The Elements and Practice of Naval Architecture, 1805.

CONTENTS.

BOOK THE FIRST.
EXPLAINING THE FIRST ELEMENTARY AND THEORETIC PRINCIPLES.

CHAPTER I.

An Explanation of the Terms and of Some Elementary Principles Requisite to be Understood in the Theory and Practice of Shipbuilding. 1

CHAPTER II.

Of Fluids and Their Action on Floating Bodies, as Investigated by Actual Experiment. 77
§ 1. Of the Nature and Action of Fluids in general. 77
§ 2. Of the Resistance of Fluids. 84
§ 3. Experiments which have been made for determining the Resistance, &c. of Floating Bodies. 88
§ 4. Of the Motion of Fluids operating on Floating Bodies. 110
§ 5. General Observations on Vessels calculated to sail with great Velocity; including a Description of the Flying Proa of the Ladrone Islands. 115

CHAPTER II.

On the Figure and Construction of Ships and Vessels in General, and on the Means of Giving them the Most Desireable Qualities: With Remarks on the Different Classes of British Shipping. 121
§ 1. General Observations. 121
§ 2. Definitions and Explanatory Remarks on the Motion of Vessels, &c. 128
§ 3. On the Stability or Stiffness of Ships, &c. 134
§ 4. To form a Ship so as to steer well, and quickly answer her Helm. 141
§ 5. To form a Ship with such Capacity as to carry her Guns well above the Water. 142
§ 6. Of the Form best adapted to go smoothly. 142
§ 7. On the Form best calculated to hold a good Wind, &c. 143
§ 8. Observations on the whole of the Particulars described in the foregoing Sections, and on the proportioning of Ships' Bodies in general. 143
§ 9. Observations of the Construction of Ships. By Sir Geo. Shee, Bart. M.R.I.A. 148
§ 10. Remarks on the Formation of Merchant Shipping in particular. By Mr. William Hutchinson. 153
§ 11. Of the particular Advantages of Vessels constructed with sliding Keels, and other Improvements, introduced by John Schank, Esq. a Captain in the Royal Navy, &c. 158
§ 12. Remarks on the different Classes of British Shipping, including Boats, &c. especially on those of which the Draughts or Particulars are given in this Work. 175

BOOK THE SECOND.
CONTAINING THE PRACTICAL RULES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHIPS AND VESSELS; WITH ALL THE REQUISITE TABLES, &c.

CHAPTER I.

General Observations and Definitions. 187

CHAPTER II.

Practical Methods of Finding the Gravity, Displacement, and Tonnage, of a Vessel; Including the Centres of Gravity and Displacement; With the Point of Stability of Meta-Centre. 192
§ 1. Explanatory Remarks on the Centre of Garvity, and the Means of finding it in different Figures. 192
§ 2. Of the Gravity, Displacement, and Tonnage of a Ship, &c. 194
§ 3. Of finding the Tonnage or Burthen of Ships, &c. 209
§ 4. Methods of finding the Centres of Displacement and Gravity. 220
§ 5. Of the Determination of the Point of Stability or Meta-centre. 229

CHAPTER III.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DELINEATING THE SEVERAL DRAUGHTS AND PLANS OF A SHIP. 234
§ 1. General Observations on the Proportional Dimensions, &c. preparatory to the Construction of a Draught. 234
§ 2. Of the Construction of the Sheer-draught of the Eighty Gun Ship, from the given Dimensions. 242
§ 3. Of constructing the Body and Half-breadth Plans, with farther Observations on the Sheer-draught. 253
§ 4. An Explanation of the Nature and Use of the Diagonal Lines in the Body-plan. 263
§ 5. Additional Observations on the Rising Line in general. 265
§ 6. Instructions for delineating the Disposition of all the Timbers composing the Frame, likewise for expanding the Bottom and Topside, by which the Length, Breadth, and Number, of all the Planks may be known, &c. 266
§ 7. Instructions for delineating the Inboard Works of the Eighty Gun Ship; with Observation on the Inboard Works of Ships in general. 276
§ 8. Instructions for delineating Plans of the Decks, &c. 282

CHAPTER IV.

