Part 62

Are allowed the Boatswains for trimming, heaving in or out their Ballast, or cleaning the Ship.

Shrouds

Are great Ropes in a Ship which come down both Sides of all Masts; they are fastened below to the Chains by the Ship's Side with Lanyards, and aloft are seized so as to have an Eye, which goes over the Head of the Mast; and so are the Pendants and Swifters, they are Parcelled and Served, to prevent the Masts gauling them. The Top-mast Shrouds are fastened to the Puttock Plates by dead Eyes and Lanyards, as the others are; the Terms are, Ease the Shrouds, that is, slacken them; set up the Shrouds, that is, set them stiffer.

Signals

Are given for the beginning of a Battle, or an Attack at Sea, by Cannon, Lights, Sails, Flags, &c. in the Day, Night, in a Fog, in Distress, or calling Officers on board the Admiral.

Sinnet

Is made of Rope Yarn, consisting generally of two, six, or nine Threads, which are divided into three Parts, and are platted over one another, and then is beaten smooth and flat with a Mallet; is to serve the Ropes, that is, to keep them from gauling.

Skeets

Are for weting Yachts Sails, or the Ship's Sides in ordinary the Summer Season.

Skek

Usually called the Skeg, is that little Part of the Keel, which is cut slaunting, and is left a little without the Stern Post.

Skids

Are wooden Fenders fay'd on the Outside of the Ship, for the Conveniency of hoisting in Boats, Provisions, &c.

Skimmers

Made with a round Hoop of Iron, and a Socket for a Pole or Spar to go into, as a Handle in the Middle of the Hoop. A Net is made of Rope Yarn, not unlike an Oyster Drudge, and they are used by the Scavengers for clearing Chips, &c. which float on the Surface of the Water, from getting into the Joints of the Gates, or into the Drains of the Docks.

Slatch

After long foul Weather, if there come a small interval of fair, they say, this is a Slatch of fair Weather.

Sleepers

Are commonly three Strakes of Foot Waaling thicker than the rest, wrought over the Wrungheads.

Slices

Are used by the Smiths to clear and keep their Fire together.

Slideing Rule

A Mathematical Instrument serving to work Questions in Gauging, measuring Timber without the Use of Compasses, merely by the slideing of the Parts of the Instrument one by another, the Lines and Divisions whereof give the Answer by Inspection.

Slings

Boat

Are fixed with Thimbles and Tackle Hooks, which hook into small Ringbolts drove in the Stem, Midships and Stern of the Boats, for hoisting them in or out of the Ship.

Buoy

Are fixed round them, which not only is a Means to defend them from being staved, but also the Buoy-ropes are seized to one of their Ends.