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PAY, To

To lay on a coat of tar. with a mop or brush, in order to preserve the wood and keep out water, when one or more pieces are scarped together, as the beams. the inside of the scarps are paid with tar as a preservative; and the seams after they are caulked are fayed with pitch to keep the water from the oakum.

PEDESTAL RAIL.

A rail, about two inches thick, that is wrought over the foot-space rail, and in which there is a groove to steady the heels of the balusters of the galleries.

PILASTERS.

Flat columns or ornaments, prepared by the joiners, generally of deal, fluted or reeded, with molded caps and bases, which are placed upon the munions of the ward-room lights. for the purpose of ornamenting the stern and quarter-galleries, particularly when the walk or balcony does not project aft. They are likewise used on the munions of the bulkheads of captain's cabin and offices.

PILLARS.

The square or turned pieces of timber erected perpendicularly under the middle of the beams for the support of the decks.

PINS.

Short iron rods fixed occasionally in the drumheads of capstans, and through the ends of the bars, to prevent their unshipping. They are confined near their respective places by a chain. Others of a larger size, are driven through the bitts to belay ropes to; and smaller ones are fixed in racks in different parts of the ship to belay the rigging to. The upright parts of the bitts are also commonly called bitt-pins.

PINK.

A ship with a very narrow round stern; whence all vessels, however small, having their sterns fashioned in this manner, are said to be pink-sterned.

PINS AND PLATES.

Pins of iron occasionally drawn out to support the palls of the capstan, and fitted in plates.

PINS OF BOATS.

Pins of iron or wood, fixed along the gunwales of some boats, instead of rowlocks, whose oars are confined by grommets.

PINTLES.

Straps of mixt metal or of iron, fastened on the rudder, in the same manner as the braces on the stern-post, having a stout pin or hook at the ends, with the points downwards to enter in and rest upon the braces on which the rudder traverses or turns, as upon hinges, from side to side. Sometimes one or two are shorter than the rest, and work in a socket brace, whereby the rudder turns easier. The latter are called Dumb Pintles. Some are bushed, and others burred.

PITCH.

Tar, boiled to a harder and more tenacious substance.

PITCHING.

The inclination or vibration of the ship lengthwise about her centre of gravity; or the motion by which she plunges her head and after part alternately into the hollow of the sea. This is a very dangerous motion, and, when considerable, not only retards the ship's way, but endangers the masts and strains the vessel.

PLAN.

The area or imaginary surface defined by or within any described lines. In ship-building, the Plan of Elevation, commonly called the SHEER DRAUGHT, is a side-plan of the ship, defined by a surface limited by the head afore, by the stern abaft, the keel below, and the upper side of the vessel above. The Horizontal Plan, commonly called the HALF BREADTH PLAN, comprehends all the lines describing the greatest breadth and length of the ship at different heights or sections. This is named half-breadth plan, because both sides of the ship being exactly alike, only one-half is represented. To the foregoing must be added, the Plan of Projection, commonly called the BODY PLAN, which exhibits the outline of the principal timbers, and the greatest heights and breadths of the same.

PLAN OF THE TRANSOMS, THE

is the horizontal appearance of them, to which the moulds are made, and the beveling taken.

PLANK.

A general name for all timber, excepting fir, which is from one inch and a half to four inches thick. Of less dimensions it is called board.

PLANKING.

Covering the outside of the timbers with plank; sometimes quaintly called skinning, the plank being the outer coating, when the vessel is not sheathed.

PLANK-SHEERS, or PLANK-SHEER.

The pieces of plank laid horizontally over the timber-heads of the quarter-deck, forecastle, and round-house, for the purpose of covering the top of the side, hence sometimes called covering boards.

PLATFORMS.

Are a sort of temporary or lighter kind of deck, those forward and aft have the store-rooms and cabins on, and the platform in the midships have the cables stowed thereon.

PLUMB.

Perpendicular or upright. The term originates from plumbum, or lead, as the perpendicular is generally ascertained by a lump of lead suspended by a cord, and generally called a Plumb Line.

POINT-IRON, or BRASS.

A larger sort of plumb, formed conically and terminating in a point, for the more nicely adjusting any thing perpendicularly for a given line.

POINTERS or BRACES.

Timbers sometimes fixed diagonally across the hold, to support the beams.

POOP.

The uppermost deck of a ship, abaft, commonly called the Round House.

POPPETS.

Those pieces, mostly fir, which are fixed perpendicularly between the ship's bottom and the bilgeways, at the fore and aftermost parts of the ship, to support her in launching.

PORT HOOKS.

Iron hooks driven into the side of the ship; and to which the port-hinges are attached.

