0-9, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z [Contents]
0-9, A, B,
C, D,
E, F,
G, H,
I, J,
K, L,
M, N,
O, P,
Q, R,
S, T,
U, V,
W, X,
Y, Z
[Contents]
sack beater
Wooden handle with a vertical set head used to beat sacks hardened by
wetting (e.g. cement) or by over long pressures (grain, etc.). Beating makes it
easier to pick up and move the sacks.
CL tools and equipment
BT cargo handling equipment
sack chute
Inclined or vertical troughs or shafts, for conveying sacks to a lower
level.
CL tools and equipment
BT cargo handling equipment
USE bag hook
sack scales
Scales used mostly in warehouses for weighing sacks readied for delivery
to cutomers.
CL tools and equipment
BT cargo weighing equipment
sail cloth
Long strips of material (eg. Canvas, nylon, flax) sewn together to make
sails.
CL components
BT sail component
sail component
Objects and areas that are the components of a sail. Do not use for
indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL components
BT wind powered propulsion system component
NT bolt rope
NT clew
NT cringle
NT foresail
NT jib
NT leech
NT luff
NT main course
NT main sail
NT peak
NT reef point
NT sail cloth
NT tack (sail component)
NT throat (sail component)
NT top sail
sail propelled boat
A boat that is designed to be propelled by the use of sail.
CL transport
BT <craft by propulsion>
NT bittern
NT half rater
NT Humber sloop
NT ketch rigged trow
NT Mersey sailing flat
NT Norfolk dinghy
NT Norfolk punt
NT sailing cruiser
NT sloop rigged trow
NT smack rigged trow
NT square rigged trow
NT Thames barge
NT Thames rater
NT trow
NT Waveney One Design
NT Yare and Bure One Design
NT Yarmouth One Design
NT yeoman
sailing cruiser
A craft permanently fitted with accommodation for overnight stays and
primarily used for holidays, privately owned or hired. Fitted with beds or bunks
and often with shower or bath. Powered by sail.
CL transport
BT cruiser
BT sail propelled boat
sailmaker's awl
Sharp metal points with wood handles; used to make small holes in the sail
canvas.
UF pricker
CL tools and equipment
BT piercing equipment
BT sailmaking equipment
sailmaker's palm
A ring of leather worn around the hand. A metal plate is mounted in it to
hold the back of the needle steady when pushing it through tough canvas or rope.
CL tools and equipment
BT sailmaking equipment
sailmaking equipment
Equipment used for making sails. Do not use for indexing. Use a more
specific term.
CL tools and equipment
BT construction equipment
NT rigger's screw
NT sailmaker's awl
NT sailmaker's palm
NT serving mallet
salvage vessel
A craft specifically designed for the refloating, rescue or removal of
other vessels.
CL transport
BT service craft
salvaging equipment
Equipment used for salvaging in an inland waterways context. Do not use
for indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL tools and equipment
BT <tools and equipment by process>
NT grappling iron
saw
A strip of thin metal with teeth cut along the edge.
CL tools and equipment
BT boatbuilding equipment
BT cutting equipment
BT shipbuilding equipment
BT woodworking equipment
NT futtock saw
NT pit saw
USE swift passenger boat
Scottish barge
Craft designed for Scottish inland waterways. Do not use for indexing. Use
a more specific term.
CL transport
BT barge
NT gabbart
NT outside puffer
NT rose on puffer
NT scow
NT shorehead puffer
NT Victualling Inshore Craft
scow
Built for canals of central Scotland. Related to gabbarts but with fuller
lines and squarer build to take advantage of stiller canal waters. Double ended
with a stern cabin but not family boats. Open holds with hatch boards for
perishable goods. Carry 70-80 tons on a draught of 5-6ft.
CL transport
BT Scottish barge
NT Forth and Clyde scow
NT steam scow
NT Union scow
RT gabbart
scraper dredger
A dredger pushing materials across the bed of a waterway to a point where
it can be removed or flushed away.
CL transport
BT dredger
scrieve board
The means by which frame shapes are transferred from the measured drawings
to the shipyard bending blocks. The board can be a vast blackboard made to the
depth and half the beam of the vessel so that the frames can be marked on full
size. All the frames can be accommodated, only one side needing to be shown.
