THE WHALEBOAT
Boats varied from 28 to 30 feet in length, with a beam of 5-1/2 to 6 feet.
A—Bow showing the “chocks,” a channel in the stem through which the whale line ran. This was fitted with a bronze roller—or lined with sheet lead.
Through a hole across the chocks a slender spindle of wood was inserted—to be easily broken should necessity arise.
This “chock pin” kept the line from jumping out of its groove,—and was, moreover, when worn in the buttonhole ashore, the badge of the whaleman who had killed his whale.
B—Main line tub—containing 225 fathoms of whale line.
C—Reserve tub—holding from 75 to 125 fathoms.
D—Loggerhead—a heavy snubbing post around which the whale line ran from the tub and thence forward to the bow.
E—Mast step.
F—Padded notch in the edge of the forward box into which the harpooneer braced his thigh when darting his irons.
L—Centreboard.
Except when under sail the boat was propelled by five oars, and in order to balance the power from this unequal number, oars of different lengths were used.
| G--Harpoon oar | 16 | feet | long |
| H--Bow oar | 17 | “ | “ |
| I--Midship oar | 18 | “ | “ |
| J--Tub oar | 17 | “ | “ |
| K--After or stroke oar | 16 | “ | “ |
Except when under sail the boat was steered by means of an oar over twenty feet long.
The complete equipment of a boat included paddles, harpoons, lances, spades, mast and sail, water and bread kegs, lantern, flares and waifs, and other small gear.