Essential Shipboard Equipment and Terminology

Shipboard Equipment and Parts

Anchors

Anchor: An iron instrument, heavy and strong, shaped like a harpoon or hook. Doubled and attached to a rope, chain, or cable, it's thrown into the water to hold a vessel.

1. Plow anchor (Figure 1-37)
2. Danforth anchor (Figure 1-35)

Windlass

Windlass: A horizontal axis machine used to weigh chains. It has an iron mechanism called a chainstopper to bite and stop the chain. Often incorporates drums (Cabirol or warping ends).

Gypsy

Gypsy: A drum-shaped part of the windlass with notches or molds where the chain's mating link engages as the anchor is raised or lowered. The gypsy is in gear when turning the reel to raise the anchor, or it decouples and engages the brake to stop the shaft's rotation.

Escobar

Escobar: The location where the anchor chain passes through.

Rudder

Rudder: A vertical plate or blade (wood or metal) that revolves around an axis, positioned aft of the ship to steer. (Synonym: cane)

1. Regular helm: The entire blade is located aft of the axis of rotation (Figure 1-48).
2. Balanced rudder: The blade is on both sides of the shaft (Figure 1-49).

Propellers

Propellers: The driving element of a motor-equipped boat.

1. Step: The theoretical advance of a propeller in one full turn (in a solid).
2. Slip: The loss of theoretical advance as the propeller moves through water.
3. Diameter: Twice the distance from the center to the blade tip (Figure 1-52).
4. Variable pitch propeller: Blades with non-helical active faces.
5. Multi-pitch propeller: Blades form a single piece with the core, allowing for adjustable pitch changes.
6. Left-handed helix: Going ahead, the bow falls to port (Er); in reverse, to starboard (Br).
7. Right-handed helix: Going ahead, the bow falls to starboard (Br); in reverse, to port (Er).

Cavitation

Cavitation: A phenomenon where the propeller sucks in more water than the boat provides, resulting in a less dense mixture (water + air). This causes excessive revolution, vibrations, and unusual noises. To compensate, propellers are often oxidized, and sacrificial anodes (fins usually at the stern) are installed (p. 1-28).

Ropes and Related Terms

Cabos

Cabos: All strings used on board, made of textile or metal. Several fibers form the filástica; several filásticas form the cord; and several cords form the cable.

Chicote

Chicote: The end of a rope or cable.

Within

Within: The bow or curvature formed between the ends that hold it.

Sign

Sign: The longest or main part.

Gaza

Gaza: An eye, ring, or oval made in the whip from one side, used to hook or attach something (Figure 2-12).

Boza

Boza: A two- or three-foot piece of rope with one end hooked to an eyebolt; the other end is used to make a knot (Figure 1-56).

Bollards

Bollards: Usually iron pieces set in the dock to secure vessels (encapillar). They function similarly to bollards.

Dead

Dead: Iron blocks, stone, cement, anchors, etc., firmly resting on the seabed; buoys or beacons are attached to them.

Buoys and Beacons

Buoys and Beacons: Floaters tied to dead weights, used to secure vessels and signal dangers, channels, or port entrances.

Defense

Defense: A tool to protect boats from rubbing against the dock, other boats, or the spring.

Hook

Hook: A wooden pole with a fitting (hook) at one end, used to assist in docking or undocking small vessels.

Fiber Ropes

Artificial

1. Polyester: Petroleum-based, highly durable and flexible; doesn't float; unaffected by environmental factors. Used in rigging work.
2. Nylon: Petroleum-based, very strong and elastic. Used for anchors, moorings, and trailers.
3. Propylene: Highly abrasion-resistant, floats.
4. Kevlar: Combines strength with minimal elasticity (five times stronger than steel cable); very expensive. Used for halyards and sheets in sailboat racing.

Other Nautical Terms

Heel

Heel: The act of knocking down or tilting a vessel; the result of a depressing force.

Flooding

Flooding: Placing a boat upright (righting the ship when it stops tilting).

Windward

Windward: The direction from which the wind is coming.

Leeward

Leeward: The direction toward which the wind is blowing.

Receivable

Receivable: To pick up or pull something out (synonym: pull).

Templar

Templar: To tighten a rope, cable, or chain (synonym: tesar).

Lascar

Lascar: To let go of or lower a rope gradually (synonym: filar).

Arria

Arria: To loosen one end. "Arri" means letting go as needed.

Long

Long: To completely release and free something, disconnecting it.