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AUXILIARY OPERATIONAL SPECIALTY

COURSE

SEAMANSHIP ( AUXSEA)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

DIRAUX ANNEX WEST

7TH USCG DISTRICT
MIAMI, FLORIDA

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 CREDIT FOR GRAPHICS
Our sincere thanks to the following federal
agencies for the use of their PUBLIC DOMAIN
graphics:
DOC.NOAA, NWS
DOT, FAA, USCG, USCG AUX.

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 CREDITS, CONT’D
In addition, we would like to thank those
Auxiliarists who generously contributed their
time, expertise, talents and equipment to provide
this course with valuable graphic works included
herein.
Linda Vetter, SO-OP D1 11-N

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 PRODUCTION CREDITS
This Distance Learning Course was produced by
William N. Seiler, Asst. Supervisor, Computer
Support Group, Training Presentations; Ed Rhea,
Asst. to the Supervisor. and Jim Carol, Computer
Support Group Staff; Douglas Simpson,
Supervisor, Computer Support Group, DIRAUX
WEST, Venice, Fl. and under the direction of Kevin
Crawley, CDR, USCG, DIRAUX, USCG 7th
District, Miami, Fl. and is for GENERAL
INSTRUCTIONAL PURPPOSES ONLY. 5
 INTRODUCTION
SEAMANSHIP
1. Welcome to the Auxiliary Operational Specialty
course SEAMANSHIP or AUXSEA.
2. The term SEAMANSHIP literally encompasses
the entire subject of boating.
3. This is one of seven (7) courses leading to the
coveted AUXOP rating and award of the badge.

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 SEAMANSHIP
TEXTS – STUDY GUIDES-REFERENCES
1. REFERENCE TEXT: ANY VERSION OF “CHAPMAN’S
SEAMANSHIP”.
2. STUDY THE SAME TOPIC IN THE STUDY GUIDE AND
IN CHAPMAN’S.
1. TEXT: P16794.41 115 APR 1992 WITH PROPER CHANGES.
2. FINAL EXAMINATION BASED ON STUDY QUESTIONS AT
END OF EACH CHAPTER IN STUDY GUIDE.
3. SEE INSTRUCTOR AND MENTOR FOR FURTHER
GUIDANCE. 7
TERMINOLOGY AROUND A BOAT

1. BOW: The most foward portion of the main hull

(the “pointy end”).
2. FOWARD: Towards (in the direction of) the
Bow.
3. AHEAD: Hull motion relative to the bow.
4. STERN: Aftermost portion of the main hull; the
back end of the vessel (the BLUNT end), 8
 TERMINOLOGY AROUND A BOAT
a. AFT: In the direction of the stern; towards the
back end of the boat.
b. ASTERN: Direction of hull motion relative to
the stern; backing motion relative to the bow.
c. SIDES: Looking towards the bow, from the stern
(on either side of the keel):
Side to your right is STARBOARD.
Side to your left is PORT.
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TERMINOLOGY AROUND A BOAT
PLEASE NOTE: There are NO “right” or
left” sides on the water. There are only
PORTs and STARBOARDs”.

d. BEAM: The widest point of the hull, gunwale

to gunwale.

e. ATHWARTSHIP: Any measurement made from one

side of the hull to the other at 90 degrees to the keel.

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 TERMINOLOGY
TERMS DENOTING HULL SHAPE

1. SHEER: The curve or sweep of the deck, from

bow to stern, of a vessel when viewed from the
side
2. FLARE: The outward curvature of the sides of
the boat near the bow (looking head-on), which
helps to keep the vessel’s decks drier.

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 TERMINOLOGY
HULL’S BOTTOM
1. FLAT: Little or NO lateral curvature when
viewed from either the bow or the stern.
2. ROUND: When viewed from the bow or the
stern, the sides show a definite “roundness” or
curving down and inward from the deck towards
the keel.

