=Barkentine.= Three-masted vessel, square-rigged on the foremast and fore-and-aft on the main-and mizzen-masts.

=Beam.= The widest part of a vessel.

=Bollards.= Posts of timber on sides of docks, quays, etc., over which ropes are thrown for hauling vessels alongside.

=Boom.= The lower spar for a fore-and-aft sail.

=Bow.= Sides of fore part of boat: the right hand being the starboard bow, and the left hand the port bow.

=Bowsprit.= Pole projecting from stem forward, and taking forestays and bobstays.

=Bridge-house.= House built near bridge.

=Brig.= Vessel with two masts, both square-rigged but having a gaff mainsail.

=Buoy.= A floating object moored over a certain spot; generally a warning of danger.

=Buoyancy.= The capacity for floating which a boat possesses.

=Cabin.= Room for use of officers and pa.s.sengers.

=Capstan.= Consists of a long drum revolving vertically and used for pulling in heavy lines.

Sometimes used in connection with windla.s.s to hoist anchor by hand.

_Center of Gravity._ Center of weight.

=Coaming.= Raised planking around hatchway of yacht to prevent water shipped in rough weather from getting below decks.

=c.o.c.kpit.= Formerly an apartment under lower gun-deck of warship, used as quarters for junior officers, and during a battle devoted to the surgeon and his a.s.sistants.

=c.o.c.kswain.= Person who steers a boat.

=Compa.s.s.= Instrument composed of one or more magnetic needles attached to a circular card which turns freely on the point of a steel cone or floats on a liquid. The upper surface of the card is divided into the 32 points of the compa.s.s. Used to find direction.

=Craft.= Usually denotes small size vessel, but may be applied to any kind.

=Crane.= Machine for hoisting and moving heavy equipment and material.

=Cruiser.= Boat intended for extended voyages.

Used in connection with yachts, to distinguish from racing models.

=Davit.= Light crane on side of ship for lowering and lifting boats. Sometimes applied to projecting beam over which anchor is hoisted.

=Displacement.= Weight of ship and all on board when at sea. It is equal to the weight of the water displaced.

=Dock.= An excavation of large area for reception of vessels. Wet-dock for loading and unloading or dry-dock for building and repairing vessels.

=Dock-yard.= A place where ships are built and repaired.

=Funnel.= Large sheet-iron tube extending from the uptake high above the deck, through which smoke and gases pa.s.s.

=Galley.= The kitchen of a vessel.

=Gangway.= Sides of upper deck from main-mast to mizzen-mast, or from the former to the break of a p.o.o.p or raised quarter-deck; also a pa.s.sage for entering or leaving vessel.

=Gross tonnage.= Entire cubical capacity of ship, including every inclosed s.p.a.ce and all room under deck from stem to stern-post, if closed in and usable.

=Gunwale, gunnel.= Upper part of sheer-strake, where it comes in contact with upper deck stringer.

=Headlights.= Lights carried at the masthead.

=Head of the bowsprit.= The forward end.

=Hull.= The entire structure of a vessel, exclusive of equipment.

=Inboard.= Within the ship.

=Inner skin.= Planking or plating covering the inside of frames.

=Jack.= Name given to various sails, ropes, etc.

=Jib.= Triangular sail carried on a stay reaching from the foremast head or from topmast to the jib-boom.

=Keel.= Backbone of a vessel in wooden ships.

Composed of great lengths of timber connected to each other by scarfs. In steel ships usually a set of plates from stem to stern.

=Even keel, uneven keel.= Designates the manner in which ship floats. If balanced evenly in a fore-and-aft direction she is on even keel, if depressed at head or stern she is on uneven keel.

=Keelson angle-bar.= Any angle-bar used in the construction of a keelson.

=Lanyards.= Short lengths of rope used to tighten up davit-guys, awnings, etc.

=Launching.= Sliding a boat into the water from the building-berth.

=Lee side.= Opposite to the side on which the wind blows.

=Lighter.= Large craft used to bring cargo alongside or to lighten a grounded vessel.

=List.= When one side of a vessel lies deeper in the water than the other; caused by shifting cargo, etc.

=Log.= Apparatus used to determine speed of a vessel.

=Main-mast.= Princ.i.p.al mast of a ship; the second mast counting from bow to stern.

=Marine engine.= Engine especially designed for the propulsion of boats.

=Mast.= A long piece, or system of pieces, of timber, placed nearly perpendicularly to the keelson of a vessel to support the spars and gear by which the sails are set. In modern practice, steel masts are built by riveting rolled plates together.