of magnetic force. *hese lines are not %arallel with the earth:s surface e2ce%t in
the vicinity of the euator. 0orthward or southward from this line, the needle begins to di% downward
increasingly towards the magnetic %oles. *his di% or declination of the needle is restrained in the mariner:s
com%ass, and the horizontal directive force is alone shown. 3hen in the region of e2cessive magnetic di%,
such as +udson Bay, the horizontal com%onent of magnetic force is so small as to cause a lack of directive
%ower in the com%ass and it becomes sluggish.
1,#L/0A*/"0 ") *+, F,0/*+, the angular distance from the euator to the zenith. *his distance is
eual to the latitude.
1,,5 )L"".!, are found at the ends of a vessel where the floor frames are. given .considerable de%th.
1,,5-!,A L,A1, is a heavy lead, about Jo %ounds, for sounding in dee%er water than is reached by a hand
lead.
1,,5 !/8, to throw an article overboard- is to give it the &1ee% !i2.&
1,,5 !*"3A9,, to stow cargo in a dee% hold where there are no decks to break the de%th..
1,,5 *A0$, a midshi%s ballast tank of considerable ca%acity by which a vessel:s draft can- be increased as a
whole. /t is sometimes used for cargo.
1,,5 3A*,., means offshore. "ften refers to a voyage around either #a%e +orn or #a%e of 9ood +o%e.
1,,5!. *he fathoms of a lead line not marked are called dee%s. Areas of dee%er water than %revail on the
surrounding bottom; a de%th: of over L777 fathoms constitutes. a dee% beyond the continental shelf.
1,9A4!!/09, is an arrangement of electric coils so installed in a shi% that the magnetic field of the vessel is
so neutralized as to give a degree of safety fn %assing over a magnetic mine.
1,-,.!AL, are bottom fish such as cod, halibut and flounders, in distinction to %elagic fish as mackerel and
herring.
1,-4..A9,, money %aid on the undue detention of a vessel. 1emurrage commences at the e2%iration of
the lay days. A master should notify the consignees in writing the day before demurrage starts.
1,5A.*4., =1e%.>, the distance a vessel makes good east or west. /t is measured along a %arallel of
latitude and is always e2%ressed in miles. 1e%arture is converted into difference of longitude by use of *able
L, Bowditch, 1AJI. *aking a de%arture is a %rocedure at the beginning of a voyage, or on making a landfall. /t
is necessary to have a definite latitude and longitude at which to commence reckoning, so a lighthouse or
%rominent landmark is chosen whose %osition is well. known. A bearing is taken and the distance off
established. *he direction is reversed and entered in the reckoning as the first course of the voyage, <ust as
though the shi% herself had started at the lighthouse and sailed this de%arture course.
1,5,.-/09, a %rocess allied to 1egaussing. +eavy conductors are %assed around a shi% u% one side,
athwartshi% and down the other. A strong current through this coil changes the magnetic field of the shi%.
*he change is tem%orary owing to the vibration of the %ro%ellers.
1,5.,!!,1 +"./F"0, is the visible horizon lowered by the height of the observer:s eye above the earth.
4sually called 1i%.
1,5.,!!,1 5"L,, the o%%osite of the elevated %ole; that :one below the horizon.
1,5*+. !ee Lloyd:s de%th. *he de%th from main deck to the ceiling over the floors. *he de%th by American
Bureau of !hi%%ing rules is from the to% of the keel to the to% of the deck beams at the side of the freeboard
deck. !hould the bulkhead deck be above the freeboard deck then de%th is measured to the bulkhead deck.
*he de%th registered is the de%th of hold and is the distance from the double bottom, amidshi% =G.J inches
being allowed for ceiling %lanks> to the to% of the u%%er deck beams, or main deck in awning or shelter deck
vessels.
1,.,L/#*, an abandoned floating vessel. *he term also sometimes refers to the foreshore dry at ebbtide.
1,../#$ =#argo Boom>, a boom with its foot set at the foot of a mast, su%%orted by a to%%ing-lift tackle and
controlled by guys. /t is used for loading and removing cargo. *he term cargo boom is %referred by seamen.
!ome other ty%es of derricks and cranes are vizD A-frame, stiff-leg derrick, guy derrick, tower crane,
hammer-head crane, bridge crane, gantry crane, and straight-line crane. *he modern level-buffing crane
o%erates on a track at the %ier side =or on a lighter>. /ts fle2ible arm rises to a height of 1IH feet and is
ca%able of discharging a vessel:s cargo into lighters lying on the off side. *hey have a reach as great as 11I
feet.
1,../#$ -,*+"1, cargo handling by. /n this %rocedure a boom is to%%ed over a hatch; when a draft of
cargo is raised above the coaming, the boom is swung by guys over the %ier and the draft lowered.
1,!*."@,.!, very fast scout vessels for the %rotection of ca%ital shi%s and convoys and for use against
submarines.
1,6/A!#"5,, an instrument for testing, %racticing, and instructing in the use of magnets for com%ensating
com%asses.
1,6/A*/"0, an unnecessary divergence from the acce%ted course of a vessel. /f disaster results, the
underwriters are relieved from liability. *here are several <ustifiable deviations allowed-stress of weather,
unavoidable accidents and the saving of life. -any hull %olicies, however, contain a clause which includes the
saving of %ro%erty.
1,6/A*/"0 ") *+, #"-5A!!. *he shi%:s com%ass, if uninfluenced by any local attraction or by any
magnetism outside of the earth:s lines of force, would %oint to the north magnetic %ole. *he construction of
shi%s is so largely of steel and iron that they readily take on magnetism and become in themselves magnets.
*he different %arts of the vessel, as the stack, steel masts, ventilators, davits, etc., are the %oles of %ro<ecting
magnets. *he com%ass needle is affected by these influences and drawn one way or the other by the
dominating force. *hese magnetized %ro<ections change their %ositions relative to the com%ass needle on the
different directions of shi%:s head and thus make a new deviation for each heading. *hese are determined by
observation and tabulated. )or further information see Euadrantal and !emi-#ircular 1eviation.
1,6/A*/"0 *ABL,, a tabulation of the shi%:s heading on each com%ass %oint and the deviation which
a%%ears when steering on each.
1,6/L !,A-, between the garboard and keel. *he old e2%ression &*he devil - to %ay and no %itch hot&
comes from the %roblems of %aying this seam.
1,6/L: ! #LA3, a heavy hook used in holding the chain when riding to an anchor.
1,6/L: ! +"L,, lies between lats. MKB 7A: 0. and MKW JJ: 0. and longs. 1GB J7: 3. and 1LB 17: 3. in the
distant a%%roaches to the British /sles.
1,3 5"/0*, the tem%erature at which the saturated air forms va%or in clouds, mist or fog.
1,3 6AL6,, an automatic draining valve in the cylinders of deck machinery.
19+A/!A, a gondola-like boat %eculiar to 6aletta, -alta. 5ronounced dicer.
1+"3, a long flat vessel of the ,ast and 0ear ,ast. *he masts are lateen rigged and usually rake forward.
*he dhow changes tacks by wearing shi%. *he lateen yard is brought forward and nearly %arallel with the
forward-raking mast. /t is worked around to the other side of the mast =the side of the new tack> while the
sail flows out ahead. As the vessel comes u% to the wind the sheet is hauled in and trimmed for a new tack.
1/A9"0AL B4/L1, a method of %lanking a boat where the diagonal %lanks of one layer are covered again
by an outer layer lying diagonally with it.
1/A9"0AL */,! =or 5LA*,!>, deck stiffeners that run diagonally across a vessel.
1/A-"01, an arrangement of shrouds in a lofty-rigged marconi mast that take the diamond sha%eD
1/A-"01 $0"*, a knot sometimes made in the end of a manro%e for ornamentation.
1/A-"01 5LA*,!, %lates to connect and stiffen the framework where the web frames , and stringers
intersect.
1/A*"-, a minute %lant of the sea. /t moves by the action of current only, and attaches itself to submerged
stones and wreckage giving them a slimy feeling. *he diatom is de%endent u%on sunlight for life; when it
sinks below the reach of its influence it dies. /t forms the food of co%e%ods, which in turn furnish sustenance
to fish. *he walls -of the diatom cell form a skeleton when the organism dies, which, in uantities, becomes a
whitish sediment of silica known as kiselguhr.
1/#,-0"-+/9+,., an order not to gamble on letting a close-hauled suare-rigged vessel come , closer to
the wind and risk being taken aback--a hazard; the term may be used as a caution against taking risks.
1/)),.,0#, ") LA*/*41, =1. L.>, the difference in degrees, minutes and seconds between two
%arallels of latitude. /t is the distance =B : &> between the %arallel of s vessel:s de%arture and the %arallel of
destination.
1/)),.,0#, ") L"09/*41, =1. Lg.>, Phe difference in degrees, minutes and seconds between two
meridians. // is the distance =B : &> that a vessel makes east or west along a %arallel of =middle> latitude.
1/)),.,0*/AL +"/!*, is an endless chain %assing over two sheaves and around a lower sheave of smaller
size carrying the lifting hook. A %art of the chain is the hauling %art.
1/09+@ =1i ngey>, a small rowboat. * he name is said to come from a Bengal word meaning a small boat
belonging to a larger vessel.
1/0$, a nickname for a dinghy.
1/"5*./# L/9+* =+"4!,>, one in which the refracting %rinci%le of light is used.
1/5, a term a%%lied to the descent of the sun after reaching its ma2imum altitude =at noon> on the meridian.
A flag is at the di% when about two-thirds way u%. As a mark of courtesy. flags are di%%ed by %assing vessels.
A tackle is said to have a di% in it when one block becomes accidentally %assed through the %arts of the fall
disorganizing the tackle. 1i% is also the error introduced in an observed altitude of a body by the observer
being elevated - above the sea, as u%on the bridge of a steamer. As the height of the eye increases, the
horizon e2tends and falls, making the altitudes measured thereto larger, hence di% is a minus correction,
found in the 0autical Almanac. Altitude should theoretically be measured to the sensible horizon, that seen
when the eye is at the water:s surface.
1/5 ") *+, 0,,1L,, is the inclination assumed by the magnetic needle as the north =or south> magnetic
%ole is a%%roached. Also called 1eclination of the 0eedle.
1/5 ."5, is of o%en linked chain or wire used with a mooring swivel or in clearing hawse. *he outer end is
fitted with a shackle and the inner end with a long %iece of manila ro%e.
1/55/09 L49. a small boat rig. *he sail is set from a small yard and the tack is. made fast to the stem.
1/5!,@ L,A1, a dee% sea lead for sounding u% to a hundred fathoms. 1/!5A*#+, a term found in shi%:s
%a%ers meaning that the loading and discharging or the clearance of a vessel shall be e2%edited.
1/!5A*#+ -"0,@ =if %rovided in charter %arty>, is a sum %aid u%on the com%letion of loading and =or>
discharging to charterer of shi%, for time saved on allotted lay days. 1/!5,.!AL ") *+, *+.4!* #"L4-0. A
tug with a heavy tow turns her %ro%eller at a rate dis%ro%ortionate to her onward motion. *he distribution of
water abaft the %ro%eller results in a disturbance which im%airs the efficiency of the thrust. #avitation is a
corres%onding disturbance forward of the %ro%eller.
1/!5LA#,-,0*, the weight of the water dis%laced by a vessel, eual to the weight of the vessel. /t is the
common measurement of naval vessels. *he dis%lacement curve shows the dis%lacements at different drafts.
!ee *onnage. *he center of the dis%lacement is the center of buoyancy. A cubic foot of sea water weighs IM
lbs., fresh IG.J lbs. A ton of sea water euals LJ cubic feet and of fresh water LJ.A cu. ft.
1/!*A0* "B?,#*, a term used in swinging shi% when a series of bearings is taken of a distant ob<ect and
the mean of all taken as the correct magnetic bearing. All other bearings taken by com%ass are referred to.
this to ascertain the deviation on the different headings of the shi%.
1/!*.,!! !/90AL! are 0 # of the /nternational #ode; the ensign 4nion down; minute guns, continued
blasts of whistle, various %yrotechnics or a burning tar barrel at night; and ! " ! by radio. Also &-ay 1ay& by
voice radio.
1/**@ B"8 or BA9, a rece%tacle for a sailor:s sewing kit.
1/4.0AL relates to a day; a %henomenon occurring daily.
1/4.0AL /0,E4AL/*@ ") *+, */1,!, the difference between the two daily high waters and is caused
by the declination of the moon. "n the 5acific coast where one high water is much higher than the other, the
diurnal ineuality is likewise large. 3hen the moon is in high declination it is near the tro%ics, and the tides
occurring at that time are called tro%ic tides. 3hen the moon is full at the same time it is in high =northern>
declination =!e%tember> the !e%tember or great tro%ic tides occur.
1/6/1,.!, an instrument with two legs, each: %ointed, and hinged at the o%%osite end. *hey are used to
take distances from a scale and transfer them for use on the chart
or vice versa. !ee also, com%asses.
1"#$, the water s%ace between %iers. *he use of the word through the years indicates the water s%ace, not
the %ier. But seamen sometimes use the term in referring to wharf or %ier, yet it is not considered strictly
correct. *here are also 1ry, )loating, 9raving and 3et 1ocks.
1"#$A9, =usually>, the charge made for a mooring, loading or discharging berth.
1"#$/09 $,,L!, additional keels %aralleling .the main keel which serve to take the weight of the vessel in
dry dock as well as to furnish longitudinal strength. Au2iliary docking keels are often set in %airs forward and
aft or between the main docking keels.
1"#$/09 5LA0, a cross-sectional drawing of a vessel giving the im%ortant measurements of keel and
docking keels.
1"#$@A.1, the establishment consisting of a dock, %iers, and the buildings which house the facilities for
re%airing and building vessels.
1"#*"., the shi%:s cook. *he sea breeze in ?amaica and other tro%ical countries. A %um% for the %ur%ose of
testing boilers.
1"#*./0, ") *+, LA!* )A/. #+A0#,, a doctrine which %rovides that a %erson shall, when. a collision
is imminent, do all in his %ower to avert or lessen the disaster.
1"#4-,0*/09, the %rocedure of securing the necessary legal %a%ers that allow a vessel to o%erate. /f in
coastwise trade, she must have a certificate of enrollment; if foreign, a certificate of registry.
1"19,.!, canvas wind shields for the bridge. !aid to be derived from 1odge.
1"9 #4.*A/0, a canvas fla% sewn into the canvas binnacle which when raised allows a view of the
com%ass through the glass face of the binnacle.
1"9 !+".,, a timber holding a vessel on the launching ways. As the dog shore is removed, the vessel
slides down the ways.
1"9 !*"55,., a sto%%er which secures the anchor chain forward of the bitts and allows slack to bitt the
chain. A riding dog serves the same %ur%ose, and is used in modern steamers. *he chain %asses through a
fi2ture hinged in the to% of which is a %awl or dog; thrown one way the dog rides the outgoing chain but
when thrown back sto%s it.
1"9 6A0,, a ta%ering tube of bunting at the masthead through which the wind blows and indicates its
direction. A wind sock.
1"9 3A*#+,!, those from M to K and K to I %.m., *he watches are dogged when the watch changes at K
%.m.
1"9B"1@, a fishing vessel of 0ewfoundland in the early %art of the 1Ath century. *hose of small size were
engaged in the shore fishery, while larger craft fished the Banks. *hey were suaresterned, carried fore and
aft gaff sails, no head sails or bows%rit.
1"99,., a two masted ketch used by 1utch fishermen.
1"9+"4!,, a shelter forward of a yacht:s cock%it, usually o%ening aftD
1"9!, small bent metal fittings used to close the doors to watertight com%artments, hatch covers, manhole
covers, etc. *he short iron rods with their shar%ened ends bent at right angles which are driven into the
blocks at the bottom of a dry dock to %revent their floating.
1"9: ! ,A. =or L49>, the bight of the leach of a sail when reefed. "ne of the corners of the shark:s mouth
of an awning.
1"9! .400/09 B,)"., *+,/. -A!*,., heavy swell %receding a hurricane.
1"L1.4-!. a belt of calms and light airs lying between the trade winds of the northern and southern
hemis%heres.
1"LL"5, a wave that lo%s over the tail on deck.
1"LL@, a single bollard-like timber head set horizontally in a shi%:s bulwarks. A bar with concave end, held
against the inside end of a rivet.
1"L5+/0, a, %ile or cluster of %iles serving as a beacon; a s%ar mooring -buoy; or as a mooring fast or
buffer in the water or on a wharf. A long line of %iles between two %iers t which a vessel may tie u% and load
from lighters. A stra% around the mast which secures the %uddening at the slings of the lower yard. Also
a%%lied to the guard rail of a vessel.
*he derivation of this term &dol%hin& for a %ile cluster has aroused some s%eculation. /n ,uro%e it was first
called a 1uca d:Alba, the 1uke being the heir a%%arent of !%ain. the name was translated to the languages of
other countries. *he !%anish 0aval Attach[ in 3ashington suggested that the term may have arisen from the
tradition that the -1uke of Alba. when in command of the Low #ountries in the lKth century, had a
resemblance of his features carved on the guiding %iles along the rivers. /n )rance a cluster is called a 1uc
d:Albe, but as the dau%hin of )rance had %arallel rank with the 1uca d:Alba of !%ain, used the dol%hin =fish>
as his symbol of heraldry, it may be a clue to the origin of the American name dol%hin for a %ile cluster.
*he term &dol%hin& also a%%lies to two families of sea creatures familiar to seamen. *he del%hinidae are
cetaceans. "ne grou% of this family of dol%hins has a beak, with %ointed teeth. Another grou% is our common
%or%oise, known as the bottle-nosed dol%hin; has no beak but wedge-sha%ed teeth; it is about seven feet
long, lea%s out of the water and %lays about a shi%:s bow, being a fast swimmer. *he other family is the ,
cory%haena; they inhabit warm and tem%erate waters; are edible and change colors as they die on deck. *hey
are about si2 feet long. 3hile often called dol%hins they are %erha%s better known as dorados.
1"L5+/0 !*./$,., a small s%ar beneath the bows%rit and forming a truss for the su%%ort of the <ib
boom with the martingale guys and martingale stays. /t is also called the martingale boom.
1"0$,@ ,09/0,, a steam engine which furnishes %ower to hoist anchor and sails, turns cargo winches,
su%%lies heat, and o%erates fire %um%s and radio.
1"0$,@: ! B.,A$)A!*, a seaman:s mattress, having straw filling
1".A1, - 6,0*/LA*"., is an effective water tra% that %rovides fresh - air below. /t consists of a sim%le
bo2 secured to the deck, into which, say, the after half, an ordinary cowl ventilator is inserted for about
one-fourth of the de%th of the bo2. A tube or ferrule %asses from the forward half of the bo2 through the
deck, letting air below. *o e2clude water effectively, the u%%er edge of the ferrule is slightly higher than the
lower edge of the cowl. *he water that comes down the cowl falls to the bottom, free and clear of the ferrule
and flows out through scu%%ers at the low end of the bo2. ,2ce%t in heavy weather the cowl can be headed
into the wind without water getting below.
1".@, a flat-bottomed small boat with a shar%, graceful sheer, flaring sides and 6 transom. /t is a ty%ical
0ew ,ngland craft and is one of the most seaworthy. /t is used on all the Bank fishermen, being readily
stowed one in another, making a so-called nest or dories.
1"4BL,. !ee 1oubling.
1"4BL, B"**"-, the s%ace between the watertight %lating over the floors and the shi%:s bottom. *his
s%ace is utilized for ballast tanks and %rotects the shi% in case of damage to the outside %lating.
1"4BL, #A.1 #"-5A!!, is one visible from both below and above, so %laced as to act as a telltail for the
master below.
1"4BL, 1A09,. A09L,!, two danger angles, one each for two shoals or dangers, one outside the other
and the shi%:s course leading between them. *he angle %rotecting the vessel from the inshore danger must
not be allowed to get larger or the angle %rotecting from the outer danger to get smaller.
1"4BL,-,01,1, having a stern somewhat similar to the bow.
1"4BL, *"5!A/L!, two suare sails of narrow de%th where one large single to%sail was carried in the
early cli%%ers. *he double to%sails are more readily handled but are not as efficient in light air. *hey were
invented by an American shi%master, #a%t. )rederick +owes. *he idea has also been ada%ted to t:gallant
yards.
1"4BL/09 =of a mast>, the %lace where the lower %art of an u%%er mast overla%s a lower mast. A vessel is
said to double a ca%e when she %asses around it.
1"4BL/09 *+, A09L, "0 *+, B"3, a method of finding a shi%:s %osition. A vessel with an ob<ect, say
LJW on the bow, can be located by noting the distance run until the ob<ect bears H7W on the bow. *he
distance run will be the distance off.
1"4BL/09 5LA*,, one fitted outside or inside of another to give reinforcement.
1"6,$/,, a small sea bird found in the Arctic regions. /t is about I
1
RG inches long, with black head, neck
and back, wings having a small %atch of white, white under %arts, red legs, and black bill. *he word ifs
a%%lied by many to the black guillemot.
1"3,L, a wooden %in used instead of an iron s%ike.
1"30 ,A!*,., a %erson or vessel from -aine. /t is down because -aine is down wind from Boston.
1"30 +,L- or 45 +,L-, orders given to helmsmen when a vessel is under sail-down is away from, and
u% is towards the wind. *he +elm is %ut down to tack shi% and u% to wear.
1"30 *+, -A!*!. *he wind is facetiously said to blow down the mast in a calm.
1"30 *+, 3/01, to leeward.
1"30+A4L, a tackle or single ro%e by which a sail or yard is hauled down.
1"3!,, to s%ray or duck with water; to lower a sail uickly or to e2tinguish a light.
1.ABL,., a second bonnet added to a <ib or suare sail in shi%s of the old days.
1.A)*, a single sling load of cargo.
1.A)* or 1.A49+*, the de%th of wale; necessary to float a vessel. )or easy handling most vessels draw a
little more water aft than forward; this is called drag. *he draft aft increases with s%eed. *he draft increases
u%on entering fresh water from salt =see !ea 3ater>, the rule beingD
1is%lacement in salt water Y increase in draft in inches
KL 8 tons %er inch in inches immersion
1.A)* -A.$!, figures fastened to the stem and stern%ost; the lower edge indicates the draft of the vessel.
1.A9, the amount that the after end of the keel is below the forward end when the shi% -is floating. 6essels.
are designed and loaded to have a smell amount of drag. 3eights attached by hawsers to a vessel at
launching to kill her way when waterborne.
