AN UNIVERSAL DICTIONARY OF THE MARINE. (continued 11)
Reading edition
The lower part of the windlass is usually about a foot above the deck. It is, like the capstern, furnished with strong pauls, c, d, to prevent it from turning backwards by the effort of the cable, when charged with the weight of the anchor, or strained by the violent jerking of the ship in a tempestuous sea. The pauls, which are formed of wood or iron, fall into notches, cut in the surface of the windlass, and lined with plates of iron. Each of the pauls being accordingly hung over a particular part of the windlass, falls eight times into the notches at every revolution of the machine, because there are eight notches placed on its circumference under the pauls. So if the windlass is twenty inches in diameter, and purchases five feet of the cable at every revolution, it will be prevented from turning back, or losing any part thereof, at every seven inches nearly, which is heaved in upon its surface.
As this machine is heaved about in a vertical direction, it is evident that the effort of an equal number of men acting upon it will be much more powerful than on the capstern; because their whole weight and strength are applied more readily to the end of the lever employed to turn it about. Whereas, in the horizontal movement of the capstern, the exertion of their force is considerably diminished. It requires, however, some dexterity and address to manage the handspec to the greatest advantage; and to perform this the sailors must all rise at once upon the windlass, and, fixing their bars therein, give a sudden jerk at the same instant, in which movement they are regulated by a sort of song or howl pronounced by one of their number.
The most dextrous managers of the handspec in heaving at the windlass are generally supposed the colliers of Northumberland: and of all European mariners, the Dutch are certainly the most aukward and sluggish in this manœuvre.
WINDSAIL, a sort of wide tube or funnel of canvas, employed to convey a stream of fresh air downward into the lower apartments of a ship.
This machine is usually extended by large hoops situated in different parts of its height. It is let down perpendicularly through the hatches, being expanded at the lower end like the base of a cone; and having its upper part open on the side which is placed to windward, so as to receive the full current of the wind; which, entering the cavity, fills the tube, and rushes downwards into the lower regions of the ship. There are generally three or four of these in our capital ships of war, which, together with the ventilators, contribute greatly to preserve the health of the crew.
WINGS, a name given to those parts of a ship’s hold which are nearest to the sides, or farthest removed from the middle of her breadth.
This term is particularly used in the stowage of the several materials contained in the hold; as, Stow the large casks amidships, and the smaller barrels in the wings. See Trim and Stowage.
Wings are also the skirts or extremities of a fleet when it is ranged into a line a-breast, or when bearing away upon two sides of an angle. Thus the ships a, b. fig. 10. & 11. plate V. are in the wings of their fleet or squadron.
It is usual to extend the wings of a fleet in the day-time, in order to discover any enemy which may fall into their track. To prevent separation, however, they are commonly summoned to draw nearer to the center of the squadron before night, by a signal from the commander in chief, which is afterwards repeated by ships in the intervals.
WOOLDING, surlier, (woelen, Dut.) the act of winding a piece of rope about a mast or yard, to support it in a place where it may have been fished or scarfed; or when it is composed of several pieces united into one solid. See Mast.
Woolding is also the rope employed in this service. Those which are fixed on the lower masts, are represented in a, fig. 1, 2, & 3. plate VI.
To WORK, manœuvrer, to direct the movements of a ship, by adapting the sails to the force and direction of the wind.
A ship is also said to work, when she strains and labours heavily in a tempestuous sea, so as to loosen her joints or timbers. See Pitching and Rolling.
WORKING to windward, the operation by which a ship endeavours to make a progress against the wind. See Beating, Plying, Turning, and Tacking.
WORMING, emieller, the act of winding a rope spirally about a cable, so as to lie close along the interval between every two strands. It is generally designed to support and strengthen the cable, that it may be enabled to sustain a greater effort when the ship rides at anchor; and also to preserve the surface of the cable, where it lies flat upon the ground, near the station of the anchor: particularly in moderate weather.
WRECK, the ruins of a ship which has been stranded or dashed to pieces on a shelf, rock, or lee-shore, by tempestuous weather.
Conclusion of the article Pump.
As we wish to pay all possible attention in this work to every improvement in the marine, we have exhibited in plate VIII. a section of this machine at large, as fixed in a frigate of war, fig. 2. wherein A is the keel, and V the floor timbers, and X the kelson, a a a the several links of the chain, b b the valves, C the upper wheels, D the lower wheels, c c the cavities upon the surface of the wheels to receive the valves as they pass round thereon, d d the bolts fixed across the surface of the wheels, to fall in the interval between every two links, to prevent the chain from sliding back.
