Page 230 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

Chapter Three
This contract contains somepeculiarfe atures: the heights of the stem and sternpost, for in stance, are much lower than in other c ontracts. This could only mean one thing: that the gunroom in the st ern was to be made lower than the rest of the main deck. In the foreship there should also be a step- down in the dec k layout, or the bowsprit would c ome too low in the hul l. All this would
have another consequence: the ship would h ave relative little rise in the sheer.
Before construction began, the dimen sions of the frame parts of the main frame as well as parts of the stem and sternpost were t aken from c ontract data and ren- dered as drawings (fig. 3.15). After the stem and sternpost were raised, the bottom planking was fitted (figs. 3.16 and
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Figure 3.17. The bottom planking is finished. The structure is supported by small poles and held together with cleats (Courtesy Cees de Jonge, The Visual Art Box)
Figure 3.18. The floor timbers and two bilge futtocks have been placed at the position of the main frame. Their shape has been derived from the section of the main frame. (Courtesy Cees de Jonge, The Visual Art Box)
Figure 3.19. The turn of the bilge has been planked. The bilge futtocks of the main frame determine the shape. (Courtesy Cees de Jonge, The Visual
Art Box)