Modernised transcription from the THIRD BOOK, R..A. Barker, 1986.

 ©R.A.Barker

The NINTH CHAPTER touches on the mould of Ships, to have good qualities.

And furthermore, as I have showed how to double or alter the tonnage or the burthen of ships to whatever size you wish, and also to keep that mould or proportion the same in all points: I think it necessary and convenient to say something on this point, that is to say, what manner of form or fashion the mould of a ship should be, that should go or sail well, and have good qualities in the sea. And it is possible that some will think that I meddle with matters that I have no skill in, since I am neither naupeger or ship carpenter, neither usual sea man: therefore it is possible that I may be disliked, because I meddle in this matter or causes. Yet notwithstanding, you that do read this, do not condemn anything before you have perused it well; and so weighing it in a pair of indifferent balances, so that affection does not lead you, it is possible that it is not altogether untrue, but that there is some matter in it that is good to be considered in the building or the making of ships: and those matters that you know by experience to be untrue, them you need not take any account of.

Of ships that sail well with the wind

And first thus, as concerning the making of the mould of any ships, this is to be noted, that those ships that are of easy draft, that is to say, do not go too deep in the sea or water, and will bear a good sail, and steer well, that is to say that it will feel the rudder as soon as the helm or tiller is put to or fro, and those ships do go or sail well veering or before the wind, that is to say, the wind being large or to come right after them, (but) all those ships (that are to) sail well and close by the wind, that is to say, the bowline being hauled hard or close, and the ship standing or coming as near the wind as may be: those ships must draw a reasonable draft of water: and also be a reasonably good length, and these ships will go well a-head the sea, that is to say, the ship standing close by the wind in such places as the grating? of the tide causes the sea to come against the head or bows of the ship.

Of ships that sail well, the bowline being pulled hard & also to sail well a-head the sea

Then those ships that have a reasonable length and are well-breasted or bowed, and the buttocks or stern of the ship not being too big or to full-quartered behind, but being reasonably lank at the stern, those ships go or sail well a-head the sea, so that they will bear a good sail, and not over-heel, that is to say, not go too much on the one side,

Of ships that ride well or ill at anchor

but if any ship be too fat-buttocked or broad behind at the stern, & the bows or breast of the ship forward be too slender or narrow, those ships will never go or sail well a-head the sea, but will fall or beat into the sea, which will let or hinder the way or going of the ship. And also those ships will ride very ill at rode or anchor in the sea, because the broadness of the buttocks of the ship do so thrust down the head of the ship into the sea, and especially if the bows of the ship be too narrow or slender, that the sea shall fly into the ship, or quite over her, as well at an anchor as sailing, or going a-head the sea; which is a very ill property in a ship for a number of causes.

And all those ships that draw or go a good depth into the water, as before is said, do sail well by the wind, & also will lie well a-hold in the sea, that is to say, the ship having no sail abroad, will not heel or roll so much, neither in like manner will it go so much to leewards, that is to say, that the wind and the sea shall not drive it so fast back again, as they will do a ship that draws or goes but a little way into the water: and also those ships that draw but a little water, be very ill in two causes, if they do lie a-hold in the sea, that is to say, to have no sail abroad, for they will heel or roll in such sort that it will put all in danger, besides the driving to leewards with the sea and wind. Therefore these ships must always have sails abroad, if they are loose at sea, and also these kinds of ship will ride ill at an anchor, at such time as the tide goes to windward, for lying thwart, it will heel or roll so much. But the wind and tide being all one, the ships head being right upon the sea, and as before is said, the ship well-bowed, and the stern not too full-quartered, then it will ride very well at an anchor at that time.

Of ships that stear well and bear a good sail.