The links of the chain, which are no other than two long plates of iron with a hole at each end, and fixed together by two bolts serving as axles, are represented on a larger scale as a a. The valves are two circular plates of iron with a piece of leather between them: these are also exhibited at large by b b.
Upon a trial of this machine with the old chain-pump aboard the seaford frigate, it appears, in a report signed by rear admiral Sir John Moore, 12 captains, and 11 lieutenants of his majesty’s navy, that its effects, when compared with the latter, were as follow.
New Pump. Old Pump.
Number of Men. Tuns of Water. Seconds of Time. Number of Men. Tuns of Water. Seconds of Time.
4 1 43½ 7 1 76
2 1 55 4 1 81
The subscribers further certify, that the chain of the new pump was dropped into the well, and afterwards taken up and repaired and set at work again in two minutes and a half; and that they have seen the lower wheel of the said pump taken up to show how readily it might be cleared and refitted for action, after being choaked with sand or gravel; which they are of opinion may be performed in four or five minutes.
X.
XEBEC, a small three-masted vessel, navigated in the Mediterranean sea, and on the coasts of Spain, Portugal, and Barbary. See fig. 8. plate XII.
The sails of the xebec are in general similar to those of the polacre, but the hull is extremely different from that and almost every other vessel. It is furnished with a strong prow, and the extremity of the stern, which is nothing more than a sort of railed platform or gallery, projects farther behind the counter and buttock than that of any European ship.
Being generally equipped as a corsair, the xebec is constructed with a narrow floor, to be more swift in pursuit of the enemy; and of a great breadth, to enable her to carry a great force of sail for this purpose, without danger of overturning. As these vessels are usually very low-built, their decks are formed with a great convexity from the middle of their breadth towards the sides, in order to carry off the water, which falls aboard, more readily by their scuppers. But as this extreme convexity would render it very difficult to walk thereon at sea, particularly when the vessel rocks by the agitation of the waves, there is a platform of grating extending along the deck from the sides of the vessel towards the middle, whereon the crew may walk dry-footed, whilst the water is conveyed through the grating to the scuppers.
When a xebec is equipped for war, she is occasionally navigated in three different methods, according to the force or direction of the wind.
Thus, when the wind is fair, and nearly astern, it is usual to extend square sails upon the main-mast; and indeed frequently on the fore-mast: and as those sails are rarely used in a scant wind, they are of an extraordinary breadth.
When the wind is unfavourable to the course, and yet continues moderate, the square yards and sails are removed from the masts, and laid by, in order to make way for the large lateen yards and sails, which soon after assume their place: but if the foul wind increases to a storm, these latter are also lowered down and displaced; and small lateen yards with proportional sails are extended on all the masts.
The xebecs, which are generally armed as vessels of war by the Algerines, mount from sixteen to twenty-four cannon, and carry from 300 to 450 men, two thirds of whom are generally soldiers.
By the very complicated and inconvenient method of working these vessels, it will be readily believed, what one of their captains of Algiers acquainted the author, viz. That the crew of every xebec has at least the labour of three square-rigged ships, wherein the standing sails are calculated to answer every situation of the wind.
Y.
YACHT, a vessel of state, usually employed to convey princes, ambassadors, or other great personages from one kingdom to another.
As the principal design of a yacht is to accommodate the passengers, it is usually fitted with a variety of convenient apartments, with suitable furniture, according to the quality or number of the persons contained therein.
The royal yachts are commonly rigged as ketches, except the principal one reserved for the sovereign, which is equipped with three masts like a ship. They are in general elegantly furnished, and richly ornamented with sculpture; and always commanded by captains in his majesty’s navy.
Besides these, there are many other yachts of a smaller kind, employed by the commissioners of the excise, navy, and customs; or used as pleasure-boats by private gentlemen.
YARD, vergue, a long piece of timber suspended upon the masts of a ship, to extend the sails to the wind. See Mast and Sail.
All yards are either square or lateen; the former of which are suspended across the mast at right angles, and the latter obliquely.
The square-yards, fig. 1. plate IX. are nearly of a cylindrical surface. They taper from the middle, which is called the slings, towards the extremities which are termed the yard-arms; and the distance between the slings and the yard-arms on each side, is, by the artificers, divided into quarters, which are distinguished into the first, second, third quarters, and yard-arms. The middle quarters are formed into eight squares, and each of the end parts is figured like the frustrum of a cone. All the yards of a ship are square except that of the mizen.
The proportions for the length of yards, according to the different classes of ships in the British navy, are as follows:
Guns.
1000 : gun-deck :: 560 : main yard expressed by d, fig. 1. plate IX. Note, the figure represents the yards and sails of a ship of 74 guns. 100
559 : 90 80
570 : 70
576 : 60
575 : 50
561 : 44
1000 : main-yard :: 880 : fore-yard 100 90 80
874 : all the rest.