CL tools and equipment
BT boatbuilding equipment
BT shipbuilding equipment
scull
Short oars used in pairs for singles, doubles and quads.
CL tools and equipment
CL components
BT oar
scuttle coaming
The raised wall around an opening in the deck of a vessel (a scuttle) to
prevent the ingress of water.
CL components
BT coaming
semi-racer punt
Between 28 and 30 feet long, 2 feet in the beam and 9.5 inches deep. A
double racing punt.
UF 2 foot punt
CL transport
BT competitive craft
BT human powered boat
BT racing punt
service craft
Craft designed to provide a specific service on inland waterways. Do not
use for indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL transport
BT <craft by function>
NT crane barge
NT diving support craft
NT fire fighting vessel
NT ice breaker
NT ice clearer
NT inspection boat
NT lock lifter
NT salvage vessel
NT tender
NT Thames Waterman cutter
NT tug
NT weed cutting boat
NT work flat
serving mallet
A tool used for serving rope, i.e binding a rope with yarn or to
protecting a length of rope with close turns of spun yarn. It has a groove
'score' along the top used for 'riding' the rope to be served. Another type has
a T-shaped head which is hollowed on one side to bear on the rope. A modern
version is made in gunmetal with a hard-wood roller to hold the yarn. The score
is held against the rope and the yarn passed over the head and round the handle
under the neck of the tool. As the tool is turned round and round the rope, each
turn is held taut.
CL tools and equipment
BT rope working equipment
BT sailmaking equipment
set hammer
A round or square faced tool which would be struck to produce a definite
square or rounded shape.
CL tools and equipment
BT blacksmith's equipment
set iron
An 'ordinary' caulking iron with either a sharp or blunt fantail blade,
used for driving the oakum into the seam.
UF blunt iron
UF straight iron
CL tools and equipment
BT caulking iron
Severn flat
A wooden sailing vessel, related to an up river trow, but designed for use
in shallow water.
CL transport
BT River Severn craft
Severn wherry
A small open boat used for passengers or light goods, propelled by oars or
by sail when the wind was favourable.
CL transport
BT River Severn craft
Severner
The name derives from the 'Severn and Canal Carrying Co', craft used on
the River Severn and Worcester and Birmingham Canals.
CL transport
BT miscellaneous cargo craft types
RT narrow boat
sextant
Astronomical instruments that measure angular distances, especially the
altitude of celestial bodies, in order to determine the longitude and latitude
of ships at sea.
CL tools and equipment
BT navigating equipment
shackle
A u shaped joining device completed by a bolt or retained pin across its
tines (points).
CL tools and equipment
BT boat equipment
BT ship's equipment
shallop
Thames rowing boat manned by 6 or 8 liveried oarsmen, the stretch-limo of
its day. Often fitted with a tilt or cover for passengers. An early clinker
built craft name, used before the mid Nineteenth Century.
CL transport
BT clinker built boat
BT human powered boat
BT passenger vessel
RT Thames wherry
sharp iron
Looks similar to the set iron but with a sharp edge for cutting out
unwanted threads of oakum.
CL tools and equipment
BT caulking iron
shearing
Narrow and thin boards of hardwood fastened to the inside of the outer
hull planking of a wooden vessel to add rigidity and provide a stop to prevent
the caulking being driven right through the seams between the planking.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
RT chalico
NT shearing nail
shearing hammer
About the size of an ordinary joiner's hammer, the head has a chequered
striking face for hitting rose head nails, for a plain face would be liable to
slip. The opposite side, where one would expect a claw or a flat pein, is
lengthened into a round tapered spike, although blunt ended, this is a
counterbalance.
CL tools and equipment
BT boatbuilding equipment
shearing nail
Short, galvanised, rose headed nail used to secure shearing.
CL components
BT nail
RT shearing
sheet roller
A hand operated winch to handle the sheet on a sailing vessel.
CL components
BT rigging component
Sheffield keel
Variation of the Humber keel, trading up to the Sheffield Basin using
Tinsley locks. Sized 61ft x 15ft 6 inches, draft of 7ft to 7ft 6 inches. Carried
110 tons.