1.A9 or 1."94,, a sea anchor or sto% water. /t is either in the form of a s%ar with a weighted sail
attached, or a cornuco%ia bag. *he vessel rides to this device and tending to drift faster to leeward than the
drag %uts a strain on: the line which holds her head to windward. !ee !ea Anchor.
1.A9 #+A/0! are used in launching a vessel in restricted water area. *he chains are fast to weighted drags
which. bring the vessel u% uickly after her slide down the ways. /t reuired G.A77 tons of drag chains to
bring the Eueen -ary to with her stern GJ7 feet out from the ways.
1.A9 .A#/09, is a content of acceleration of s%eed on a short straight-away course. *he boats, usually
two, start at a slow controlled s%eed and are clocked electronically at the finish line.
1.A99,., a rugged fishing trawler that usually o%erates in the shore fisheries rather than on offshore
banks. /t has one or two masts that su%%ort booms for the handling of its one dory, the trawl and for setting
a steady sail. !ee "tter *rawl.
1.A/0 +"L,!, holes drilled through floor and frame angles to lead the water from the bilge gutter.
1.A3, a term a%%lied when the wind on a sail %uts a strain on the sheet. Also a vessel is said to draw so
many feet of water according to her draft. *he moving section of a bridge which allows the %assage of
vessels.
1.,19,, a vessel or scow eui%%ed with machinery for removing the material of the bottom of a harbor or
channel. *his action is called dredging. *he sea-going dredge is not unlike a steamer in a%%earance. !uction
machinery draws u% the material, while underway, filling the ho%%ers and when the ca%acity is reached the
vessel %roceeds to the dum%ing ground. A device to gather oysters by dragging along the bottom. An anchor
dragging u% and down along the bottom is said to dredge.
1.,!!,., the work table in a shi%:s galley.
1.,!!/09 !+/5, to dis%lay flags in honor of a %erson or event. /f a string of flags e2tends from water to
water by way of <ibboom, mastheads, and end of s%anker boom the vessel is said to be rainbow dressed. A
sounding lead is used to fly the flags to the water from the overhanging s%ars.
1./)*, a vessel:s leeway. *he %art of a ro%e not in use. *he velocity with which a current moves. *he
amount two rivet holes are out of line, and the action necessary to bring .two rivet holes in line. A drift %in is
used for this %ur%ose. *he drift angle is that which the line of a vessel:s keel takes with her turning circle
when the rudder is %ut over.
1./)* B"L*, a long %unch for driving out rivets. Also a long bolt used in a boat:s engine bed and
deadwood.
1./)* #4..,0*!. those slow movements of water down the western coast of ,uro%e, which serve to
com%lete the general circulation of water of the 0orth Atlantic "cean. *hey are the feeble continuations of the
9ulf !tream. Beyond the 9rand Banks the 9ulf !tream becomes the 9ulf !tream 1rift.
1./)* /#,. As an icefield breaks u% the drifting %ieces are called drift ice and usually are easily navigated by
being conned from aloft.
1./)* L,A1, an ordinary sounding lead and line that is dro%%ed over the side to indicate any dragging of
the anchored vessel. *his is readily shown if the, line begins to lead forward. /t can also be used to show the
current if on soundings and vessel is sto%%ed.
1 ") A L/0,, the angle between the line of the keel and the mooring line out ahead or astern.
1./)* 0,*, is buoyed to float in a vertical %osition and the fish are caught in the meshes by their gills. *he
fishing vessel lies to the net.
1./)* !A/L, a sea anchor.
1./)*,., a fishing vessel that %ursues the surface fish =%elagic> such as herring. /t is seen more freuently
in ,uro%ean waters. /t sets nets that, strung together, may e2tend a mile or two in length. *he fish:s gills are
caught in the meshes -whence the term gill nets. A characteristic of the drifter is a riding sail aft which kee%s
her head u% while drifting with her nets out.
1./)*!, those %arts where the sheer is raised according to the heights of the decks, and where the rails are
cut off and ended by scrolls. =+amersly.>
1./6,, to hard %ress a vessel with canvas. A vessel drives before a gale or drives to leeward when out of
control or forced e2cessively.
1./6,., the name that was sometimes given to the fifth mast of a si2-masted schooner. /t was the sail set
from a yard sus%ended from the very after %art of a vessel in old days. Brady:s $edge Anchor says it is a large
sail sus%ended from the mizzen gaff.
1."9+,. =1."9,.>, a bluff modeled vessel engaged in trans%orting heavy cargoes, as a sand drogher. A
ty%e of 3est /ndian trader.
1."94,, a drag or sea anchor.
1."5 $,,L. !ee #enterboard.
1."5 ") A !E4A., !A/L, the distance from the head to the foot. /t is used on the courses in
contradistinction to the hoist of sails that are set from yards that hoist.
1."5 !*.A$,. !ee !tealer.
1.499, is a marker-buoy attached to a whale line fast to a whale. A waif is also attached to increase its
visibility.
1.4- +""$!, a grou% of cant hooks attached by wire stro%s to a hoisting ring. *he hooks %ro%er are in
%airs and run loose in the stro%. By the use of these drum hooks five oil drums are hoisted at one draft.
1.4-+,A1, that %art of a ca%stan where the bars are shi%%ed.
1.4-+,A1 -A0, the winch man; he who o%erates a winch in the loading and discharge of cargoD
1.@ #"-5A!!, a segmental circle of %a%er mounted on an aluminum ring, sus%ended by thirty-two silk
threads from the central boss containing a <eweled cu%. *he needles sus%ended below the card are single
wires and de%end from the card ring by a second series of silk threads. *his brings the weight of the needles
down low and makes the card very steady. *he %ivot su%%orting the <eweled cu% held in the boss of the card
rises from the bottom of the com%ass bowl and the bowl, in turn, is carried on a ring, ring and bowl being
su%%orted by knits edge bearings %laced at right angles with each other. =!tandard !eamanshi%.>
1.@ 1"#$, a watertight basin which after %um%ing out e2cludes the water and allows e2amination and work
u%on the bottom of a vessel. 6essels are floated in and out throng.. the removal of a bulkhead called a
caisson, itself ca%able of floating or flooding. A floating dock receives a vessel when it is submerged to a
%ro%er de%th, after which the watertight com%artments of the dock are %um%ed out and the buoyancy of the
dock raises tie vessel. A graving dock, usually walled with stone, was one in which vessels: bottoms were
formerly cleaned by a burning %rocess called graving or greaving, but the term still a%%lies to the walled u%
e2cavated docks seen in 0avy @ards. *hey are more substantial and %ermanent than floating docks, but are
far more costly. *here are screw docks com%rising a %latform which submerges to receive a vessel, the whole
being raised by sews or <acks. "ther means of .working on a vessel:s bottom are to haul out on: a railway, or
go on a gridiron at high water, or again. to heave down at- a careenage as they do at #uracao.
14BB =14B>, to smooth a timber with an adze. 1ubbing, the smoothing of the %lanking of a shi% after being
riveted of s%iked on the frames.
14# d: ALB! =5r.>, the term used in ,uro%e for a %ile =cluster> dol%hin, varied according to language.
14#* $,,L, is bo2 keel, the vertical %lates forming the sides are riveted to the ends of the. floors, %ort and
starboard. *he ta% %late of the keel is flush with the %lating covering the floors. *his keel also serves as a
conduit for %i%es and cables.
14#*/L/*@, the uality of a metal which allows it to stretch or be drawn out %erha%s into wire.
14)), a mi2ture of flour and water, with raisins added, is 5lum =Lum> 1uff. /t is a sea tradition to serve this
dish on *hursdays, %erha%s to com%ensate for the no-meat ration on that day.
149"4*, a boat hewn from a log. Boats of ancient %eo%le have been unearthed in ,uro%e measuring as
much as MI feet long and I feet wide hewn from a log.
14$3, as am%hibious fourwheeled craft of many uses; it was develo%ed for, rescue .work in 3orld 3ar //.
14-B-#"-5A!!, a brass com%ass diagram oriented to 0orth or if desired to. shi%:sRhead. A %elorus
consists of a dumb com%ass.
14-B !+,A6,, a groove in the foot of a s%ar for a ro%e to lay in lieu of a revolving sheave.
14-5 !#"3, a suare-built flatbottomed vessel so fitted as to %ermit lowering the bottom of her carrying
com%artment, thus dum%ing the load of rubbish or dredged material. 3atertight com%artments kee% the
scow afloat and a hand windlass gear heaves the bottom back in %lace. *his craft is de%endent on tugs for
%ro%ulsion.
14-5/09 5LA0$!, a tem%orary rough floor on the tank to%s directly beneath a hatchway to take the wear
and tear of falling cargo, such as coal or ore.
1409A.,,!, blue overalls.
1400A9,, alt kinds of wooden blocking used in the holds of a vessel to raise the cargo above the floors and
sides, %reserving it from sweat and leakage, and to serve as chocks to %revent it getting adrift. /t is a general
custom to use a%%ro2imately A inches over the floors, 1M inches at the bilge, from G to I inches at the sides
and A: inches on the :tween decks. 0o hard and fast rules can be laid down beyond a sufficient amount of
dunnage to bring the cargo to %ort in good condition.
14*#+ #"4.A9,, that which is manifested after a drink of liuor.
14*#+ 1""., ore in two %arts allowing the u%%er and lower sections to swing inde%endently.
14*#+-A0: ! L"9, a crude e2%edient used in small slow vessels for measuring s%eed. A distance of MH feet
L inches is laid off and marked on deck. A floating ob<ect is thrown overboard at the bow, if the vessel takes
GI seconds to %ass the ob<ect she is making 1 knot; if 1M seconds, G knots, etc. A chi% log it better.
1@/09 -A0: ! 1/00,., a little food served during an emergency.
,. 1., familiar letters a%%earing on charts, which mean &e2istence doubtful.&
,. *. A., estimated time of arrival.
,A9,., ,A9.,, ,A9"., a shar% rise of tide advancing in shallow estuaries in the form of a wave; a bore;
a mascaret, a %ororoca.
,A./09, a ro%e used in bending a sail or head cringle to a yard or the clew cringle to a boom. A reef
earing =weather or lee> makes the reef cringle fast to the yard. *he weather earing is %assed first while the
men on the yard, ,ras%ing the reef %oints, attem%t to haul the sail to windward. *hen they light out to
leeward and the lee baring is %assed u% forward and down abaft the yard. ,arings are %assed. ,A.*+, a
s%herical body about H,AGH statute miles it diameter which rotates on its a2is once in GM hours and revolves
around the sun once in a year. /t is \ %lanet. *he sha%e of this body is that of an elli%soid, being com%ressed
along its %olar diameter to the e2tent of s %art, or about GH miles. *he euatorial %lane is not a true circle but
slightly elli%tical, they;re being about one half-mile difference in its long and short diameter.
,A.*+: ! #,0*.AL 5."9.,!!, the difference between a solar and a sidereal day, amounting to L m. JI
s. and is due to the earth:s movement is /ts orbit. &
,A.*+: ! !+/0,, the reflection of the earth:s light thrown on the moon, and being faintly visible on the
shadowed %art when the latter is two or three days old and shows as a crescent.
,A!, *+, +,L-, to reduce the amount of rudder angle.
,A!, +,., to luff a sailing vessel when carrying a heavy %ress of sail; to give a little lee helm to ease a
vessel into a heavy sea.
,A!*/09, the distance a vessel makes eastward.
,A!@. A vessel rolls easily when her motion in a seaway is without sudden movements,
,A!@ !A/L, an amount of canvas under which a-vessel rides or sails without laboring or straining.
,BB, the %eriod when the tidal current is flowing from the land. *he different %hases of the ebb are referred
to as the first of the ebb, the strength of the ebb, and the last of the ebb.
,BB */1,! B,01!, a term a%%lied to the outside of the bends in a tidal river. *he dee%er water is usually
there, hence the old %iloting ruleD &)ollow the ebb tide bends.&
,#+" B"A.1, a structure similar. to a bill board but fitted in addition with wings at each end which are set
at an angle towards the sea. *he %ur%ose is to reflect the sound of a steamer:s whistle and enable the %ilot to
establish his %osition.
,#L/5!,, the total or %artial obscuration of a heavenly body due to its entering the shadow of another body.
#losely associated with an ecli%se are the umbra and %enumbra.
,#L/5*/#, a great circle of the celestial s%here- which lies at an angle of GLB GH: with the celestial euator.
*he sun, a%%arently, moves along the ecli%tic eastward around the earth due to our onward movement of
revolution around it. /t is the a%%arent %ath of the sun. *he %lane of the earth:s orbit e2tended to the celestial
s%here marks the circle of the ecli%tic. *he 5oles of the ,cli%tic are the %oints everywhere A7B from the ecli%tic
north and south.
,11@, a circulatory motion of the water.
,/9+*@ 0/0, )".*@ ,/9+* =IAB MI:>, a sim%le method of finding latitude by meridian latitude in which
all the corrections for altitude are lum%ed as 1G: and subtracted from A7W Y IAW MI:, the observed altitude
is then subtracted for the zenith distance, to which the declination is added =algebraically>. /t was %ractised by
early navigators and later those of limited knowledge of nautical astronomy.
,L,#*./# A.# 3,L1/09, a %rocess of welding two %ieces of steel /n which the %ositive wire of a current
is connected to one %art and the negative wire to the other, the high tem%erature occasioned accom%lishing
the desired results.
,L,#*."L@!/!, an electrochemical action. set u% by the salinity of the water between the different metals
of a shi%:s underbody. 5ieces of zinc are often %laced on the run below the waterline in an effort to %revent,
the %itting that results from electrolysis.
,L,5+A0*,., a %eriodical heavy rain on the west coast of +industan.
,L,6A*,1 5"L,, the %ole that is in the observer:s skyD /f in north latitude, the north %ole is the elevated
%ole.
,L,6A*/09, a charge for use of an elevator in loading cargo.
,LL/"** ,@,, a thimble s%liced in the end of a hawser.
,-BA.$, to go aboard a vessel %re%aratory to sailing on a voyage.
,-BA@,1, a vessel .unable to weather the entrance %oints of a bay, due to wind, current or sea.
,01 )". ,01, to reverse the %osition.
,01 "0, head on.
,09/0, .""- B,LL! are signals sent from the bridge or wheelhouse to engine room by means of %ulls.
*here are two, a gong and a <ingle. *he signals are, or were, as followsD /f sto%%ed, one bell means ahead
slow and two bells is astern slow. A <ingle added to either of these signals means full s%eed. 3hen at full
s%eed ahead one bell slows her down, another sto%s the engines; if full s%eed or slow astern, one bell sto%s
her.
,09/0, .""- *,L,9.A5+, a mechanical device with a dial and two indicators =one having a handle
attached>, on the bridge and a similar one in the engine room. *he dial shows by subdivisions the various
s%eeds which are sent below according as the indicator is set. *he engineer hearing an automatic bell notes
by his indicator the desired s%eed of the engines. As a check against error he similarly returns this signal to
the bridge where it is recorded by the second indicator.
,0."LL-,0*, a document issued by the customs authorities to vessels in domestic trade. /t gives all facts
relating to the vessel.
,0!/90, a flag, the emblem of a vessel:s nationality. *he lowest commissioned naval rank.
,0*,.,1, a term used when a vessel has arrived from a foreign %ort and her master has gone before the
customs authorities and taken oath to the contents of the shi%:s %a%ers. 3hen these have been acce%ted the
shi% is said to have entered.
,0*,./09 A 5."*,!*. A document e2ecuted when a shi%master knows of or sus%ects damage.
,0*.A0#,, that %art of a vessel which cleaves the water, dis%lacing it for her %assage; the forward %art,
es%ecially at the water line and below. A river or harbor mouth.
,5A#*, the difference between lunar and solar time.
,5+,-,./!, a tabulation of the successive %ositions of heavenly bodies. A nautical almanac.
,E4A*/"0 ") */-, =,. t.> the amount of time that the real or a%%arent sun is ahead or behind the
mean sun. /t is the difference between mean and a%%arent time whether e2%ressed in local or 9reenwich
time. /t is tabulated in the nautical .almanac for every 1G hours of 9reenwich time.
,E4A*"., a great circle whose %lane is at right angles with the line of the earth:s a2is. /t is everywhere AoB
from the %oles.
,E4A*"./AL #4..,0*!, the great westerly moving streams of water of the euatorial region. "ne is
north of the euator and is %robably caused %rimarily, by the rotation of the earth and directly assisted by the
0ortheast *rades. *he other lies southward and is aided by the !outheast *rades. *he ,uatorial #ounter
#urrent flows eastward between them.
,E4/A094LA. !5/.AL, a rhumb line or lo2odromic curve. /t is a line that cuts the meridians at the same
angle, always a%%roaching but never =theoretically> reaching the %ole. /t is a straight line when drawn on a
mercator chart.
,E4/0"#*/AL, the celestial euator.
,E4/0"#*/AL #"L4.,, the hour circle %assing through the )irst 5oint of Aries. *his hour circle, with the
)irst 5oint of Aries u%on it, indicates the %assage and hour angle of sidereal time. .ight, ascension is
measured eastward from this circle.
,E4/0"#*/AL 5"/0*!, the two /ntersections of the celestial euator and the ecli%tic. 3hen the sun is at
either of these %oints it is said to be the euino2, either vernal or autumnal, according as it is s%ring or fall.
,E4/0"#*/AL !*".-!, a term a%%lied to those gales which ha%%en to occur at or near the euino2es.
,E4/0"8,!. *here are two, the vernal and autumnal. *he G1st of -arch =a%%ro2imately> is called the
vernal euino2 and the GGnd of !e%tember the autumnal. *he %oints in, the orbit occu%ied by the earth on
these days. Also the intersections of the ecli%tic and the celestial euator in the heavens.
,E4/55,1 !+/5, one with bunkers and tanks full, stores and crew on board ready for sea.
,!#A5, +"L,!, small manholes for coal trimmers to get out. of and for filling the farther corners of the
bunkers.
,!#4*#+,"0, that %art of a vessel:s stern ornamented with her name.
,!*ABL/!+-,0* ") *+, 5".*, the interval between the %assage of the moon over the meridian and
the ne2t succeeding high water. )or %ractical %ur%oses this interval
is constant. *he lunitidal interval is also used to obtain the time of high water.
,*,!/A0 3/01!, %eriodic winds; es%ecially those which blow from the north over the eastern
-editerranean !ea.
,45+", or ,46."4, a s%reader of brass or wood used with the crowfoot of an awning.
,4."5,, old-time tarred ro%e.
,6,0 $,,L, the trim of a vessel , when its keel is %arallel with the water surface or, more %ro%erly %erha%s,
when it takes its designed %osition for normal trim.
,8,#4*/6, "))/#,. one who ranks ne2t to the commanding officer, and is his re%resentative at all timesD
he carries out the routine, has charge of the %ersonnel and the disci%line. /n the absence of the ca%tain ha
takes command of the vessel.
,8--,./1/A0 AL*/*41,, an altitude of a body taken near noon or the meridian, and from which the
latitude is uite readily com%uted. *he amount the body will rise before it reaches the meridian =or if
afternoon, the amount it has fallen> is obtained by using tables GA and L7 =Bowditch>. *his uantity known as
at: is added to the true altitude. 3ith this meridian altitude now at hand %roceed as with an ordinary noon
sight.
,85A0!/"0 B,01, a section of a %i%eline bowed shar%ly with a 4, so as to take u% the vibration and the
working of the vessel, saving the annoyance of leaking <oints.
,85A0!/"0 *A0$, constructed above a main tank of liuid avid so devised as to take u% the contraction
and e2%ansion.
,85A0!/"0 *.40$ a contrivance consisting of an oil-tight com%artment situated over a tank which kee%s
the main tank full. A hatch in this trunk is called an e2%ansion hatch.
,85A0!/"0 6AL6,, in a tanker is designed with a s%ring valve which under the %ressure of e2%ansion
o%ens and relieves the condition of the tank. *here is one of these valves in each tank e2ce%t %eak and dee%
tanks.
,8*,0!/"0 ") 5."*,!*, a document su%%orting a 0ote o f 5rotest sworn to by a master and signed
by an officer, a %etty officer and two seamen before a consul or a notary. /t sets forth the circum
stances of the voyage, and what action was taken to safeguard the shi% and cargo. A %rotest results in a
survey of damage.
,8*.A -A!*,.. a certificated master in 9reat Britain who voluntarily takes an e2amination and successfully
shows his su%erior ualifications.
,8*.A-*."5/#AL !*".-, those cyclonic disturbances originating outside the tro%ics. *he %am%ero is an
e2am%le.
,@, B"L*, one with a loo%ed o%ening in its head to receive a shackle or a ro%e.
,@, B."3, a vizor-like %ro<ection over an air %ort to %revent tare entrance of water running sown the shi%s
side.
,@, !,/F/09, a seizing %ut on the stro% of a block to hold a thimble and to secure the stro% firmly in the
groove. /n general it is a round seizing made on the bight of a ro%e to form an eye. /t is also often called a
throat seizing.
,@,-!/9+* 0A6/9A*/"0. 5iloting by estimating distances and color of water.
,@, !5L/#,, a loo% s%liced in the end of a ro%e, manila or wire.
,@, ") *+, !*".-. *he relatively calm center of a cyclonic disturbance; there e2ist erratic seas and gusts
of wind.
,@,!, the very forward %art of a shi%. *he collars of the rigging that go over the mast heads. *he holes in
bolts, needles, and loo%s in the ends of ro%e. A worked eye has smoothed edges, while a shackle eye is a
straight drilled hole. ,yes in the boot, an order to men in a %ulling boat whose attention has wandered to
interesting %assing ob<ects.
f., foggy.
). A. !., free alongside.
). ". B., free on board.
)AB./#A*,1 !+/5, one whose %arts are made in different mills and assembled in a shi%yard.
)A#*". ") !A),*@, the ratio of the ultimate strength of materials to the working stress. A number a%%lied
to the materials entering a shi%:s structure which if multi%lied by the allowed working stress will give
a%%ro2imately the real strength of the material.
)A9 ,01, the end of a ro%e that is untwisted.
)A99,1, to be ragged or untwisted.
)A/., a line leading straight or running freely. !moothing out dented %lates or restoring dislocated frames in
a steel vessel.
)A/. L,A1,.!, are found in many forms but all serving the %ur%ose of leading lines in the direction
desired; they %ut an angle in the direction of a line so it may be brought to a belaying %in, or to the ca%stan,
etc. A roller head fair lead reduces friction and satisfactorily takes the %lace of a fairlead block.
