Page 135 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

How Ships Are Built in Holland Today
The lower ends of the hanging knees long 41⁄2 feet. The bills long 3 feet, thick 5 inches, broad 6 inches. The bre- asthook thick 9 inches, and also the futtock rider.
(75 I 44) The hanging knees, in the forecastle, have lowerendslong4feet4in ches,thebillslong3feet, thick 5 inches, broad 6 inches.
72. The Deck Clamp Underneath It, and the Other Ceiling
When the deck beams were in pl ace, the hanging knees were fixed—between the top timbers rather than on the ceiling to provide maximum space in the cabin. Then the deck clamps on which the deck beams rested were made. Finally, the rest of the c eiling was added underneath the deck clamp.
Witsen does not mention them, but the waterways and binding strakes of the cabin, steering stand, and forecas- tle were also made at this time. In general, it can be said that the upper struct ural elements became lighter so a s not to threaten the stability of the ship.
73. The Ledges on the upper deck.
73. The Ledges on the Upper Deck
As for the m ain deck, three ledg es were usual ly placed between each pair of deck beams of the upper dec k. The ledges were one quarter of the width of the stem.
74. The knights ready in the Forecastle.
74. The Knights (or Bitts) Ready in the Forecastle
In fact this section should be titled “The Knights on the Forecastle Head,” for there were no knights in the forecas- tle. The lower ends of the small knights were in the fore- castle, however, before the m ast. Above, the ends were joined by a beam onto which lines were belayed. Heavier lines of the ru nning rigging, lik e the top sail sheets, r an through sheaves in the knights or bitts.
Below, in the forec astle, where the ends were fi xed to the bitt standards or st andard knees (see section 84, The Bitt Knees), the bitts had a second purpose: they locked up the foot of the bowsprit. For this, heavy chocks were bolted onto the bitts, into which the bowsprit fitted closely. The heel of the bowsprit then lay on the partner of the foremast (see section 95, And the Bowsprit).
75. Cabin timbers in the Forecastle and underneath the Ledges.
(68 II 35) [ . . . ] carlings 1⁄3, the ledges 1⁄4.
75. Cabin Timbers in the Forecastle and Underneath
the Ledges
This is another mi stake in the di scourse. Witsen means the carlings underneath the ledg es of the forec astle. These carlings were one third the thickness of the stem.
76. Place the Bitts.
(56 II 40) Bitts are heavy upright pillars that, together with the bolster and standar d knee, make up the rid- ing bitts.
. ..
(70 II 17) 1. The bitts 1⁄3 thicker than the stem.
(93 I 16) 71. About the small belaying beam.
1. The small Belaying beam, thick 51⁄2 inches, broad
6 inches.
2. The heads long 8 inches.
(92 II 34 ) The sheaves of these small fore knigh ts arebroad12,thick2inches.Thenail2 1⁄2 inches,and above the holes [“swallows” is the tec hnical term] 5 inches, the head above that long 8 inches, thick 8 inches, broad at the base 8 inches, thick 3 inches, it stands a little more vertical than the mast, they stand against the binding strakes, and below xed against the standard knees, with a bolt through the beam, and a small cross beam comes above the holes, thick and broad 5 inches, the heads long 8 inches.
(92 II 50) 70. About the small Knights.
1. The small knights are broad 1 foot, thick 10 inches. 2. The sheaves broad 12 inches, thick 13⁄4 inches.
3. The nail thick 11⁄2 inches.
4. The sheaves below the head 2 inches.
5. The Head long 8 inches, above thick 7 inches.
(79 II 34) 35. About the Bitts.
1. The bitts thick 15 inches, broad 16 inches.
2. The heads long 15 inches.
3. Hollow one-half inch.
4. The lower ends thick 1 foot, broad 1 foot 1 inch. 5. The bitts stand 4 feet above the deck.
The bitts stand 23 inches apart.
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