CL transport
BT Humber keel
shell plate
One of the many metal plates which when fastened together make up the skin
of a vessel.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
RT buttstrap
ship maul hammer
A round faced hammer with a chamfered neck, oval eye and heavy tapering
pin at the other end. Used for driving trenails and spikes.
CL tools and equipment
BT maul
BT shipbuilding equipment
RT trenail
ship repair equipment
Equipment and materials used for remedial repair work on sea going and
larger inland waterways craft. Do not use for indexing. Use a more specific
term.
CL tools and equipment
BT maintenance and repairing equipment
NT caulking equipment
NT ship's scraper
NT spike lifter
NT tar
shipbuilding equipment
Equipment and materials used for building sea going and larger inland
waterways craft. Do not use for indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL tools and equipment
BT construction equipment
NT caulking equipment
NT futtock saw
NT maul
NT pitch ladle
NT pitch mop
NT rigger's screw
NT saw
NT scrieve board
NT ship maul hammer
NT shipwright's adze
NT shipwright's brace
NT shipwright's chisel
NT tar boiler
NT timber dog
shipwright's adze
Very broad, flat adzes having a spur or punch on the back of the head
which can be used as a nail set.
UF boatbuilder's adze
CL tools and equipment
BT adze
BT shipbuilding equipment
shipwright's brace
A homemade wooden brace used for light work. They have a shallow sweep and
a square tapered socket which can take wooden pads which would hold awls or
bits.
CL tools and equipment
BT shipbuilding equipment
RT bit
NT platelayer's brace
shipwright's chisel
A heavy type of chisel with long blades - from 24 to 36 inches long with
1.5 to 2 inch wide cutting edges.
CL tools and equipment
BT chisel
BT shipbuilding equipment
NT boatbuilder's chisel
shipwright's plumb bob
Weights to be suspended from one end of plumb lines to determine
verticality or to aid in locating points on the ground during surveying.
CL tools and equipment
BT measuring equipment
shipwright's plumb line
Cords, strings, or other lines which, when used in conjunction with plumb
bobs suspended from one end, are used to determine verticality or to aid in
locating points on the ground during surveying.
CL tools and equipment
BT measuring equipment
USE anchor
ship's bell
Cast bronze bracket mounted bell usually engraved with name of ship and
date, used for rigging watches and signalling in fog.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's binnacle
Mounting unit to protect ship's compass. Often lit with oil or electric
lights and fitted with iron spheres and correcting magnets to give true compass
bearings.
UF binnacle
CL tools and equipment
BT navigating equipment
BT ship's equipment
RT ship's compass
ship's block
Frames that contain one or more pulleys.
UF pulley block
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's bollard
Iron or wooden round or square mooring stump with swollen top section
(cap) fixed to deck of ship for making off mooring lines.
CL tools and equipment
BT bollard
ship's bosuns chair
Wooden plank seat fitted into a rope yoke usually secured by knots under
the holes in the plank. Used for transferring crew from ship to ship or shore
especially in emergencies and for overside maintenance work.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's bucket
Galvanised iron tapered bucket with round section rod handle fashioned
with a loop for tying a rope for hauling aboard after filling overside.
CL tools and equipment
BT carrying equipment
BT ship's equipment
NT deck bucket
ship's capstan
Vertically mounted winding drum hand or mechanically powered usually
applied to raising anchor chain but also used for warping vessel when docking or
locking.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
USE chronometer
ship's compass
Direction finding navigation instrument with magnetic north seeking needle
mounted on pivot. Usually mounted in gimbal frame to maintain level. Bezel
marked with points of compass and degrees. Modern versions have oil bath casing.
CL tools and equipment
BT navigating equipment
BT ship's equipment
RT gimbal
NT ship's binnacle
ship's davit
Rotating suspension arm for swinging out deck mounted anchor over side.