)A/. 3A*,. #"0,, the conical ca% covering the after side- of the hole of a %ro%eller which takes the end
of the tail shaft.
)A/. 3/01, a -wind abaft the beam. *o some few, however, the term indicates a wind with which a vessel
can lay a course to her %oint of destination without tacking.
)A/.3A@, a thoroughfare, of shi%%ing-mid-channel.
)A/.3A@ B4"@!, buoys of any sha%e, %ainted =in the 4.!.> with vertical white and black stri%es. *hey are
moored at the entrances to channels.
)A$, or )LA$,, a com%lete turn of a ro%e in a coil. *he term 5oke is occasionally heard among old sailors,
but is uite often used in referring to long bights of chain cable ranged along the deck or floor of a dry dock.
)A$, 1"30 or )LA$, 1"30, to %re%are a ro%e for running. /t is coiled with the end u%, then coiled
down on the end so that each fake =flake> overla%s the %receding one in such a way as to run out ra%idly
without the chance of becoming entangled.
)ALL, the ro%e which with the blocks com%rise a tackle. *he fall bas a hauling %art and a standing %art, the
latter being the end fast to the tail of the block. 3ith some sim%ly the hauling %art is the fall.
)ALL or 1."5 1"30 A +A.B". or ./6,., to %ass down and usually come to anchor.
)ALL A!*,.0, to be out-distanced.
)ALL *4B, a framework resembling a tub into which are coiled the falls of a boat.
)ALL/09 +"-,, the same as tumble home.
)ALL/09 ")), %aying off from the wind.
)AL!, +"./F"0, a condition, inimical to the taking of good sights,
which is caused by cloud shadows near the horizon.
)AL!, $,,L, a timber added to the main keel of a vessel to increase the draft or to %rotect the keel.
)A0#@ L/0,, a downhaul for a gaff. Also a line for overhauling the lee to%%ing-lifts.
)A09 *+, 54-5!, to %rime the %um%s with water.
)A00/09. A vessel is fanning along when moving very slowly in light air.
)A0*A/L, the aftermost section of a vessel.
)A0*"1, a nervous officer.
)A. 6A0,, of a %elorus, is the outer sight vane.
)A.1A9,, dunnage used with bulk cargo.
)A.-, the o%en s%ace in front of a %ier used during %eriods of wharf congestion.
)A!+/"0 5/,#,!, timbers at the after %art of a vessel which form the sha%e of the stern.
)A!*, a line securing a vessel to a %ier. !hore fast being a line to
the shore rather than to .the %ier, and the term &stern fast& is in common usage. *o make fast is to secure.
)A*A -".9A0A, a mirage. ,s%ecially that a%%earing in the !traits of -essina under certain conditions of
wind, tide and atmos%here.
)A*+"-, si2 feet. /t is the measure of de%th in America and many other countries. /ts derivation is
interesting based on the ancient and universal custom of measuring a fathom of ro%e by the s%read of the
arms. *his action is strikingly like a homecoming sailor greeting his sweetheart. *he old Anglo-!a2on word
&f]^m& meant to embrace; to gras%.
)A*+"-,*,.. A sonic de%th finder.
)A6"., to ease a shi% or s%ar.
)A@, to <oin a timber so closely to another that they serve the %ur%ose and a%%earance of a single timber.
),A!,, to untwist :the strands and yarns of a ro%e:s end.
),A*+,.. to turn the blade of an oar in a horizontal %osition when out of water. *his relieves the wind
%ressure. *here are feathering %addle-wheels in which the buckets move on an a2is in such a way that their
edges enter and leave the water while their whole broadside surface /s acting when fully submergedD /t /s -an
effort to reduce the resistance at the %oints where effective %ro%ulsion is least. *he feathering screw is one in
which the blades of the %ro%eller of an au2iliary vessel are ca%able of being set =or which set automatically>
with their edges fore and aft to reduce the drag when %roceeding under sail. )eather key, a ta%ering wedge
of steel * brass for keying a wheel or %ro%eller to a shaft. *he wake made by the %erisco%e of a submarine.
),,L ") *+, +,L-. A good helmsman with old-fashioned steering gear is conscious of the slightest
movement of the shi%:s head by the feel or %ressure on the wheel or tiller.
),,L/09 *+, 3A@, to %roceed slowly, sounding, and with caution.
),LL",!, the %laces of wood which form the run of a steering wheel.
),L4##A, a lateen-rigged vessel of the -editerranean. /t is either two or three masted and has a suare
stern.
),01 ")), to e2ert, %ressure by various means to %revent a boat or vessel from fouling a %ier, gangway, or
float, or another vessel.
),01,.. a device to take the shock of contact between shi% and wharf or other vessel. *here are cork
fenders, heavy bags of granulated cork for use at the %articular %oint of collision; fender guards which are
timbers running fore and aft along the side of a vessel; fender s%ars which float alongside of a wharf to kee%
a vessel off. *here are round logs sus%ended vertically as fenders. Boat fenders come in many sha%es and
materials but all are to %revent chafing. 3harves are %rotected at their corners by clusters of %iles, called
fender %iles. *he riding fender is the wooden %rotection at the edge of a concrete %ier against which a vessel
rides.
),*#+, to make a desired %oint %articularly, a%%lied when there is an adverse condition of wind or tide to be
reckoned with. *he distance or swee% a wind has from the weather shore to a shi% is called the fetch.
),*#+ L"9, a canvas rece%tacle for %alm and needles, sail hooks, wa2 and twine.
)/B,. 9LA!! B"A*! are those constructed =usually molded> of %olyester resin and reinforced with
fiber glass. *his latter material is glass s%un to an e2tremely fine fiber which %ossesses remarkable
strength and fle2ibility. !uch a boat is not liable to rust, corrode, rot or be attacked by marine borers; it will
not swell or shrink. 1esired colors are im%regnated into the resin, hence surface treatment is not needed for
several years. /f the first cost is higher, savings may com%ensate in a few years. Being of recent develo%ment
the life of fiber glass boats has not been determined, but they have %roved durable.
)/1, a conical %iece of lignum vitae which serves as a marline-s%ike for certain work. Also a %in of iron or
wood which inserted in the hole at the foot of a to%mast or to%gallant mast, takes the weight as it rests on
the trestle trees.
)/11L, BL"#$, one having two sheaves, one larger than the other and one above the other, tandem
fashion.
)/11L, B"3, a cli%%er bow.
)/11L, +,A1, an ornamental timber curved like the head of a violin used in lieu of the more e2%ensive and
elaborate figurehead.
)/11L, .A#$. a device to kee% dishes on a table in heavy weather.
)/11L,.: ! 9.,,0. a sailor:s %aradise, where dance-stalls and kindred amusements abound. =+amersly>
)/11L,! !ee .acks.
)/11L,@ a grating hatch over the engine and boiler rooms. /n heavy weather, tar%aulins are s%read over it
and battened down.
)/,L1 1A@, a carnival of scrubbing and washing aboard shi%.
)/), .A/L, a %in rail in a semicircle around the mast.
)/9+*/09 !+/5, a steamer, backed by am%le ca%ital to withstand losses, which enters a trade for the
%ur%ose of crushing com%etition by offering low rates.
)/94., ") ,/9+* $0"*. one made in the end of a ro%e to %revent its unreeving through a block. *he
insignia worn by all enlisted men of the 0avy who have %assed through the rating of a%%rentice. A figure of
eight lashing is made racking fashion around the heads of a %air of sheer legs.
)/94., +,A1, an ornamented figure that rides beneath the bows%rit. Among the notable figureheads was
the beautiful female figure of the famous cli%%er )lying #loud; the flying fish on the shi% of that name; the
remarkable dragon, with its alternate green and gold scales, of the shi% 5eerless; the golden eagle of the
celebrated cli%%er !ur%rise; the 0ightingale carried lice figure of <enny Lied. *he bust of the /ndian
chief-*ecumseh carried by the 1elaware. shi%-of-the-line, is %reserved at the 0aval Academy, where it:s
known among the midshi%men as the god of G.J, their %assing mark.
)/L/B4!*,., an illicit trader, usually a%%lied to a smuggler of firearms, etc.
)/LL, is said of sails when a strain is %ut u%on the sheets by a breeze. *o fill a yard =or sail>, brace so as to
bring the wind on the after side of a suare sail.
)/0 $,,L, a dee% keel of small e2tent usually of lead; it brings the center of gravity very low, and allows the
carrying of a large sail area.
)/01! +,.!,L) =of a shi%>, a condition of magnetic euilibrium after the magnetic chaos of a newly
launched shi% has settled to normal.
)/0,, knife-like forward, where a vessel enters the water. *he more a vessel de%arts from the sha%e of a
bo2, the finer her lines.
)/., BALL, a meteor resembling a ball.
)/., B/LL or )/., E4A.*,.!, a %osted list of the crew and their stations and duties in case of fire.
)/., #"0*."L, the system of communication on a naval vessel by which the ranges are transmitted from
the range finders to the %lotting rooms, thence to the guns. Also the communication system of the s%otters
aloft who re%ort to the %lotting room the landing of a shell relative to the mark. Also the system of controlling
a conflagration by closing com%artments and flooding.
)/., 3A.5, a fire war% is a long line run out ahead of a steamer lying at a %ier as an esca%e in case
of fire on the %ier sad no steam in the boilers.
)/./09 5"/0*, that tem%erature, higher than the flash %oint, at which a volatile liuid gives off va%or in
sufficient uantity to burn in a continuous flame.
)/.!* L/,4*,0A0*, the commissioned officer having charge of the cleanliness, efficiency and general
u%kee% of a naval vessel:s hull. *his is a duty =not a naval rank>, as e2ecutive officer, navigator, etc.
)/.!* 5"/0* ") A./,! or 6,.0AL ,E4/0"8, the intersection of the ecli%tic and the celestial euator
which the sun crosses in coming from south into north declination in -arch. /t is the %oint by which sidereal
time is measured westward from the meridian, as the sun measures off the solar time. /t is also the origin of
right ascension, this element being measured eastward from the hour circle %assing through the )irst 5oint of
Aries to the hour, circle %assing through the body whose right ascension is desired. *his %oint is slowly
moving westward and is now in the constellation of 5isces and close to that of Auarius, due to a remarkable
motion called the 5recession o f the ,uino2es.
)/!+, to s%lice a broken s%ar by %lacing &s%lints& called fishes over the break, lashing and wedging them
firmly. A s%ar used for heavy work, may be fished as a %recaution against a strain or fracture.
)/!+ A0 A0#+"., to bring the flukes to the rail for securing after being hove to the hawse %i%e or
cathead.
)/!+ BL"#$, a heavy double or tri%le sheave block fitted with a hook, sometimes with a short length of
chain. /t is for use in fishing the anchor.
)/!+,.-A0, a fishing vessel. %articularly a%%lied to a schooner or motor driven dragger. !ee )ishermen:s
staysail which is often called the fisherman.
)/!+,.-,0: ! B,01, a very useful method of making a ro%e fast to a s%ar, or %articularly, to the ring of a
kedge anchor.
)/!+,.-,0: ! 9.,A!,, water for lubrication.
)/!+,.-,0: ! .,,), *" *A$, A, to weather a short, shar% suall by giving to, mainsail %lenty of sheet.
)/!+,.-,0: ! !*AB/L/F,.!, or %o%%er sto%%ers, consist of booms out, %ort and starboard, with a whi%
attached to each. *he whi%s carry devices that %lunge freely with the roll. but offer resistance to the recovery,
thereby effectively reducing the roll.
)/!+,.-,0: ! !*A@!A/L, a light sail whose head hoists to the mainto%mast head, its forward u%%er corner
being fast to the fore ca% where there is a dee% nock. *he sheet leads well aft, making a uadrilateral sail of
large s%read and great %ulling %ower. *his sail must be doused when going about on the other tack, owing to
the s%ring stay between the mastheads.

)/8, the shi% s %osition established on a chart by two or more bearings of known landmarks. *he
establishment of two or more satisfactory %osition lines is known as an astronomical fi2.
)/8,1 !*A.!, those whose distances from the earth are so great that any movements they may have are
ina%%reciable to us for navigational %ur%oses.
)LA9 "))/#,.. one who flies a flag designating his rank-two white stars on a blue field for a rear admiral,
with added stars for higher rank. 3hen the rank is active a commodore flies a onestar flag.
)LA$,, a com%lete round turn is coiling down a ro%e. A term used by some sailors as a substitution for fake.
)LA-, the concave %art of the flare of a. vessel:s bow section immediately beneath the deck. A %uff of wind.
)LA0$ !5,,1, the fastest of which the engines are ca%able without damaging results.
)LA.,, the reverse of tumble home.
)LA., 45, a blazing light shown above the rails by a vessel being overtaken by another, by a %ilot vessel or
fishermen.
)LA./09 !/1,!, those %ro<ecting out from the water-line.
)LA!+ 5A#$,*, or vessel, showy in a%%earance; immaculate.
)LA!+ 5"/0*, that tem%erature, lower than the firing %oint, at which a volatile liuid gives off va%or in
sufficient uantity to ignite.
)LA!+/09 L/9+*, one in which the %eriod of light is less than that of darkness. *he word &grou%& %recedes
it if the light %eriods are grou%ed.
)LA*, a level area of mud or sand which bares at low water.
)LA* ABA#$, when suare sails have the wind blowing suarely on their forward sides.
)LA* B"A*, a scow-sha%ed vessel of shallow draft, mostly used in river work.
)LA* $0"*, a ,suare or reef knot.
)LA* !,A-, is used in sewing canvas where the edges overla%. the needle %ushed through the lower %iece
of canvas and u% through the u%%er %iece.
)LA* !,/F/09. A round seizing has two layers of turns of seizing stuff, but a flat seizing has only one layer.
)/A* !+,,*!, those hauled down =suare sail>, or in =fore and aft sail>, as much as %ossible.
)LA**,0 /0, to haul in the sheets of a fore and aft sail.
)LA**/,, a small sailing craft, usually known as +am%ton 5attie. /t is a develo%ment of the flat-bottomed
shar%ie, introducing increased beam and a small deadrise. !ometimes the cabin roof is hinged allowing it to
be raised to give more headroom. *hey are from GJ to LJ feet in length and sloo% rigged. Also, a one-design
class of racing sailboats.
)LA3, a gust of wind heavier than the %revailing breeze.
)L,,*, a collection of vessels sailing in com%any. A locality of shallow tidal water. *o move aft or forward; to
overhaul a tackle,-es%ecially a%%lied when a tackle on the hauling %art of another becomes two blocks and it
is necessary to overhaul it, to take a new haul.
)L,,* 45, to %romote an officer to the ne2t higher grade.
)L,-/!+ #"/L, according to 5atter son, a coil in which each fake rides the fake beneath it so as to insure
its running clear. By the same authority a )lemish fake or mat is one in which each fake lies coiled flat and
concentrically, giving the a%%earance of a mat. !ome other authorities say the mat is a )lemish coil. /n
American shi%s common usage is to make a concentric mat for a%%earance when ordered to )lemish down
and to lay down for clear running when told to &)ake or )lake down.&
)L,-/!+ ,@,, an eye with no strands tucked but all the fibres se%arated and bound with yarn securely to
the main %art.
)L,-/!+ +".!,, a short foot ro%e at the end of a yard for the use of the men who %ass the head or reef
earings.
)L/0#+/09 or )L,0!/09, was the %rocess of removing the blubber blanket from a whale while chained
alongside the vesselD the whale rotated as a stri% of blubber was hoisted. 0owadays flinching is done aboard
a mother shi% or factory.
)L/01,.! BA., a bar of soft iron %laced vertically near the com%ass to counteract the effect of vertical iron
causing semi-circular deviation. *his does not a%%ly to semicircular deviation due to sub-%ermanent
magnetism. /t is %laced on the o%%osite side of the com%ass from the disturbing ob<ect.
)L"A*/09 1"#$, a dock which sinks to receive a vessel, is then %um%ed out raising vessel and all.
)L"A*/09 +A.B"., a collection of timbers, logs or s%ars moored ahead of an anchored vessel to break
the sea.
)L"A*/09 /!LA01!; areas of vegetation whose roots are so interlaced as to give buoyancy when sections
of a river bank are washed out and carried to sea. *hese floating islands have been seen at sea with trees
standing as on the shore.
)L"##4LA*/"0, is light muck on the bottom through which a steamer can make way slowly.
)L", /#,, field ice but in smaller masses.
)L""1, the %eriod when the tidal current is flowing towards the land. 3hen the tide begins to flow inward
this %hase is called the &first of the flood&; when at full current it is the &strength of the floodD& and towards
the end of the flow the &last of the flood.& *o fill with water.
)L""1 #"#$, a valve by which a com%artment can be flooded with sea water. /t is called a sea cock.
)L""1 */1,, the incoming current.
)L""1ABL, L,09*+, that %art of a vessel:s length that can be flooded and submerge her to with
in three inches of the to% of her bulkheads.
)L""., the lower %ortion of a transverse frame, usually a vertical %late e2tending from the center line to the
bilge and from inner to outer bottom.
)L"*/LLA, a fleet, %erha%s more freuently a%%lied to small vessels.
)L"*!A-, floating goods or wreckage. *here is also <etsam, that is <ettisoned and lagan, that which sinks.
)L"3,. ") *+, 3/01!, an old-fashioned name for a com%ass rose. )L"3/09 !+,,*, a free sheet,
occurring when wind is aft.
)L4/1 #"-5A!!; the same as a liuid, wet or s%irit com%ass, in which the card is immersed in a solution of
forty-five %er cent alcohol.
)L4$,!, triangular %ieces of iron at the ends of anchor arms. Also called %alms. A whale:s tail.
)L4..@, the wild, dying struggles of a lanced whale.
)L4!+ 1,#$, an unbroken deck fore and aft, where no wells or erections e2tend across a vessel.
)L4!+ !@!*,-, the %lan of laying %lates butt to butt with staggered rivets to the continuous butt stra%
beneath.
)L4*,, a shi% rigged vessel of the 1Hth century. !he had a round stern and high narrow %oo%.
)L48, the flood tide.
)L@, the outer %art, or the length of a flag.
)L@ BL"#$, the large u%%er block of the to%sail halyards.
)L@ B"A*, a store shi% of the 1Ith century.
)L@-B@-0/9+*, a <ib used as a stun:sail.
)L@/09, is a term used to describe the manner of setting a sail when controlled only at its &corners.& *his in
contrast from having the head; luff and foot secured by lacing, hanks or rings to s%ars or stays. *hus a <ib
with only the halyard, tack and sheet to control it, is said to be &set flying.& *he stunsails of old sailing vessels
were set flying, as are s%innakers in yachts.
)L@/09 B./19,, the highest navigating bridge. *he bridge over a well deck to %oo% or forecastle.
)L@/09 14*#+-A0, a mythical 1utch vessel, under #a%tain 6anderdecken, who is forever striving to
double the #a%e of 9ood +o%e, homeward bound from Batavia; but whose efforts, owing to his defiance of
the Almighty, are in vain. /t is =or was> considered to be a bad omen to sight her and su%erstitious seamen
were often re%orting her.
)L@/09 )/!+ !A/L"., one who avoids cold rough winter seas and seeks the balmy breezes of summer or
southern latitudes.
)L@/09 ?/B, the outer head sail whose tack is fast to the <ibboom or flying <ibboom.
)L@/09 ?/B !*A@, one leading from the end of the <ibboom or flying <ibboom to the fore-to%mast head,
from which sets the flying <ib.
)L@/09 ?/BB""-. a s%ar e2tending beyond the <ibboom.
)L@/09 ?/BB""- 94@!, %ieces of wire ro%e that su%%ort this s%ar at the sides.
)L@/09 L/9+*; riding high out of water without ballast or cargo.
)L@/09 -""./09, to moor under sail, using the headway of the vessel to run out double the desired
length of chain on the first anchor, then by backing the yards falling back and letting go the second anchor,
heaving in half the amount of chain on the first anchor. *his same evolution is readily done in a steamer by
sheering her with the rudder.
)"A-/*,, a fire-fighting chemical filled with bubbles of inert gas for use against oil fires. : )"11,., collision
mat %laced under a vessel.
)",+0, a warm dry wind in the vicinity of high mountains caused by the drawing of air over the range. *he
rising air e2%ands, %reci%itates its moisture and u%on descending on the other side com%resses with rising
tem%erature sometimes increasing M7- in a very short time. *his wind in 0orthwestern America is called a
chinook. )"9, condensed water va%or, which differs from clouds only in that it lies near the earth. A warm air
%assing over cold water cools, and when, at the dew%oint, its ca%acity to hold moisture is reached, it
condenses into very small s%herical %articles of water and forms fog. *his is a low-lying fog above which the
to%sails of sailing vessels can often be seen by going aloft. Likewise a cold wind %assing over warm water
forms visible va%or readily, owing to the lower tem%erature of the air. *his usually becomes a high fog. *he
warm water of the 9ulf !tream %enetrating high latitudes is %roductive of fog, es%ecially in the vicinity of the
9rand Banks where the cold water of the Labrador #urrent makes the contrast in the tem%eratures of
ad<acent waters most striking.
)"9 BA0$, a dense area of condensed water va%or seen at a distance through clear intervening
atmos%here.
)"9 B"3, a white arch caused by sunlight acting on the fog %articles as it does on raindro%s in a rainbow.
*he inner edge is blue tinted and the outer side is reddish.
)"9 B4"@, a device towed by a naval vessel at a given distance as a guide for a vessel astern when cruising
in formation.
)"9 ,@,, a s%ot of sunlight in a fog.
)"9 !/90AL! are in two classesD those sounded by vessels, and those by light-stations to aid the mariner.
/n the first class, there are the fog horn and steam whistle; the latter, outside inland waters, is sounded every
two minutes by a steamer during a fog =every one minute in inland waters>. !hould she be underway but
sto%%ed, two blasts are sounded. *he fog horn is sounded by a sailing vessel, one blast if on the starboard
tack, two blasts if on the %ort tack, three blasts if running free. *he shi%:s bell is ra%idly rung for five seconds
by vessels anchored in a fog. /n the second class there are fog signals sounded at the light-stations which
com%rise bells, submarine bells, steam whistles, sirens, com%ressed air horns, guns, and radio signals. ,ach
has a characteristic grou% or interval of sounds to distinguish it from other stations.
)"9@, a %eriod of three years u%on which naval officers: longevity is com%uted. *he o has the long sound.
)"/!*, a ty%e of barge.
