Page 62 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

Chapter Two
Figure 2.9.
Joint of stem and keel. (Courtesy G. A. de Weerdt)
(66 II 8) 3 The thickness is as of the stem, inside and outside.
(66 II 22) 2 The sternpost, being 1⁄5 broader than thick above, and below 5 times broader than thick.
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(73 I 43) One makes the lower part of this sternpost such that it will stand with as much as 6 or 7 feet (ac- cording to the breadth of the timber) on the keel, and at the rear , one or one and a half feet from it, one leaves a pin of its own wood, which is let into the keel in a hole as thick as the pin, such that the sternpost comes to stand so much more stead y aft: forward it is fastened with nails.
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(73 I 40) The sternpost is to remain square as far as the transom is wide.
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ship aft, and should be well made, of one piece of tim- ber, which is good, sound and strong, as it will have muchtosu erandtherudderwillbehungtoit,which in stormy winds is subjected to much impact from the water.
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(72 II 32) The Sternpost is measured as the stem, on the end of the heel.
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(66 I 45) About the Sternpost.
1. For the length of the sternpost, one adds up the depth, the rise of the sheer aft, and what is above that. For example, count 3 feet for the gun room, depth in hold 10 feet, rise of the sheer aft 5 feet 10 inches, this sternpost will be 18 feet 10 inches high. Others tak e three quarters for every 10 feet length for the rise of the sheer, which here would give 10 feet rise, or for 10 feet length 7 inches rise of the sheer.
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(73 I 25) This sternpost is generally made as high as the stem is on the inside, or according to the depth of the ship, or after the rst full deck is laid . One has to mind though, that the gunport in the tuck, below the ta rail,shouldstandafewfeetampleabovethelower deck, because of which the sternpost will have to have enough length.
The sternpost of a ship of 180 feet, should at the inside in the ship be 5 quarter thick, and at the back side, one foot at the top.
Figure 2.10.
Bottom: The pin to fit the keel.
Plate XLVII. Sternpost.
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