Page 115 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

Figure 2.110. Plate LVI. The ship on the stocks when it will be launched.
iron plate set into the keel and sternpost, joining them in a double dovetail.
Furthermore, the foot measures indicating the dr aft were carved into the sternpost and stem. In arc haeologi- cal finds and some models we see th at roman numerals were used for this, in which the V was placed horizontally and the I was replaced by a dot.
57. Make the Mold for the Rudder.
57. Make the Mold for the Rudder
Every ship carried a rudder mold, indicating the exact po- sition of the rudder irons. If the rudder was lost, a proper- fitting jury rudder could then be made.
58. Finish it all around, to prepare it for launching, and, when ready, launch it.
(153 II 54 ) The plate II [fig. 2.111] shows the Model of a Ship being lau nched, and how far Ships must be
nished, when in our coun try they are made to slide from the land. In many places in Europe the Ships are nished completely on lan d before putting them to water, which in my opinion hurts them. Well-greased planks are put to each side of the Ship, on w hich it slides when gliding o the stocks, and w hich keep
it from falling on its side. The men to be seen haul- ing the line, pull a rope that is attached aft to both sides, and th us help the momen tum, when the ship does not wan t to go for ward, because other wise this
is not necessary, with the stick, and the rope k w hich is to each side, the Ship is rock ed to and fro, to mak e it loose, and slips in to the water, but such is not done unless the ship is slow in leaving the stocks; ll are the wedges and beds, w hich have been kick ed away from underneath the Ship, to raise the same; and to receive the kick of the rocking.
When the Ships are launched, a rope is run out aft, to steer it with, and hold it from running too far. When a Ship stands read y on the Yard, to be launched , and the shores have been remov ed, it should be launched as soon as possible, because without shores and stand- ing on the k eel alone for a long time, the ship could hurt; or if you want to wait, at least raise some shores against it outside. The beds, and the other wood , on which the ship slides, must be wetted , for it not to ig- nite, when the ship is launched . When the water in which the ship is to be launched, is short, ropes are at- tached to the stem forward, and it is turned, so that it doesn’t hit into the other bank. Before the Ships leave the slipway, a chest is nail ed to the side, holes made
How Ships Are Built in Holland Today
in the skin and the ship holes and cracks, and
lled with water, to look for ll them.
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(155 I 18) When a Ship has been launched with good fortune and without disaster , the workmen here are poured beer to be merry with, to which in former days for every h undred guilders the Ship’ s hull had cost, one was enjoyed.
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