PORT-LIDS.

The shutters, hung with hinges, which enclose the ports in rough weather.

PORTS.

The square holes or opening in the side of the ship through which the guns are fired.

POWDER-ROOM.

A convenient apartment, built abaft in large and forward in small ships, with racks. for holding cartridges filled with powder.

PREVENTER-BOLTS.

The bolts driven through the lower end of the preventer-plates to assist the chain-bolts in heavy strains.

PREVENTER-PLATES.

Stout plates of iron, bolted through the sides at the lower part of the chains, as an additional security.

PRIZING.

Lifting or removing a heavy body by means of a lever.

PROFILE.

The draught or scheme of the inboard works, which is usually described in red lines.

PROOF TIMBER.

An imaginary timber, expressed by vertical lines in the sheer-draught, similar to the joints of the square timbers, and used nearly forward and aft to prove the fairness of the body.

PROW.

A name very frequently given to the head or foremost end of a vessel, particularly by the French.

PUMP.

The machine, fitted in the wells of ships, to draw water out of the hold.

PUMP-CISTERNS.

Cisterns fixed over the heads of the pumps, to receive the water until it is conveyed through the sides of the ship by the pump-dales.

PUMP-DALES.

Pipes fitted to the cisterns, to convey the water from them through the ship's sides.

QUARTER.

The upper part of the topside abaft.

QUARTERING.

Timber under five inches square.

QUARTER-DECK.

That deck in ships of war which extends from the main-mast to the stern.

QUARTER-GALLERIES.

The projections from the quarters abaft, fitted with sashes and balusters, and intended both for convenience and ornament to the aft part of the ship.

QUARTER-PIECES.

Substantial pieces of timber, mostly fir, that form the out-boundary of the stern, and connect the quarter-gallery to the stern and taffarel.

QUARTER-RAILS.

Rails fixed into stanchions from the stern to the gangway, and serving as a fence to prevent any one from falling overboard. or birthing up to the quarters.

QUICKEN, To.

To give any thing a greater curve. For instance, "To Quicken the Sheer," is to shorten the radius by which the curve is struck; this term is therefore opposed to straightening the sheer.

QUICKWORK.

A denomination given to the strakes which shut in between the spirketting and clamps. By quickwork is also sometimes meant, all that part of a ship or vessel which is below the level of the surface of the water when she is laden.

RABBET or REBATE.

A joint made by a groove, or channel, in a piece of timber cut for the purpose of receiving and securing the edge or ends of the planks, as the planks of the bottom into the keel, stem, or stern post, or the edge of one plank into another.

RAFT-PORT.

A large square hole framed and cut through the buttock between the transoms, or forward in the bore, between the breast hooks, and through which masts, planks, deals. are taken into store-ships, or merchant-ships, carrying such cargoes which, owing to their great length, cannot be gotten on board in any other way.

RAG-BOLT.

A sort of bolt having its point jagged or barbed to make it hold the more securely.

RAILS.

The long narrow pieces of fir or oak, with moldings struck on them, which are fastened or sometimes wrought from the solid plank, as ornaments to the ship's sides, and also at the head and stern. The principal are as follow; the lower rail on the side, named the waist-rail; and the next above it. the sheer-rail, which are generally placed well with the sheer or top timber line, the rails next above the sheer-rail are called drift-rails, and the rails above the plank-sheer the fife-rails. The rails of the head are distinguished by the lower, middle, main, and upper rails; and the rails of the stern take their names from the parts where they are fixed, as tuck-rail, lower counter-rail, upper counter-rail, taffarel-rail, and taffarel-fife-rail. To these may be added, the thwartships pieces of the framing of the great cabin bulkheads.

RAKE.

The overhanging of the stem or stern beyond a perpendicular with the keel, or any part or thing that forms an obtuse angle with the horizon.

RAM-LINE.

A small rope or line sometimes used for the purpose of forming the sheer or hang of the deck, for setting the beams fair.

RANGES.

Horned pieces of oak, like belaying cleats, but much larger, bolted to the inside of the ship, in the waist, for belaying the tacks and sheets. Also those pieces of oak plank fixed between the ports, with semi-circular holes in them for keeping shot in.

RASING.

The act of marking by a mould on a piece of timber; or any marks made by a tool called a rasing-knife.

RATE.

The denomination of the different classes of ships, according to their number of guns. Thus those of 100 guns and all above, are called first rates; those of 98 and 90 guns, second rates; from 80 to 64 guns, third rates; from 60 go 50 guns, fourth rates; from 40 to 32 are fifth rates; and all under are sixth rates; excepting yachts, fire ships, and hospital ships, which are rated as fifth rates.

