NAVITECTURE. 453 



resistance to overturning; the best shape for sailing, and for re- 

 ceiving the load ; the position of the masts and sails ; and other 

 considerations. 



The fore part of a vessel is called the bow, or stem ; and the 

 hinder part, the stern. The lowest part, formed of projecting timbers, 

 is the keel; which runs along the whole length, from the cutwater, 

 in front, to the rudder, by which the ship is steered, at the stern. 

 The rudder is turned, in small vessels, by means of the helm or 

 tiller ; but in large vessels, by means of a wheel and axle. The 

 floors of a vessel, are called decks ; and a higher portion, at the stern, 

 is called the quarter deck. An opening through the deck, to receive 

 the lading, is called a hatchway, or hatch ; and the space within the 

 vessel, which contains the cargo or load, is called the hold. The 

 body of the vessel is called the hull ; and the masts, sails, and ropes, 

 for moving and managing the hull, are called the rigging. 



The timbers of a ship being shaped, by means of patterns, from 

 the drawings ; the framing is commenced in the ship yard, usually 

 near the water's edge. The keel is first laid, on the stocks, or 

 supports prepared for it ; and to this, the stem and stern posts are 

 framed ; being held in their place by shores or props. The ribs, or 

 floor timbers, forming the sides of the ship, are next set up, and 

 framed into the keel ; and the angles at the ends of the ship, on each 

 side of the stem and stern posts, are filled up by timbers called 

 futtocks, held more firmly by top timbers, crossing them at the top. 

 The keelson, stemson, and sternson, are then fitted over the keel, and 

 end posts ; as it were, doubling the keel, on the inside, and securing 

 the whole together more firmly. The beams, or deck timbers, are 

 then laid across ; and the joints which they form with the ribs, are 

 braced by knees ; one branch of which is bolted to the rib, and the 

 other to the beam. The frame is then ready for planking, calking, 

 sheathing, coppering, and launching; all of which is done before 

 the rigging commences. 



2. The Pigging of Ships, is, we think, more closely connected 

 with Navitecture than with Seamanship ; though it must necessarily 

 be understood by sailors. A mast, is a timber, or series of timbers, 

 erected in a ship, to carry the sails. When there are fcvo masts, 

 rising from the deck, the hinder is called the mainmast, and the 

 other, the foremast. When there are three, the hinder is called the 

 mizenmast ; the next the mainmast; and the other the foremast. 

 When shorter masts are placed above these, they are called topmasts ; 

 as the fore or main-topmast ; and other masts, placed above these, 

 are called topgallantmasts ; distinctively named from the lowest 

 masts which support them. Spars extending horizontally across the 

 masts, are called yards, being named from the masts, and usually 

 supporting square sails ; while a boom, extending back from the foot 

 of a mast, and a gaff, back from the top, support a trapezoidal fore- 

 and-aft sail ; as the mainsail in sloops and schooners. The bowsprit, 

 projecting over the stem, and the jib-boom, in prolongation of it, 

 receive the lower end of the jib and flying jib; which are triangular 

 fore-and-aft-sails, extending down from the top of the foremast, to 

 keep the vessel's head to the wind. Similar to these, are stay- 



