Page 129 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

Figure 2.137. Plate XXVI. Lower spur of the beakhead, which supports the kam.
How Ships Are Built in Holland Today
(85 I 8) About the Hatches.
The Main hatch, long and wide 7 feet, the groove
wide1inch,theinnerframe thickandbroad2inches, the hatch beam broad 41⁄2 inches, the coamings 4 in. in- side and out. The coamings of the main grating broad 9 inches, thick 5 inches, are wide and broad 7 feet, in the middle, the coaming broad 8 inches, thick 5 1⁄2 inches. The laths broad 3 1⁄2 inches, thick 1⁄2 inch. The small hatch before the mast 2 feet 5 inches, long and wide 3 feet. The coamings thick and b road 7 inches. The laths thick1⁄2 inch,andbroad31⁄2 inches,lieforeandafton the ledges.
The grating for the main hatch, and on the forecas- tle, they are of even width, the coamings on the forecas- tlebroad8inches,thick4 inches:theledgesbroad11⁄2 inches, thick 2 inches: the laths broad 3 1⁄2 inches, thick 1⁄2 inch, the other on the upper deck as above. The hatch aft of the riding bitt, lying 3 feet away from it, long and wide 3 feet: the inner frame broad 2 inches, thick 1 inch: theledgesthick21⁄2 inches,broad3inches:thegroove wide 1 inch, the outer frame, broad 8 inches, thick 2 1⁄2 inches, inside and out 1⁄2 inch, having to either side a sloping plank, in the middle lie one inch deals. Hatches above the bitt standards are 2 feet wide and broad.
69. The Coamings of the Gratings on the Upper Deck
The coamings of the hatches were placed on the planks of the main deck and on the upper dec k. They were the pro- filed edges around the hatch openings. The hatch covers fitted in the square opening fr amed by the coamings and lay in a groo ve that had been pl aned into the c oamings. If necessary, the gr atings could either be c overed with boards or with canvas, which allowed some light onto the lower deck.
At this time it is perhaps useful to note Witsen’s di- vision of the dec ks (see fi g. 2.141). Apart from the two hatches mentioned above, the main deck also had a small hatch forward to the boatsw ain’s storeroom ( hel ); aft, in the gun room, there were two small hatches, one leading to the peak and the other to the bre ad room (see section 101, After this make the Bordered Hatch Covers).
On the upper dec k from bow to stern sever al hatches could be fou nd. Behind the riding bitt (see section s 76,
Figure 2.138. Plate XXIX. The main hatch.
Place the Bitts; 84, The Bitt Knees; and 86, The Bol- ster) was the hatc h to the c able tier, where the anc hor cable was stored during the voyage. This hatch was differ- ent from the other h atches in th at it had a sloping pl ank all around, probably for draining the water seeping out of the cable or so that kinks in the cable did not foul on the coaming.
In the forecastle, forward of the bulkhead, there was a hatch descending to the main deck. Aft of it lay the main skylight grating, admitting light and air to the m ain deck. The skylight was covered with a number of gratings (see section 100, And the Hatch Gratings ). The aftermost part of the sk ylight grating was the main hatch, through which large pieces of cargo could be put into the hold. When hoisting, the l ast two gr atings of the sk ylight and the hatch beam, an u nconnected beam supporting the grating in the middle, were r emoved. There was a groove in the hatch beam through which water drained. Straight underneath was the main hatch of the main deck, of equal dimensions. It provided access to the hold.
Between the skylight grating and the mast there was a small hatch allowing the crew access to the lower deck; it must have had a companion ladder or flight of stairs.
Abaft the mast there was another grating, smaller than the other one and also str aight above a similar hatch on the main deck. This was the access to the hold for smaller cargo. Behind the bulkhead of the steering stand was an-
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