To apply this rule to practice, suppose the gun-deck 144 feet. The proportion for this length is as 1000 is to 575, so is 144 to 83; which will be the length of the main-yard in feet, and so of all the rest.
1000 : main-yard :: 820 : mizen-yard 100 90 80 60 44
847 : 70
840 : 24
1000 : main-yard :: 726 : main topsail-yard e, fig. 1. plate IX 24
720 : all the rest.
1000 : fore-yard :: 719 : fore topsail-yard 70
726 : 24
715 : all the rest.
1000 : main topsail-yd. :: 690 : main top-gall. yard all the rates.
1000 : fore topsail-yd. :: 696 : fore top-gall. yard f, fig. 1. plate IX. 70
690 : all the rest.
1000 : fore topsail-yd. :: 768 : mizen topsail-yard 70
750 : all the rest.
Cross-jack and sprit-sail yards equal to the fore topsail yard.
Sprit topsail yard equal to the fore top-gallant-yard.
The diameters of yards are in the following proportions to their length.
The main and fore yard five sevenths of an inch to a yard. The topsail, cross-jack, and sprit-sail yards, nine fourteenths of an inch to one yard. The top-gallant, mizen topsail, and sprit-sail topsail yards eight thirteenths of an inch to one yard.
The mizen yard five ninths of an inch to one yard.
All studding-sail booms and yards half an inch to one yard in length.
The lifts of the main-yard are exhibited in the above figure, by g; the horses and their stirrups, by h, i; the reef-tackles and their pendants, by k, l; and the braces and brace-pendants, by m, n.
The lateen-yards evidently derive their names from having been peculiar to the ancient Romans. They are usually composed of several pieces fastened together by wooldings, which also serve as steps whereby the sailors climb to the peek, or upper extremity, in order to furl or cast loose the sail.
The mizen-yard of a ship, and the main-yard of a bilander, are hung obliquely on the mast, almost in the same manner as the lateen-yard of a xebec, settee, or polacre. See those articles.
To brace the Yards, brasser, is to traverse them about the masts, so as to form greater or lesser angles with the ship’s length. See Brace.
To square the Yards. See Lift and Square.
Dock-Yard. See the article Dock-yard.
YAW, a name given by seamen to the movement by which a ship deviates from the line of her course towards the right or left in steering.
YAWL, a small ship’s boat, usually rowed by four or six oars. See Boat.
YEOMAN, an officer under the boatswain or gunner of a ship of war, usually charged with the stowage, account, and distribution of their respective stores.
YOKE, a name formerly given to the tiller, when communicating with two blocks or sheaves affixed to the inner end of the tiller. It is now applied to a small board or bar which crosses the upper end of a boat’s rudder at right angles, and having two small cords extending from its opposite extremities to the stern-sheets of the boat, whereby she is steered as with a tiller.
THE END.
SUPPLEMENT and ERRATA.
A.
In the article Aback, line 19. for fig. 1. read fig. 14. and in line 22, read fig. 13.
After the Anchor is a cock bill, read à la veille.
An-end, debout, the situation of any mast or boom, when erected perpendicularly on the plane of the deck, tops, &c. The top-masts are also said to be an-end when they are hoisted up to their usual station, at the head of the lower masts, as in fig. 3. plate VI.
In line 24. page 2. of Naval Architecture, dele see the article Elevation, and line 21. under this in the same page, for plate V. fig. 4. read plate IV. fig. 11.
In the explanation of the pieces of the Hull, page 6. of Naval Architecture, line 31. for sternpost, read dead-wood, and two lines lower, for sleepers, read knees.
In line 34. page 9. of the same article, for O K, read O k.
Top-ARMOUR. See the article Top.
Avast, the order to stop, or pause in any exercise.
In the article Aweigh, after the words perpendicular direction, read as in fig. 6. plate 1.
B.
To Bagpipe the Mizen, is to lay it aback, by bringing the sheet to the mizen shrouds.
Bill, the point or extremity of the fluke of an anchor.
Block and Block, the situation of a tackle when the two opposite blocks are drawn close together, so that the mechanical power becomes destroyed, till the tackle is again over-hauled by drawing the blocks asunder.
In the 2d page of the article Boat, line 13. from the bottom, for of framed iron, read framed of iron.
Bold, an epithet applied to the sea coast, signifying steep, or abrupt, so as to admit the approach of shipping without exposing them to the danger of being run a-ground, or stranded.
For the articles Bolt and Boom-iron, see Iron-work, as corrected below.
Bonnet, an additional part laced to the bottom of the main sail and fore sail of some small vessels, in moderate winds.