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 TERMINOLOGY
HULL’S BOTTOM TYPE
VEE: When viewed from the bow, the sides slope sharply
towards the keel but have a tendency to flare out shortly
after the bow and may continue do so up to the mid-point
of the hull.
DEEP “V”: Carries the sharp “V” style much farther aft.
SHALLOW or SEMI-”V”: . “V” shallows out very rapidly
aft of the bow.
NOTE: The deeper the “V” the softer the ride and the
greater the directional control especially at LOW speeds.
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 TWO BASIC HULL TYPES
1. DISPLACEMENT:
2. When loaded, sets low in the water. Flotation depends
on the amount of water displaced by hull. Water
displaced >/= weight of the vessel. Usually slower vessel.
3. PLANING: Sets on top of the water. Fast moving.
Flotation does not depend as much on amount of water
displaced by the hull. Load capabilities from dynamic
actions with the hull’s bottom and the water surface.

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DISPLACEMENT HULLS

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PLANING HULL

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 TWO BASIC CABIN STYLES

1. TRUNK : Does not extend fully from gunwale to

gunwale; has walking space on both sides.
2. RAISED DECK: Does extend all the way, from gunwale
to gunwale; NO walking space on either side.

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 OTHER BOATING TERMS
1. KEELSON: A timber ( can also be of metal) fastened
along the top of the keel, inside of the hull.
2. LIMBER HOLES: Passages cut into the area next to
the keel to allow water to properly flow to it’s lowest
point, to be pumped out.
3. KING POST: The spoke of a steering wheel that is
vertical when the rudder is exactly centered along the
keel.
4. THWART: A transverse seat generally in a rowing
craft. 18
 OTHER BOATING TERMS

BOOTOP: The general area of the exterior hull at

the waterline.

THWART STANCHION: A vertical support

(stanchion) for a transverse seat (thwart).

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 OTHER BOATING TERMS
BOAT MOTIONS
PITCH: The “UP” and “DOWN” vertical motion of the
bow as the boat rotates around it’s lateral axis.
ROLL: The gunwale–to - gunwale motion of the hull as it
rotates around it’s longitudinal axis.
YAW: The swinging motion of the bow from side to side, as
the hull rotates around it’s vertical axis.

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 DANGEROUS BOATING MOTIONS
BROACH: Downhill; fairly high speed. Bow sharply digs
under the surface. Floods or significantly washes main
decks.
CAPSIZING: Vessel rolls over bottom up; difficult or
impossible recovery.
PITCHPOLING: Commonly following a BROACH and
loss of directional control. Bow plunges deep; turns
sharply to one side; vessel rolls and capsizes. Violent
potentially lethal maneuver.
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 SAILBOAT CONFIGURATION

IDENTIFICATION DEPENDS UPON THE

NUMBER OF MASTS AND SAILS AND
WHERE PLACED.
1. The graphics which follow are highly simplified
examples.

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CATBOAT CONFIGURATION

Mainsail

CATBOAT:

Single mast; One mainsail Marconi or Gaff23

SLOOP CONFIGURATION

Mainsail Jib

SLOOP: Single mast; mainsail and jib.

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 KETCH CONFIGURATION

STEERING STATION

Two masts; smaller aft; after mast ahead of

steering station
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 YAWL CONFIGURATION

STEERING STATION

Two masts; smaller BEHIND the steering station

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SCHOONER CONFIGURATION
MAIN Foremast

SCHOONER: At least two masts; Main is aft and taller.

Foremast is foward. May carry many sails. 27
 SEAMANSHIP
BOAT BUILDING MATERIALS
Five (5) materials considered
1. FIBERGLASS
2. WOOD
3. STEEL
4. ALUMINUM
5. FABRIC 28
 FIBERGLASS
DEFINITION:

STRANDS OF GLASS, SATURATED WITH

RESIN and allowed TO PROPERLY DRY AND
CURE

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TYPES OF FIBERGLAS

CHOPPED STRANDS

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 FIBERGLASS
1. MOST POPULAR building material

2. REASON FOR PRIMARY CHOICE:

EASE OF MAINTENANCE

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 TERMINOLOGY

A fiberglass hull is composed of matting,

roving, cloth and strands of fiberglass
saturated with plastic resin(s); very
similar to steel-reinforced concrete.

