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This module describes the principal parts of a sailing ship in the British or American fleets of the 19 th century, as well as the locations and naming protocol of masts, yards, gaffs, stays and booms and the sails they spread. A ship illustration is included, labeled with the names of sails typically used for propulsion. Most information was obtained from the book Seamanship: Including Names of Principal Parts of a Ship; Masts, Sails, Yards,&c. by Captain Sir G. S. Nares.
Uss young america (1853)
Principal Parts of a 19 th Century Ship of the British or American Fleets
A ship is divided crossways, into the
The bow is the front or foremost end of the ship.
The midship is the middle part of the ship.
The stern is the aftermost end of the ship.
The starboard side is the right-hand looking towards the bow.
The port side is the left-hand side, looking towards the bow.
| Keel | The principal piece of metal or timber at the lowest part of the ship, running fore and after; it is the foundation from which all the other parts rise to form the ends and sides of the ship |
| Stem | Rises from the fore part of the keel to form the bow |
| Stern post | Rises from the after part of the keel to form the stern |
| Body post | Rises from the keel before the stern post. The space between it and the stern post is called the screw-aperture |
| Ribs | A figurative expression for the framework which, resting on the keel, forms the sides of a ship |
| Keelson | An internal keel, lying fore and after above the main keel and lower pieces of the ribs confining the floors in their places |
| Knight heads | Two strong uprights, one on each side of the upper part of the stem, to strengthen the bow and support the bowsprit |
| False keel | An additional keel below the main keel. By offering greater resistance, it prevents the ship being driven so much sideways through the water away from the wind. It also protects the main keel, should the ship take the ground |
| Gripe | A projection forward at the lowest part of the stem; by exposing a larger surface it prevents the foremost part of the ship, when sailing with the wind on one side, from being driven sideways away from the wind, and therefore effects the turning power of the ship |
| Bilge pieces | Long pieces of wood or iron affixed to the outside of the ship’s bottom, in a position to offer resistance to the water as the vessel rolls, and thereby lessen the motion |
| Garboard strakes | The lowest planking outside, nearest to the keel, running fore and aft |
| Bends | The thickest outside planking, extending from a little below the water |
| Counter | The afterpart of the bends, the round of the stern |
| Run | The narrowing of the afterpart of the body of the ship below the water |
| Limbers | Gutters formed on each side of the keelson to allow the water to pass to the pump-well |
| Limber boards | Form a covering over the limbers |
| Double-bottom | In some iron ships the frames and girders are covered in with iron plates, forming literally an inner ship, the space between the inner and outer ships being termed the double bottom; this method of construction gives great strength, and safety in the event of damage occurring to the outside skin |
| Water-tight bulkheads | The name applied to the sides of the numerous compartments into which it is customary to divide iron vessels |
| Wings | In addition to the safety afforded by the “double bottom” and “Water-tight compartments,” a perpendicular bulkhead is run fore and aft the center portion of the vessel, some few feet from the skin |
| Pump-well | An enclosure round the mainmast and pumps |
| Beams | Horizontal timbers lying across the ship, to support the decks and connect the two sides |
| Shelf piece | Extends all round the ship inside for the beams to rest upon |
| Waterway | Thick planking extending all round the inside of the ship immediately above the beams |
| Partners | Frames of timber fitted into the decks to strengthen them, immediately round the masts, capstans, bitts, etc. |
| Carlings | Short pieces of timber, running fore and aft, connecting one beam to another, to distribute the strain of the masts, capstan, and bitts, among the several beams so connected |
| Knees | Pieces of iron uniting the beams to the shelf-piece and the ship’s side |
| Stanchions | Pillars of metal or wood supporting a beam amidships |
| Treenails | Wooden bolts used in fastening the planks to the timbers and beams |
| Caulking | Driving oakum between the plans, it is then payed (filled in) with pitch or marine blue |
| The rudder | Hangs upon the stern post by pintles and braces, for steering or directing the course of the ship |
| Tiller | A piece of timber or metal fitted fore and aft into the head of the rudder, by which to turn it in steering |
| Yoke | A cross-piece of timber or metal fitted on the rudder head when a tiller cannot be used |
| Wheel | A wheel, to the axle of which the tiller or wheel ropes are connected, by which to move the rudder |
| Helm | The rudder, tiller, and wheel, or all the steering arrangements of a ship |
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