In the article Bream, the last line except one, read or by docking.
In-Bulk, see Laden.
Bum-boat, a small boat used to sell vegetables, &c. to ships lying at a distance from the shore.
C.
In the article Can-BUOYS, for fig. 8. read fig. 6. and in Nun-BUOYS, for fig. 9. read fig. 7.
In Can-HOOKS, dele and 9.
In the 4th page of the article Cannon, line 22. for fig. 17. read fig. 10. and in the 5th page of the same article, line 11. read the figures 8. and 10.
Line 14. of Capstern, for fig. 10. read fig. 11. and 12.
Cast-away, the state of a ship which is lost or wrecked on a lee-shore, bank, or shallow.
Coming-to. See the article Trying.
Complement, the limited number of men employed in any ship, either for navigation or battle.
Crowfoot, line 3. for 27. read 28.
D.
Davit, line 2. for 28. read 29.
In the explanation of Deck, plate III. for L the deck-transom, read L the wing-transom, and nine lines lower, read Q the wing-transom-knee.
In Division, line 7. after cannon, read each.
Double-banked, the situation of the oars of a boat when two opposite ones are managed by rowers seated on the same bench, or thwart. The oars are also said to be double-banked when two men row upon every single one.
Drawing, the state of a sail when it is inflated by the wind, so as to advance the vessel in her course.
E.
In the 12th page of the article Engagement, line 18. for have as many, read save as many.
F.
Fire-ship, line 10. after bulk-head, for I, read L.
Flaw, a sudden breeze, or gust of wind.
Flush. See the article Deck.
G.
Gammoning, line 4. for fig. 7. read fig. 6, 8, and 9.
Gripe, the same with Fore-foot. See that article.
Guy, line 1. read to keep steddy.
H.
Hauser, a large rope which holds the middle degree between the cable and tow-line, in any ship whereto it belongs, being a size smaller than the former, and as much larger than the latter.
In the 3d page of the article Head, line 26. after beams, read or; and six lines lower, read the head, and part, &c.
I.
In the article Iron-work, line 14. dele as in fig. 1. and 2. plate II. and two lines lower, for fig. 4. read fig. 1. plate II. and in the next line, for fig. 5, 6, and 39. read fig. 3, and 39. Seven lines below this, after barbs, read fig. 2. and in the 2d line from the bottom, for fig. 7. read fig. 5.
K.
To Keep-off for alargeer, read alarguer.
In line 9. of the article Ketch, after war, read see fig. 5. plate VII.
L.
Lanch, the order to let go the top-rope, after any top mast is fidded.
Ledges, certain small pieces of timber placed athwart-ships, under the decks of a ship, in the intervals between the beams, as exhibited in the representation of the deck, plate III.
Ledge, is also a long ridge of rocks, near the surface of the sea.
Line 10. of the article Line, for fig. 5. read fig. 6.
M.
Midshipman, line 4. for all other, read several other.
In page 2d of the article Mortar, line 9. after distance, read from the object, &c. and in page 3. of the same article, line 2. for fig. 14. plate VII. read fig. 5. and 20. plate VII. the former of which exhibits the transverse section of a bomb-vessel, with the mortar fixed in its place, at an elevation of forty-five degrees. See Range.
Q.
Quartering-wind. See the article Sailing.
R.
Rack, rasteau, a frame of timber, containing several sheaves, and usually fixed on the opposite sides of a ship’s bow-sprit, to direct the sailors to the respective ropes passing through it, all of which are attached to the sails on the bowsprit.
In page 4. of the article Rate, line 14. for without, read to avoid.
After the article Riding, read, a rope is said to ride, when one of the turns by which it is wound about the capstern or windlass lies over another, so as to interrupt the operation of heaving.
S.
Sally-port. See the article Fire-ship.
Scud, a name given by seamen to the lowest and lightest clouds, which are most swiftly wafted along the atmosphere by the winds.
Shallop, a sort of large boat with two masts, and usually rigged like a schooner.
Shivering, the state of a sail when it shakes or flutters in the wind, as being neither full nor aback, but in a middle degree, between both, as well with regard to its absolute position, as to its relative effect on the vessel.
In line 9. of the article Stern, for fig. 1. read fig 3. and thirteen lines lower, after third transoms, dele with l, m, n, o, four intermediate transoms, and read the 4th, 5th, and 6th transoms are placed immediately under these: and that which lies between the wing and deck-transoms, is called the filling-transom.
T.
Thick-stuff. See the articles Ship-BUILDING and Midship-frame.
In page 2. of the article Top, line 19. for fig. 2. plate VI. read fig. 1. plate IX.