Anchor is lifted off deck with a set of purchase blocks hung from a shackle at
davit end. Can also be used as a rotating or pivotted suspension arm for
swinging out and lowering ship's lifeboat over side of ship. Lifeboat is
suspended at bow and stern between two davits each having a set of purchase
blocks hung from a shackle at davit end.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
USE derrick pole
ship's equipment
Covers equipment found on sea going vessels and larger craft used on
inland waterways. Do not use for indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL tools and equipment
BT <tools and equipment by context>
NT bitts
NT bollard
NT breaker
NT chronometer
NT rigging
NT roller fairlead
NT shackle
NT ship's bell
NT ship's binnacle
NT ship's block
NT ship's bosuns chair
NT ship's bucket
NT ship's capstan
NT ship's compass
NT ship's davit
NT ship's fairlead
NT ship's fender
NT ship's foghorn
NT ship's forecastle stove
NT ship's lamp
NT ship's log (book)
NT ship's log (Walker's Patent)
NT ship's megaphone
NT ship's telegraph
NT ship's wheel
NT ship's windlass
ship's fairlead
A fitting for the edge of the deck of a ship to take mooring ropes or
lines through before making them off to bitts, bollards or the capstan.
CL tools and equipment
BT docking equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's fender
A soft pliant cushion to absorb impact between vessel and dock or lock
walls. Also positioned to cushion vessels under tow or being manouvered.
Traditionally made up from knitted rope/wicker work or modern type air filled
plastic.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's foghorn
A portable foghorn carried on a ship.
CL tools and equipment
BT foghorn
BT ship's equipment
ship's forecastle stove
Specialised cabin heating and cooking range shaped to fit into taper of
forepeak. Crew quarters are often located here in tugs, yachts and smaller
vessels.
CL tools and equipment
BT heating equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's lamp
Lamps designed for use on board ship.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
NT anchor lamp
NT bunker lamp
NT engine room lamp
NT globe lamp
NT masthead lamp
NT navigation lamp
NT tricolour lamp
ship's log (book)
Diary kept of ship's sailings, ports of call, cargoes, dockings, etc.
References usually made to weather, speed travelled, time spent in port,
repairs, crew details and similar.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's log (Walker's Patent)
Patented overside recording instrument to measure distance sailed for
working out ship's speed. Brass rocket shaped body with rotating propellor end
drives internal gearing to counter wheels. Measurement recorded in nautical
miles.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's megaphone
Tinsmith made cone with mouthpiece and handle for projecting and
amplifying commands and instructions for ship to ship or to shore.
CL tools and equipment
BT communications equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's scraper
Usually a wooden handled too with a triangular metal end.Used for scraping
the bottom of vessels.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship repair equipment
ship's telegraph
Instrument usually from a ship's bridge or wheelhouse which communicates
to the engine room via wires to a repeater mechanism the speed and direction
(forward or reverse) required by the Chief Officer or pilot of a ship.
CL tools and equipment
BT communications equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's wheel
Any circular device used to steer a ship linked to the rudder by rope,
chains, rods, or hyraulics, or a combination of these.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
ship's windlass
A mechanism with a crank handle used for winding anchors or sails.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship's equipment
NT anchor windlass
shore knife
Used for cutting the edges of dykes.
CL tools and equipment
BT waterway maintenance equipment
shorehead puffer
Iron boats 66ft x 15-16ft, carrying 80 tons on a 7ft draught, working up
the Clyde and onto the Forth and Clyde Canal. Had finer lines to make them
handle better at sea.These puffers have fixed bulwarks and a quarter deck.
CL transport
BT Scottish barge
Shropshire Canal tub boat
Tub boats in trains of up to 20 generally steered from the towpath with a
shaft on to the leading boat. They vary in capacity up to 10 tons. The usual
given size is 19ft 9in x 6ft 2in x 3ft boats working in the 1920's at Coalport
and on the Donnington Wood and Duke of Sutherlands Canal.
CL transport
BT tub boat
Shropshire Union flat
An adaptation of the Mersey flat, used by the Shropshire Union. They had
their own white and blue colour scheme.
CL transport
BT canal flat
shroud
The rope or wire which runs from the masthead to the deck at the side of
the vessel and supports the mast.
CL components
BT rigging component
RT ratline
shunting tug
A small tug used to put barges in position for unloading or making up
trains of tub boats.
CL transport
BT tug
shutts
Planking in the bottom of the hold of a narrow boat, forming a level
platform.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
RT grounds
side rocker
Icebreaker rocked from a bar or rope on the side gunwhales of the boat.
CL transport
BT ice breaker
sidecloth strings
The ropes used to pull the sidecloths up and into place on a narrow boat.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
RT sidecloths
sidecloths
Strips of waterproofed canvas or other material fastened to the gunwhales
of a canal narrow boat to prevent water entering the cargo space of the boat.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
RT knee strings
NT sidecloth strings
signal flag
Flag used for communication between vessels.
