Page 167 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

How Ships Are Built in Holland Today
4. The grating thick 3 inches, the bulkhead rakes aft 2 inches, broad 4 inches, l ong 14 inches, below with a concealed scarf.
Inside the steering stand against the bulkhead , there are apertures through w hich one descends to the main deck, 2 feet square.
Next to the portholes in the upper deck, comes a post, broad 5 inches, the porth oles wide 1 foot 9 in. the paneled woodwork is pierced fo r muskets. The border underneath the arch above the grating, broad 8 inches: also the car ved plank, abov e which the grating comes another carved plank equal with the outside, in w hich the arches are made, the porthole comes 10 inches from the door, and 1 inch from the deck, the cross brace broad 12 inches, thick 12 inches.
5. The arch, high 1 5 inches, broad 14 inches, thick 3 inches.
6. The portholes wide 15 inches, high 14 inches.
7. The covering board thick 11⁄2 inches.
8. The border around the grating, thick 1 inch, broad
8 inches.
9. The border below thick 2 inches, broad 3 inches. Above the cornice broad 7 inches, thick 11⁄2 inches. The steering stand long 14 to 16 feet, high 6 to 7
feet.
(58 I 51) The arch above the bulwark of the steering stand, is broad 7 inches, and above thick 4 inches, below thick 11⁄2 inches, in this way, as is shown in plate No. 20 [2.198] at letter L [L is m issing]: below lies a batten, on which the small pillars stand , broad 2 inches, thick 2 inches, in the way as shown on the same plate at letter M [M is missing], and it lies 9 inches from the bulkhead: the small pillars are long one foot, thick 2 inches, broad 51⁄2 inches, and also lie 5 1⁄2 inches apart: in the middle lies or stands a head, on which the arch lies: this is thick 10 inches, broad 1 foot.
(90 II 44) Above the steering stand, often stands an arch, on the edge of the upper deck, as shown at letter N on plate N o. 20 [2.198], raised one foot, and on the planksliesabatten,thick11⁄2 inches,broad3inches,it lies 9 inches farther aft, (which front can be seen at let- ter O:) than the ends of the planks come, the arch is 71⁄2 inches broad, above thick 3 inches, and below 1 inch, the small pillars underneath the arch are broad 5 1⁄2 inches, thick 2 inches, the holes between the same 51⁄2 inches, in the bulkhead of the steering stand , are openings letting in light, decorated with frames all around, which pillars have hidden scarfs to the back: shown with letter P.
shrouds underneath the mast tops are fair ly long, holding the topmast shrouds: but those of the Foresail and Mizzen are the longest, because there the shrouds do not reach the edge of the mast top. The topmast shrouds are hauled taut with Deadeyes. The top of the bowsprit has no futtock shrouds.
97. Fasten the Chain Plates
Chain plates were the iron f astenings of the de adeyes. They usually consisted of four par ts: a band with an eye around the deadeye; a long link underneath the channel going to the ship’s side; a shor t link; and a pl ate in the shape of a fi gure eight. The chain plate was f astened to the ship’s side with two bolts, one of which went through both the shor t link and the pl ate, the other on ly through the plate. For Witsen’s remarks on c hain plates specific to the pinas, see section 91 ( Then plank it there, and make the Channels).
A 100-foot ship had six pairs of deadeyes in each side (and thus chain plates) for the m ain mast, one les s for the foremast, and h alf as many for the mizz enmast. For every 15 or 16 feet of the le ngth of the ship, a de adeye and shroud was added, so a ship of 1 34 feet had to have eight deadeyes.
Apart from these, a number of chain plates used for tackles in the shrouds were in stalled in the w ale. They were not composed of links but were m ade of one rod or plate. The whole was f astened to the ship’s side with two bolts. Furthermore, smaller chain plates to which the backstays were attached were often fixed on the wales.
98. Also the bulkhead before the Steering Stand.
(55 II 27) The Schilt [shield] is an ornament, stands in front of the steering stand , as the coat of arms of the Owner of the ship, is often applied forward against the forecastle. Sometimes two schilden can be found for- ward in heavy ships.
(88 II 48) 50. About the Bulkhead before the Steering Stand.
1. The door of the steering stand , wide 4 feet, above wide 3 feet 9 inches.
2. Door posts, broad 4 inch es, the one post comes 2 feet from the ship’s side, is thick 3 inches.
3. Theplanksthick1inch,andbetweenboth shot-free.
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