EXPLANATION OF THE METHODS OF LAYING OFF ALL PARTS OF A SHIP ON THE MOULD-LOFT FLOOR, PREPARATORY TO THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OR BUILDING 287
§ 1. Of laying down the Sheer, Half-breadth and Body-plans. 287
§ 2. Of the Moulds necessary to be made from the Parts which are already laid down. 300
§ 3. To take the Bevellings of the Timbers in the Square Body. 309
§ 4. The Nature and Use of the Cant-timbers, with the Methods of laying them down by Water Lines. 312
§ 5. To bevel the Cant-timbers by Water Lines. 314
§ 6. Of laying down the Cant-timbers by the Horizontal Ribband Lines. 315
§ 7. To lay down and take the Bevellings of the Cant-timbers by the Horizontal Ribbands. 317
§ 8. Of the Utility of the Transoms, with the Manner of laying them down. 319
§ 9. Of takiing the Bevellings of the Transoms. 322
§ 10. To lay off the Transoms when canted. 324
§ 11. To bevel the Transoms when canted. 327
§ 12. Of laying off the Square Tuck. 329
§ 13. To lay down and take the Bevellings of the Hawse-ieces, by Horizontal Lines. 335
§ 14. Of laying down and bevelling the Hawse-pieces when they are required to be sided less at the Heels. 337
§ 15. To lay down and bevel the Hawse-pieces by Horizontal Lines, or the Horizontal Ribbands when canted. 340
§ 16. Of the Nature and Use of the Harpins, with the various Methods of laying them off and taking the Bevellings. 343
§ 17. Of laying down the several Parts of the Head. 347
§ 18. Of laying down the several Parts of the Stern. 354

CHAPTER V.

OF THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION CALLED WHOLE MOULDING. 309

CHAPTER VI.

PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR THE ACTUAL BUILDING, PROGRESSIVELY ARRANGED. 373
§ 1. Directions for the various Parts of the Ship. 373
§ 2. Directions for making Capstans and Windlasses. 388
§ 3. Descriptions of a Launch and Explanation of the Method of Launching. 394
§ 4. Of the Fire Ship and Bomb Vessel. 397

CHAPTER VII.

MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS AND PROJECTED IMPROVEMENTS; INCLUDING SOME INSTRUCTIONS AND REMARKS UPON SUBJECTS IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED WITH NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 399
§ 1. Explanation of a new Method proposed for the framing of Ships, and of the best Mode of adopting Iron Fastenings in their Construction. 399
§ 2. Observations on the Mode of improving the Navy; as addressed, in the Year 1796, to the Court of Directors of the Honourable East India Company, by the late Gabriel Snodgrass, Esq. 400
§ 3. Explanation of Mr. Sepping's new Method of Docking Ships. 409
§ 4. Some Remarks upon a Ship's Hogging, and the Means of Prevention. 410
§ 5. On the Means of Recovereing foundered and stranded Ships. 411
§ 6. Description of Machines for driving and drawing Ships' Bolts, &c. 415
§ 7. Observation upon Timber, with Rules for its Admeasurement and Conversion, &c. 419
      Tables of its Value. 425
TABLES FOR FORMING THE BODIES OF SHIPS AND VESSELS OF EACH CLASS 1 to 27
TABLES OF THE PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS AND SCANTLINGS OF SHIPS AND VESSELS OF EACH CLASS, accompanied with such Directions asa are ncessary to the practical Explanation of them. Folio I to LVIII
FORM OF A CONTRACT, entered into by a Merchant Shipbuilder, for the building of a Ship of War, for the Royal Navy; including the Dimensions of the Raven, Brig of War, built in the Year 1804. lix
INDEX TO THE TABLES of Dimensions and Scantlings. lxix

ENGRAVINGS.