RAVE-HOOK.

A hooked tool used by square-makers, to haul out the small chips when enlarging the butts for receiving a sufficient quantity of oakum.

RECONCILER or RECONCILING SWEEP.

A curve which reconciles the floor and lower-breadth sweeps together, and thus the shape of the body is formed below the breadth.

RECONCILE, To

To make one piece of work answer fair with the molding or shape of the adjoining piece, and, more particularly, in the reversion of curves.

REEMING.

A term used by caulkers for opening the seams of the planks, that the oakum may be more readily admitted.

REEMING-IRONS.

The large irons used by caulkers in opening the seams.

RELIEVE, To

To make a set near to another that cannot be set on any more till it is taken on each side.

RENDS.

Large open splits or shakes in timber, particularly in plank, occasioned by its being exposed to the wind and sun.

RHODINGS OF THE PUMPS.

The brass cleats on which the axles work.

RIB BAND-LINES.

The same with diagonal lines.

RIB BANDS.

The longitudinal pieces of fir, about five inches square, nailed to the timbers of the square body those of the same description in the cant body being shaped by a mould and called Harpins) to keep the body of the ship together, and in its proper shape, until the plank is brought on. The shores are placed beneath them. They are removed entirely when the planking comes on. The difference between Cant Rib bands and Square or Horizontal Rib bands is that the latter are only ideal, and used in laying off.

RIBS.

A figurative expression for the timbers or frames of a ship, arising from the comparison of it with the human body, as the keel with its kelson to the back bone, and the timbers to the ribs. For the former unite and support the whole fabric, since the stem and stern frame, which are elevated on the ends of the keel, may be said to be a continuation of it, and serve to connect and enclose the extremities, by the hawse pieces and transoms, as the keel forms and unites the bottom by the floor-timbers. The idea carried further may in a manner represent the muscular parts of the human fabric; for the wales, clumps , and thick stuffs, at the different heads of the timbers, are as so many muscles or strong ligaments to connect the ribs together, while the thinner planking may be compared to the skin or covering of the whole, and hence planking is often termed skinning.

RIDERS.

Interior ribs to strengthen and bind the parts of a ship together, being fayed upon the inside stuff, and bolted through all. They are mostly used in ships of war, and are variously situated, as the Floor Riders, which are fayed athwart the kelson, and should be disposed upon the first futtocks of the ship. The next are the lower or first futtock riders, which fay alongside the floor-riders, and give scarp above them. These are completed by cross-chocks athwart their heels, that scarp to each side with hook and butt. The next are second futtock riders, which fay alongside of the first futtock riders, down to the floor riders, and run up to the orlop beams. The third futtock riders fay alongside the second futtock riders, scarp or meet the first futtock ridders, and run up to the gun-deck beams. The whole are bolted together fore and aft-wise. The riders next above the foregoing are called breadth riders, and are placed nearly in the broadest part of the ship hence their name,) and diagonally so as to partake of two or more timbers, the strength depending much thereon. Lastly, the top-riders are the uppermost; they stand nearly the same as breadth riders, and very much strengthen the topside. Riders are not so much required in merchant ships as in ships of war, excepting floor and lower riders, which are generally of iron,) because, in merchant ships the cargo being generally stowed low down, the upper works are not liable to strain and labour like those in ships of war laden high up with heavy metal.

RIMS.

Those pieces which form the quarter galleries between the stools. Also a cast iron frame in which the dropping palls of a capstan traverse and bring up the capstan.

RINGS.

Circles of iron, or other metal, for lifting things by hand or securing the points of bolts. Hatch Rings are those which are fixed to the hatches or scuttles, to open or shut them with. Port Rings are those which are fixed to the port or scuttle lids to haul them open by, or bar them in.

RISING.

A term derived from the shape of a ship's bottom in general, which gradually narrows, or becomes sharper towards the stem and the stern post. On this account, the floor, towards the extremities of the ship, is raised or lifted above the keel: otherwise the shape would be so very acute, as not to be provided from timber with sufficient strength in the middle or cutting-down. The floor timbers forward and abaft, with regard to their general form and arrangement, are therefore gradually lifted or raised upon the solid body of wood called the dead or rising-wood, which must, of course, have more or less rising as the body of the ship assumes more or less fullness or capacity.

RISINGS OF BOATS, THE

is a narrow strake of board fastened within side to support the thwarts.

RISING HALF-BREADTH, or NARROWING OF THE FLOOR-SWEEP.

A curve line, on the half-breadth plan, which determines the distance of the radius of the floor-sweeps from the middle line.

