Coamings. The raised boarders of oak about the edge of the hatches and scuttles, which prevent water from flowing down from off the deck. Their inside upper edge has a rabbet to receive the gratings.

Companion. In ships of war, the framing and sash lights upon the Quarterdeck or Poop, through which the light passes to the Commander's apartments. In merchant ships it is the birthing or hood round the ladder way, leading to the master's cabin, and in small ships is chiefly for the purpose of keeping the sea from beating down.

Conversion. The art of lining and moulding timber, plank, etc., with the least possible waste.

Coping. Turning the ends of iron lodging knees so as they may hook into the

beams.

Counter. A part of the stern; the Lower Counter being that arched part of the stern immediately above the wing transom. Above the Lower Counter is the Second Counter, the upper part of which is the under part of the Lights or Windows. The Counters are parted by their rails, as the lower counter springs from the tuck-rail, and is terminated on the upper part by the lower counter rail. From the upper part of the latter springs the upper or second counter, its upper part terminating in the upper counter rail, which is immediately under the lights.

Counter-sunk. The hollows in iron-plates, etc., which are excavated by an instrument called a Counter Sunk Bitt, to receive the heads of screws or nails so that they may be flush or even with the surface.

Counter-timbers. The right-aft timbers which form the stern. The longest run up and form the lights, while the shorter only run up to the under part of them, and help to strengthen the counter. The side counter timbers are mostly formed of two pieces scarphed together in consequence of their peculiar shape, as they not only form the right-aft figure of the stern, but partake of the shape of the topside also.

Cove. The arch moulding sunk in at the foot or lower part of the taffarel.
Crab. A sort of little capstan, formed of a kind of wooden pillar, whose lower

end works in a socket, whilst the middle traverses or turns round in partners which clip it in a circle. In its upper end are two holes to receive bars, which act as levers, and by which it is turned round and serves as a capstan for raising of weights, etc. By a machine of this kind, so simple in its construction, may be hove up the frame timbers, etc., of vessels when building. For this purpose it is placed between two floor timbers, while the partners which clip it in the middle may be of four or five inch plank fastened on the same floors. A block is fastened beneath in the slip, with a central hole for its lower end to work in. Besides the crab here described, there is another sort, which is shorter and portable. The latter is fitted in a frame composed of cheeks, across which are the partners, and at the bottom a little platform to receive the spindle.

Cradle. A strong frame of timber, etc., placed under the bottom of a ship in order to conduct her steadily in her ways till she is safely launched into water sufficient to float her.

Crank. A term applied to ships built too deep in proportion to their breath, and from which they are in danger of over-setting.

Croaky. A term applied to plank when it curves or compasses much in short lengths.

Cross Spales. Deals or fir plank nailed in a temporary manner to the frames of the ship at a certain height, and by which the frames are kept to their proper breaths, until the deck-knees are fastened. The main and top-timber breaths are the heights mostly taken for spalling the frames, but the height of the ports is much better; yet this may be thought too high if the ship is long in building. Crutches, or Clutches. The crooked timbers fayed and bolted upon the foot-waling abaft for the security of the heels of the half-timbers. Also, stantions of iron or wood whose upper parts are forked to receive rails, spare masts, yards, etc.

Cup. A solid piece of cast-iron, let into the step of the capstan, and in which the iron spindle at the heel of the capstan works. (See CAPSTAN.) Cutting-down Line. The elliptical curve line, forming the upperside of the floor-timbers at the middle line. Also, the line that forms the upper part of the knee of the head above the cheeks. The cutting-down line is represented as limiting the depth of every floor timber at the middle line, and also the height of the upper part of the dead-wood afore and abaft.

D.

Dagger. A piece of timber that faces on to the poppets of the bilgeways, and crosses them diagonally, to keep them together. The plank that secures the heads of the poppets is called the Dagger Plank. The word Dagger seems to apply to anything that stands diagonally or aslant. Dagger-knees. Knees to supply the place of hanging knees. Their side arms are brought up aslant or nearly to the underside of the beams adjoining. They are chiefly used to the lower deck beams of merchant ships, in order to preserve as much stowage in the hold as possible. Any strait hanging knees not perpendicular to the side of the beam are in general termed Dagger-knees. Dead-flat. A name given to that timber or frame which has the greatest breadth and capacity in the ship, and which is generally called the Midship Bend. In those ships where there are several frames or timbers of equal breadth or capacity, that which is in the middle should be always considered as Dead-flat, and distinguished as such by this character +. The timbers before

the dead-flat are marked A, B, C, etc., in order; and those abaft dead-flat by the figures 1, 2, 3, etc. The timbers adjacent to dead-flat, and of the same dimensions nearly, are distinguished by the characters (A) (B), etc., and (1) (2), etc. Dead-rising, or Rising Line of the Floor. Those parts of the floor or bottom, throughout the ship's length, where the sweep or curve at the head of the floor timber is terminated or inflects to join the keel Hence, although the rising of the floor at the midship-flat is but a few inches above the keel at that place, its height forward and aft increases according to the sharpness of form in the body. Therefore, the rising of the floor in the sheer plan is a curved line drawn at the height of the ends of the floor timbers, and limited at the main frame or dead-flat by the dead-rising, appearing in flat ships nearly parallel to the keel for some timbers afore and abaft the midship frame, for which reason these timbers are called fats; but in sharp ships it rises gradually from the main frame, and ends on the stem and post. Dead-water. The eddy water which the ship draws after her at her seat or line of floatation in the water, particularly close aft. To this particular, great attention should be paid in the construction of a vessel, especially in those with square tucks; for such being carried too low in the water will be attended with great eddies or much dead-water. Vessels with a round buttock have but little or no dead-water, because, by the rounding or arching of such vessels abaft, the water more easily recovers its state of rest. Dead-wood. That part of the basis of a ship's body, forward and aft, which is formed by solid pieces of timber scarphed together lengthwise on the keel. These should be sufficiently broad to admit of a stepping or rabbet for the heels of the timbers, that the latter may not be continued downwards to sharp edges; and they should be sufficiently high to seat the floors. Afore and abaft the floors, the dead-wood is continued to the cutting down line for the purpose of securing the heels of the cant-timbers.

Depth in the Hold. The height between the floor and the lower deck. This is one of the principal dimensions given for the construction of a ship. It varies according to the height at which the guns are required to be carried from the water, or according to the trade for which a vessel is designed. Diagonal Line. A line cutting the body-plan diagonally from the timbers to the middle line. It is square with, or perpendicular to, the shape of the timbers, or nearly so, till it meets the middle line.

Diagonal Ribband. A narrow plank, made to a line formed on the halfbreadth-plan, by taking the intersections of the diagonal line with the timbers in the body-plan to where it cuts the middle line in its direction, and applying it to their respective stations on the half-breadth-plan, which forms a curve to which the ribband is made as far as the cant-body extends, and the square frame adjoining.