Glossary of Thames Sailing Barge Terms
More Terms will be added and updated as the Restoration progresses
| Batten Studs | The iron clips on the sides of the hatch coamings in which are wedged the battens securing the hatch cloths. |
|---|---|
| Ceiling (Sealing) | The inside planking forming the floor of a barge's hold; at the sides the lining is carried up to just beneath the inwale. |
| Deadwood | The solid timber in the bow and stern just above the keel. Both deadwoods are firmly fastened to the keel to add strength to the ship's structure. |
| Fairlead | A means of diverting the run of a rope or mooring line to the most convenient direction for working and to minimise wear at the turn. |
| Gasket | A rope used to secure a sail when stowed, particularly the topsail. |
| Halyards (Halliards or Haulyards) | Ropes used to hoist or set the sails. |
| In Stays/Irons | Describes the situation when the barge is head to wind and unable to pay off on either tack. |
| Jackstay | The iron rod bolted clear of the main mast, to which the luff of the mainsail is shackled or laced. |
| Keelson | A baulk of timber or a steel girder fitted on top of the floors to form the backbone of the barge; it is through-bolted to the keel, with the ends scarphed to the deadwood at stem and stern. Chine keelsons of more modest dimensions are fitted inside the frames at the junction of floors and frames. |
| Lace | To attach a sail to a mast or boom by passing a rope through eyelet holes in the sail and round the spar, as the mizzen is attached to it's mast and boom, and the mainsail is sometimes attached to the jackstay. |
| Main Horse | A transverse beam of timber fitted on chocks abaft the main hatch and shaped so that when the sail is sheeted home amidships it will travel to either side without attention. The mainsheet block is hooked to an iron ring or traveller which is free to move from side to side along the horse. |
| Nock | Throat of the mainsail |
| Glossary Items 1 to 12 of 19 | Next | Last |