)"LL"3/09 !,A, one running in the direction of the shi%:s course.
)"LL"3/09 3/01, one blowing in the direction of the shi%:s course. )""L-3/01, that blowing out of one
sail into another.
)""*, the lower edge of a sail.
)""* BA01, a reinforcing stri% of canvas along the foot of a suare sail on the after side.
)""* ."5,, a %iece of served wire ro%e hanging in a bight beneath a yard, su%%orted by stirru%s, u%on
which men stand when furling or reefing sail. *here are foot ro%es beneath the overhang of the main, or
s%anker, boom of a schooner, beneath the bows%rit and <ibboom.
)".#,1 1.A)*, the use of fans to create an artificial draft in the furnaces.
)".#,1 -,0, those taken aboard %irate vessels against their will and force to serve as members of the
crew. Any member of the crew of a ca%tured vessel could, u%on reaching home, advertise the fact and
%erha%s save his shi%mates from the gibbet should they be ca%tured.
)".,, referring to the foremast.
)"., A01 A)*, in line of the keel.
)"., A01 A)* ./9, a method of setting sell from a vertical mast or stay instead of from a horizontal yard
as with the suare rig. it is su%erior in windward work but not as efficient with fair winds; it reuires fewer
men than the suare rig ty%e. *hrough the reasoning of -r. #hatterton in his delightful book !oiling !hi%s and
*heir !tory the fore and aft. rig was a develo%ment of the lateen worked out by the 1utch in the 1Ith century
to meet the demands of navigating their inland waters and a more boisterous climate than that of the lateen:s
native -editerranean.
)"., A01 A)* !A/L!. !ee above.
)"., A01 A)*,.!, fore and aft %ieces which fit in a hatchway from coaming to coaming, and are crossed
by cross beams known as strongbacks. *hey all su%%ort the hatch covers. !chooners are called fore and
afters.
)"., +A01, to take the strain inside a leading block when hauling on a %iece of gear so that it can be
belayed. )orehanded, is to be %re%ared for a contingency by foresight; to have money laid u% for the future.
)"., +""$, is a breast hook.
)"., L,,#+, the luff of a fore and aft sail.
)"., 5,A$, a com%artment in the very forward %art of a vesselC.
)"., .,A#+, the headway a vessel will make when thrown u% into the wind.
)"., .400,., the mark of the stray line in a log line.
)"., !A/L, in a schooner, that sail set from the foremast; in a suare rigger, that set from the fore yard.
)".,-!+".,, the shore on the margin of the ocean; usually e2%osed at low water.
)"., !/9+*, the bringing of a body down to the horizon at the %oint directly beneath it with a se2tant.
)"., !*A@, one leading from the fore to% to the eyes of a shi%
)"., *"5-A!* !*A@!A/L, a <ib-sha%ed sail that sets from the fore to%mast stay.
)"., @A.1, the lowest yard on the foremast.
)".,#A!*L, =%ronounced fo:c:sul>, the com%artment set aside for living uarters of seamen.
)".,#A!*L, #A.1, a statement %osted in seamen:s galley uarters giving the voyage, estimated duration,
%ay-off %ort, legal rations, -aster:s name stam%ed by !hi%%ing #ommissioner.
)".,#A!*L, =)": #: !4L> +,A1, the very foremost %art of the s%ar deck. *he raised deck of most
merchant steamers in the forward %art of the vessel. /ts origin was in the raised castellated structure on the
bows of ancient vessels used as a vantage %oint for their fighting men.
)".,)""*, the %oint at which the stem <oins the keel.
)".,L"#$. a wedge or %in driven through a hole in an anchor shackle securing the shackle %in, or to secure
the anchor stock in %lace in the shank serving the same %ur%ose as a cotter %in. *he modern method of
securing the %in is by driving a lead ring around it when in %lace in the shackle, a score around the end of the
%in locking it. LC is removed with a shearing %unch.
)".,-A!*, the first mast abaft the bow e2ce%t in the ketch and yawl where the first mast is called the
main.
)".,!*A@!A/L, a <ib-sha%ed sail setting from the forestay. *he f forestaysail club is .the. boors fitted to the
foot of this sail, sometimes called a <umbo boom.
)".3A.1, towards the bow. 5ronounced, &forrard.&
)".3A.1 ") *+, B,A-, any direction less than A7B from the bow of a vessel, but usually only in that
sector MJB to A7B from the bow; from the bow to MJB being termed, for instance, *wo %oints on the bow. An
ob<ect bearing MJB or M %oints is said to be brood on =or off> the bow.
)".3A.1 5,.5,01/#4LA., the vertical line at the bow where the load waterline intersects the stem.
)".3A.1 !E4A.,, a clear s%ace around the forward hatch, :tween decks of a %assenger steamer.
)".3A.1 *./A09L,, the area between the mast .and foremost stay, often called fore triangle.
)"*+,., to stitch oakum to the canvas of, a collision mat. !ometimes a%%lied to the %rocess of heaving the
ma, under a vessel:s hull and over an in<ury or leak. Also to sto% a leak by %assing a bo2 filled with sawdust
along the seams.
)"4L, the o%%osite of clear. An anchor is foul if the chain is turned about a fluke or stock; a ro%e tangled or
<ammed is foul; the sea bottom is foul if rocky; if a vessel:s bottom has a growth of weeds or barnacles it is
foul; there is a foul hawse if the chains of two anchors become crossed. A vessel fouls another if she touches
her, or the bottom, if she slightly takes ground.
)"4L B,.*+, an anchorage s%ot or berth at. a %ier with a rocky bottom.
)"401, to be furnished; a vessel is well found if well eui%%ed. A sailor is %aid images and found, that is, he
is furnished food and shelter.
)"401A*/"0 5LA*,, that u%on which the keelson rests.
)"401,., to fill and sink at sea; to be overwhelmed by the sea is dee% water.
)"4.-)"L1 54.#+A!, or *A#$L,, one Sn which the blocks have four sheaves.
)"4. L"3,.!, the mainsail, foresail, <umbo and <ib of a fishing schooner.
)"4.--A!*,1 +A.$ =BA.E4,>, by the mostD common usage a vessel suare-rigged on the first three
masts and fore and aft rigged on the aftermost mast, which is often called the <igger or s%anker. *hese
vessels are also called shi%s by some authorities. "thers claim a four-masted bark is suare-rigged on the fore
and mainmasts with the mizzen and s%anker fore and aft rigged. *he bark "lym%ic was thus rigged.
)"4.-5"/0* B,A./09, see +ow and Beam Bearing.
)"4. 5"!*,.. sea slang for a four-masted vessel, usually a fourmasted bark.
)"4.*+ #LA!! L/B,.*@, scanning the shore, es%ecially with binoculars, when restricted aboard shi%.
)"8, the twisted fibers of several ro%e yarns. *hey are used for seizings after being twisted against the lay
and smoothed out. *o see a fo2, to sight imaginary lend-an illusion of overstrained eyes.
).A#*" #4-4L4! =)r. #u.>, clouds of cumulus broken u% by strong winds.
).A#*" 0/-B4! =)r. 0.>, %o%ularly called scud. *hey are broken cloud masses driving below nimbus
clouds.
).A#*" !*.A*4! =)r. !.>, stratus clouds broken into irregular shreds by the wind.
).A-,, the skeleton structure of a vessel; a transverse rib. As a rib it is found in wooden craft built u% of
%ieces called futtocks; in a steel or iron vessel it is an angle iron which e2tends continuously, from keel to rail.
*hey are used in three %rinci%al forms, a solid frame of the bulb iron ty%e, or a channel iron or F-bar; a web
frame, which consists of a web %late with angle bars riveted to each edge; and a frame merely made u% of
two angle bars riveted together. *he web frames ere widely s%aced with lighter frames between. *he
knighthead frame is the first frame in the bow. A frame mould, the tem%late for a vessel:s frame.
).A-/09, the skeleton structure which su%%orts the %lanking or %lating and decks. /t consists of frames,
beams, floors, longitudinal framing, keel and keelson, longitudinal stringers, etc.
).A5, to bind or draw together; to secure with ro%es, %articularly where two slack lines are hove together, to
kee% or increase the tension on them, as in the shrouds when they work slack and are hove in across the
deck towards each other. *o %ass ro%es about a loose sail to secure it in a wind. /n early days ro%es were
even %assed around the hull of a wrecked shi% to hel% hold her together. *he noun is fra%%ing.
).AF/L /#,, forms with great adhesiveness on metal and on the underside of solid ice where it may
e2tend down to de%ths of 1J feet or more and raises the level of the surface ice. 4nder some conditions it is
s%ongy. /t is also called 9round /ce.
).,,, to sail with the wind well aft, two %oints or more abaft the beam.
).,, 5".*, a segregated area in which goods may be discharged and stored, graded and %acked without
the im%osition of custom duties. *hese goods may be reloaded and shi%%ed free to a foreign country. But if
they %ass from the free area into the domestic market duties are levied as in ordinary im%ortation.
).,, *A0$!; those only %artially filled. *hey are said to have a free surface. *hey ass also called slack
tanks.
).,, 3A*,., is water in a hold not confined but shifting with the motion of the vessel.
).,,B"A.1, the distance =in the center of a vessel:s length> from the to% of the freeboard deck to the
water; the freeboard deck being the u%%er seaworthy deck.
).,,B"A.1 -A.$!, %ainted disks on the side to indicate the loan waterlines.
).,,B"A.1 *ABL,!, a tabulation of freeboards for standard vessels to which allowances are made
according to the time of year, the trade, the deck houses, the strength of hull sheer, etc.
).,,B""*,., a %irate or buccaneer.
).,,/09 5".*!, o%enings in the bulwarks of a vessel to free the decks when a sea is shi%%ed. *he doors
of these %orts are hinged at the to%, swing outboard, and are forced a%es by %ressure at the bottom.
).,/9+*, money %aid for the trans%ortation of goods; goods trans%orted.
).,/9+*,., a vessel engaged in the trans%ortation of freight.
).,0#+ B"3L/0,, a form of bowline, having a double bight, which is very useful in emergencies. )or a full
descri%tion and illustration see !tandard !eamanshi% =.iesenberg>.
).,0#+ #"/L, sometimes called a )lemish #oil.
).,0#+ .,,), a method of reefing suare sails. A ro%e called a <ackro%e is rove through the grommets of.
the reef bands. 3hen hove u% to the yard the band is held by toggles fast to the <ack stay and toggled
through the <ack ro%e.
).,!+,0, to shift or renew. An increasing of wind freshens.
).,!+,0 +A3!,, to veer a little chain in order to bring the chafe of the hawse%i%e in another %lace. *his
is es%ecially necessary in a hem% hawser. Also called freshen the ni%.
).,!+3A*,. !*A@, one leading down and aft from the fore to%mast truck of a schooner to the cross
trees of the ne2t mast aft.
),,*, to chafe.
)./#*/"0 B.A$,, a device which controls a machine by a band about some moving %art to which %ressure
is a%%lied to brake the motion. /n case of accident to the steering gear the friction brake controls the tiller or
uadrant until the hand gear is thrown in. *he friction brake on the windlass controls the veering of chain.
)./9A*,, a vessel of war, full rigged, in size between a corvette and a shi%-of-the-line. *here were single
and double decked frigates carrying GM to J7 guns. /n modern times a tightly firmed naval vessel rating under
a destroyer escort =1.,.> and used mainly for convoy %rotection.
)./9A*, B/.1, a great sea bird of the tro%ics. /t has a length of about forty inches; is met several hundred
miles from land gliding with a remarkably smooth flight sometimes near the water and sometimes so high as
to be nearly out of sight. /ts %revailing %lumage is black with two long trailing feathers. Also called man of war
bird.
)./9A*""0, a suare-starred vessel of 6enetian days having a main mast, <igger and bows%rit.
)."!* !-"$,, a fog %roduced by a cold wind aver warm water; the sea seems to steam. Also called Arctic
smoke.
)."!*B/*,.!, dinghy racers who sail during the winter.
)."F,0 #A.9", that which is carried at 1JB). and frozen solid.
)4,L ),6,., a shortage of fuel oil.
)4)4, a dish consisting of crush and molasses.
)4LL A01 B@, when all sails are drawing =full> and the course is as close to the wind as %ossible.
)4LL 14,, to secure, or to set u% rigging, with an idea of %ermanency.
)4LL ,01,1, said of a vessel whose waterline section is well rounded at bow and stern.
)4LL -""0, occurs when the earth, sun and moon are in range with the earth between. *he illumined aide
of the moon is then directly towards the earth and a full round disc of light is seen.
)4LL-5"3,.,1 6,!!,L, one ca%ably of 1J knots or better.
)4LL !#A0*L/09 !+/5, one of three decks in which the frames hold the same dimensions to the u%%er
deck.
)4LL )". !*A@!, an order to helmsman to bear off a little %re%aratory to tacking shi%.
)4L-A., a large bird of the %etrel family seen in great flocks in high latitudes. *hey have a mantle and tail
of bluish gray with dusky wings, white head and underbody, greenish yellow bill, %ale, flesh colored feet, and
are about nine teen inches long. *hey attend steamers, whale shi%s and fishermen with the ho%e of satisfying
a voracious a%%etite. /t is interesting that they still kee% the air with the ease of flight of an albatross, even
when molting, because the outer wing feathers remain until the inner feathers are grown. *hey are
characteristically a sea bird -- not usually a%%roaching the land.
)400,L, the smoke stack of a steamer. *he cylindrical device at the to%gallant mast where the <ack or
s%reader is located.
)400,L #A!/09, the outer case of insulating material around a funnel.
)400,L !*A@!, wire ro%es su%%orting the funnel.
)400@, a light narrow skiff seating but one %erson, and eui%%ed with outriggers for the oarlocks.
)4.L, to roll u% and secure sails on a yard or boom.
)4.0/*4.,, the masts, sails, rigging and eui%ment of a vessel.
)4**"#$, a %art of a frame. A frame in wooden-shi%building is made u% of the first, second, third, etc.,
futtocks beginning at the keel. *he first futtock is called the ground fetlock; and if amidshi%s the navel
futtock.
)4**"#$ BA01, a band below the to% which su%%orts the futtocks shrouds.
)4**"#$ #+A/0 5LA*,!, chain %lates at the sides of the to%, u% to which the to%mast rigging sets.
)4**"#$ !LA*,, corres%onds with the %latform of a to%.
)4**"#$ !+."41!, iron rods which su%%ort the to% and to%mast rigging. *hey lead from the futtock %late
to the futtock band.
)4**"#$ !*A)), a rod serving as a to%mast rigging shear-%ole.
9. A. *., 9reenwich a%%arent time.
9. #. *. , 9reenwich civil time.
9. -. *., 9reenwich -ean *ime.
9A19,*, a convenient name given to ob<ects whose real names are not known, or which have none.
!ometimes given to a collection of fittings to avoid enumerating them. /f it becomes necessary to distinguish
between two gadgets, one of them is usually named a gilhickey.
9A)), a s%ar that stands or hoists on the after side of the mast and su%%orts the head off the sail. /t is
hoisted by the throat halyards close to the mast and the %eak halyards on the outer %art. /f it remains
standing, the %eak s%an leading to the lower-mast head kee%s it in %osition, steadied by vangs on each side.
*he outer end of a gaff is called the %eak; the end at the mast the <aws or tack. A heavy hook fast to the end
of handle for landing fish.
9A)) *"5!A/L, a triangular sail set from the to%mast and gaff of a fore and aft rigged mast. *he sheet is
hauled out to the %eak of the gaff and the tack to the deck. !ometimes these names are reversed.
9A9,, a vessel to windward or leeward has the weather or lee gage of another. Also s%elled gauge.
9ALA#*/# 5"L,, the %oint at A7B from the gala2y.
9ALA8@, a belt of innumerable stars across the sky which is also called the -ilky 3ay. *his is now thought
by some scientists to be the result of an electrical %henomenon.
9AL,, a continuous wind blowing in degrees of a moderate, fresh, strong and whole gale and varying in
velocity from LM to IL knots.
9ALLA0*, or *: 9ALLA0* .A/L, the u%%er rail above the bulwark rail.
9ALL,A!!, a large ty%e of galley. /t had high %oo% and forecastle; fore and mainmast suare rigged and a
lateen mizzen.
9ALL,"0, a sailing vessel of about the 1Jth and 1Ith centuries, although the term a%%eared in ,ngland
during the reign of ,lizabeth. *hey often had three or four decks and were used for vessels of war as well as
commerce. *he galleons were the first line of defense, su%%orted by the lighter but . faster galleasses. *he
,nglish galleon was finer forward than the carrack from which it was develo%ed. 1uring the 1Ith century the
shi%s of ,ngland were %ainted in brilliant colors of conventional designs, little carving and only the figurehead
being gilded. *he 1Hth century brought the elaborate carving and gilding into the ornamentation of shi%s.
9ALL,./,!, %ro<ections like barbettes at the uarters of ancient vessels, often of fancy design.
9ALL,@, the cooking com%artment. A single deck vessel of ancient times native to the -editerranean,
%ro%elled by oars or sails, but %rimarily a rowed vessel. 9alley-built was an old term for a flush-decked vessel.
9ALL,@ 1.,!!,., a table for the %re%aration of food.
9ALL,@ 0,3!, unfounded rumors circulated about a vessel.
9ALL/,1, a term a%%lied to a whale that, has taken off in alarm.
9ALL/"*, a small s%eedy vessel %ro%elled by sail with oars as au2iliary %ower, formerly used in the
-editerranean. *he term is also given to 1utch ty%e, long and narrow, of the yawl rig. *he earlier 1utch
galliot was full rigged. *he distinguishing feature was a shortheaded mainsail with long foot.
9ALL/6A*, a sailing vessel and large rowboat used by -alay %irates; two masts, triangular sails and armed
with a few small swivel guns.
9ALL"3! ).A-,!, frames rising above -the main or s%ar deck and serving as a %lace to stow boats, oars
and s%ars. !ometimes called gallows-bills. Aboard a yacht, the gallows, or gallows frame su%%orts the main
boom when the sail is furled, and may be either %ermanent or removable. *he gallows is a distinctive feature
of a fishing trawler, where it is an A-frame from which the trawl war%s are handled.
9A-. /n earlier days when time was not taken seriously, two shi%s falling in with each other would back their
yards and e2change available news by word of mouth. /t was the custom for the shi% to windward to back her
main yards and the one to leeward her foreyards. /n this way they could maneuver with greater facility for
their %ur%ose. *his was called gumming. /t was most e2tensively %racticed by whalers who ke%t the sea for
four to si2 months and more.
9A--"0 LA!+/09, formerly secured the bows%rit at the knightheads. *he gammon iron or gammouing
re%laced the lashing in later days.
9A09, a line of hooks made fast by short lines to a heavier trawl line. /n handling cargo in American %orts a
gang consists of two winchmen, one signalman, eight holdmen and nine dockmen. A gang of rigging
com%rised all the standing and running rigging of a sailing shi%.
9A09 B"A.1, the %lank running fore and aft between the oarsmen of a %ulling boat.
9A09 #A!$, a cask of medium size, larger than a breaker.
9A095LA0$, a tem%orary bridge between shi% and shore.
9A093A@, a %assageway aboard or ladder u% a shi%:s side. An order demanding a %assageway among the
crew. 9angway boards are ornamental heavy %ieces of mahogany set athwartshi%s in the rail at each side of
the gangway of old men-of-war.
9A093A@ 1""., a hinged section of the bulwark which swings down or to the side and allows a gangway.
9A093A@ LA11,., ste%s leading down the shi%:s side to the water.
9A0*L/0, or 9/.*L/0,, a single whi% made fast aloft and es%ecially used for raising or lowering a man in
a boatswain:s chair, and in hoisting sails aloft for bending.
9A0*.@ #.A0,, a s%anning carriage which moves on tracks and from which a hoisting tackle de%ends for
use in moving heavy weights. All wharf gantry cranes have revolving arms and are divided into two classesD
the full arch which travels on two tracks on the ground, and the half arch in which the inner side travels on a
rail fast along the face of the warehouse, thus having only one leg on the ground.
9A.B"A.1 !*.A$,. the length of %lank or %lating ne2t to the keel. !ometimes called the sand stroke.
9A.,, to 9are !hi% is to tie u% to the side of a canal such as !uez, to allow another vessel to %ass. 4sed in
.oyal 0avy. *erm taken from #raddock:s 3his%ers )rom *he )leet.
9A.LA01, a stro% used to hoist s%ars.
9A.0,*, a tackle used in hoisting cargo, usually on the mainstay. *he clewline of a suare course =sail>.
9A.6,@, a scow-sha%ed boat. of sim%le construction; native to Barnegat Bay.
9A! ).,,, a term a%%lied to a tank after a chemist:s test shows no gas.
9A!$,*, ro%es or bands of canvas by which sails are secured to yards or booms. A ro%e wound around a sail
and yard from the yardarm to the bunt is called a sea gasket; canvas or sennitt bands used likewise to secure
a sail are harbor gaskets. ?ibs are secured by sto%s. A %acking ring or disc to make a <oint water- or gas-tight.
9A*,3""1 !@!*,-, a method of heavy longitudinal framing.
9A*+,. 3A@, to begin to make headway.
9A4!!/0 ,.."., due to tem%orarily retained magnetism in soft iron %roduced by steering a long time on
one course or lying at a %ier. /t is most, effectively created when underway on easterly or westerly courses in
high latitudes.
9,A., a general term for a collection of s%ars, ro%es, canvas, etc. *he sailor s%eaks of his %ersonal effects as
his gear; his oilskins sad boots, his foul-weather gear. and in his watch below he may change to his night
gear.
9,-/0/. *he third sign of the Fodiac.
9,0,.AL A6,.A9,, a term a%%lied to the ad<ustment of a loss caused by the voluntary sacrifice of %art of
the shi% or cargo by the master for the %reservation of the whole. =!ee Act of -an.> /n order to enter a claim
for general average, the sacrifice must have bean voluntary; it must have been made by the master or u%on
his order; must not have been caused by any fault of the %arty asking the contribution; the sacrifice must
have been successful and it must have been necessary.
9,0,.AL E4A.*,.!, a muster of the entire shi%:s com%any at battle stations.
9,0"A, a large overla%%ing <ib that sheets well abaft the first mast. Also called guinny and <enny.
9,"#,0*./#, referring to the motion or %osition of a body considering the earth:s center as a center.
9,"#,0*./# LA*/*41,, the %osition of a body or %lace as would be seen by a %erson at the center of the
earth, the longitude being measured from the )irst 5oint of Aries along the ecli%tic.