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 ADVANTAGES OF FIBERGLASS
IMPERVIOUS TO MARINE ANIMALS, WORMS / BORERS
(NOT GROWTH.)
1. NO DRY ROT
2. FEW OR NO SEAMS / JOINTS
3. NO LEAKS FROM SEAMS / JOINTS
4. COLOR MOLDED IN
5. STRONG
6. MOLD INTO ALMOST ANY SHAPE
7. LOW MAINTENANCE
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DISADVANTAGES OF FIBERGLASS

1. HEAVIER THAN WATER: READILY SINKS

2. EASIER TO COVER UP SHODDY
WORKMANSHIP

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 TWO KINDS OF RESINS
1. POLYESTER:
VERSATILE
EASY TO WORK WITH/ HANDLE
INEXPENSIVE

2. EPOXIES:
STRONGER
MORE EXPENSIVE
MORE DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH.
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 RESIN ADDITIVES

1. Hardeners: HARDEN THE RESIN

2. Driers: CONTROL THE CURING TIME
3. Fire Suppressants: MAKE THE RESIN FIRE
RETARDANT
4. ALL RESINS: EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE

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 MOLDS
MALE MOLD: PLUG: Exact size, shape of object to mold
FEMALE MOLD: CAVITY MOLD
USED FOR HAND-LAYUP
CHOPPED STRAND
NOTE: Gel Coat applied first, to the inside of the female
mold.
BLOWGUN PROCESS: Fastest, smoothest results

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 MOLDS
MATCHED DIE: MALE / FEMALE MOLDS
CLAMPED TOGETHER

LAMINATE USED BETWEEN (SANDWICHED)

BALSA WOOD
FOAMED PLASTICS
PLYWOOD

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 WOOD

CONSIDERATION FOR USE

1. STRENGTH
2. AVAILABILITY
3. WORKABILITY
4. WATER ABSORPTION
5. LEAST NOISY
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 WOOD CONSTRUCTION

MORE DECAY RESISTANT:

HARD WOODS:
ASH, MAHOGANY, TEAK, OAK

LESS DECAY RESISTANT:

SOFTER WOODS:
CEDAR, FIR, PINE
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 WOOD DISADVANTAGES
1. NUMBER ONE: DRY ROT
2. HIGHLY SUCEPTIBLE TO: WORMS, BORERS
3. ABSORBS WATER
4. EASILY DAMAGED

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 STEEL CONSTRUCTION
DISADVANTAGES

1. QUICK DETERIORATION
2. CONSIDERABLE CONTINUOUS
MAINTENANCE

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 STEEL CONSTRUCTION
ADVANTAGES
1. STRONGEST STRENGTH – TO – WEIGHT RATIO

2. STIFF \ RESISTANT TO:

IMPACT – FATIGUE - ABRASION

3. LESS NOISY THAN ALL BUT WOOD

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ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION
ADVANTAGES
1. LIGHT WEIGHT
2. IMPERVIOUS TO MARINE ANIMALS
( NOT GROWTH )
3. FAIRLY EASY TO FORM

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 ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION
DISADVANTAGES
1. SUSCEPTIBLE TO ELECTROLYSIS
2. HEAT CONDUCTOR
3. NOISY
4. EASY TO DAMAGE

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 STEERING SYSTEMS
TILLER
A SIMPLE RUDDER POST WITH A
HANDLE ON TOP OF IT, BY WHICH TO
STEER.
The most simple of all steering systems

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THE SIMPLE TILLER

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 STEERING SYSTEMS
DRUM & CABLE

A DRUM IS ATTACHED TO A STEERING WHEEL. A

CABLE IS WOUND AROUND THE DRUM; FED
THROUGH A SERIES OF PULLEYS FOR
SUSPENSION, THEN TO EACH SIDE OF A YOKE
ATTACHED TO A RUDDER POST. TURNING THE
STEERING WHEEL ACUTATES THE STEERING.

