(No Shipbuilding Terms with the letter “Z”)

The following definitions are from United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation publication The Building of a Wooden Ship by Charles G. Davis (1918), a long out-of-print book. They will be very handy when reading the works of such authors as Davis, Howard I. Chapelle, V.R. Grimwood, and others I will reference in this blog. In some cases, I have added further clarification to a definition in the form of editor’s notes. These are in italic, contained in parentheses, and attribute the modern author of the clarification.

U

UNDERFOOT: when an anchor is hanging directly underneath the hawse pipe it is said to be underfoot.

UNDERMASTED: when the masts are either too slender or too short for the vessel, it is said to be undermasted.

UNFURL: to untie or cast loose a sail or awning; to take off the gasket or stopper.

UNREEVE: to withdraw a rope from over the sheave of a tackle-block.

UNSHIP: to remove a thing from a place in which it is customarily fitted or secured.

UP AND DOWN: anything that is in a perpendicular position, as when the yards are canted against the mast when laying alongside the dock, they are said to be up and down.

UPHROE: see Euphroe.

UPTAKE: the fine or connecting-pipe between the boilers and smokestack.

UPPER WORKS: the sides of a vessel from the water-line to the covering-board.

V

VANE: a pennant, also called “fly”; a small flag or metal device which is supported on a spindle and revolves in a horizontal plane. With this device the direction of the wind is accurately indicated.

VANGS: ropes for steadying the outer end of the peak of a gaff or boom. These are secured at the point of the spar and lead down to the rail on each side.

VEER AWAY: to move away to one side, or to put out a little more rope or line.

VENTILATOR: a device for furnishing fresh air to the compartments below the decks of a vessel.

VESSEL: a hollow receptacle of any form or material. A ship or craft designed to float on the water, usually one larger than an ordinary rowboat, as a merchant vessel, steam vessel, etc. Legally, water craft or floating structure. By the Revised Statutes of the United States, “vessel” includes every description of water-craft or other artificial contrivance used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water. A raft of logs, however, has been decided not to come within the intent of the law. See Ship.

VOICE TUBE: a speaking-tube which leads from the bridge, chart or pilot-house of a vessel to the engine-room; this is for the purpose of transmitting orders to and from the bridge.

W

WAIST: the low portion of the upper deck between the forecastle and the bridge deck and between the bridge deck and the quarter deck.

WAKE: a term indicating following in the same line; the track of foam eddy or disturbance of the water to be seen after a vessel passes. A ship is said to “follow in the wake” of another when she follows in the same track; to “cross the wake” of another when she crosses the course in which the other has passed.

WALES: thick strakes of outside planking worked in along the sides of a vessel about midway between the plank sheer and the light water line. The breadth of the wales is from one-fourth to one-third of the vessel’s depth. The wales stiffen the vessel and also form rail strakes on the outside.

WALL-KNOT: an ornamental rope knot worked in on the end of a rope as a finish and to prevent stranding.

WALL-SIDED: a term applied to the top sides of a vessel when the main breadth or square body is continued very low down and high up, so that the top sides appear straight and vertical like a wall.

WASH-BOARD: a vertical strake around the coaming of a cockpit of a small-decked vessel, used to keep the sea from washing over or into the cockpit.

WASHER: a flat perforated metal plate used under the bottom edge of nuts or bolts; the washer prevents the sharp edges of the nut from cutting into the wood or metal.

WATCH-TACKLE: a purchase tackle that is formed of a double and single block. The single block is generally provided with a hook and the double block has a rope tail. This sort of tackle is sometimes called a jigger, also a handy billy.

WATERING A SHIP, VESSEL OR HULL: to pour water down between each frame inside in order to test the water-tightness while she is still on the shipbuilding ways. By this method the character of the workmanship can be seen, as leaks around fastenings or seams will quickly be discovered.

WATER-LAID ROPE: a name that is sometimes applied to a rope that is laid up right- handed, like a cable rope.

WATER-LINES: lines of flotation; these are horizontal lines intended to represent the surface line of the water on the sides of a ship. On the sheer draught plan they are indicated at certain depths. In half breadth plans these water-lines show as curved lines. There are two important water-lines used when the vessel has been constructed. The light water-line is the line which represents the surface of the water when the ship is light or unloaded, without stores or cargo; the load water-line is the line representing the surface of the water when the ship is loaded with her stores and cargo, and if she is an armed vessel, also with guns and ammunition.

WATER-TIGHT: a term applied to indicate that a vessel has been constructed, fastenings put in, and her seams calked, so that she does not leak or any water work in through the sides into the hold.

