SAILS OF SHIfS. $29 



That the fails of fliips have been hitherto fo conftru£led by 

 all European nations, fo as to be only managed with great 

 labour and danger; and that when managed with the greateft 

 l]<iil, they are very far from being of that utility which they 

 ought to poflTefs, and are capable of having, is inconteftible. 



Ships are driven on fliore every winter, which might, with They ar^pirkel 

 proper fails, have efcaped every danger. The lofs of one ^'^^ danae'r" ' 

 fail, in many iituations, is followed by the inevitable lofs of 

 the fliip and crew. Sails are often fplit in hauling up to 

 reef, and it may be neceffary to reef a fail that is worn, to 

 preferve it from fplitting ; hence the neceflityof the fails being 

 conftru6ted to reef without ftarting lack or (heet. 



Many fliips have been lofl by not having time, or drift, to 

 baul their courfes up, to reef them on the yard, by which 

 they ritk their fplitting ; a ci ream fiance which alone muft con- 

 vince the feamen of the utility of having faiU that can be 

 reefed without taking their efTed off the ftiip. 



Many dangers may be avoided, by carrying fail with fafety 

 to the mafts and yards. A (liip can carry top gallant fails 

 that reef at (he foot, with fafety, when other fiiips mull furl 

 theirs ; an evident advantage in many fituations. 



The top fails of (hips, with one or two reefs at the foot, can Advantages of 

 be reefed in a minute by one feaman at each lower yard arm, reded a^thr^ 

 while they remain fet with the top gallant fails over them, by foot infteadof 

 only fettling the hallyards; by which a fliip in fqually *^ ^^^'^^ 

 weather, on many occafions, would have a great advantage," 

 particularly in chace, &c. or when caught by a fudden fliift 

 of wind on a lee (bore, or obliged to haul fuddenly to the 

 wind from failing large. 



The facility with which fails that reef at the foot, can at all 

 tiroes be managed, would enable (liips to make quicker voy- 

 ages, and prevent them often, when weakly manned, from 

 detaining fleet's; by the difficulty and danger of carrying 

 fail, being entirely removed, mutf enable merchant fliips to 

 be navigated with fewer hands, which would be a confider- 

 able faving of expence, and a great advantage in time of war 

 in particular, when men are (9 fcarce. 



If the fails were made with horiaontal cloths and feams. The feams ought 

 the fails would ftand belter, particularly in a gale of wind ; "^ ^^ horizontal. 

 as the ftrongeft dire6lion of the cloths and feams would be 

 oppofi^d to the greateft force of the wind, which ads horizon- 

 tally i 