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DRUM & CABLE SYSTEM

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 STEERING SYSTEMS
SPROCKET & CHAIN

IF YOU REPLACE THE DRUM IN THE DRUM &

CABLE WITH A SPROCKET, THE TWO SYSTEMS
WORK ALMOST IDENTICALLY.
THE SPROCKET AND CHAIN IS BUILT FOR
HEAVIER BOATS AND GREATER WORKLOADS.

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RACK & PINION

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 RACK & PINION
THE STEERING CABLE IS ENCLOSED IN A
CONDUIT . A PINION GEAR IS ATTACHED TO THE
END OF THE STEERING SHAFT AND TO ONE END
OF A RACK WHICH ATTACHES TO THE OTHER END
OF THE CABLE.
THE CABLE ALSO ATTACHES TO THE RUDDER
POST OR THE OUTBOARD ENGINE.
TURNING THE WHEEL TRANSLATES INTO
TURNING THE RUDDER OR THE OUTBOARD
ENGINE.
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 STEERING SYSTEMS
GEAR & SHAFT
NORMALLY NOT FOUND ON SMALL BOATS:

A series of worm and bevel gears are attached to a

steering shaft which again, like the RACK &
PINION , translates the directional forces into
steerage. This system is for strong, powerful, heavy
applied loads such as those on large ocean going
vessels.
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GEAR & SHAFT
LARGER VESSELS

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 HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS

SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND ON AUTOMOBILES.

HYDRAULIC FLUID, UNDER PRESSURE, ACTUATES
STEERING CABLE CHANGES WHICH ARE
TRANSLATED INTO TURNING MOTIONS OF THE
RUDDER OR OUTBOARD.

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 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 1

1. A sloop is a sailboat with _______

` a. a single mast, with a mainsail and a jib
b. two masts, the aftermast being shorter
than the foreword mast.
c. a single mast rigged to hoist only one sail.
d. two or more masts; the aftermast taller than
the foreword mast. 56
 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 2
2. A fiberglass hull is constructed of strands
and layers of fiberglass ______________

a. bonded with hydraulic cement.

b. saturated with latex cement.
c. saturated with resin.
d. reinforced with steel mesh.
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 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 3
3. On a strength-to-weight ratio, sheet steel
is_________________
a. stronger than fiberglass
b. equal to wood
c. weaker than aluminum
d. equal to fiberglass

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 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 4
4. Steel boat hulls___________________
a. require considerable maintenance
b. require no protective painting for growths
c. have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than
wood and aluminum but not fiberglass.
d. are less noisy than all other boat building
materials.
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 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 5
5. The simplest type of steering mechanism
for a boat is the____________________
a. rack and pinion
b. drum and cable
c. sprocket and chain
d. tiller

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 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 6

6. Limber holes____________________
a. permit water to pass through a boat’s
frame.
b. provide finger holds for lifting
floor boards.
c. provide ventilation in holds.
d. are used to inspect the bilges. 66
REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 7
7. The curve or sweep of a vessel, as
viewed from the side is called the ______
a. freeboard
b boot top
c. sheer

d. tumble home

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REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 8
8. The outward curvature of the sides of the
hull, near the bow, that is used to keep the
deck drier, is called the_________________
a. sheer
b. freeboard
c. trunk
d. flare
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 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 9
9. The use of two or more different materials, when
constructing the hull, is called_____construction.
a. layered

b. multiple
c. composite
d. feathered

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 REVIEW QUESTIONS NO. 10
10. The top advantage of a steel hull
is_______
a. it’s weight
b. it is quieter
c. it is easier to maintain
d. it is fire proof
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 END
CHAPTER 1

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