RISING FLOORS.

The floors forward and abaft, which, on account of the rising of the body, are the most difficult to be obtained, as they must be deeper in the throat or at the cutting down, to preserve strength.

RISING-LINE.

An elliptical line, drawn on the plan of elevation, to determine the sweep of the floor-heads throughout the ship's length, which accordingly ascertains the shape of the bottom with regard to its being full or sharp.

RISING-SQUARE.

A square used in whole molding, upon which is marked the height of the rising-line above the upper edge of the keel.

RISING STRAIGHT,

in whole molding, is a curve line in the sheer plan, drawn at the intersection of the straight part of the bend mould, when continued to the middle line at each respective timber.

ROLLERS

Cylindrical pieces of timber revolving on an axis, and so fixed above the deck, either horizontally or perpendicularly, as to prevent the chafing of the cable or hawser. against the Jear and top-sail sheet bitts. Those placed forward in the manger are for the use of the royal or messenger.

ROLLING.

That motion by which a ship vibrates from side to side. Rolling is therefore a sort of revolution about an imaginary axis passing through the centre of gravity of the ship: so that the nearer the centre of gravity is to the keel, the more violent will be the roll, because the centre, about which the vibrations are made, is placed so low in the bottom, that the resistance made by the keel to the volume of water which it displaces in rolling, bears very little proportion to the force of the vibration above the centre of gravity, the radius of which extends as high as the mast-heads. But, if the centre of gravity is placed higher above the keel, the radius of the vibration will not only be diminished, but such and additional force to oppose the motion of rolling will be communicated to that part of the ship's bottom as may contribute to diminish this movement considerably.

It may be observed that, with respect to the formation of a ship's body, that shape which approaches nearest to a circle is the most liable to roll; as it is evident, that if this be agitated in the water, it will have nothing to restrain it; because the rolling or rotation about its centre displaces no more water than when it remains upright, and hence it becomes necessary to increase the depth of the keel, the rising of the floors, and the deadwood afore and abaft.

ROOMS.

The different vacancies between the timbers, and likewise those between the beams, as the MAST-ROOMS, CAPSTAN-ROOM, HATCH-ROOM. Also the different apartments or places of reserve, of which there are a number in a ship, as the Bread-Room, an apartment in the hold abaft for containing the bread for the ship's use. The Fish-Room, an apartment next adjoining, in which cured or dried fish was formerly stored, but which is now generally used as a coal-hole, and to stow spirits in. The Captain's and Lieutenant's Store-rooms, are two apartments built near each other on the starboard side of the after platform, for those officers to store their wine in. Sail-Rooms are built between decks upon the orlop or lower deck to contain the spare sails. The Spirit-Room is built in the hold, next before the fish-room, to contain the spirituous liquors for the use of the ship's company. Besides these, there are several other store-rooms in which the carpenter's, boatswain's, and gunner's stores are kept; with the Steward's-Room, whence most of the provisions are issued, and which is the place appointed for the purser's steward to transact his business in. The Filling Room is a place parted off and lined with lead in the magazine, wherein the powder is started, in order to fill the cartridges.

ROOM AND SPACE.

The distance from the molding edge of one timber to the molding edge of the next timber, which is always equal to the breadth of two timbers, and two to four inches or more. The room and space of all ships that have ports should be so disposed that the scantling of the timber on each side of the lower ports, and the size of the ports fore and aft, may be equal to the distance of two rooms and space.

ROUGH-TREE-RAILS.

Rails along the waist and quarters, nearly breast-high, to prevent persons from falling overboard. This term originated from the practice in merchant vessels of carrying their rough or spare-gear in crutch-irons along their waist.

ROUND-AFT.

The segment of a circle that the stern partakes of from the wing-transom upward.

ROUND-HOUSE.

That part of the ship abaft, which is above the quarter-deck, fitted up with cabins. for the accommodation of the officers.

ROUND-HOUSES AT THE HEAD.

Conveniences or seats of ease for the officers.

ROUND STERN.

The stern of a vessel whose bottom, wales. are wrought quite aft, and unite in the stern-post. Few English vessels are built on this construction, excepting small vessels, as hoys.

ROWLOCKS.

The scores in the sides of boats wherein the oars or sculls are confined to row them with.

ROW PORTS.

Square scuttles cut through the sides of frigates, sloops, and small vessels, one between each port in midships, through which the sweeps are worked to row them along in a calm or light wind. In point of utility they are therefore similar to rowlocks along the gunwale of boats.

ROUND-UP OF THE TRANSOMS.

The segment of a circle to which they are sided, or of beams to which they are molded.