9,"#,0*./# 5A.ALLA8, the difference in the %ositions of a body as seen by a %erson on the earth and as
would be seen from the center of the earth.
9,"1,!@, that branch of surveying which takes into account the curvature of the earth, and com%rises
surveys to determine its size, sha%e and dimensions. A little 9eodesy is of value to the hydrogra%hic surveyor
and ,at least interesting to the mariner. )or instance, mean sea level is the great datum %lane to which is
referred the heights of mountains and often the de%ths or levels of the ocean.
*he mean sea level is a difficult %lane accurately to establish, for, aside from the uncertain attraction of the
sun and moon, great land masses serve to raise the water level through its own attractive ualities for other
matter. 3ith the variable height of mean sea level goes a variable error in the %lumb line in different %arts of
the world reaching well over G7& as a ma2imum in some mountainous countries.
9,"1,*/# !4.6,@/09, o%erations of such a scale and %recision as to form a basis for obtaining data
concerning the size and sha%e of the earth.
9,"-0A6/9A*/"0 embraces %iloting and dead reckoning in contradistinction to celo-navigation which
com%rises observation of heavenly bodies.
9,!3A.5, sometimes met with, could readily be a corru%tion of the term guest war% =which see>,
considering that boat booms were once called guest war% booms. 3hen the term geswar% is used, it is a line
by which a boat rides to a boat boom. *his line, or %ainter leads, through a bull:s eye in the boat boom
%endant. /n this connection a naval officer, who had made a study of terms, gave this interesting derivationD
*he word <es, in falconing days, a%%lied to. the leather stra% and eye on the bird:s leg. *he leash led from the
falconer:s wrist u% through an eyelet on the bird:s leg, thence to the hand. *he )rench &?& in many words
became &g& when assimilated into ,nglish, as &<arden& to &garden& and our geswar% may have been so
derived owing to its similarity of use.
9+"!*/09, a vessel making headway when there is no a%%arent wind.
9/BB"4!, %hases of the moon are those from the )irst Euarter to )ull -oon and thence to the Last Euarter.
9/BB"0 9/.L, a slang term for the hand-o%erated transmitter for sending distress signals.
9/9, the ca%tain:s boat. /t was formerly a light, ornamented whaleboat. *he crew was carefully selected and
the general a%%earance of this boat and her crew was considered a fair guide to the condition of the shi%,
hence there was always much %ride taken in their a%%earance. /n the naval service this boat carried a gilded
arrow on each bow. *he crew %ulled =single banked> the so-called gig stroke, which involved a %ause after
each stroke of the oars. *he co2swain was the stroke oarsman. when the ca%tain was aboard, who in the
stern sheets steered with elaborate yoke-ro%es. 9igs today are motorboats.
9/L94@, a term %romiscuously a%%lied to ob<ects without well known names, %articularly a makeshift for
e2%editing work, but %erha%s not efficiently. Also gilhickey.
9/-BAL!, a contrivance consisting of two concentric rings bearing at o%%osite %oints on knife edges; one
circle has its bearings athwartshi%s for the %itching motion, the other fore and aft for the rolling motion.
3ithin -these rings hang the different instruments that are reuired to remain level without regard to shi%:s
motion, such as the com%ass, chronometer, %elorus, and mercurial barometer.
9/-L,*, to turn an anchor around after it has been hove to the hawse %i%e.
9/0 5"L,, a s%ar tem%orarily set u% to-serve as a derrick for handling cargo where usual shi%:s gear is not
at hand. *he %ole is fitted with head tackle, guys, heel blocks and a shoe to %revent sli%%ing.
9/09,.B.,A1, a%%lies to the light construction of an e2cursion steamer, fancy work. 9ilded work which
covered the sterns of 1Hth century vessels.
9/0!, iron sheaves set in iron shells. *hey are used as single blocks for whi%s or fairleads in working cargo.
9/.1,.!, longitudinal lengths of steel which strengthen the vessel in a fore and aft direction. Also called
stringers.
9/.*, a vessel moored without %lay and unable to swing freely to wind and tide.
9/.*L/0,. !ee 9antline.
9/6,. the stretching of a new ro%e. or bending of a s%ar. *o give %ursuit to an enemy.
9/6, 3A@, an order to commence %ulling in a cutter or whaleboat.
9LA!!, a mariner:s name for a barometer; a s%y glass.
9L"B/9,./0A, small sea organisms which are found in the surface waters of the ocean. *hey have
%erforated shells through which minute tentacles or feelers work in and out. *he shells of the dead organisms
fall to the bottom forming a calcareous layer called 9lobigerina ooze.
9L".@ +"L,, a term formerly given to the firemen:s uarters of a coal-burning steamer; sometimes a%%lied
to the lazarette.
9L4*, a reinforcement of canvas in the bunt of a suare sail to receive the becket of a bunt <igger.
90"-"0/# 5."?,#*/"0, one used %articularly for finding the course and distance by great circle sailing.
*he %ro<ection is drawn as though the earth:s surface were seen by the eye of an observer at the center of
the earth, and thrown on a %lane tangent to the surface. As every great circle %asses through this %oint, the
earth:s center, all of them will a%%ear as straight lines on the %ro<ection. *he %lane re%resented by this chart
lies tangent to the earth:s surface and a line drawn straight on this chart is a great circle course. 0ear its
center, and %oint of tangency, there is %ractically no distortion, but at the margins the land becomes much
distorted. *he meridians converge towards the %oles and the %arallels crown away from them.
9" AB"4*, to tack.
9" A1./)*, to break loose.
9" )".,/90, to shi% on a vessel bound for foreign :countries. !%oken also of the vessel itself.
9"B, an enlisted man of the 0avy, below the rating of #hief 5etty "fficer. /s said to have originated on #hina
!tation being the #hinese name for a sailor. =+askins.>
9"B L/0,, a martingale guy.
9"B !*/#$, a wooden s%oon; a stick used by fishermen to stun a halibut before attem%ting to get it aboard
a dory.
9"-1"30, a storehouse on the waterfront- of eastern %orts, es%ecially in southern #hina.
9"L1,0 04-B,., the years =about 1A years> of a lunar cycle.
9"LL@3"BBL,., a full cut mainto%mast balloon staysail; the term has been cut down to golly.
9"01"LA, a light boat always associated with 6enice. /t is sculled with an oar at the stern, and its
stem and stern %ost are carried u%ward high above the rail in an ornamental manner.
9""0,@, a name a%%lied to the black-footed albatross by seamen. *hey have a wing s%read of about H feet.
*hey are mostly dark in color.
9""!,-0,#$, a metal device that secures a boom to a mast. /t allows the boom to swing and to be to%%ed.
*he fi2ture at the heel of a cargo boom. *he %i%e of a ventilator which bends through 1I7: when
above-decks. /n modern goose-necks an aluminum ball is fitted in the mouth of the gooseneck ventilator
which seats when decks become flooded and %revents water getting below.
9""!, 3/09,1, the condition of a vessel when lying to, with the bunt of a close reefed to%sail u% and only
a triangular %iece of canvas set at the yard arm. *his term is used by yachtsmen to describe an unintentional
half-<ibe resulting in the awkward situation of having the boom and gaff on o%%osite sides of the mast.
9".,!, cloths of canvas cut of an angle and used at the leeches of a sail to give desired sha%e.
9".9,, the groove in the sheave of a block.
9.AB ."5,!, those which run fore and aft along a vessel:s sides for the assistance of boats coming
alongside.
9.AB!, fle2ible claws so hinged at the u%%er end :hat u%on being lifted by a crane the <aws close. *hey differ
in design to meet various ty%es of cargo such as bulk, ore, %ul%wood or scra% iron.
9.A1/,0*! =Barometric>. *he u%%er atmos%here might be said to be made u% of &hills and hollows.& *he
areas of high %ressure are under the &hills& and those of low %ressure under the &hollows.& *he slo%e of tie
atmos%heric elevations ere called the gradients. *hey may be stee% or gentle. /f stee%, the winds are violent;
if easy, the winds are light. 9radients are lines of eual %ressure. *hey are known, as isobars.
9.A)* A ."5,, to ta%er the end and com%letely cover it ornamentally by a series of half hitches
made with small cotton stuff. !ometimes called %ointing a ro%e.
9.A/0 ),,1,.!, com%artments <ust above the grain holds to kee% them full of grain and hel% to %revent
shifting.
9.A/0 )/**/09!, a system of stanchions and shifting boards in the hold of a steamer for the safe carriage
of grain in bulk. *he stanchions are so built u% with angle irons as to form a groove into which the ends of the
shifting boards are dro%%ed.
9.A/0!, a -multi-barbed s%ear used in ca%turing fish.
9.A00@ $0"*, unseamanlike knot made instead of a suare knot by a green hand.
9.A50,L, a small four-%ronged anchor, used for dragging for drowned %ersons, lost articles, or for
anchoring dories or skiffs. )ormerly it was em%loyed to hold an enemy shi% alongside for hand-to-hand
combat.
9.A55L/09 /."0!. !ee 9ra%nel.
9.A*/09!, wooden or iron o%enwork covers for hatches, bunker holes, etc.
9.A6,@A.1 3A*#+, the middle watch or 1G to M a.m., because of the number of disasters that occur at
this time.
9.A6/09 =or 9.,A6/09> A 6,!!,L, to burn off the barnacles and growth from the bottom.
9.A6/09 1"#$, a dry dock walled with stone, formerly where graying was done.
9.A6/09 5/,#,!, small sections of %lank set in a vessel:s deck.
9.,A!/09 *+, 9A093A@, slating amen for discharge.
9.,A* #/.#L, #+A.*!. !ee 9nomonic 5ro<ection.
9.,A* #/.#L, !A/L/09, the %ractice of sailing along the great circle %assing through the %oint of
de%arture and that of destination. /t is the shortest distance between the two %oints and, in fact, is the
straight line of vision were it %ossible to see the %oint of destination. /n order to follow this line or circle, it is
necessary constantly to change the com%ass course. *he -ercator chart shows a great circle as a curved line
but a chart of the 9nomonic %ro<ection shows it as a straight line.
9.,A* #/.#L,!, those whose %lanes cut through the center of a s%here, dividing it into two eual %arts.
9.,A6, =or #.A6/09>, to burn off a vessel:s bottom when foul.
9.,,0 )LA!+, is an interesting %henomenon that occurs under certain conditions, vizD at sunrise or sunset,
a clear atmos%here and a shar% horizon. 3hen the sun is at the horizon its light is sub<ect to the ma2imum
refraction. *he red end of the s%ectrum =longer wavelength> is bent less than the violet-blue =shorter
wavelength> or green, so dro%s below the horizon first =or last to a%%ear at sunrise>. *he blue of the s%ectrum
is so scattered by the atmos%here that it is not a factor in sunset =or sunrise> coloring. !o the green color
under the right circumstances may be seen momentarily at the
horizon. *his is the green flash.
9.,,0 !,A, solid water shi%%ed aboard.
9.,,03/#+ A55A.,0* */-, =9.A.*.>, the hour angle of the a%%arent or real sun referred to the 1I7:
meridian-the midnight meridian of 9reenwich.
9.,,03/#+ +"4. A09L, =9.+.A.>, the angle at the celestial %ole between the 9reenwich meridian and
the hour circle %assing through the sun =or star>.
9.,,03/#+ -,A0 */-, =9.-.*.> is measured by the %assage of the mean sun beginning at the 1I7:
meridian-the midnight meridian of 9reenwich.
9.,,03/#+ */-, ") !/1,.,AL 0""0, is the 9.-.*. when the )irst 5oint of Aries is on the local
meridian.
9.,9AL,, a wind with the characteristics of a bore =.v.> that is met in the vicinity of -alta.
9.,*A 9A.B", a uadrilateral <ib with the triangle at the clew cut off making two clews, u%%er end lower,
with a sheet to each.
9./1/."0, a framework foundation with a cradle built <ust above low-water mark. A vessel is floated u%on it
at high water, and while left e2%osed at low wafer work is done u%on the bottom.
9./5, =or 9./5>, the abnormal and sudden tendency of a sailing vessel to come to; when. a vessel is crank
she is often said to gri%e. 9ri%es are %ieces of %laited small stuff, ro%es or short %ieces of chain with
turnbuckles, used to hold boats into the strong-backs or to secure them in chocks in a seaway.
9."9-.4-, name coming from "ld 9rog Admiral 6ernon who wore a cloak of coarse cloth called grogram.
9."/0 =9."@0,>, a small masonry breakwater. Also a %ro<ecting wall or wooden structure for the
%ur%ose of breaking the current and thereby causing the de%osit of silt and holding the land.
9."--,*, a ring of ro%e made from a single strand by laying it u% until there are three %arts. *hey are
used for various %ur%oses about a vessel, sometimes being served in the center, forming two eyes. 9rommets
are also metal rings sewed into the edge of a hammock or sail. *hey are often of brass in two %arts %unched
together from each side of the canvas, forming eyelets through which sto%s or robands are %assed. *he
removable metal ring in an enlisted man:s flat hat.
9."!! *"00A9,, is the cubical ca%acity of a vessel divided by 177 cubic feet. +owever, some s%aces are
e2cluded by the so-called -oorsom .ules.
9."401, a vessel grounds if she touches the bottom. *here is usually the meaning of touching in a harbor
or alongside a %ier rather than striking a rock in the o%en sea. !ee !tranded. *he ground futtock is the lowest
section of a wooden frame of a vessel.
9."401 L"9, a sounding lead bent to a log line, instead of a chi% log, in order to get the s%eed over the
bottom. /t obviously can only be used in shoal water.
9."401 !3,LL, long undulations es%ecially noticeable in calms and light airs, due to the waves running
into shoal water and &feeling& the bottom.
9."401 *A#$L,, anchors, chains, etc.
9."401 */,., is the lowest tier of casks; those above are called riders.
9."4013A@!, two timbers laid on the ground to serve as a foundation u%on which a vessel under
construction may rest. *he sliding ways are %laced on the ground ways with launching tallow between.
9."3L,.!, low-lying masses of ice which are not easily seen by a%%roaching vessels owing to their dark
indigo color. *he term more %articularly a%%lies to isolated fragments of ice.
9."@0,. !ee 9roin.
94A.1 .A/L, a timber bolted fore and aft to a shi%:s side to serve as a fender.
9419,"0!, devices set in the stern or rudder %ost having an eye which receives the %intle of the rudder
and about which the rudder swings in lateral motion. !ee 5intle.
94,!! 3A.5, a term a%%lied to a line used when war%ing a vessel. /t is coiled in a boat and is %aid out as
the mooring buoy or wharf is a%%roached. /t is necessary to estimate the distance in connection with the
amount of line coiled in the boat, hence the name. /n %resent day usage this is a running line.
94,!* )LA9, a blue rectangular flag with a white diagonal bar across it, flown from the starboard s%reader
of a yacht to indicate that the owner is absent and that guests are aboard.
94,!* 3A.5, a line by which a boat rides at a boat boom. /t is led from forward through a bull:s eye near
the end of a boat boom. A figure of eight knot from a to 17 feet from the end %revents the line unreeving. By
slacking away forward a boat can be dro%%ed aft to the gangway. Also, a line to assist the towline when
towing, either to steady the tow or to lengthen the towline or act as a %reventer; the grab ro%e that runs
alongside to assist boats coming to the gangway. Boat booms were, according to !myth, called 9uest war%
booms.
94))@, a marine.
94/0,A #4..,0*, an eastward moving stream close in to the 9uinea #oast of Africa. /ts southern edge
cuts into the west-going ,uatorial #urrent.
94L1,.. a tidal %henomena at certain %oints on the south coast of ,ngland occasioned by a double low
water. After first low water a slight rise of %erha%s si2 inches occurs followed by a corres%onding recedence at
second low water. At 5ortland and 3eymouth the two low waters are about four hours a%art, the tide then
rising for about four hours and falling four.
94L) !*.,A-. *he 0orth ,uatorial #urrent flowing in great volume across the #aribbean !ea and through
@ucatan #hannel, fills the 9ulf of -e2ico with warm water. *his further increases in volume by the e2%ansion
due to a higher tem%erature. *he outlet is the )lorida !traits where the current .flows with considerable
velocity and to great de%th, and is the beginning of the 9ulf !tream. *his wonderful ocean current continues
off #a%e +atteras and Bows eastward of the 9rand Banks, the effect of its relatively warm waters being felt
even to the coasts of 0orthern ,uro%e.
94L)3,,1, a branching sea weed having small air vessels resembling berries which kee% it afloat. /t is
found in great uantities in the !argasso !ea and the 9ulf !tream. /t is also called !argassum 3eed.
940 *A#$L,, a %urchase com%rising two single blocks and the necessary ro%e.
940B"A*, a light, unarmored naval vessel.
9401,L"3, a shoal draft, beamy bluff-bowed craft used in 0ew ,ngland inland waters in former times.
*hese vessels were used for freight and trans%orting salt hay. *hey were %ro%elled by tide, oars and by a
lateen sail. A vessel of this ty%e was built in 1ALM on the 5iscataua .iver on the lines of the old craft.
940$ +"L,, a small narrow channel dangerous to navigate owing to current and to numerous rocks and
ledges. Also gurnet. A small anchorage, usually shallow. 9unkholing adds much interest and %leasure for
shoal draft boatmen.
940*,.: ! !#AL,, a device in the form of a two foot ruler, u%on one side of which are shown the
trigonometric functions and on the other side their logarithms.
9403AL, =9400,L>, the rail of a boat.
9403AL, *A0$!. !ee #antilever *anks.
94.0,*. !ee 9unk +ole.
94..@, fish entrails and waste, on-, skin and blood. /t is ke%t in a gurry tub.
94!!,*, an iron %late fitted over the. ends of beams or bilge brackets, etc. Also a triangular segment cut
from the tack of a s%innaker to relieve turbulence and im%rove the draft.
94!!,* !*A@, an iron %late fitted diagonally at the ends of a boiler to strengthen it.
94!*, a sudden increase in the velocity of wind and of short duration-Ya suall when the gust is very heavy.
94*, a small channel.
94**,., a waterway at the side of the deck along the inside of the bulwark, leading to the scu%%ers.
94@, a ro%e or whi% that su%%orts or steadies a s%ar usually in a horizontal or inclined %osition, such as a
bows%rit or a cargo boom. A stay su%%orts in a vertical %osition.
94@ 1,../#$, consists of a mast and boomD the mast being stayed in several directions.
94FFL,, a small channel making into flats e2%osed at low water.
9@B,, a variation in the s%elling of <ibe; to change tacks by running off before the wind.
9@0, a device consisting of three legs =tri%od> for hoisting heavy weights.
9@0 *A#$L,, a %urchase consisting of a double and a three sheave block, the standing %art of the fall being
fast to the double block.
9@5!@, the drum of a winch, around which a ro%e or chain is turned for heaving in.
9@."-#"-5A!!, one which receives its directive %ower from a gyrosco%e which in turn is o%erated by
electrically driven rotors. *he com%ass card at all times indicates true north. /t is the realization of a
navigator:s dream-no variation, no, deviation. A rotating gyrosco%e with a weight hung from it, aligns itself
with the a2is of the earth-true north, a condition which lends itself for ada%tation in a non-magnetic and
magnetic free com%ass. *he master gyro is usually located below decks near
the center of motion, and is connected electrically with re%eaters, so-called, %laced anywhere for
convenience-beside the steering wheel, on the wings of the bridge, or as a telltale in the cabin.
9@."-!*AB/L/F,., the characteristic of a rotating gyrosco%e that kee%s it in the same %lane unless
overcome by a greater, force has been used in the develo%ment of the !%erry gyro-stabilizer. *he
rolling , of a shi% is mainly the result of synchronism, one wave not ordinarily having a sufficient force to
cause a heavy roll. !o by detecting a wave at the ince%tion of the roll with a sensitive %ilot-gyro, the o%%osing
force of the main gyro is turned against the force of the wave, reducing greatly the tendency to roll and
%reventing the accumulating rolls of synchronism.
+. A., hour angle,
+. "., +ydrogra%hic "ffice, 4.!. 0avy. 0ow 4.!. "ceanogra%hic "ffice.
+A#$ 3A*#+, used for noting the time when taking astronomical observations and afterwards com%aring
with the . chronometer to convert into 9. -. *.
+A91"0, a common name for the seabird called the !hearwater.
+A94, .4L,!, those drawn u% in 1AGG to define the risks to be assumed by ocean carriers under a bill of
lading, and to unify various laws and %ractices. *hey are along ste% toward uniform bills of lading.
+A/L, +A/L!, the attention call of one vessel to another. A man or vessel hails from his or her home %ort.
)rozen %ellets of snow covered with layers of ice.
+AL) B,A-!, brackets at the head of alternate frames, between the beams.
+AL) B./9, an old term for a brigantine.
+AL) 1A6/*, a single davit.
+AL) 1,#$, in some small vessels, a deck e2tending aft over only a %art of the boat. *he after %art of the
gun deck of a naval vessel. /n the high %oo%ed ancient vessels the deck which ran aft from about the center
of the vessel.
+AL) A 9AL,, a wind of about force H, Beaufort !cale.
+AL) +/*#+, a turn made around a ro%e or s%ar with the end coming through the bight.
+AL)--A!*, a mark of res%ect for the dead. *he flag - is always full-masted before lowering to halfmast and
is always full-masted before lowering to the deck.
+AL) !,A! "6,., well on toward being a drunk.
+AL) */1,, is midway between high and low water. *his level is the same whether considered at !%rings or
0ea%s.
+AL", an illuminated ring of about GGW radius around the sun or moon. /t is caused by refraction of light in
the ice crystals of the u%%er air. 3hen colored, the red of the s%ectrum is on the inside and the shades of
blue on the outside, but are seldom visible.
+AL@A.1 .A#$, an o%en &tub& consisting of balusters to%%ed by a circular rail. *he to%sail halyards were
coiled in it. .!imilar racks were also used for boat falls.
+AL@A.1! or +ALL/A.1!, ro%es or tackles for hoisting sails and yards.
+A-B."L/0, =+A--,.>, three-stranded =laid right-handed> seizing stuff.
+A--,. +,A1 #.A0,, a crane constructed on the cantilever %rinci%le, in which the weight on the hoisting
arm is counter-balanced by weights and the hoisting machinery. *he name comes from its a%%earance. /t is of
a heavy-duty ty%e, and is ca%able of swinging its load in revolution as well as backward and forward on
tracks.