CL components
BT communication system component
NT letter flag
NT number flag
sill scoop
A leather bag with a fattened surface on one side. Used on a long pole to
clear the sill of a lock so that the lock gate can meet with it.
UF cill scoop
CL tools and equipment
BT waterway maintenance equipment
single bladed paddle
One bladed paddle
CL tools and equipment
CL components
BT paddle
single crease iron
A caulking iron with a single groove ('crease') edge, used for compressing
the oakum down below the surface of the seam.
CL tools and equipment
BT making iron
single scull
Racing shell for one sculler without cox. Scullers use two oars each.
UF x1
CL transport
BT competitive craft
BT human powered boat
Sir Nigel Gresley Canal boat
This canal served coalmines which brought coal into Newcastle under Lyme.
Little is known about the boats but they are believed to have only been lightly
loaded (6 tons).
CL transport
BT miscellaneous cargo craft types
siren
A device making a long warning sound.
CL tools and equipment
BT communications equipment
skid
A wooden square or rectangular platform with eyes in the corners where
chains and ropes can be attached so that cargoes can be moved on it.
CL tools and equipment
BT cargo handling equipment
skiff
On the Thames a boat with a wide stern built to carry several persons; in
the North it signifies a sculler's racing boat.
CL transport
BT human powered boat
BT recreational craft
NT oyster skiff
NT Thames skiff
skin boat
A boat whose main construction material is skin.
CL transport
BT <craft by material>
NT coracle
skin plank
A plank of the outer skin of a wooden vessel.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
BT plank (boat component)
slab line
A line used to spill wind out of square sails on keels.
CL components
BT rigging component
slide
A seat which moves on wheels on parallel rails. Used in competitive craft.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
sling
Hoist components usually consisting of looped lines used to hold securely
something to be hoisted, lowered, carried, or suspended.
CL tools and equipment
BT cargo handling equipment
slipper launch
Motor or steam launch with stern which slopes down to the waterline.
Traditional to the upper Thames.
CL transport
BT recreational craft
USE Humber sloop
sloop rigged trow
A single masted trow with a fore and aft main sail, no top sail and one or
two head sails.
CL transport
BT sail propelled boat
BT <trow by rig type>
smack rigged trow
A single masted trow with a fore and aft main sail, a gaff top sail and
two or three head sails.
CL transport
BT sail propelled boat
BT <trow by rig type>
smacking whip
Horse whip used for encouraging the animal from a distance. Has a wooden
handle with a long plaited leather or cord tapered thong with a knot at the end.
CL tools and equipment
BT equine driving equipment
RT thrum
small Northwich
This type of narrow boat is one of 12 iron composite pairs built by W.J.
Yarwood of Northwich in 1935. They formed part of the Star Class series of boats
built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.
CL transport
BT star class boat
small Ricky
This type of narrow boat is one of 18 wooden pairs built during 1935/6 by
Walkers of Rickmansworth. They formed part of the Star Class series of boats
built for the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company.
CL transport
BT star class boat
small Woolwich
This type of narrow boat was one of either 24 iron composite pairs or 18
steel composite pairs built by Harland and Wolff of Woolwich in 1935. They
formed part of the Star Class series of boats built for the Grand Union Canal
Carrying Company.
CL transport
BT star class boat
CL tools and equipment
CL components
BT oar
smoothing plane
Shortest and most generally used plane. Stock is about 6.5-9 in long and
2.25-3.25 in wide, its upper edge rouned and chamfered for easy handling, the
flat sole is sometimes plated with lignum vitae or metal, double cutting iron.
Primarily used for smoothing and producing a finished surface but often used as
a all-round bench plane.
CL tools and equipment
BT plane
USE round head rivet
soap hole
A small space built into the rear bulkhead of a canal narrow boat cabin in
which soap and/or the windlass were often stored.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
CL tools and equipment
BT cutting equipment
Somerset turf boat
The bottom was a single slab within clinker sides. Turf boats were 17' to
30' in length.
CL transport
BT miscellaneous cargo craft types
Somerset withy boat
Flat bottomed made from planks clinker sides around 10ft long.
