Capstan: A spool-shaped vertical cylinder turned Oakum: Caulking material made from old rope Shipshape Vocabulary: with levers or bars and used for moving heavy loads, fiber that is soaked in tar before being driven into Ballast: Heavy material, such as iron, lead, or stone, such as hoisting anchors. planking seams to seal them from water. placed low in the hold to lower the center of gravity Frame: Timbers that come off the keel or centerline Planking: The outer lining, or shell, of a hull. and improve stability. and form the structure of the walls of the ship. Scupper: A hole or channel cut in a vessel’s side to Beam: The width of the hull. Keel: The main backbone of the ship, a timber drain off deck water. running the bottom length of the hull that the Bow: The forward part of the ship. frames attach to. Stern: The back portion of the ship.
Common parts of a wooden ship, seen in cross-section
Gunwale
Scupper
J H Shelf Clamp G Stanchion Ceiling I F Beam
Stern Planking Frame Rider Keelson
Bow Limber Strake Keelson Keel Floor Timber Rider Keel B False Keel A C D E A) Waterline B) Bowsprit C) Anchor D) Keel E) Rudder For more information go to: www.Flpublicarchaeology.org/wcrc F) Mizzen Mast G) Mainmast H) Crowsnest I) Foremast J) Bowsprit Mast www.museumsinthesea.com Left: Scarf joint on the gunwale (the top Left: Stem of Nina. edge of the side wall) of Pinta. Bottom: Stem from the Emanuel Point Shipwreck. (Florida Bureau of Archae- Bottom: Scarf joint from the stem or ological Research) front-most timber of the Emanuel Point Shipwreck seen from above in the drawing and from the side in the photo. (Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research)
Metal Fasteners: Metal bolts or pins made of materials such as copper, iron, or bronze would have been used to fasten ships’ timbers together. These artifacts are important for trying to figure out how old a shipwreck is.
Treenails:
Above Left: Anchor on the bow Wooden pegs used to of Pinta. fasten wooden planks Above Right: Anchor from the together. These rust Emanuel Point Shipwreck (Illustration by James W Hunter) free fasteners expand
Below: The “cathead” (arrows) in water to create a Top: Tackle blocks and sheaves on is a large wooden beam at the bow tight connection. Pinta. that supports the anchor.