+A--"#$, a rectangular %iece of heavy canvas fitted at each end with . a number of small ro%es called
nettles s%reading from a ring. *he nettles collectively are called clews. *he hammock was
used at sea for the berthing of seamen, es%ecially on naval vessels.
+A--"#$ #L"*+!, canvas covers that are laced down over and %rotect the hammock nettings.
+A--"#$ 0,**/09!, the s%ace in the rail of a naval vessel for
the stowage of hammocks.
+A-5*"0 B"A*, a ty%e of small center-board fishing boat used on certain sections of the 0ew ,ngland
coast, having two small masts easily unste%%ed, and carrying s%ritsails. *hey have now been motorized.
+A01, a member of the crew. *o furl a sail. *o bear a hand is to hurry u%.
+A01 9,A., a contrivance where man %ower is used instead of machinery, es%ecially a%%lying to the hand
wheel and its steering gear.
+A01 L,A1, a H- or 1M-%ound lead for sounding in u% to about 1J fathoms.
+A01 -A!*, a term used in ,uro%e for a %ole mast.
+A01 "6,. +A01, to climb a ro%e or stay without the use of the legs, but with one hand alternately
above the other.
+A01 .A/L, a rail used for su%%ort, running beside a ladder or u% a shi%:s side.
+A01 !5/$,, a level for .lifting heavy weights; a ca%stan bar. 3hen used for this %ur%ose, one end is
suared. Also used for working on heavy lashings and setting u% the rigging.
+A01/#A5, an advantage given to a boat by agreement either in time or distance, usually due to size and
sail area.
+A01!"-,L@, to ease off on a line gradually and moderately; sometimes, as in the case of a cable, little by
little.
+A01@, a term a%%lied to a. vessel uick in stays.
+A01@ B/LL@, a watch tackle; also a hand %um%.
+A09/09 /0 *+, 9,A., the condition of suare sails after they have been clewed u% =with buntlines
hauled u%> and loosely gathered to the yard.
+A09/09 $0,,!, fit under a beam at the shi%:s side,, in a vertical %osition.
+A09/09 5,01A0*, one used in carrying out an anchor with a small boat. /t holds the weight of the
anchor to the belly-stra%.
+A0$!, %eculiarly sha%ed rings for bending the luff of head sails and stay sails to the stays. !na% hanks of
several designs are used.
+A.B". 14,!, e2%enses incident to the visit of a shi% to a foreign %ort. *hey include tonnage ta2es, light
dues, and fees for the e2ecution of %a%ers and to various %ort authorities.
+A.B". 9A!$,*. !ee 9asket.
+A.B". L/0,!, the bulkhead and %ierced lines laid down by the Army ,ngineers. /m%rovements under the
.iver and +arbor Act do not e2tend inside the harbor lines.
+A.B". -A!*,., an official charged with the enforcement of the regulations of the %ort and the
%ro%er berthing and anchorage of vessels.
+A.1, a landing %lace for hauling boats and small vessels out on a sea beach. /t is at right angles with the
shore line and is constructed of concrete, stone or gravel.
+A.1 #+A0#,, a tight situation; a strong wind for making a %assage.
+A.1 1"30, a hard-a-lee helm.
+A.1-A-L,,, to %ut the helm hard over away from the wind. *he command given on a sailing vessel
%re%aratory to coming about.
+A.1 "6,., to %ut the helm as far as %ossible in one direction.
+A.1 45, a hard-a-weather helm.
+A.1-A-3,A*+,., to %ut the helm over towards the wind.
+A.1,0,1 !+,,*!, those hauled in close on the wind. *o harden the sheets, take in a little more.
+A.1*A#$ =or bread> is really a hard, dark flour %roduct that survives climatic changes, but softer %roducts
now carry the name.
+A.-"0/# A0AL@!/!, conceived by Lord $elvin, resolves a series of %eriodic values, such as the diurnal
range of tem%erature the ebb and flow of tide, etc., into com%onents the resultant of which forms a smooth
curve. *he tides, being %roduced by the attraction of the sun and moon, form a com%osite wave made u% of a
sim%le wave %roduced by each body. As these bodies are constantly changing their relative %ositions between
themselves and the earth, the resultant of their combined influence is the com%osite wave. *he mathematical
%rocess of se%arating the moon tide wave and the sun tide wave from the com%osite wave is called a
harmonic analysis. And by using the relative %ositions of the sun and moon again to combine them the tides
may be %redicted for any future date.
+A.-A**A0, a very dry wind on the west coast of Africa in the dry season =winter>. /t being cooler than the
humid atmos%here of the 9uinea coast it flows in and re%laces it. /t gives. relief to the coastal %lain and is
known as the &doctor.& *he harmattan is usually accom%anied by dust which often forms a heavy haze.
+A.0,!! #A!$, one ke%t on deck from which are served the daily rations of salt meat.
+A.5/0!, the forward %art of the wales at the bow. Also tem%orary %ieces of wood to su%%ort frames near
the ends of the shi% when erecting them.
+A.5""0, a barbed s%ear used in the whale fishery. /t was thrown by the bow oarsman known as the
har%ooner or har%ooneer, for the %ur%ose of getting attached to the whale which was accom%lished with a
long line fast to the har%oon and coiled in a tub. After the mammal e2hausted itself he was again a%%roached
and lanced. *he har%oon was invented by, the Basue sailors of the Bay of Biscay, who were the original
har%ooners and are su%%osed to have first used the word.
+A.5""0 L"9, a rotating device with blades or wings which is drawn through the water by a vessel. *he
distance run is recorded on dials set in the body of the log. /t is necessary to haul it in to obtain the reading
and for this reason is inconvenient. *here is also a *affrail Log.
+A.5""0 "A., the foremost in a whaleboat.
+A../,* LA0,, canned beef.
+A.*,. A#*, a law which %rotects a shi% owner against claims for damage incurred through the acts of the
shi%:s officers or crew, %rovided she left %ort in a seaworthy condition, %ro%erly eui%%ed and manned.
+A.6,!* -""0, is a %henomenon of the higher latitudes in which for several nights of full moon nearest
the autumnal euino2, that body rises only a little later each night instead of the average J1 minutes. ,ven in
middle latitudes the rising is markedly earlier at the harvest moon than in A%ril for e2am%le. *he moon
ordinarily rises later each night by the average of J1 minutes, but at this time she is coming northward very
ra%idly in declination and an earlier rising results which overcomes much of the usual retardation owing to her
eastward movement of revolution.
+A!+ -A.$, a red diagonal stri%e across the sleeve of a man-of-wars-man, signifying that a %revious
enlistment has been served.
+A* -"0,@ =+A*#+ -"0,@>, a bonus given to shi% masters for the successful delivery of cargo.
+A*#+. *his term in common usage among seamen is indiscriminately a%%lied to the o%ening on a shi%:s
deck and to the covers that close it. +owever, it would seem that the best usage a%%lies hatch to the o%ening,
hatch covers to the heavy sections that close it, hatchway to the clear vertical s%ace through the hatches of
several decks, to the hold, and tar%aulins to the three =in a seagoing vessel> canvas covers that %rotect
against the , entrance of sea water. /n connection with a hatch there are !trong Backs, )ore-and-afters,
+atch Beams and +ead Ledge.
+A*#+ BA., a bar secured across the hatch covers to kee% them in %lace.
+A*#+ BA**,0!, stri%s of steel or wood wedged to the side of the hatch coamings to make fast the
tar%aulins.
+A*#+ B,A-!, serve as su%%orts for hatch covers. *hey are denoted king beams and blind beams. *he
former has a vertical member e2tending longitudinally with the beam, and serves to restrict movement of the
hatch covers when in %osition.
+A*#+ B""-, a cargo boom guyed over a hatch and used with a yard boon. *he whi% used with a hatch
boom is called a hatch whi% or tackle.
+A*#+ #L,A*!, secure the battens to the hatch coaming.
+A*#+ #"6,.!, sections of %lanking =usually four> that fill the hatch o%ening in the deck.
+A*#+ -"0,@. !ee +at -oney.
+A*#+ ."LL,., a heavy %ortable %i%e roller which is clam%ed to the lo% of a hatch coaming, on the inside,
to take the chafe of the cargo whi%s.
+A*#+ *A#$L,! or 3+/5!, tackles sus%ended over the hatches to facilitate the handling of cargo and
stores. !ee Burton.
+A*#+ *,01,., the man stationed at a working hatch who under the gang boss gives signals to the
winchman and sees that the cargo moves %ro%erly.
+A*#+ *,0*, a canvas %rotection from rain over a hatch and over. the men working the hatch. An o%ening
on the shore side allows the movement of cargo.
+A4L, to %ull; the %articular nature of the %ull usually brings out other terms such as, bowse down, sway
awcy, sweat, or swig. !ometimes the term heave away is used where it is a case of a &long %ull, a strong %ull,
and a %ull all together,& but heave away more %articularly refers to ca%stan work, heaving the lead, and
heaving a vessel down. *o haul is an e2tended task when done by hand while we heave with %ower yet,
confusingly, we heave the lead and a line by hand. *o run away or walk away is to make a steady haul
instead of a succession of short %ulls while standing in the same %lace. !eamen s%eak of hauling a vessel to
another %ier; of hauling her across the river even though she goes under her own %ower and no %articular
hauling is done. *he wind hauls when it changes direction with the hands of a watch, but the more %o%ular
term for this is veering. =!ee Back.>. "n a sailing vessel when the wind changes it is said to haul forward.
+A4L A3A@, an order to %ull on a line.
+A4L "4*, to %ull a boat or vessel out of water for %ur%oses of re%airs, hull maintenance, or storage.
+A4L/09 5A.*, that %art of a ro%e making u% a tackle which is hauled u%on. *he %art made fast is the
standing %art.
+A4L! +,. 3/01, a term a%%lied to a vessel coming on the wind after running free.
+A40#+, a sudden decrease in the size of a %iece of timber. =Ansted.>
+A6,0, a sheltered anchorage.
+A3!,, the s%ace forward from a vessel to- a %oint directly over her anchor. A vessel crossing this s%ace
crosses the hawse. 3ith two anchors down and the chains leading without turns, there is a clear or o%en
hawse; if there is a cross or a turn in these, there is a foul hawse. !ee Athwart +awse and )reshen +awse.
*he term hawse originally referred to the bows of a shi%.
+A3!, BA9, a cornuco%ia filled with granulated cork or oakum used in the hawse %i%e to %revent the
entrance of sea water. *his is also called a <ackass. A hawse block is a wooden %lug and the hawse buckler is
an iron %late for the same %ur%ose.
+A3!, B"L!*,.!, blocks which are %laced beneath the hawse %i%es to take u% the chafing.
+A3!, +"L,! and 5/5,!. the iron castings in the bow through which the anchor chains run are called the
hawse %i%es, the o%enings the howse holes.
+A3!,., a heavy line; five inches or over, used in kedging, war%ing, or towing. +awser laid ro%e is that
whose strands, which are righthanded ro%es, are laid u% lefthanded. /t is also, called #ablelaia.
+A3!,. B"A.1, a %iece of wood at the stern of a tug designed to reduce the chafe of a towing hawser.
+A3!/09. A vessel lying uneasily to an anchor, %robably due to a weather tide, is said to be hawsing.
+AF,, a thin obscurity in the atmos%here due to smoke or dust. A%%lies when a mate selects a seaman for
un<ust discrimination.
+,A1. the com%artment with toilet facilities. *he head of a sail is the u%%er side or, if a <ib or staysail, the
u%%er corner. *he ca%tain of the head is the enlisted man whose cleaning station is at the head.
+,A1 BL"#$, the single block at the head of a cargo boom.
+,A1 #./09L,, the iron ring worked into the u%%er corners of a suare sail and the u%%er and after corner
=%eak> of a fore and aft sail.
+,A1 ,A./09, a ro%e making the head of a suare sail fast to a yard.
+,A1 +"L,!, the grommets in the head of a sail for securing to the yard of a suare sail or to the gaff in a
fore and aft sail.
+,A1 L,19,!. the thwartshi% %ieces of a hatch.
+,A1 .,A#+/09, making :slow headway under short canvas but not hove-to.
+,A1 ."5,, the bolt ro%e at the head of a sail.
+,A1 !A/L!, the sails forward of the foremast. *hey are of fore and aft ty%e, coming often under the term
<ibs.
+,A1 !,A, waves coming from ahead.
+,A1 !+,,*!, those of the head sails.
+,A1 !*/#$. a batten in the head of a <ib. *he halyard is bent to its center to %revent the head:s twisting.
+,A1 @A.1!, the yards on the foremast.
+,A1.""-, the clearance between decks. /n yachts full headroom 1s usually reckoned as slightly more
than si2 feet.
+,A1! 45, naval slang used by mess cooks hurrying with a load of chow calling for a %assageway.
+,AL*+ "))/#,., a government sanitary officer who e2amines the sanitary conditions of a vessel on
arrival as well as the health of the %assengers and crew. *he health officer of a %ort issues the. bill of health
to de%arting vessels when it is not done by a consul. !ee Bill of +ealth.
+,A.*, a small ro%e, or core running through the center of a heavy ro%e. A kind of dead eye, heartsha%ed,
with a single hole in it.
+,A.* @A.0!, those in the center of a strand.
+,A6,, to throw; to throw one:s weight on a ca%stan bar or in a steady %ull on a line. *o heave is otherwise
associated with %ower, as to heave ahead to the ne2t berth at a %ier using the ca%stan. /n general to heave
means to. accom%lish a task by mechanical %ower. as in heaving u% the anchor or heaving the vessel ahead
by a line to the ca%stan, while hauling is done by hand. !ailors also s%eak of hauling a vessel farther u% the
dock. *he terms heave and haul become confused. Although /n heaving we use %ower, still it means to throw
by hand as in heaving a line and, of course, we heave the lead. !ee +aul. *o haul snug the tucked strands of
a s%lice using the marlines%ike as a lever. *he rise and fall of a vessel at sea.
+,A6, A+,A1, to move forward by taking in on a line, warn or chain cable.
+,A6, A."401, an order to work the ca%stan. #leave away is used as an order to %un when the work is
heavy, but the term heave around a%%lies to ca%stan work.
+,A6, A3A@. to commence heaving on a ca%stan or windlass, or to haul or a line.
+,A6, A01 A3,/9+. an order to man the windlass and break out the anchor.
+,A6, 1"30, to heel a vessel on her side in order to e2amine or re%air her bottom. *his e2%edient was
formerly much resorted to in %orts where re%airs were necessary and drydocks were not available. /t was
done by use of heavy tackles at the lower mastheads attached to trees on the shore or anything stationary on
a wharf. *he vessel was first %ut in cork light trim. !ee #areen.
+,A6, *+, L,A1, to take a sounding.
+,A6, *+, L"9, to cast the log and ascertain the s%eed. /t is more %ro%er to say &stream the log.&
+,A6, A01 5A3L, an order to heave on the windlass and not ease u% until a %awl dro%s.
+,A6, ") *+, !,A, the scend of the waves; the amount a vessel is thrown over to leeward by the force of
the seas.
+,A6, !+".*, heave in on the chain until nearly over the anchor with but little more chain out than de%th
of water.
+,A6, *A4*, to %ut a strain on a line or chain.
+,A6, *", to lay the vessel on the wind with helm to leeward, sails shortened down and so trimmed that
she will come to and fall off. but always head u% out of the trough. A steamer heaving to heads u% to the
seas, <ust turning her engines enough to hold her there by using the steerage way. !ome steamers are
allowed to drift slowly with seas on the uarter using oil and sometimes long steamers even heave to in the
trough. +ence, to heave to means to lay a vessel where she takes the seas most comfortably, the thought
being to ride out the gale rather than to make %rogress on the voyage. *he less onward motion a vessel has
the safer she rides. !ee also Lay =verb>.
+,A6,., a lever bar; a steel s%ike with wooden handle, used to heave strands in s%licing.
+,A6/09 L/0,, a light line having a manro%e knot or small weighted bag at its end to aid in throwing. /t is
thrown to a %ier or another vessel as a messenger for a heavy line. !ee -onkey:s )ist.
+,A6/!/1, LA@,., is that ring of the ionos%here, far above the earth, that deflects radio waves back to
the ground. *he ionos%here is com%osed of widely s%aced atoms that are electrically charged. A radio wave
encountering these atoms undergoes a change in %olarityC its front travels faster where these atoms are more
highly charged. causing a change of course toward an area of less ionization which is the earth:s atmos%here.
+,A6@ L/)*!, %ieces of cargo, such as locomotives, so heavy as to reuire s%ecial gear.
+,A6@ 3,A*+,. 1A-A9,, as its name im%lies is damage caused by heavy seas. /t may be due to
im%ro%er loading which sets u% abnormal stresses causing sheered rivets, cracked %lates, etc.
+,,L, the after %art of the keel at the stern %ost; the foot of a mast; a list or inclination.
+,,L BL"#$, the single block at the foot of a cargo boom which acts as a fairlead to the winch.
+,,L #+A/0, a short chain designed to aid in su%%orting a to%mast. /t leads from the lower mast head to
the keel of the to%mast.
+,,L LA!+/09, the line securing the foot of a sheer-leg or derrick boom.
+,,L A01 *", 3A*#+, is four hours on and four off.
+,,L/09 ,.."., the change in the :deviation of the com%ass due to the relative change of vertical and
horizontal iron in the heeling of a vessel. /t is corrected by the introduction of a %ermanently magnetized bar,
vertically beneath the com%ass in the binnacle.
+,/9+* ") ,@,, the distance in feet that the observer:s eye is above the water when taking the altitude of
a body. !ee 1i%.
+,L,0A. !ee #or%orsant.
+,L/"#,0*./#, referring to the motion or %osition of a body considering the sun as a center. +eliocentric
longitude is the distance from the )irst 5oint of Aries to a %oint along the ecli%tic with the sun as the center.
+,L-, the tiller. /n modern times a uadrant is fitted to the rudderhead. /n giving orders to the uartermaster
the helm was referred to in the merchant service, but the rudder in all services now. *hat is, formerly the
order 5ort your +elm meant that the helm was to be %ut to %ort by turning the wheel to starboard, the shi%:s
head then going to starboard. *he terms helm u% or helm down refer to orders given in a vessel under sail, as
do helm:s alee and helm:s aweather. *he order .ight .udder now means that the wheel is to be turned to the
right. *he rudder will go to the right and the shi%:s head will go to the right or starboard.
+,L- 5".*, the hole through which the rudder stock %asses into the hull of a vessel.
+,L-!-A0, the men who steers -- the uartermaster.
+,-5 ."5,. ro%e made from Che fiber of the hem% %lant. *here. are /talian. .ussian and American hem%;
then there is 5hormium hem% from 0ew Fealand and !unn hem% from the ,ast /ndies. *he ro%e made of this
fiber is usually tarred but if not is celled white ro%e.
+,0 )./9A*,, a vessel in which the ca%tain:s wife accom%anies him to sea.
+,.-A5+."1/*, B./9, a twomasted vessel, suare-rigged on the fore and fore and aft on the main
mast. *his term was a%%lied to a brigantine by some sailors in the last days of sail, owing to the fact that it is
rigged half as a brig and half as a schooner. Long ago it was used when minor changes in sails and s%ars
made a brig a snow and a snow a brig. !ee Brigantine.
+,../09B"0, 9,A., one in which the teeth have an angle in order to reduce lost motion.
+,../09B"0, !*/*#+, a round seam crossed forward by the returning %art. /t is very serviceable for
re%airing ri%s in canvas and covering standing rigging -with leather or canvas.
+/9+ 1A30, a condition when the day breaks above a cloud lying on the horizon.
+/9+ A01 1.@, the condition of a vessel or anything else left wholly out of water.
+/9+ LA*/*41,!, those %arallels remote from the euator.
+/9+ L/0,., the schooner for other vessel> with the largest catch.
+/9+ 5.,!!4.,, ark abnormal weight of atmos%here. *he greater %ressure on the mercury of the
barometer forces it higher u% the column, making a so-called high barometer.
+/9+ 5.,!!4., +A*, an officer:s ca%.
+/9+ !,A!, the ocean beyond the three-mile limit where no nation has s%ecial %rivileges or <urisdiction.
+owever, the high seas limit is often in dis%ute.
+/9+ 3A*,. =+. 3.>, a 5eriodic high level of water after a %eriodic low level of water.
+/9+ 3A*,. )4LL A01 #+A09, =+. 3. ). and #.>, the interval of time between the :time of the
moon:s transit and of high water on the days of full and change of the moon. *his is used as a constant.
Added to the time of moon:s %assage on any subseuent day it will give a sufficiently accurate time of high
water. "r, if the time of moon:s %assage is not available then add J1 minutes for each day %ast new or full
moon to the time of high water full and change.
+/9+ 3A*,. -A.$, the line on the shore made by the average of the high waters.
+/$/09, to get live weight out beyond the weather rail in an effort to kee% a racing boat on her feet.
!ometimes a %lank is e2tended to windward to give a man:s weight greater leverage. +iking is commonly
%racticed in sailing dinghies.
+/* *+, 1,#$, a %hrase used in breaking, a naval crew out of the hammocks; the same as .ise and
!hine.
+/*#+, a combination of turns fore making a ro%e fast to a s%ar or stay, etc. A term of enlistment in the
0avy.
+"BBL,., a coastwise %ilot in ,ngland who, without a license, assists vessels in various ways. +is small boat
was called a hobble.
+"9 ).A-,!, trusses running fore and aft on river steamers to su%%ort the hogging stress.
+"9 5/,#,, the keelson of a small wooden boat.
+"99,1, a term a%%lied to a vessel whose bow and stern have droo%ed. /t is o%%osite of sagged where the
amidshi% section has fallen. A hogged shear is one in which the conventional shearline is flattened or
reversed.
+"99/09, scra%ing barnacles at sea.
+"99/09 L/0,!, lines attached to the corners of a collision mat, which %ass under the keel and serve to
work the mat over the in<ured %art.
+"99/09 !*.,!!, the force tending to %roduce a hogged condition.
+"9!+,A1, a barrel-like container of IL gallons ca%acity.
+"/!*, to elevate a sail, s%ar or %iece of cargo. As a noun, the length of a sail measured between the boom
and the <aws of the gaff, or the head if a <ib-headed sail. Also the amidshi% de%th of a suare sail that is set
by hoisting the yard. *he height of a flag along the staff.
+"L1, a large lower com%artment of a vessel for the stowage of cargo.
+"L1 B,A-!, the same as deck beams in the hold but without the deck %lanking.
+"L1 "0 *" *+, LA01, *", to kee% in touch with a coast by soundings and an occasional bearing, but
not necessarily to be always in sight of it.