CL transport
BT miscellaneous cargo craft types
sounding pole
An eighteen feet long pole, measured in feet by alternate sections of
black and white and used to gauge depth on keels.
CL tools and equipment
BT measuring equipment
RT keel (boat)
sounding rod
Used to check the depth of water in tanks and bilges where it is not
visible.
CL tools and equipment
BT measuring equipment
RT bilges
spar
A strong thick pole used for a mast, gaff or boom on a vessel.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
RT boom
NT gaff
NT mast
speaking tube
Equipment with a mouthpiece/listening device directly linked to another
part of the ship. Most often from the driving postion of a ship to the engine
room. Seperate tubes would link to other specific places such as the Captain's
cabin for emergency calls.
CL tools and equipment
BT communications equipment
Speedwell mine boat
Used in the navigable level of the Speedwell mine near Castleton in
Derbyshire.
CL transport
BT mine boat
spiders web belt
Flexible band encircling the waist to hold up a pair of trousers. Heavily
decorated with embroidery design which looks like a spiders web.
UF boatman's belt
CL costume
BT belt
spike
A hand forged nail, usually square in cross section, with a point at one
end and a head at the other. Length and size of section is variable.
CL components
BT nail
RT spike lifter
spike iron
A narrow bladed caulking iron, tapering down at the end. Used for caulking
in narrow spaces.
CL tools and equipment
BT caulking iron
spike lifter
A shipwright's wrecking or repair tool. A prying bar fitted with a device
to grip the head of spikes to enable them to be easily drawn out.
CL tools and equipment
BT ship repair equipment
RT spike
USE cabin mop
USE bobbins
spoon dredger
A dredger with a single scoop, usually human powered lifted by a small
hand crane.
CL transport
BT dredger
spreader
Wood or iron bar connecting the traces to the towing line. They are
suspended behind the horse through staples at each end. The towing line attaches
to the centre of the chain or trackstring.
UF stretcher
UF trace stick
UF track bar
UF track stick
CL tools and equipment
CL components
BT equine equipment
BT equine powered propulsion system component
sprit
A long spar of metal or wood, usually circular in cross section, hung by
its lower end from a chain from the lower end of the mast of a Thames barge. Its
top end is attached to the head of the sail at its outer corner.
CL components
BT mast and spar component
RT leech
square punch
Cylindrical metal rod with a square end that can be struck to make a
square hole in the metal being worked upon.
CL tools and equipment
BT blacksmith's equipment
BT punch
square rigged trow
The early rig was one square sail on a single mast, often with a topsail
on a topmast as well, and sometimes with a sprit sail on a mizzen mast. The main
masts could usually be lowered to pass under bridges and the mizzen masts lifted
out.
CL transport
BT sail propelled boat
BT <trow by rig type>
stackie barge
Designed for the hay and straw traffic. Of fairly shallow draught and
could sail into riverside creeks to take on their cargoes. The mate or crewman
of a stackie barge was often perched on top of the cargo and shouted directions
to the helmsman.
CL transport
BT Thames barge
stanchion
A upright wooden or metal post to which a handrail or rope is often
attached.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
stand
A wooden plank, rectangular in cross section and tapering from one end to
the other, set vertically on top of the keelson and supported in a slot cut out
of the beam in a narrow boat. The stand is used to support the running planks
above the hold.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
RT mast
NT running planks
star class boat
A group of 82 pairs of narrow boats ordered by the Grand Union Canal
Carrying Company in 1935. They were all named after stars, planets and
constellations. They were designed to carry bulk cargoes.
CL transport
BT <narrow boat by type>
NT middle Northwich
NT small Northwich
NT small Ricky
NT small Woolwich
USE rock drill
starboard lamp
A quarter round lamp with a green lens in front of the burner.
CL tools and equipment
BT navigation lamp
starting block
A metal pulley block used to start a boat from rest, usually out of a
lock.
CL components
BT rigging component
USE Worsley mine boat
USE box boat
state barge
Usually higher at the poop than at the prow. Elaborately carved, painted,
gilded and decked with banners and pennants. About half its length might be
covered by a roof or awning.
CL transport
BT passenger vessel
station boat (Birmingham)
Boats with finer lines built by and for the railway companies for use
principally associated with interchange basins.