WATERWAYS: horizontal timber girders carried along the inside of the hull at the deck line. The waterways rest on and are locked and fastened to the deck beams. This term is also applied to the edge of the deck next to the waterways. The construction at this point forms a kind of gutter, from which the scuppers lead out to the side overboard. The water on the deck of a vessel is generally drained off by the waterways and scuppers, except in heavy weather, when the sea boards the vessel. At such times the greater part of the water is carried off through freeing ports cut in the bulwarks; the water that remains is carried off by the waterways and scuppers.

WAYS (SHIPBUILDING WAYS, LAUNCHING WAYS): a term applied to the timber structure on which a ship is built and launched.

WEATHER: the side of a vessel or thing towards or against the wind.

WEATHER CURTAIN: a canvas protection attached to the bridge rail or to the side of the crow’s-nest. These curtains are adjustable and can be raised up so as to form a protection to the men from the rain, weather or spray.

WEATHER DECK: an upper deck with no overhead protection.

WEDDING KNOT: a method of seizing shrouds, generally used at the deadeye.

WEDGE: a V-shaped piece of hardwood used for mechanical purposes. When the point of a wedge is driven into a crack, seam or crevice, a great pressure on the sides of the seam, crack or crevice can be produced and the edges can be forced or split apart. Very heavy objects can be lifted a short distance, with very little power, by means of this device.

WEEP: a slight water leak through a seam or around a fastening.

WELDING: the joining together of two metal parts by heating in a furnace or blacksmith’s fire, fusing and forging them together, so as to make one continuous piece.

WELL (COCKPIT): the boxed space at the bottom of the suction pipe of the drainage system of a vessel. Into this space the water drains from the hold.

WHALEBACK: a term applied to a peculiar type of vessel, the construction of which differs materially from other vessels, as follows: The vessels are built with sides running over until they connect with the main deck, and have no superstructure except perhaps on the bow or stern, where houses are built for the accommodation of the crew and mechanical equipment. These vessels have a large freight-carrying capacity.

WHEEL: the mechanical device or mechanism that is used to steer a vessel. Attached to one part of the wheel, when no steam steering-gear is used, is a horizontal drum or barrel around which are ropes leading to the tiller wind. Ropes from the starboard and port sides of the tiller are wound in the opposite directions around the drum, and by this means, when the wheel is rotated in one direction, the tiller-rope on one side is taken in and on the opposite side is payed out, or vice-versa.

WHEEL-CHAINS: the chains used in place of rope connecting the steering-wheel with the tiller.

WHEEL-HOUSE: the house on the deck or bridge of a vessel which contains the wheel and which is used as a shelter from the elements for the quartermaster or the man in charge of the wheel.

WHEEL-RODS: lengths of straight rods with eyes forged at the end that connect the tiller with the steering-wheel. By use of these rods certain ropes or chains can be dispensed with, thus cheapening the cost of this part of the construction.

WHELPS: pieces of iron which are bolted to the wooden windlass, capstan, winch or hoisting engine barrel, so as to prevent the chain or wire fall from cutting into the wood.

WHIP: a purchase of one single tackle-block with a rope rove over the sheave. This b used for a light purchase or lifting. A double whip is fixed in a similar manner, but has two single tackle-blocks.

WHIP AND RUNNER: a tackle-block which is spliced into a pennant. One end of the whip is made fast and the bight is rove through the pennant block and the other end of the rope becomes the hauling part.

WHIP UPON WHIP: one whip applied to the fall of the other, thus considerably increasing the power.

WHITE LEAD PUTTY: a putty made of white lead, whiting and oil, used to fill deck seams of yachts and small boats.

WHOLE MOLDED: a term applied to the bodies of those vessels which are so constructed that one mold made in the mold loft section will mold all the frames in the main breadth or square body of the ship.

WILDCAT: a wheel of a winch or windlass capable of revolving with or on the shaft, having a periphery designed to receive and hold the links of the anchor chain or cable passing over it.

WINCH: a horizontal barrel that is turned by a crank or engine. On some sailing vessels a winch is fitted at the forward side of the mast, near the foot; it is used to hoist yards, gaffs and other heavy gear or tackle. When the power of a winch is mechanical, as a steam engine, it is usually called a hoisting engine or winch; when the power is obtained from a motor, it is called a motor winch.

WINDLASS: a mechanical device used to hoist anchors. This is generally located on the forecastle deck, although when guns are carried on the bow the windlass may be located below the forecastle deck in the forecastle.

