of Ships and Vessels^ 331 



It is allowed the wind acts on the same principle when 

 striking the sails obliquely, as if perpendicular or at right 

 angles — its power decreasing as the obliquity increases. If, 

 therefore, the lee leeches of sails are slack and bag to leeward, 

 the obliquity of the wind must be increased, and its povyer les 

 sened. It therefore appears much preferable to give a ship 

 relief by removing weight from the fore extremity, than by 

 raking the masts. 



I have frequently heard of various alterations having been 

 tried in ships, to improve their sailing, and that raking the 

 masts was the only one which proved successful. This is a 

 circumstance which, it appears to me, may be considered as 

 arising from some of those unknown causes alluded to by 

 Professor Inman in the following observation : — 



** After all the pains the constructor may take, from the im- 

 perfection of the theory of resistances, or from some other 

 unknown causes, it is possible that a ship, on going to sea, will 

 not be found to have the point of sail exactly adjusted to the 

 mean resistance. In this case, nothing can be done except by 

 altering the masting ; for effecting which, if possible, every 

 practical facility should, in the first place, be left in the 

 building, or by bringing the ship more by the head or stern, 

 thus adjusting the seat of the ship in the water to the masting 

 as it is." 



The circumstance, however, proves an error ; but where it 

 is difficult to determine, — and without being in possession of 

 particulars, it were useless to attempt it. The ships might 

 not have had their proper seats in the water ; the point of sail 

 might not be correctly adjusted, or it might arise from some 

 other cause. 



It is evident, however, that, seated in the water as they 

 were, they required more after-sail — consequently could not 

 have steered well 5 and it generally happens when a ship 

 steers badly she does not sail well. The conclusion, therefore, 

 may very naturally be, that raking the masts improved both 

 steerage and sailing qualities. ''^ 



It however appears to me, when a ship is properly seated in 

 the water and requires more after-sail, that it is preferable to 

 remove the foremast a Uttle further aft than to rake the masts, 