UF railway boat
CL transport
BT Birmingham day boat
station boat (British Waterways)
A group of 12 narrow boats transferred from use at British Railways
interchange basins to the British Waterways North Western Divison Southern
Carrying Fleet in 1954. They were refitted during 1955-7 and named after railway
stations.
CL transport
BT <narrow boat by type>
stay
A rope or wire running fore and aft on a vessel to support a spar.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
BT rigging component
NT back stay
NT fore stay
RT mast
stayfall
A tackle on the fore stay for raising and lowering the mast of a keel.
CL components
BT rigging component
stayfall block
The name for the pulley block forming the stayfall tackle.
CL components
BT rigging component
stealer
A piece of timber inserted into the ends of a strake of planking to allow
good fastenings to be made to the frames.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
steam barge
Miscellaneous group of boats built specifically for steam power usually
replacing a regional sailing craft and often keeping some but not all the
characteristics of that vessel.
CL transport
BT steam powered boat
RT Chelmer barge
NT steam keel
steam keel
Keels powered by steam and developed from the 1850s by the Aire and Calder
Navigation Company. Varied in size, depending on where they traded. Basically
they acted as cargo carrying tugs.
CL transport
BT keel (boat)
BT steam powered boat
RT North Eastern motor barge
NT steam barge
steam narrow boat
From the 1860s there were various experiments with steam power. The Grand
Junction Canal Company developed a fleet which was taken on and perfected by
Fellows Morton and Clayton. Several early steamers were converted horse boats
made of wood, later most steamers were iron sided and wooden bottomed (composite
construction) with counter sterns rounded off. The steam plant boiler and engine
plus coal supply cut carrying down to 19 tons but allowed the steamer plenty of
power to pull a butty or unpowered craft.
CL transport
BT narrow boat
BT steam powered boat
steam powered boat
A boat whose motive power source is a steam engine.
CL transport
BT <craft by motive power>
NT steam barge
NT steam keel
NT steam narrow boat
NT steam wherry
steam scow
Related to Forth and Clyde scows. Size 60ft x 13ft 6 inches, carrying 80
tons on 6-7ft draught. Flush decked with no bulwarks and little sheer. Tug
worked only on the canal.
UF canal puffer
CL transport
BT scow
RT outside puffer
NT rose on puffer
steam wherry
Small steam barges built for the Norfolk Broads' Southern Rivers.
CL transport
BT Norfolk wherry
BT steam powered boat
steel boat
A boat whose main construction material is steel.
CL transport
BT <craft by material>
stem bar
A bar of metal which makes the forward end of a metal vessel and to which
the hull plating is fastened - it can also also refer to the metal guard placed
over the stempost of a wooden vessel.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
BT below decks watercraft component
RT stem iron
NT stempost
stem fender
A round fender fastened to the stem (front) of a boat, designed to take
the impact of knocking sills.
CL tools and equipment
BT fender
stem iron
The metal guard placed over the stempost of a wooden vessel.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
BT below decks watercraft component
RT stem bar
stempost
A vertical or near vertical piece of timber (or metal on metal boats)
forming the very end of the bow of a vessel and shaped to cut through water
cleanly.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
BT below decks watercraft component
RT apron (boat component)
NT deadwood
NT keel (boat component)
NT keelson
NT stem bar
NT stem iron
NT sternpost
stern cupboard
A small cupboard set into the extreme stern of a canal narrow boat, often
used for storing food.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
stern fender
A small round fender, fitted next to the tip cat fender on a motor narrow
boat to protect the rudder.
CL tools and equipment
BT fender
stern frame
The metal bar which carries the rudder and propellor housing of a metal
vessel.
CL components
BT frame
stern lamp
Similar in appearance to masthead lamps but usually smaller.
CL tools and equipment
BT navigation lamp
RT masthead lamp
sternpost
A vertical or near vertical piece of timber (or metal on metal boats)
forming the very end of the stern of a vessel and shaped to cut through water
cleanly.
CL components
BT above decks watercraft component
BT below decks watercraft component
RT apron (boat component)
NT deadwood
NT keel (boat component)
NT keelson
NT stempost
Stevenston Canal boat
Boats carrying coal from mines at Stevenston in Ayrshire to Saltcoats
harbour.