WINDLASS BITTS: in a wooden vessel the upright support which carries the barrel of the windlass. These uprights are also called “carrick heads,” “carrick bitts,” “windlass heads.”

WINDLASS CAPSTAIN: a combination of capstan and windlass, in which the windlass moves the spindle of the capstan by means of gearing.

WINDWARD: the side of a vessel against the wind.

WING: that part of the hold which is next to or against the side of a vessel.

WING-TRANSOM: the uppermost transom in the stem frame, on which the heels of the counter timbers are let in and rest.

WIRE RIGGING: standing rigging of wire rope, which has almost entirely taken the place of hemp, manila or other rigging of vegetable fiber on modern vessels.

WIRE ROPE: rope manufactured from iron or steel drawn wires. For a given strength and weight the wire rope has a considerable advantage over manila, hemp or other vegetable fiber. Wire rope is laid up several different ways, according to the purpose for which the rope is to be used. Pliable hoisting rope is made with six strands of nineteen wires each. Standing rope is made of six strands of seven wires each. A wire rope is usually made of strands or twisted cords of wire laid up in the opposite direction to that in which the wires are laid up in the strands. In the lang lay, sometimes called the universal lay, the wires are laid into strands and the strands into the rope in the same direction. This sort of rope is used for the hoisting rope on elevators and mines and for transmission rope, where it is desired to secure a flexible rope. The iron and steel material used in wire rope is of three qualities, known to trade as iron, which in a one-inch diameter rope, has a breaking strain of sixteen tons; the cast steel rope, which in a one-inch diameter rope has a breaking strain of thirty-three tons; and the plow steel rope, which is of the highest tensile strength, and which, in a one-inch diameter rope, has a breaking strain of forty-seven tons. This applies to six-strand nineteen-wire flexible rope, with hemp core. Some rope is made of charcoal wire, although it is very much more expensive. The wire rope can be protected from the weather by coating or treating the wires before laying up in strands, in a hot galvanized bath.

WITH THE SUN: a rope which is laid up from left to right is said to be laid up “with the sun.”

WOODLING: term applied to winding a rope tight around a spar after it has been fished.

WOOD-LOCK: a small piece of hardwood, or sometimes of copper, fitted above the upper pintle and against the after side of the rudder-post. This is used to prevent the rudder unshipping or being unhinged in a heavy sea.

WORKING JIB: a term applied to the jib, one of the head sails carried in ordinary weather.

WORKING SAILS: all the regular sails of a vessel carried in ordinary weather. This does not include sails which are carried in light breezes.

WORKING UP: to make spun yarn, marlin and small stuff out of strands of old rigging.

WORM: filling up in between the lays of a rope with windings of small stuff, marlin or spun yarn.

WRAIN BOLTS: eyebolts with large, loose rings, used to receive the end of the wrain staff when forcing planking in tight against the sides of the frames when fastening into position. The rings are welded loose into the eyes on one end of this bolt, the other end has two or three slots cut transversely and fitted with a removable key. When these are used they are inserted into holes bored clean through the timber frames or plankings. The bolt is inserted and the washer put over the end of the bolt and a key is fitted into one of the transverse slots. This effectually secures the bolt in position.

WRAIN-STAFF-STAVE: a long pole of tough wood, like hickory, tapered at the end, so as to go into the ring on the end of the wrain bolt. This staff forms a lever of great power, which applied against the face of a plank, forces it into position. Used for springing thick planking or timbers into position.

WRING: to twist or strain unduly; to wring a mast is to buckle it by setting up the shrouds too tight.

WYTHE: a double iron ring, like a figure eight, fitted at the end of a boom like a band with a ring. Through the ring a spar can be rigged out, extending the length of the boom. It is also called a “boom iron.”

Y

YARD: a horizontal athwartship spar fitted to the mast, as a signal or wireless yard. In sailing vessels the yard is always carried on the forward side of the mast, but wireless yards are now carried sometimes on the after side of the mast, a considerable distance from the mast and arranged on springs, so that in an explosion of a torpedo or mine, which would lift the vessel amidships and strain or hog her, it would not carry away the wireless yard and bring all the gear down to the deck.

YOKE: a horizontal piece of wood or metal which is placed across the head of a small boat’s rudder. In each end of the yoke a small line is attached called a “yoke line.” By pulling and slacking alternate lines the rudder is turned and the boat is steered.

YOKE-LINE: a short piece of rope fastened to the yoke at the head of the rudder, which is used to turn the rudder and steer the boat.