Page 166 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

Chapter Two
96. With the Capstan
The capstan was the most important device aboard for hoisting heavy loads, suc h as the yards, the anc hor, or parts of the c argo; it could even be used to shift the ship—that is, kedge it using a k edge anchor (kedging). Large ships also had a second small capstan, not resting with its foot in a partner on the lower deck but in a kind of brace, mounted against the underside of the deck.
Where the c apstan turned in the par tner, it was fur- nished with sm all, easily replac eable pine c hocks to f a- cilitate rotation and to minimiz e wear on the expen sive partner or pivot . The capstan was t urned with a sh bars, which were removable to save room.
To prevent the c apstan from turning back, pivoting pawls with which it could be secured were mou nted onto the deck forward or aft of the capstan.
When the anchor was being heaved, it was not the an- chor cable that was wound around the capstan; the cable was simply t oo thick. Instead, the so- called messenger was used, a loop of line running around the capstan and a heavy vertical bar or roller in the bow next to the hawse- holes. This line h ad mousings (thickenings). The anchor cable was tied to the messen ger with shor t lengths of rope (nippers) at short intervals as it entered the ship,
Figure 2.197. Plate XXXV. Capstan, ratchet, ratchet cleat, bar.
and the mous ings prevented the nippers from slipping. The cable was drawn to the hatc h of the c able tier with the capstan, where the nippers were untied and the cable stowed below. Ropes (halyards) for hoisting yards were always led to the c apstan through a she ave in one of the large knights.
97. Fasten the Chain Plates.
(275 II 53) Chain plates are irons or ropes, w hich are attached underneath to the wale and the ship, well xed with bolts. At the main channels one can ob-
serve two longs staves of iron, also called chain plates, which come through and are mobile: with the one the shrouds are hauled taut, and the other is used to hoist boats in and out of ships. Likewise one can be found in the small channels, to w hich tackles with blocks are attached, used to take heavy loads in and out.
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(268 I 21) At every channel an iron Chain Plate can be seen, which is smooth and of one piece, and goes through. Thereto a line is attached , going over four sheaves, with which the masts are held to the side and hauled taut. Another is loose and mobile, which is used to hook a tackle onto, and take on loads. The futtock
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