+"L1 3A*,., to di% the oars and retard a boat:s %rogress.
+"L1/09 1"30 B"L*!, those securing an engine or boiler to its bed.
+"L1/09 9."401, the character of the bottom in relation to the degree of bite it gives an anchor, Dhat is,
its %ower of holding; it varies according to whether the holding ,round is good or bad. #lay, marl and mud are
good, while soft mud end sand are %oor holding ground. .ocky bottom is liable to cause the loss of or
damage of an anchor.
+"L/1A@, an un%ainted, unvarnished or unscra%ed s%ot on the s%ots or about the vessel.
+"LL"3 ,01,1, a vessel whose water line section at the bow and stern, are concave with the water; a
fine lined vessel. *he famous cli%%ers were so constructed.
+"LL"3 !,A, a condition usually . occurring where there is shoaling water, or a current setting against the
waves. *he line from crest to trough makes a shar% angle and the sea is conseuently dangerous.
+"LL"3 !,A-, is the condition when the inner side of s seam between two ad<acent %lanks is the same or
wider than the width on the outside. /n order to hold caulking the inside of the seam must be narrower.
+"L@!*"0,, a brick of sandstone used for cleaning decks by hauling it back and forth; small ones used
around corners are called %rayer books. 5ieces of stone from a church were used to scrub decks in .oyal
0avy, hence the term.
+"-,, a sheet is home when hauled well out at a yardarm. An anchor comes home when it drags when used
in kedging. *o bring into %lace. A s%ike is driven home.
+"-, 5".*. /f sailing in foreign trade any American %ort is called a home %ort. But the home %ort is that in
which a vessel:s documents are issued.
+"-,3A.1 B"401 5,00A0*, one hoisted on a naval vessel when returning from at least a year:s cruise
on a foreign stationD /t is of great length, usually reuiring an inflated hog:s bladder to kee% the end afloat. /t
formerly was eual in length to a foot for every -an aboard, and was cut u% on this basis for souvenirs, the
ca%tain taking the first star at the hoist, the e2ecutive the second, and so on.
+"-,3A.1 B"401 !*/*#+,!, unusually long stitches in sewing, to hurry the com%letion of a <ob.
+"-"9,0,"4! #A.9", one com%osed of merchandise of the same nature, as all grain or all cotton.
+"09, a warehouse on the waterfront of #hinese %orts.
+"09 $"09 -""./09 B4"@, consists of arranged cylindrical floats horizontally, and has a &hawse %i%e&
through the bilge of the buoy. *he chain from the mooring buoy leads u% through the hawse-%i%e to a ring,
which cannot %ass back. *he stress is carried by the chain and not the buoy. *he buoy merely floats at the
end of the chain.
+""1, a canvas cover for a hatch; the slide over a hatch; or sometimes the trunk or raised %art of a deck
which gives headroom and ventilation below. *he foremost or aftermost %lanks of strake.
+""1 ,01! =+""1/09!>, the ends of %lanks set in the rabbet of the stem and stern %ost. Also called
hooding ends.
+""$, a general term, but referring usually to a cargo hook on the block of a cargo tackle, over which the
cargo slings are hooked; or a %lain hook at the end of a cargo whi%. !uch a hook is measured for working
load at the back of the hook. +ook is slang for anchor; the fish hook of the anchor stowing gear; the hook of
any tackle. *here are also !li% or 5elican +ook; Breast +ook.
+""$ ."5,, a ro%e used in clearing hawse; merely a ro%e with a hook.
+""$,., a collouial e2%ression given to an old vessel.
+""5!, are rings breast high above the crosstrees of a whaling vessel, one to %ort another to starboard to
steady the lookout. !ometimes called s%ectacles. Also Bee -ast +oo%s.
+"./F"0. *here are several different horizons; the first and most evident is the line between sky and water.
*his is called the visible horizon. *he sensible horizon is the circle on the heavens indicated by a %lane at right
angles to a %lumb line %assing through the %osition of the observer. *his is identical with the visible horizon of
a %erson whose eye is at the sea level. A similar %lane %assing through the center of the earth indicates. *he
rational horizon on the celestial s%here. *here are other terms associated with the gas horizonD 1i%,
.efraction, and 5aralla2; Artificial +orizon and )alse +orizon.
+"./F"0 9LA!!, usually a %iece of glass one half of which is mirrored, and the other half %lain. /t is
erected %er%endicular to the %lane of the se2tant and %arallel to the inde2 glass when the zero of the vernier
coincides with the zero of the arc. /f these glasses are not %arallel in this %osition there is an inde2 error. *o
test the glass for its %er%endicular %osition, bring the reflected sea horizon in coincidence with the real horizon
and swing the instrument to a horizontal %osition each way. /f the horizon does not break, the glass is
%er%endicular; otherwise it must be ad<usted by screws at the back. A more accurate but less %ractical test is
made by bringing a star in coincidence with its reflection. *his is called the /nde2 #orrection.
+"./F"0*AL 5A.ALLA8, the angle at a body between a line drawn from an observer on the earth:s
surface and one from the earth:s center when the body is in the horizon. /f the body is above the horizon, this
angle is known as 5aralla2 in Altitude, 5aralla2 must be added to an observed altitude of a body.
+".0, a %ro<ecting s%ar or helm attached to the after side of the rudder. *o this chains are attached and
brought to the uarters of the vessel for use in case the rudder heads should carry away. +orns are also the
ends of the crosstrees.
+".0 */-B,., in small vessels, e2tends from the keel at an angle to the head of the stern%ost; the dead
wood being filled in below. Another version is the timber mortised into the head of the stern%ost, e2tending
aft in line of the keel and forming the angle of the overhang.
+".!,, the low iron rod %arallel with the deck along which the traveler of a fore and aft sheet shifts from
side to side in tacking. !ee 1eck +orse. *he Boom +orse is a rod welded to a collar around the boom,
carrying a traveler from which the u%%er block of the sheet hangs. *he foot ro%e of a yard. *o horse u% is to
harden u% the caulking in a vessel:s seams with a horsing iron.
+".!, BL"#$, an elevated grating on the uarter-deck from which the officer of the watch formerly gave
orders and maneuvered a naval vessel under sail.
+".!, LA*/*41,!, the region of high-%ressure on the outer edge of the trades where light and variable -
winds %revail. *he conditions are unlike the doldrums in that the air is fresh and clear and calms are not of
long duration. *he name is su%%osed to have originated in the days when sailing vessels in the 3est /ndia
trade lost many horses of their cargoes while becalmed in this area. !ome sources think the term was derived
from the act of heaving the &dead horse& overboard when the &advance& was %aid. *his for shi%s out of
,ngland would be near the latitude of the horse latitudes.
+".!, -A.$,*, an eddy caused by confused tidal currents, to be avoided by small boats in heavy winds as
dangerous cross seas are characteristic.
+".!,5"3,., the euivalent of a lift of JJ7 %ounds a%e foot in one second. *he indicated horse%ower that
an engine develo%s is measured by the %ressure on the cylinders during the stroke, no allowance for friction
being made. !haft or brake horse%ower is the actual twisting %ower given to a shaft and measured by a
brake. ,ffective horse%ower is that e2%ended to %ro%el a vessel, all losses, being deducted.
+".!,: ! L,9, a se2tant or old uadrant.
+".!/09, a sailing shi% term used when being carried to windward by current. "ften a%%lied when a vessel
rides uneasily to her anchor, constantly sheering with the wind on one bow, then the other. !ee +awsing.
+".!/09 /."0, a tool similar to a caulking iron but eui%%ed with a handle for one man to-hold while
another swings the hammer or mallet and horses in the oakum.
+"* B40$!, those occu%ied by successive watches below. *his situation occurs when the crew outnumbers
the bunks available.
+"401/09, that %art of a mast between the hounds and the deck.
+"401!, shoulders of wood bolted to or a%art of the mast. 0ear the u%%er end the hounds are sometimes
fashioned out beyond the normal ta%er of the s%ar to form shoulders u%on which rest the fore and aft
trestle-trees. *he u%%er %arts of the hounds are called the cheeks.
+"4. A09L, =+. A.>, the angle at the %ole between the meridian and the hour circle %assing through the
body being considered. /t is measured westward. *he hour angle of the sun is solar time, while the hour
angle of the )irst 5oint of Aries is sidereal time.
+"4. #/.#L,, a great circle of the celestial s%here which %asses from %ole to %ole as do the meridians on
the earth. *he circles are celestial meridians.
+"4.L@ 1/)),.,0#, =+. 1.>, the change in the elements of the 0autical Almanac that occur in an hour
of time.
+"4!,, a structure on deck.
+"4!, A0 A0#+"., to heave a stockless anchor into the hawse %i%e and secure it. .
+"4!, A0 A30/09, to cast off sto%s from the <ackstay and make an awning fast to the rail or to ring bolts
in the deck u%on the a%%roach of a suall.
+"4!, A B"3!5./*, to rig it on the forecastle.
+"4!, )LA9, a distinguishing flag of a com%any which is flown from the mainmast of their steamers.
+"4!,-L/0,, small stuff of three strands laid left-handed. !ometimes called housing.
+"4!, A -A!*, to %artially lower and lash to the lower mast. *o%gallant and to%masts were housed to
%ass under the 0ew @ork bridges.
+"4!,B"A*, a %leasure craft of great beam and low %ower, with commodious living uarters for use on
inland waters.
+"4!/09 ") A -A!*, that %art below decks.
+"6,L!, a wrecker; one who recovers lost anchorsD A coastal vessel.
+"6,-*". !ee +eave-to.
+"3$,., a. 1utch vessel of the 1Hth and 1Ith centuries with a round bow and stern. *he foremast
%redominated the rig, being set well aft as with a bomb ketch; both the fore and main were
suare-rigged, s%anker on the main and large <ibs. A s%ritsail was sometimes carried. Later the term was
a%%lied, to smaller single-masted vessels.
+49, to kee% close.
+4L$, an old unseaworthy vessel unable to %ro%el herself by sail or steam. !he is usually devoid of s%ars,
e2ce%t, %erha%s, masts, and serves as a lighter air storeshi%; the term freuently refers to a wrecked hull.
Around A.1. 1J77, a ty%e of large-sized merchantman was called a hulk. *hey had round bows and stern,
high %oo%; the fore and mainmasts carried suare to%sails and a lateen sail at the mizzen.
+4LL, the main structure of a vessel.
+4LL/09, an old term for heaving to on the wind with helm to leeward.
+4-B"L1* #4..,0*, a branch of the general drift setting northward out of the Antarctic. /t flows u% the
coasts of #hile and 5eru.
+4-/1/*@, atmos%heric moisture is termed humidity. Absolute humidity is the actual va%or content
e2%ressed in grains %er cubic foot or %er %ound of air. *he ratio of the va%or content to the va%or content of
saturated air at the name tem%erature, e2%ressed in %ercent, is called the relative humidity. )or e2am%le,
given a sam%le of air at H7W having an absolute humidity of M grains %er cubic foot. !ince saturated air at
H7W contains I grains %er cubic foot, the relative humidity is J7 %er cent.
+40*,.: ! -""0, the full moon that follows the harvest moon which is the one nearest the autumnal
euino2.
+4.1@ 94.1@ or 94.1@, a roller at the gunwale of a trawler:s dory to assist in hauling or under-runing a
trawl.
+4../#A0,, a cyclonic storm which blows with a velocity from IM to 11I knots or over. *he name generally
a%%lies to those violent agitations that %ass over the 3est /ndies, while the name ty%hoon a%%lies to similar
disturbances occurring in the ,ast /ndies. *hese storms bring all shi%s under bare %oles arid are indicated in
the log book by force 1G-1H of the Beaufort !cale.
+4../#A0, 1,#$. !ee 1eck.
+4*#+, a shelter over the helmsmen.
+@1."-A/.5LA0,, a sea %lane or flying boat.
+@1.")"/L is a boat with underwater wings. *hese wings or hydrofoils, due to their sha%e and angle,
create an u%ward %ressure on the under sides as the boat:s s%eed increases, while there is a lessening of
%ressure on the u%%er sides. *his condition creates a lifting %ower which raises the boat from the water,
greatly reducing water resistance and allowing high s%eed. +owever, a dragging force accom%anies the lifting
%ower and the foil must be designed to create a favorable high ratio between lift and drag. *he more drag the
more %ro%ulsive %ower needed. *he lifting %ower of a foil increases as the suare of the s%eed. /t is
necessary to control the lift and as only the submerged %art of the foil is effective, the usual %ractice is to
%rovide a number of foils one above the other. *hey are so set that as the boat is lifted to the desired height
above the water the u%%er members of the foil become ineffective. *he foils take a swe%tback angle with the
fore and aft line of the boat. *he trailing edges of the foils are eui%%ed with controls which when raised
decrease the lift and when lowered increase it.
+@1."9.A5+@, the %hysical features of the bottom and de%ths of water; the currents and tidal data shown
on a chart. *he same name a%%lies to the %rocess of surveying by which these data are collected.
+@1."LA0*, an urgent warning of a danger to navigation in the Atlantic.
+@1."-,*,., an instrument for obtaining the s%ecific gravity of liuids; or measuring salinity of sea water.
+@1."5A#, an urgent warning of a danger to navigation in the 5acific.
+@1."5LA0,, a small, light, ste%-bottom boat designed to %lane at s%eed along the surface of the water.
!uch boats, eui%%ed with high-%owered gasoline engines, have attained great s%eeds.
+@9."-,*,., an instrument for measuring humidity; sometimes hair is used to actuate an inde2 hand. !ee
5sychrometer.
+@5"*,04!,, the side of a right-angled triangle o%%osite the right angle.
/-B,A-, a rolled beam of mild steel used for bulkhead stiffeners whose cross-section resembles an /.
/. #., inde2 correction.
/. +. 5., indicated horse%ower.
/#,. )resh water solidifies at LGB)., and forms ice. 3ith a falling tem%erature the surface of a body of water
cools arid its greater density causes it to sink, being re%laced by warmer water from the bottom.
*his continues until the water reaches a tem%erature of about LAB). =which, curiously enough, is its heaviest
%oint> when it no longer rises, and the surface cools to LGB and freezes. !alt water freezes at slightly lower
tem%eratures than fresh water. !ee /ce 1esignations.
/#, A0#+"., an iron device of a sha%e %articularly designed to drive into ice for the %ur%ose of mooring a
vessel.
/#, B.,A$,. a %owerful vessel of heavy construction used to clear harbors and channels. !%ecially
constructed steamers are used having a &cut under& bow allowing them to ride u% on the ice and crush it. An
e2%erimental ice breaker has been develo%ed to break the ice by raising it with an underwater e2tension of
the bow. A skeleton iron saddle %laced u%stream from an e2%osed lighthouse: to break u% drifting ice fields.
/#, 1,!/90A*/"0!. *he %olar %reci%itation on the mountains of northern 9reenland builds an immense
ice ca% on these elevations of land. *he ice mass of the valleys moves slowly down to the sea where great
fragments break off or calve, forming icebergs. About A7 %er cent of the bergs of the 0orth Atlantic come
from 1isko Bay. *hey float out with the wind and current and are gradually carried into the flow of the
Labrador #urrent making to the southward. *he second summer of their drift usually finds the surviving bergs
off the 9rand Banks. *he smaller %ieces of ice, fragments of bergs which still constitute a :menace to
navigation, are called growlers and bergy bits. 5ock ice is a rough mass of broken floes frozen into a heavy
obstruction %reventing navigation. *he barrier sometimes breaks or o%ens, forming a clear channel called a
lead, but a lead may %rove to be a blind lead if it terminates and %revents a vessel from %roceeding. !hould
the ice close on a shi% it would constitute a ni%, and ni%s have crushed many a vessel. *he %ack is the ice
barrier in the far north which halts navigation.
*he great frozen areas of the southern Arctic and bays and rivers of #anada break away in the warming
weather and drift southward as field ice. /t is mostly not navigable. "ften by o%%osing currents or changing
directions of wind two fields collide or im%inge on each other. *he ice at the edges buckles with the im%act
and large cakes are thrown u% on the ad<acent field. *his is known as rafting. *he force of the sea often
accom%lishes the same result on the weather side of a field. 3hen the ice becomes %iled high in this manner
it is known as hummock ice.
As a field becomes dis%ersed the drifting %ieces of ice are called drift ice. /t is usually easily navigated.
)loe ice consists of drift ice frozen into small fields, a floe carrying the meaning of small field.
*he term sludge or brash is a%%lied when field or drift ice becomes broken u% and slushy through action of
the sea and warmer water; very slushy ice is also known as lolly. !lob ice is found along the weather side of a
floe or field and along the coast, but the term seems to a%%ly more to the white, broken-u% new snow ice; it
is more or less slushy and is usually easily navigated.
!heet ice, as its name im%lies is a sheet; smooth and level and is new ice. /t is found off the bays of
0ewfoundland where it has formed the %revious winter and broken away with the coming of s%ring.
/ce rind, thin ice =less than two inches> found in bays and harbors where the discharge of fresh water overlays
the colder sea water; it is tough, cutting and is noisy when a vessel works through it.
A %an is a small sheet of flat ice. 5ancake ice is new ice which becomes detached in small cakes or sheets
around whose edges the ice has built u% higher than the inner %arts.
Anchor ice, that which forms on the bottom.
/#, 1"4BL/09 =/ce Lining>, additional %lates riveted on the bow %lates at the water line to %rotect against
the im%act of drifting ice.
/#,B,.9!, %ortions of a glacier which break off and float to sea. *hey vary widely in size and sha%e. About
one-eighth of the volume is above the water, but the height is not necessarily one-seventh of the de%th under
water. *he sha%e of the mass determines its draft and height. /n the 0orth Atlantic they drift southward from
9reenland with the Labrador #urrent and those that do not become lodged on the coast of Labrador usually
become dissi%ated in the warm waters of the 9ulf !tream, where, on the ocean lanes, they become a great
menace to shi%%ing. *his is due %articularly to the difficulties and uncertainties of detecting their %resence in
fogs which %revail so e2tensively in this locality. *he use of radar reduces this danger.
/n the !outhern "cean great uantities -of ice break away from the Antarctic ice barrier and work northward
into the navigable waters of this ocean. *he ice masses are enormous, being often many miles in e2tent. *he
bergs are very freuently %lateau-sha%ed =flat-, to%%ed>. Antarctic ice occasionally reaches latitudes north of
M7W!.
/#,B"A*, a framework mounted on three metal-shod runners, one at each end of a crossbeam and the
third, which is turned by a tiller and acts as a rudder, at either the forward or after end of the, fore-and-aft
backbone of the frame. A mast and rigs-usually a sloo% but sometimes a single sail, is mounted on the
framework, as is a cock%it to hold the crew of one or more %ersons. /ceboats, under favorable conditions,
attain s%eeds over reasonably smooth ice considerably higher than that of the wind that is driving them.
/1L,.!, members of a shi%:s com%any who have an all night in.
/0, a seaman sails in a vessel, not on her.
/0 B"3!, an order to bow oars men to boat their oars and %re%are for coming alongside.
/0 A01 "4* !@!*,-, the arrangement of %lating where of three strakes the two outer-ones are riveted to
the frames while the middle strake overla%s the other two and is riveted to them. *he outer %late reuires a
liner on the frame.
/0 !A/L, an order to lower fore and aft sails and clew u% suare sails. .
/0 !*A@!, said of a vessel when in the wind while going about to tack shi%.
/0B"A.1, towards midshi%s.
/0#+-A.,, #LA4!,, a clause of an insurance %olicy covering loss or damage to the hull or machinery
through the negligence of masters, charterers, mariners, engineers, or %ilots, or through any latent defect in
the machinery or hull.
/0#/1,0#,, A09L, "). .ays of light striking the surface of a mirror are reflected at the same angle as the
direction of the direct ray; from a %er%endicular to the mirror the angle with the direct rays is called the angle
of incidence and with the reflecting rays the angle of reflection.
/0#L/0A*/"0 ") *+, ,A.*+, the angle of GLB GH:, which the earth:s a2is takes with .the %lane of its
orbit.
/01,8 BA., an arm %ivoted at the to% of a se2tant. /t carries the vernier and tangent: screw at its lower end
which swing, across the graduated are, and the inde2 mirror at its u%%er end.
/01,8 #"..,#*/"0 =/. #.>, a correction necessitated by an error in a se2tant which e2ists after the
inde2 and the horizon glasses have been made %er%endicular with the frame, but are not %arallel with each
other, when the zero of the arc and the zero of the vernier are in line. *he amount the zeros are off when the
reflected and real sea horizons are in one is the /nde2 #orrection. /f the zero of the vernier is to the right of
the zero of the arc, the /nde2 #orrection is that; much %lus; if to the left the /nde2 #orrection is minus. *his is
easily remembered by the ruleD /f it:s on it:s off; if its off it:s on.
/01,8 ,..".. !ee /nde2 #orrection.
/01,8 9LA!!, a mirror erected %er%endicular to the %lane of a se2tant at the to% or %ivot of the instrument.
*o test the correctness of this glass, %lace the inde2 arm in the center of the arc, and holding the instrument
flat with the arc away, look closely at the inner edge of the inde2 glass and note if the direct and reflected
image of the arc form a straight line. /f so, the glass is %er%endicular, if not, ad<ust by screws at the back.
/01/A0 +,A1 =bow>, was a ty%e of stem first a%%earing in 0ew ,ngland fishing schooners in 1IAH. *he
stem dro%%ed in a slow conve2 curve, shar%ening as the waterline was a%%roached. *he term came from a
fleet of 1u2bury schooners having /ndian names.
/01/A0 !5./09! L"3 3A*,., a%%ro2imately low water tro%ic s%rings.
/0/*/AL !*AB/L/*@, that which e2ists when a vessel is u%right or listed at small angles.
/00,. B"**"-, the %lating forming the u%%er side of the double bottom.
/00,. ?/B, the head sail usually ne2t outside the fore-to%mast staysail.
/0!+".,, toward the land.
/0!"LA*/"0, is the radiant heat the earth receives from the sun; it then heats the air close to the surface
by conduction and distributes it by convection.
/0!4.A0#, +A3!,., is ke%t reeled, one forward and one aft. /s reuired by underwriters and only used
for towage %ur%oses.
/0*,.#,5*. !ee Altitude 1ifference.
/0*,.#"!*AL!, %arts in the structure of a vessel %laced fore and aft between frames and floors and not
continuous girders.
/0*,.-/**,0* L/9+*, an occulting light.
