The bowsprit fittings, which are known as the
gammon iron and heel plate (Figs. 157, 158), are
made by soldering pieces of brass tube (cut to suitable
size and shape) onto pieces of triangular sheet
brass, as illustrated. The horses can either be of
wire with the ends turned to suitable shape and
fitted with one screw, or they can have plates for
two screws, in which case the wire is either threaded
and screwed into the plate or silver-soldered to it.
Silver-soldering is done with a blow-pipe. The flux
used is borax made into a thin paste with water.
Silver-solder is bought in small sheets, and a few
cents' worth will go a long way if used properly.
Cut small pieces about 1/8 inch by 1/16 inch, and, after
painting the part to be soldered with your paste
borax with a very small brush, pick up the solder
with the tip of the brush and put it in position. It
will then run around the joint when the metal is
raised to sufficient heat.
The hatch-rim is made by cutting a strip of thin
brass 1/4 inch in width, the length being the circumference
of the oval. The two ends are brought together
and silver-soldered. Cut out the oval in a
piece of very thin brass and fit in your oval strip
so that the flat is just in the center of it. This
can then be sweated around with an ordinary
soldering-iron, the flat being trimmed down afterward
with the shears to leave a flange 1/4 inch in
width, the latter being drilled to take 1/4 inch No. 0
round-head screws.
The deck fitting for the mast, (Fig. 159) is made
in much the same way, a piece of tube being used
instead of cutting a strip of brass. To receive the
heel of the mast a fitting known as the mast-step
must be made and fitted. This, of course, must be
done before the deck is put on. The step is made
from two pieces of brass, each about 1/32 inch in
thickness, 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide. One is
hard-soldered on edge down the center of the
other to form something like a T girder. A slot,
as illustrated, is cut in the upright piece with a
ward file, and holes drilled in the flat for screwing
down on the inside of the boat. A ferrule of
brass tube is fitted to the heel of the mast, a cut of
suitable size being made in it to receive the upright
of the step. A hole should be drilled through the
heel of the mast at right angles to the slot, and a
wire passed through and riveted, the latter being
of suitable thickness to be received by the slot in
the step.
The rudder-blade (Fig. 162) is made from a piece
of sheet brass fitted to a tube, the latter being an
easy fit into the stern-tube already fitted. The
blade can be soldered onto the tube. The pintle
on which the rudder fits and swings is a strip of
brass, the width of the after fin, a wire pin being
hard-soldered in to fit up into the rudder.
The pintle (Fig. 163) should be fitted before
the painting is started.
In the steering gear, instead of a quadrant, as
the fitting on the rudder-head of the "Braine"
gear is called, you fit an ordinary tiller (Fig. 164)
by bending a wire to suit your fancy and soldering
it on to a collar made from a piece of tube that
will just sleeve on the outside of the rubber-tube,
which latter is fixed by drilling a hole right through
it and the rudder head, and fitting a tapered pin.
The steering-gear rack (Fig. 165) by which the
amount of helm is adjusted is made from a strip
of brass cut with lugs which are bent up at right
angles as illustrated. This need only be of thin
sheet metal, as the strain is very small.
For running before the wind, separate lines are
used, two in number, as illustrated, and the amount
of helm is governed by the distance away from
midships that the lead is moved. For instance, if
the lead is placed amidships, the pull will simply
keep the rudder dead straight, whereas if placed on
the deck edge it will allow the maximum amount
of angle.
Your bowsers can be made from pieces of toothbrush
handle or from brass or German-silver wire.
Very efficient bowsers can be made from aluminum
tube cut in sections about 3/16 inch long, with three
holes drilled in each piece around its periphery.
Plaited bobbin cotton should be used for the
cordage, as it does not curl up when wet.
If you decide to fit the Braine steering gear, a
spur or bumpkin, as it is termed, must be fitted to
take the rubber centering line.
APPENDIX
BOYS' DICTIONARY OF MARINE TERMS
Abaft. Behind; toward the stern.
Abeam. At right angles to the side and in horizontal
plane.
Aft. Toward the stern.
After-body. Between amidships and stern.
Aloft. Overhead; on the yards or in the upper
rigging.
Amidships. The middle part of a vessel.
