Page 176 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

Chapter Two
Figure 2.210. The galley on the port side of the lower deck. (Drawing by A. J. Hoving)
Figure 2.211. Plate XXVI. Cathead, cathead support (drukker).
the height of the rail at that spot is not mentioned explic- itly anywhere.
In men-of-war the galley was placed in the hold so as not to stand in the way of the guns. In smaller merchant- men it was also placed under the forecastle.
109. The Catheads.
(55 I 1 9) Cathead: is a timber , which forward sticks out of the beakhead over the water: w hen wound up, the anchor cable goes through it, either through one, or through two sheaves. N ear it is another timber , called the Cathead Knee, which supports the same.
109. The Catheads
The cathead was a be am across the rai lings of the beakhead, from which it protruded on e ach side, for cat- ting the anc hor. “Catting” was pulling the anchor out of the water with a she aved block hooked to the anc hor ring in order to secure it to the ship’s side. Contrary to Witsen’s statement, the anc hor cable itself did not run through the cathead.
The so-called fish davit was a loose beam used in the operation to stow the anc hor against the ship’s side. It was shoved across or between the railings, for whic h a special aperture was sometimes available.
The cathead was secured on top of or below the fore- castle deck and was su pported at the beakhead by a cathead knee, a c arved truss going from the be akhead railings back against the ship’s side.
110. The Rudder. (71 I 43) 33. About the Rudder.
1. Every 12 feet length of the ship, gives 4 inches breadth of the rudder.
Example 100 feet length, 12 88
64 32
(90 I 41) 57. About the cathead.
The one end of the cathead lies at 4 feet from the
mast, the other end straight on the forward top timber. 1. The cathead lies on the forecastle, 2 feet across the
railing, and is thick 8 inches, broad 10 inches.
2. At the other end it is broad 8 inches, thick 4
inches.
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