General sailing

General sailing

Terms used to sail, navigate, and maintain a sail boat.

Industry: Sailing

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General sailing

treenails

Sailing; General sailing

Bolts or plugs of wood used to fasten plank to the timbers of vessels. Pronounced "trennel. "

A signal that a boat or vessel is for sale. The origin of the custom appears to be unknown; but it is ingeniously argued that brooms were hoisted as a signal that a man wanted to make a clean sweep ...

stand up

Sailing; General sailing

A vessel is said to stand up well that carries her canvas without heeling much.

boom

Sailing; General sailing

Free swinging spar attached to the foot of the sail with forward end pivoting on the mast. A spar used to extend the foot of sails. To top the boom is to make sail and away. To boom off is to shove ...

caustic soda

Sailing; General sailing

A mixture of three parts of caustic soda to two of unslacked lime is a good detergent. The soda is boiled in the water, and then the lime added. The mixture should be applied hot, and be of the ...

starboard

Sailing; General sailing

The right hand side. The opposite to port. From the ancient "steerboard" a rudder like device placed off the starboard or right-side quarter. It is said the ships were moored left side to the quay or ...

girth

Sailing; General sailing

The measurement round the vessel. The girth is generally measured at a station 0.55 from the fore end of the L.W.L. It is taken in two separate ways--i.e., by skin or by chain. The skin girth is ...