Anchor. Instrument for holding vessels at rest
in the water. Made of iron.
Athwart. Athwartships. Across; from side to
side.
Ballast. Material used to load the ship, for stability
or submerging purposes.
Barge. General name for vessels built for towing.
Bark. Three-masted vessel, square-rigged on the
fore- and main-masts, and fore-and-aft rigged
on the mizzen.
Barkentine. Three-masted vessel, square-rigged
on the foremast and fore-and-aft on the main-
and mizzen-masts.
Beam. The widest part of a vessel.
Bollards. Posts of timber on sides of docks, quays,
etc., over which ropes are thrown for hauling
vessels alongside.
Boom. The lower spar for a fore-and-aft sail.
Bow. Sides of fore part of boat: the right hand
being the starboard bow, and the left hand
the port bow.
Bowsprit. Pole projecting from stem forward,
and taking forestays and bobstays.
Bridge-house. House built near bridge.
Brig. Vessel with two masts, both square-rigged
but having a gaff mainsail.
Buoy. A floating object moored over a certain
spot; generally a warning of danger.
Buoyancy. The capacity for floating which a
boat possesses.
Cabin. Room for use of officers and passengers.
Capstan. Consists of a long drum revolving vertically
and used for pulling in heavy lines.
Sometimes used in connection with windlass
to hoist anchor by hand.
Center of Gravity. Center of weight.
Coaming. Raised planking around hatchway of
yacht to prevent water shipped in rough
weather from getting below decks.
Cockpit. Formerly an apartment under lower gun-deck
of warship, used as quarters for junior
officers, and during a battle devoted to the surgeon
and his assistants.
Cockswain. Person who steers a boat.
Compass. Instrument composed of one or more
magnetic needles attached to a circular card
which turns freely on the point of a steel cone
or floats on a liquid. The upper surface of the
card is divided into the 32 points of the compass.
Used to find direction.
Craft. Usually denotes small size vessel, but may
be applied to any kind.
Crane. Machine for hoisting and moving heavy
equipment and material.
Cruiser. Boat intended for extended voyages.
Used in connection with yachts, to distinguish
from racing models.
Davit. Light crane on side of ship for lowering
and lifting boats. Sometimes applied to projecting
beam over which anchor is hoisted.
Displacement. Weight of ship and all on board
when at sea. It is equal to the weight of the
water displaced.
Dock. An excavation of large area for reception
of vessels. Wet-dock for loading and unloading
or dry-dock for building and repairing
vessels.
Dock-yard. A place where ships are built and repaired.
Funnel. Large sheet-iron tube extending from the
uptake high above the deck, through which
smoke and gases pass.
Galley. The kitchen of a vessel.
Gangway. Sides of upper deck from main-mast
to mizzen-mast, or from the former to the
break of a poop or raised quarter-deck; also a
passage for entering or leaving vessel.
Gross tonnage. Entire cubical capacity of ship,
including every inclosed space and all room
under deck from stem to stern-post, if closed
in and usable.
Gunwale, gunnel. Upper part of sheer-strake,
where it comes in contact with upper deck
stringer.
Headlights. Lights carried at the masthead.
Head of the bowsprit. The forward end.
Hull. The entire structure of a vessel, exclusive
of equipment.
Inboard. Within the ship.
Inner skin. Planking or plating covering the inside
of frames.
Jack. Name given to various sails, ropes, etc.
Jib. Triangular sail carried on a stay reaching
from the foremast head or from topmast to the
jib-boom.
Keel. Backbone of a vessel in wooden ships.
Composed of great lengths of timber connected
to each other by scarfs. In steel ships
usually a set of plates from stem to stern.
Even keel, uneven keel. Designates the manner in
which ship floats. If balanced evenly in a
fore-and-aft direction she is on even keel, if
depressed at head or stern she is on uneven
keel.
Keelson angle-bar. Any angle-bar used in the
construction of a keelson.
Lanyards. Short lengths of rope used to tighten
up davit-guys, awnings, etc.
Launching. Sliding a boat into the water from
the building-berth.
Lee side. Opposite to the side on which the wind
blows.
Lighter. Large craft used to bring cargo alongside
or to lighten a grounded vessel.
List. When one side of a vessel lies deeper in
the water than the other; caused by shifting
cargo, etc.