CL transport
BT miscellaneous cargo craft types
stockless anchor
An anchor with a pivoting double hooked base.
CL tools and equipment
BT anchor
USE Bristol barge
stopwater
A dowel inserted into a joint in a wooden vessel to prevent the ingress of
water.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
Stour lighter
Barges 46 ft 9 ins x 10 ft 6 ins working in pairs the second craft acting
as a rudder to the first carrying 13 tons each on a draught of 2'5.
CL transport
BT barges designed to work in multiple units
BT lighter
stower
Wooden shafts fitted with 2 metal tines at one end.
CL tools and equipment
CL components
BT boat equipment
BT cargo handling system component
RT rypek
USE set iron
strake
The name given to a 'run' of planking stretching from the stem of a vessel
to its stern. A strake is usually made up of several planks end to end.
CL components
BT below decks watercraft component
NT garboard strake
NT top strake
NT whale strake
RT tup
USE spreader
striking equipment
Equipment designed for striking in an inland waterways context. Do not use
for indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL tools and equipment
BT <tools and equipment by process>
NT chipping hammer
NT maul
strop
Short length of rope spliced into a circle for use as a sling or to form
the eye of a block
CL tools and equipment
BT boat equipment
BT cargo handling equipment
RT runner
Stroud barge
A wooden sailing vessel, related to a trow with a double ended hull and a
single mast. Large ones were sized to fit the locks on the Stroudwater Canal and
smaller ones could also fit the locks on the Thames and Severn Canal.
CL transport
BT River Severn craft
BT trow
USE stumpy barge
stumpy barge
A Thames barge with no topsail. When mizzen masts were introduced stumpies
had gaff rigged mizzens.
UF stumpies
CL transport
BT Thames barge
RT boomie
NT mule
suction dredger
A dredger removing material by vacuum or pumped suction to land or boat
for later dumping.
CL transport
BT dredger
suction plant
A floating platform designed to clear debris from mud hoppers by suction.
CL transport
BT waste disposal vessel
surface debris clearer
A craft designed to lift debris from the surface of water.
CL transport
BT channel clearance craft
surveying equipment
Equipment designed for surveying in an inland waterways context. Do not
use for indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL tools and equipment
BT <tools and equipment by process>
NT boning rod
NT land chain
swage
A blacksmith's tool used for shaping hot iron.
CL tools and equipment
BT blacksmith's equipment
NT bottom swage
NT top swage
swage block
Iron block containing a variety of shaped holes which are used to shape
hot metal.
CL tools and equipment
BT blacksmith's equipment
Swansea Canal boat
65 ft x 7 ft 6 ins carying 20 tons on 2 ft 9 ins draught.
CL transport
BT Welsh narrow boat
swan's neck
This refers to either a Z shaped metal bar fitted to the top of the rudder
stock of a motor narrow boat to which the tiller bar is fastened or, on a butty
boat, the ropework running from the top of the tiller to the top end of the
rudder
CL components
RT ram's head
NT rudder
NT rudder stock
NT tiller
NT tiller bar
NT tiller pin
swape
Regional (Yorkshire) term for a very large oar used on barges or lighters,
approx. 18-20 feet long.
USE sweep (oar)
sweep propelled boat
A boat that is designed to be propelled by the use of a sweep.
CL transport
BT <craft by propulsion>
NT Thames lighter
sweep (oar)
A very large oar used on barges or lighters, approx. 18-20 feet long.
UF swape
CL tools and equipment
CL components
BT human powered propulsion system component
BT oar
sweep (tiller)
Believed to be a regional term for a tiller.
USE tiller
swift passenger boat
Based on a Scotish design up to 14mph overshort distances along a canal.
UF Scotch boat
CL transport
BT canal passenger boat
USE Thames lighter
swingle tree
Wood or iron bar (as stretcher) but is fitted with a central hook, often
on swivel, to take the loop at the end of the towing line, making the connection
easily unhooked.
CL tools and equipment
CL components
BT equine equipment
BT equine powered propulsion system component
BT towing equipment
system component
Do not use for indexing. Use a more specific term.
CL components
BT <component by specific context>
NT cargo handling system component
NT communication system component
NT propulsion system component
| © MDA, 2002.
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