/0*,.0A*/"0AL #"1,, a set of signal flags, including one for each letter of the al%habet, ado%ted by the
leading maritime countries for communicating between shi%s and shore-stations. *here are also ten numeral
%ennants, three re%eaters and a code and answering %ennant. !ee 5ublication 17G of the 4.!. 0aval
"ceanogra%hic "ffice.
/0*,.5"LA*/"0, the %rocess of selecting %ro%ortionally an intermediate uantity lying between two
tabulated uantities.
/06"/#,, an account of goods consigned; a descri%tion of marks and numbers, costs, name of shi% and
master and the merchants interested.
/./!+ +4../#A0,, a calm.
/./!+ 5,00A0*, a loose end hanging about the sails or rigging.
/."0!, handcuffs and leg-irons. A shi% is in irons when caught in stays and unable to cast on either tack. A
steamer is said to be in irons when she is loaded so by the head that the %ro%eller is raised and she is unable
to maneuver.
/..A1/A*/"0, the a%%arent enlargement of a heavenly body due to its brilliancy against a dark
background. *his error is very small and does not affect the results in navigational observations.
/!+,.3""1 !@!*,-, that method of shi% construction in which the main framing is longitudinal =fore and
aft> instead of transverse as in the usual method. *he stringers are closely s%aced and the transverse beams
widely s%aced. /t is a very satisfactory arid successful method of modern construction, es%ecially in long
vessels.
/!", eual-from the 9reek.
/!"BA./# #+A.*, one showing by isobars the normal barometric %ressure of different %arts of the world.
/!"BA.!, lines along which the normal barometric %ressure is the same.
/!"9"0/# L/0,!, those u%on which the magnetic variation is the same.
/!"!AL/0,!, lines of eual salinity of sea water.
/!"*+,.-!, lines along which the tem%erature is eual.
?A#$, a device for moving heavy %ieces of cargo and for forcibly stowing in a small s%ecs. Also called a <ock
screw. *he name given to the flag consisting usually of the union of the ensign. *his flag is dis%layed from a
<ack staff forward on a naval vessel at anchor. /t is dis%layed at a yardarm when a general court martial or
board of inuiry is on session on a man-of-war. A vessel shows a <ack at the foremast when in need of a %ilot.
A horizontal iron bar used at the head of the to%gallant mast where the to%gallant and royal masts are in one
s%ar. /t s%reads the rigging at that %oint. =Also called <ack cross-tree.> An iron rod along the to% of a yard to
which sails are bent or reefed. *hey are called bending or reefing <ackstays according to theft %articular use.
*he wire ro%e running through the heads of the awning stanchions to which the awning is stretched is called
the <ackstay. A vertical stay immediately abaft the to%mast of a schooner. *he lazy <acks are bridles from the
to%%ing lift to the boom of a fore anti aft sail to restrain the sail on the boom when lowered.
?A#$ ."5,, the facing ro%e that bends the foot of a sail to the boom. *he ro%e that is rove through the
grommets of a reef band for reefing with the use of a toggle on the <ackstay. *his is called a )rench reef.
?A#$ !*A)), a short %ole erected near the bows%rit ca% or stem from which the <ack is flown.
?A#$ *"5!A/L, an ,nglish term for a club to%sail =which see>. /ts club is called the <ock yard.
?A#$A!!, a cornuco%ia canvas bag filled with oakum and hove into the hawse-hole to %revent the entrance
of sea water.
?A#$A!! B./9. !ee Brigantine.
?A#"B: ! LA11,., one consisting of served wire lo%e sides which su%%ort rungs usually oS iron. !uch
ladders are found hanging from the stern of a shi%, from the boat booms, abaft the masts where trysails and
s%anker are brailed in, and above the to%mast rigging. *he ,nglish call the condition of the &sun:s drawing
water.( ?acob:s ladder.
?A#"B; ! !*A)). !ee #ross !taff.
?A,9*, a 0orwegian vessel of small tonnage rigged with one mast from which is set a suare sail and to%sail.
?AL"4!/, ).A-/09, a system of tongue and grooved sheathing by which light and air can enter a cabin.
?A-A/#A 1/!#/5L/0,, the articles governing =or su%%osed to govern> the routine of a %irate shi% in the
1Ith century. By its terms the ca%tain took two shares of booty, the officers one and a half and one and a
uarter according to rank, while men shared alike. Euite unlooked for is an article forbidding gambling and
also the bringing of women aboard shi%. /t was sti%ulated that the use of strong drink must he indulged in
only on deck after e %.m. *hese rules were formulated to %revent uarrels aboard shi%.
?A-/, 9.,,0, a sail set beneath the bows%rit and <ib-boom of a tea cli%%er. *he halyard hauled the sail to
the end of the <ib-boom and the tack to the lower end of the martingale boom.
?A09A1A, a raft-like boat used in !outh America.
?A5A0 #4..,0*. *he $uroshio, the current of the 5acific corres%onding to the 9ulf !tream of the Atlantic.
?A!"0 #LA4!,, a clause in the bill of lading which %rovides that the shi%%ers, consignees or owners of the
cargo shall contribute with the shi% owner in 9eneral Average in the event of danger, damage or disaster
resulting from any cause whatever =whether due to negligence or not> for which the shi%owner is not
res%onsible.
?A6A, #offee.
?A3, the distance between two %oints on the same strand measured along a ro%e. /f hard laid, bringing the
strands close together, the ro%e is said to have a short <aw; if soft laid with the strands rather loosely twisted
it has a long <aw.
?A3 ."5,, the %arral leading around the mast between the <aws of a gaff.
?A3! =of a 9aff or Boom>, the horns that %artly encircle -the -mast. ?A@ +A3$/09, using a tender to tow a
sailboat in a calm.
?,,.! =?,A.!>, a heavy tackle of double or treble blocks, called <eer blocks, used for hoisting heavy yards.
A deck ca%stan used to heave in the fall =<eer fall> of this tackle is called the <eer ca%stan. A <eer was originally
a hawser or heavy ro%e su%%orting the ty%es of heavy yards.
?,*!A-, goods thrown overboard to lighten a vessel. !ee )lotsam and Lagan.
?,**/!"0, to heave cargo overboard to lighten a vessel in %eril.
?,**@, a breakwater built to %rotect a river mouth or harbor entrance or to divert or control the current.
?,3,L BL"#$, the stun:sail halyard block at a yardarm.
?,3! +A.5, the shackle connecting the cable to the anchor, also called the anchor ring.
?/B, a triangular sail set forward of the foremast. /t came into general use about the middle of the 1Ith
century, dis%lacing the suare s%ritsail. *he hoisting arm of a crane.
?/B +A0$!. !ee +anks.
?/B ": ?/B, a sail set as a <ib to%sail on the fore royal or fore-to%gallant stay. /t was %rimarily to overcome
some of the weather helm due to the raking masts of a cli%%er shi%.
?/B -A.*/09AL,, a length of wire ro%e that leads from the <ib-boom to the dol%hin striker to su%%ort the
boom from beneath.
?/B 0,**/09, network rigged under the <ib-boom and su%%orted by the whisker booms. /t serves to kee%
the <ib from falling to the water and also as a guard to seamen when losing their footing.
?/BB,. *+, $/BB,., to lead shi%s ashore by false lights.
?/B-B""-, a s%ar e2tending beyond the bows%rit. ?ib-boom guys steady this s%ar at the sides.
?/B, or 9@B,, to swing off before the wind, to the other tack, the boom shifting itself, sometimes violently.
?/B-+,A1,1 ./9. A rig wherein all sails are triangular. Also known as marconi rig.
?/B-+,A1,1 !A/L, a triangular sail, without a gaff; also called a marconi or Bermudian sail.
?/B!*A@, a stay leading forward from the foreto%mast, in a suare-rigged vessel, and from near the head of
the foremost mast of a fore-and-aft rig; from it the <ib is set.
?/B-*"5!A/L, a light <ib set aloft in a similar manner to other head sails. /t is hoisted on the outer of the
head stays with its tack well u% above the <ib-boom instead of being fast to it.
?/99,., a light luff tackle for various work about decks. A boom <igger is used to rig stun:sail booms in and
out. /n fore and aft rigged vessels, a <igger is sometimes used on the standing %art of the throat and %eak
halyardsD After the sail has been hoisted by these +alyards, they are swigged or sweated u% by the <iggers.
Also, the sail set on the <iggermast.
?/99,.-A!*, the small after mast of a yawl or ketch. *his mast is called the mizzen. *he fourth mast of a
five- or si2-malted schooner. !ometimes a%%lied to the last mast in a so called four-roasted bark -- the fore
and aft rigged mast. Also called <igger.
?/--@ L,9!, the master at arms.
?/--@ *+, "0,, a slang e2%ression used in the .oyal 0avy to indicates the officer charged with the
everyday running of the shi%. 9enerally the )irst Lieutenant or ,2ecutive "fficer.
?/--@ !E4A.,)""*, a mythical being at the sea bottom; 1avy ?ones.
?/09L, =B,LL>, an au2iliary bell used with a gong to signal the engineer from the %ilot-house. /t indicates
the desire for full s%eed whether ahead or astern. !ee ,ngineroom bells.
?", 1,#"!*,, a %iece of sail s%read in the weather fore rigging of a fishing schooner to serve as a lee for
the lookout.
?"99L/09, the offsetting of the edges of %lates of outer strakes to avoid, the use of liners. ?oggled frames
are those whose outside faces are so cut as to receive the %lanks in such a way as to give the a%%earance of
a clinker built boat.
?"+0 or ?"0 B"A*, a small %ulling boat, ada%table for outboard; suare at bow and stern. 4sed as a
tender or for hunting and fishing.
?"LL@ B"A*, a work boat carried by a merchantman, usually at the stern of a schooner. Also called a yowl.
?"LL@ ."9,., the black flag of %iracy. *he word roger in the si2teenth century a%%ears to have carried the
meaning of a vagrant or thief; being %ossibly derived from rogue. *he ad<ective <olly was a%%lied by %irates
for effect.
?4-B", the fore staysail of a fore-and-after.
?4-B" .""-, a heavy lift cargo boom_ usually eui%%ed with a M-sheave tackle and ca%able of lifting some
I7 tons.
?4-5 !+/5, to leave without %ermission; to desert.
?4-5,. !*A@, a truss stay on the forward side of a mast. !ometimes a%%lied to the s%ring stay of a
schooner, and to the stay running from the funnel to foremast, or to a %reventer stay set u% with a tackle.
?4-5,.!, chain stays leading from the outer end of <ib-boom of a schooner to the lower end of the dol%hin
striker or martingale boom; short lengths of wire ro%e which lead down from the whisker booms to the lower
end of the dol%hin striker su%%orting the booms from beneath.
?40$, discarded ro%e, blocks, and other gear. A #hinese or ?a%anese vessel; it is usually of lateen rig, with
bat-wing sails of woven matting. *he models of hulls are the result of e2%erience running back for centuries of
long voyages. *hey are very seaworthy craft. !alt meat that has become hard is called salt <unk. *he lower
%art of a s%erm whale:s forehead; the u%%er %art being the case from which comes the valuable s%ermaceti.
?45/*,., the fifth %lanet from the sun.
?4.@, a makeshift rig used to work a vessel to %ort. 5robably from the )rench <our-for a day.
?4.@ A0#+"., any heavy weight to serve as an anchor in an emergency.
?4.@ -A!*, a makeshift s%ar from which to set a sail after being dismasted.
?4.@ ./9, the e2%edient in the way of s%ars and sails resorted to by a master to bring a dismasted vessel to
%ort.
?4.@ .411,., an im%rovised contrivance by which a disabled vessel is steered to %ort.
?4! A09A./A, a belligerent:s use of a neutral:s shi%s, etc., by consent or force, through the necessity of
war. *he shi% must be taken in the belligerent:s harbors, not on high seas.
$A-#+A*$A #4..,0*, a branch of the $uroshio which flows more northerly in the direction of the
Aleutian islands.
$A5"$, a very buoyant vegetable substance resembling down. /t is much lighter than cork and serves very
satisfactorily as the filling for mattresses and %illows, life <ackets and vests. /t is raised mostly in lava.
$A*ABA*/# 3/01, cold air flowing down to a lower level by gravity due to greater weight. *he wind down
a glacier and that down a mountain valley are katabatic winds. *he bora of the Adriatic is an e2cellent
e2am%le of this ty%e.
$A@A$ an ,skimo canoe constructed with a covering of seal skin.
$,#$L/09, chafing gear on a-cable, consisting of old ro%e.
$,19,, a light anchor for kedging or war%ing.
$,19/09, moving a vessel .by heaving in on, a kedge ro%e or war% fast to a kedge anchor that has been
carried out to a desired %osition by a small boat. *he term is sometimes used when a vessel desires to drift
with the current but kee%s her anchor <ust touching the bottom. *his is also called clubbing, and dredging.
$,,L, the backbone of a vessel, from which rise the frames or ribs,
stem and stern%ost. *he 5at keel %late is a %late serving as a keel. A flat-bottomed barge for the conveyance
of coal in the British /sles. A barge load of coal is called a keel.
$,,L BL"#$!, those forming the foundation u%on which the keel is laid in building. Also the blocks u%on
which a vessel rests in dry ?ock.
$,,L,$, a small kedge.
$,,L-+A4L, a %unishment in which a man was hauled down one aide of a vessel under the keel and u% the
other side. *his was accom%lished by weighting the man:s body and using whi%s from %ort and starboard
yardarms.
$,,L!"0, a timber or steel stringer bolted on the keel in the hold for reinforcement. An intercostal keelson
fits between the floors and is not a continuous stringer.
$,,L!"0 $,@, *" )/01 *+,, a fool:s errand u%on which a green hand is dis%atched to furnish
amusement for the rest of the crew.
$,,5 A3A@, to give weather helm and fall off from the wind.
$,,5 +,. )4LL, to kee% sails drawing.
$,,5 *+, LA01, to remain in sight of shore.
$,,5 ")), !ee $ee% Away.
$,,5 @"4. L4)), an order to the man at the wheel to kee% close to the wind when full and by.
$,L1!, smooth %atches in the midst of ruffled water.
$,L5, marine growth that accumulates on rocks. /t is valuable for fertilizer and the manufacture of iodine. /t
is also a warning of rocks beneath.
$,L5/,, a sea s%irit haunting the northern British /slands.
$,0*L,19,, ballast along the keelson in the form of %igs.
$,0*L,19, 9""1!, heavy %ieces of cargo that, stowed low, will con-tribute to stability.
$,5L,.: ! LA3!. *he eminent astronomer, $e%ler, born in 3urttemberg in the year 1JH1, determined the
true laws governing the motions of the %lanets around the sun. *he three laws which he discovered areD
)irst. *he orbit of each %lanet is an elli%se having the sun in one focus.
!econd, as the %lanet moves around the sun its radius-vector or line <oining it to the sun, %asses over eual
areas in eual times.
*hird. *he suare of the time of revolution of each %lanet is %ro%ortional to the cube of its mean distance
from the sun. =5atterson.> $,*#+, a two-masted vessel similar to a yawl but with the <iggermast or mizzen
ste%%ed forward of the rudder%ost instead of abaft it. *he original ketch was known as a bomb ketch; its rig
com%rised a large, lofty, suare-rigged mast ste%%ed well aft, leaving a wide clear forward deckD it carried a
com%aratively small <igger. *he term ketch has had many a%%lications since the bomb ketch. *he 1utch
originated a ty%e with three masts-gaff at the mizzen, s%rit mainsail, suare-rigged at the fore with head sails.
*he s%rit gave way in time to a loose-footed mainsail fitted with brails, and the suare-rigged foremast at
length disa%%eared. $etches with the after mast raking forward were common on the coast of ,ngland,
es%ecially the 0orth !ea side, and called Billy Boys.
$,**L, B"**"-, a flat-floored vessel.
$,6,L, another name for cavil. *he $evel-heads are timber heads used as a cleat.
$,@/09 ./09, a lead ring that is driven around a forelock %in in an anchor shackle to key it in %lace.
$+A-!/0, a hot wind of ,gy%t usually from a tro%ical cyclonic disturbance.
$/ @/ =%honetic vernacular>, a scrubbing brush made of stiff coir bristles used on board shi%. A sailor:s
corru%tion of coir.
$/#$, the throw of a vessel:s stern to leeward =or toward the side the helm is thrown>, when the helm is %ut
hard over.
$/1, a tub or %an in which the forecastle rations are carried.
$/,!,L94+., the sediment, usually white, on the sea bottom com%osed of the skeletons of diatoms.
$/LL/#$, a small gra%nel. A atone ada%ted to serve as an anchor.
$/LL/#$ +/*#+, a timber hitch with a half hitch added.
$/09 B./19,, the truss e2tending athwartshi%s between the heads of a %air of king %osts forming a solid
unit of su%%ort for cargo booms.
$/09 5"!*, a facility of cargo handling. /t is a derrick-mast to su%%ort cargo booms. *hey stand
athwartshi%, in %airs, %ort and starboard. 3hen heavier drafts of cargo are e2%ected in a steamer:s trade the
heads of the king %osts are connected across the deck by a s%an which may be of %lain steel or latticework.
*he s%an is known by various namesD crosstrees, trestletrees, truss, king %ost s%anner, king bridge and goal
%osts. -asts are often ste%%ed in these s%ans.
$/09!*"0 6AL6,, an outboard valve seated in a casting which is fastened to the inside of the bottom of a
shi%.
$/0$, a twist which disturbs the lay of a ro%e.
$/*, 1.A9, a sea anchor made of crossed s%ars carrying a %iece of canvas across them to act as a drag.
$/*,!, all light sails, such as <ib to%sails, stun:sails, skysails, s%innakers and light staysails.
$/**/3A$,, a sea bird differing but little from offshore gulls. /t is about fifteen inches long, has a mantle of
dark %earl gray with head, neck, tail and under %arts white; it is black ti%%ed on the wings. *his bird inhabits
the higher latitudes.
$0,,!, right angled strengthening and su%%orting-%ieces of natural growth, if of wood, with arms. *hey fit at
the intersection of timbers and strengthen the <oint. *hey take different names according to their %articular
%osition, as Lodging knee, one that lies horizontal at the forward side of a beam and at the side of a shi%. A
bosom knee does the same duty at the after side of the beam. A hanging knee fits under a beam in a vertical
%osition; if not vertical it becomes a dagger knee. A carling knee fills the right angle between a carling or
ledge and a beam, while a stern knee is set at the intersection of the keel and stern %ost.
$0/9+*- +,A1!, two timbers rising inside and from each side of the stem; the bows%rit heels between
them. *he knighthead frames are the foremost frames in a vessel carrying a bows%rit.
$0/**L,!, a kind of reef %oints. @arns twisted together for %ointing a ro%e or for seizings. *hey are also
called 0ettles. !ee +ammock.
$0"#$ ")), to sto% work.
$0"#$AB"4*, a sloo% or schooner without a bows%rit and whose <ib sets from a stay on the stem.
$0"#$,1 1"30, to be thrown on the beam-ends by a sudden suall.
$0"*, strictly, a tucking of strands in such a way as to form an ornamental or useful, enlargement of a ro%e.
A man-ro%e knot is a good e2am%le. #ombinations of turns and tucks in the mani%ulation of ro%e are roughly
divided into three classes-knots, bends and hitches, and s%lices. *his classification is not strictly adhered to
even by seamen.
$0"*, a measure of s%eed, not one of distance. *he term knots means velocity in nautical miles %er hour
whether of a vessel or a current. /t is the measurement of a section of a log line being MH feet and A inches.
!ee #hi% Log. =A nautical mile - K,7HK.1 feet.> +owever, in navigation K777 feet and G777 yards are usually
used.
$04#$L, L/0,, the line where the stern %lating takes a shar% angle u%ward near the taffrail.
$04#$L, -A!*, is so hinged near the deck as to allow laying down with truck aft to allow %assing under
bridges.
$")), a two-matted vessel with sails of the s%rit ty%e, seen in the Baltic and 0orth seas; it is of shallow draft
and is es%ecially ada%ted for use oil the inland waterways.
$"0A 3/01!, storms or southerly winds over the +awaiian /slands.
$4."!+/", the 9ulf !tream of the 5acific. /t flows northeastward along the eastern coast of ?a%an, and its
warm waters affect beneficially the climate of !outhern Alaska, #anada and the American 5acific coast. /t is
also known as the ?a%an or Black !tream.
L: s ") 0A6/9A*/"0, lead, log and lookout.
LAB"., the heavy working of a vessel in a seaway; the motion being irregular and severe, occasioned by a
confused sea or by unstable stowage conditions.
LAB.A1". #4..,0*. !ee Arctic #urrent.
LA#/09, the small ro%e used in lashing a sail to a gait or boom.
LA11,., a general term a%%lied to all accommodations by which one %roceeds below or on deck. *hey take
obvious names, such as most ladder, bridge ladder, %oo% ladder, etc., and there are also the ?acob:s Ladder,
!ea Ladder and Accommodation Ladder.
LA9, delay; lost motion.
LA9 !#.,3, a heavy wood screw, driven by a suare head.
LA9A0, any heavy article thrown overboard and buoyedD =Also s%elled ligan and logan.> !ee )lat-tam.
?etsam.
LA99/09. !ee 5riming and Lagging.
LA/1 45, to be out of use at a %ier.
LA$, *@5, !*,A-,., one with engines located aft. #alled stemwinders by sailors.
LA01 B.,,F,, an evening wind coming off the land as it cools to a %oint below the tem%erature of the sea.
/t is this wind that carries the odor of the land far off-shore towards morning.
LA01 ,)),#*, the deviation of a radio bearing due to %assing over tangent to intervening land.
LA01 /#,, that attached to the shore.
LA01)ALL, a sighting of or coming to land; the %osition of the land first sighted in coming in from the sea.
!ailing shi%s from 9ood +o%e used to steer to sight !t. +elena to check %osition, that is, make a landfall.
LA01/09 !*.A$,, that <ust below the sheer strake, the second below the gunwale.
LA01-A.$, a cons%icuous ob<ect or characteristic formation of land whose %osition is known and which aids
the mariner in establishing his %osition.
LA01!-A0, a man on shi%board with no e2%erience in sea-going.
LA09-LA@-."5,, a ty%e of wire ro%e with which the individual wires are twisted the same way as the
strands which com%rise the ro%e. *he individual wires of regular lay are twisted o%%osite to the turn of the
strands.
LA0@A.1 +/*#+, is used in many ways and got its name through its universal use is making fast the
hauling %art of the lanyard running