Ship Nomenclature
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Ship Nomenclature
Author: Lord Alward
The Hull ( simplified ) all views are standing on the top deck facing the sharp end of the ship.
The Bow ( as in a dog bark) is the furthest point in front of you the normal direction of travel.
The Stern is the farthest end behind you. where the rudder is.
On your right hand is the Starboard side, and the left side is the Port side. the main deck above the water is called the weather deck. under this is below. the ship has a skeleton as people do. the main one being the keel which runs the length of the ship end to end, on the very bottom. on this are attached ribs called frames. the outermost part is called plating.
The weather deck has a floor called planking. The only floor in a ship is the plate on top of the keel. Hulls on warships are planked inside and out for strength.
The Bow forward edge is called the stem. this area includes two beams back from the bow.,these are at an angle to the side, they are called Knightheads. the anchors are held here when not in use. It is also the ships toilet as it is always down wind of the ship. hence the navy term for a bathroom is the head the cable ( rope on an anchor ) runs to a capstain. a windlast for hoisting heavy parts, i.e. boats, anchors, mast and spars.
It is turned by man power. The deck at the bow is called the forecastle ( navy says FOCSLE )Guns put here are called bow chasers. the sailing mast nearest here is called the fore mast. the next mast astern of it is the main mast ( unless there is only one mast) and the last one toward the stern is the mizzenmast. aloft is to climb up the mast to cross mounted beams ( spars) which hold the sails. they climb up lines woven into a net like web these go from the side rails up to each level to the spars also called yards.
Men walked out on a single line under the yard from the mast to the " yardarm " the sails are raised or stored from here. the front of the sail has small strips attached to it so it can be tied up only a little or as much as required. these are called clew lines. or just clews.There are heavy lines that brace the mast from side to side and fore and aft. called main stays. the spars with their sails can swing in a circle around the mast they are then held with lines called braces. there are miles of lines on a ship, and each man has to know all lines, they each always attach to the same point on the side rails or a frame around the mast the wooden pins are removable and were sometimes used as a weapon. they are called a belaying pin.
Meaning stop some line go thru pulleys called Blocks these are to gain leverage on the line and to adjust it.midships is the main deck by the main mast. and the deck where the steering gear, wheel or whipstaff, is generally aft at the stern. a compass is here for the man steering ( the helmman ) it is in a metal upright container bolted to the deck and either open top or closed with the helms man side open . it has round metal balls one on each side to adjust for the magnetic attraction of large metal objects near it. It is called a binacle. The deck around the helmsman is the Captains territory and is called the quarter deck It is seated on the poop deck. old sailing ships actually had a miniature castle fore and aft.
And places above + the tops where men can shoot at enemy ships close aboard.the normal rudder is called a barn door rudder as it look similar. there is no way for sail ships to go backwards unless towed. ( or by magic sails do not pick up wind and push the ship. they are set like the shape of a wing.
Air moving across them goes quicker over the convex side than the inward curve of the sails back surface. this creates a lower pressure towards the front pulling the sail and the ship forward. the small boats carried for utility include the " captains gig, some called whale boats, and heavy types as barges and lighters. there are no stairs, they are called ladders. the ships galley..
Where meals are cooked has a stove pipe called Charley Noble. they had spaces called sail lockers and rope lockers and chain lockers. Prisoners are chained on deck or " in irons in the bilge." the wet lower part just above the keel.
Guns on sail ships are classed by the weight of the cannon ball they threw. youngsters carried the powder from a magazine to the gus as needed. they are called powder monkeys.
There are some interesting parts of some designs. as a curve to the hulls side back inward above the waterline. this is called Tumblehome odds and ends, peak = bow end scuppers =drains on the main decks sides.
In peace time ships have lights to prevent collisions. a white light at the stern seen 360 degrees.
The port running light is red and seen from a line straight out from the port side to straight ahead. likewise the starboard side has a similar green light navigating is done with the ships compass, and a tool called a sextant, to tell the suns angle at exactly noon for latitude.
Speed was done with a taff rail (around the stern) log , a long line with knots every so far along it. They threw it over the side and counted how many knots fed out as it floated behind them for swabbies ( non sailors) a nautical mile is not the same as on land it equals 2000 yds.
On the side of the ship is a small platform called chains. a line with a weight and a series of marks as 2 knots, a piece of wool and others are all along it. they are six feet apart ( a fathom ) by dropping the line and seeing the mark at the waters surface they can tell the depth and with a piece of wax stuck under the weight they can tell what the bottom is.
To pull on a line is to heave on it.
Avast means to stop.