THE smaller Engravings, exclusive of the Fronispiece, are distinguished by Letters of the Alphabet, from A to I, and are placed at the End of the Volume. These consist of

THE LARGER DRAUGHTS ARE AS FOLLOW.

I. Sheer-draught, Half-Breadth and Body Plans, of a Ship of Eighty Guns, upon two Decks.
II. Disposition of the Frame of the Eighty-gun Ship.
III. The planking expanded of the Eighty-gun Ship.
IV. The Inboard Works of the Eighty-gun Ship.
V. Plans of the Gun Deck and Orlop of the Eighty-gun Ship.
VI. Plans of the Upper Deck, Quarter Deck, and Forecastle, of the Eighty-gun Ship.
All the foregoing Plans are upon the same Scale as the Sheer-draught, &c.
VII. Plans of the Main Jear Capstan of an Eighty-gun Ship, and of the Windlass, &c. of Ship of from 400 to 500 Tons.
VIII. Midship Sections of a Seventy-four-gun Ship and a Frigate; with an improved Method of framing the Timbers, and the best Method of applying Iron Fastenings in the Construction. Including also Mr. Seppings's Plan for Docking Ships.
IX. Sheer-draught, Half-breadth and Body Plans, of a Fortygun Frigate; with Cradle, &c. complete for launching.
X. A Sloop of War, of the latest Construction.
XI. Sheer-draught, Half-breadth Plan, Body-plan, and Plan of Bulkheads, of the Dart and Arrow, Sloops of War, on the Construction invented by Samuel Bentham, Esq. Inspector General of His Majesty's Naval Works.
XII. Sheer-draught, Half-breadth and Body Plans, of the Brigs of War, of 18 Guns, constructed in the Year 1804.
XIII. Inboard Works of the same.
XIV. Plans of the Deck, Lower Dec, and Platforms of the same.
XV. Sheer-draught, Half-breadth, and Body Plans, of his Majesty's Yacht the "Royal Sovereign", launched in 1804.
XVI. Sheer-draught, &c. of the yacht built for the Prince Royal of Demark.
XVII. Plans and Section of the Interior of a Fire Ship.
XVIII. Plans and Section of a Bomb Vessel.
XIX. A Cutter, upon a new Construction; with the Mode of fitting Sliding Keels.
XX. Sheer-draught, Half-breadth and Body Plans, of an East-Indiaman of 1,257 Tons.
XXI. Sheer-draught, Half-breadth and Body Plans, of a Merchant Ship of 544 Tons.
XXII. A Brig Collier, of Improved Construction, burthen 170 Tons.
XXIII. A Virginia-built Boat, of 138 Tons, fitted for a Privateer.
XXIV. A Fast-sailing Schooner of Bermuda, burthen 83 Tons.
XXV. A Virginia Pilot Boat, of 53 Tons.
XXVI. A Berwick Smack on the improved Construction.
XXVII. A London Trader of 60 Tons, particularly distinguished for her Capacity and Velocity.
XXVIII. A Southampton Hoy, of 13 Tons, admired for the same Qualities.
XXIX. The Long Boat of an Eighty-gun Ship, shewing the Nature of Construction, by whole Moulding.
XXX. A Man of War's Launch, Pinnace, Cutter, and Yawl.
XXXI. A Large Wherry, the New Life Boat, a Whale Boat, a Dover Gig or Swift Rowing Boat.
XXXII. LAYING OFF, Plate 1. Fore Body and Moulds.
XXXIII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. After Body.
XXXIV. 3. Fore and after Cant Bodies.
XXXV. 4. Transoms.
XXXVI. 5. Square Tuck and Round-aft Tuck.
XXXVII. 6. Hawse Pieces.
XXXVIII. 7. Harpins and several Parts of the Head and Stern.
F The Reader is particularly requested to notice the ADDENDA and ERRATA which he will find on the last Page of the Book.

Steel, David ed.: The Elements and Practice of Naval Architecture. Illustrated with a series of thirty-eight large draughts and numerous smaller engravings.
P. Steel, London, 1805.

Transcribed by Lars Bruzelius

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