And now furthermore, as touching the building or making of ships to steer well, and also to bear a good sail, which are two of the best qualities that are or may be in a ship: and except that it be a mere chance those ships always sail very well, if their mould is well-ordered. And although the mould of a ship be never so finely made, if it does not steer well, then it can never sail well. And also if the mould of the ship be never so well made, if it will bear no sail, but over-heels, that is to say, to lay down the side in the water, then it can never go well, however fine the mould is, for it is ill-shaped to go, when all the one side is down in the water, and the other side all out of the water, then it cannot abide the force of the wind to drive it: whereas the ship that is able to bear a good sail, must needs go well, because the force of the wind must needs draw it, because it is able to bear sail, and then the wind must needs force it to go,

And first thus, as touching the cause that any ship steers well, is this: that the quick water of the way of the ship comes to the rudder, being put either the one way or the other way, that must needs, causes the ship to cast or turn accordingly and the faster the ship goes, the nimbler or quicker the ship steers or turns.

Therefore whenever they build or make any ships, it is good to let them make the mould of a ship have a sufficient tuck or run, which must in length be the third part of the length of the keel, and in height, by the sternpost, three quarters of the depth that the ship goes into the water, and so to grow narrower and narrower forwards:

A thing to be noted

for it is the sufficiency of the tuck or run that makes a ship steer well. For if that is not well made, then it requires a broader rudder, and that is evil in two respects: the one is this: the helm being put over, if the ship will not feel the rudder quickly, then the rudder lies across the stern of the ship: and the rudder being broad, it must needs hinder or let the going or way of the ship very much: whereas in a ship that has but a narrow rudder, and yet is yare or quick of steerage, the rudder cannot hinder the going or way of the ship.

And also it is evil in another respect to have a broad rudder, and that is this: for a ship being at sea in foul weather, the sea beats a broad rudder one way and another, by the means of the labouring of the ship to and fro, so that it is apt to break the tiller or the head of the rudder & the rudder irons: and besides that, it is uneasy for the ship in like manner.

And thus I do omit the rest of the proportion of the mould of the ship to the discretion of the naupeger or ship carpenter, as touching the fore way and the floor of the ship, and the leading of all the rest of the work.

The cause that a ship bears a good sail

And furthermore, as touching this point to cause a ship to have a stiff side to bear a good sail, then this must be considered in the building or making thereof: that commonly those ships that have a sufficient breadth according to their size and length, will bear a reasonably good sail, because the breadth bears it up.

But commonly those be not the best, and finest sailers, neither are they of the best qualities, in divers respects. Yet notwithstanding, in my opinion, the principal point to observe in the building of ships, to have them bear a good sail, is this, to lay the breadth of the ship above the water, a foot, or a foot and a half, more or less, according to the size of the ship, and to hang well off, that is to say, to be 4 or 6 inches a side broader than it is just at the edge of the water, and to be more or less, according to the size of the ship: and then upwards the work may be housed inwards, that is to say, narrower and narrower upwards, which will do well, both for the ease of the ship in the sea, and for less charge in timber both in weight and otherwise: and in so doing, the ship will bear a good sail, whatever length it has, however fine the mould is, if it has quarters proportional to it.

And the cause is this: the breadth of the ship being above the water in such sort, when the ship comes to heel, the same broader place comes into the water: then the keel of the ship, grows further off, because of the hanging outwards of the side of the ship.

And because the ballast or the lading of the ship, the weightiest part, lies downwards towards the keel, it makes the ship less ready to heel, because the side hangs outwards, and then the water supports it up, because the bigger or broader part is out of the water, as the reason thereof more plainly shall appear in the fourth book on the property of water in weight, called static, wherein you shall see the reason thereof more manifestly. Whereas ships that have an upright side, must needs heel much the sooner, because the water does not support the side, not until it heels very much.

Wherefore thus much I have said touching on the mould of ships, as concerning their qualities, as thus: a ship that both tucks or runs enough, will stear well, a ship that hangs well off on the nail (ie measured with a plumb-bob?) above the water, will bear a good sail: a ship that draws a reasonably good draft of water, and well-wayed forwards, will sail well by the wind: and being well-bowed and not too fat-buttocked, will go well a-head the sea, and also ride well at rode, and also will hold well being loose at sea, and floaty ships that steer well and will bear a good sail, will sail well, the wind being large. And thus I do end this third book.