Log. Apparatus used to determine speed of a vessel.
Main-mast. Principal mast of a ship; the second
mast counting from bow to stern.
Marine engine. Engine especially designed for
the propulsion of boats.
Mast. A long piece, or system of pieces, of
timber, placed nearly perpendicularly to the
keelson of a vessel to support the spars and
gear by which the sails are set. In modern
practice, steel masts are built by riveting rolled
plates together.
Midships. Middle part of a ship.
Mizzen-mast. Third mast on a vessel with three
or more masts.
Mizzen-sails. Sails carried on a mizzen-mast.
Mushroom Ventilator. Short cast-iron tube with
movable iron rod passing through the center.
A metal cup is fitted to the top of the rod, which
may be lifted to permit air to enter, or closed
to prevent water from entering. Generally
fitted over cabins.
Navigation Bridge. Bridge used for taking observations
or handling the ship in difficult situations.
Outboard. Outside the hull or beyond the gunwale.
Outlet cock. Any cock used to free a receptacle
of water.
Paddle-wheels. Wheels fitted on each side of a
paddle steamer in connection with the paddle-shaft,
consisting of a cast-iron boss from
which wrought-iron arms radiate, strengthened
by rims and stays, and with a float attached to
each arm.
Pawl. Small catch to prevent moving object from
going beyond certain limit.
Pile. A piece of lumber or iron, together with
others, driven into the bed of a river for the
support of a pier, bridge, etc.
Pilot Bridge. Narrow thwartships platform, extending
from side to side above a steamer's
upper or bridge deck. Serves as a station for
the pilot or officer of the watch.
Port. Opening in ship's side, in bulwark, etc.
Propeller-screw. Propeller in which blades are
at an angle to the line of axis, similar to the
threads of a screw.
Quarters. Men's positions when called to their
duties, as during fire or boat drill; also living
accommodations.
Quay. Artificial landing-place.
Raft. A collection of boards fastened together
by ropes or chains, and capable of floating.
Ram. Massive projection under water at the bow
of a warship. The ship is also called a ram.
Rat-line. Three-stranded cord, of which the
ladder-like steps in lower rigging, topmast
rigging, etc., are formed.
Rigging. Entire equipment of a ship's masts,
spars, etc., with their standing and running
ropes.
Rudder. A device for steering vessels. Hinged to
the outside of the hull, usually at the stern.
Sail. A device of canvas and rope fastened to
spars and rigging, and extended to catch the
wind and drive the vessel.
Skiff. Long, lightly built boat sometimes used in
rowing races.
Sloop. Vessel with one mast, having a jib-sail.
Spar. Any shaped piece of timber used as a mast,
bowsprit, yard, etc., or intended for such use.
Stanchion. A stationary upright support.
Superstructure. Any structure above top full
deck.
Tack. To change the direction of sailing due to
wind.
Thwart. Seats are called thwarts when they extend
from side to side of a boat, athwart when
across.
Tonnage. Entire capacity or cubical contents of a
vessel. One ton estimated at 100 cubic English
feet.
Trawler. Fishing-vessel with ground-sweeping
net.
Trim. Term indicating the state of a ship with
regard to ballast; position of a vessel in the
water with respect to horizontal.
Turtle-back. Top of wheel-house, forecastle, etc.,
formed like a turtle's back.
Upper Works. Same as freeboard when a vessel
is loaded.
Uptake. Part connecting smokebox to funnel.
Sometimes includes the smokebox.
Ventilator. Usually made of sheet iron in tubular
forms, and arranged to expel foul air and
permit the passage of fresh air to any part of
a ship.
Vessel. Craft requiring a licensed master.
(Boats do not).
Water ballast. Sea water let into double bottom
or ballast-tank.
Water-Line. (Light) Submerging line of vessel
without cargo.
Water-Line. (Load) Submerging line of vessel
with full cargo.
Water-tight Compartment. Compartment with
water-tight bulkhead at each end.
Winch. Machine used for loading or unloading
cargo. Some are hand driven and some electrically
driven.
Windlass. Special form of winch used to hoist
anchor.
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Fig. 55 and Fig. 82 have been linked to a larger versions to allow better reading of
the fractions.
The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will appear.
