Atlantic Maritime Academy

“Sabby the Lingo?”  Maritime Language – XXII

• Shackle - A U-shaped fitting closed with a pin across the open ends, the pin sometimes being threaded at one end and sometimes held in place with a cotter pin, and used to secure sails to lines or fittings, lines to fittings, fittings to fittings, anchors to chain, etc.
• Shallop - (1) Small boat for one or two rowers. (2) Small fishing vessel with foresail, boom mainsail, and mizzen trysail.
• Shank - The main shaft of an anchor which connects the arms to the anchor ring.
• She - All boats are referred to as female. She is at anchor. Her sails are set. She is beautiful.
• Sheer - The straight or curved line of the deck line; curvature of the lines of a vessel toward the bow and stern.

• Sheet - A line that controls the angle of the sail in its relation to the wind; attached to the clew of a sail to adjust its trim (make the sail the proper shape to catch the wind).
  
• Sheet Bend - [image] - A hitch used to join two ropes. It can be used between lines of different diameters.
  
• Shellback - An old and experienced seaman.
  
• Ship - (1) Generic name for a large sea-going vessel. (2) To take an object aboard, such as cargo, or water. (3) To put items such as oars on the boat when not in use.
  
• Ship's Bells - The watches aboard ship change at 4, 8, and 12 around the clock. A watch lasts four hours and at each half hour during the watch, a bell is struck. For instance, at 12:30 a.m. there is one bell for the first half hour after midnight; at 1:00 a.m. there are two bells for the two half hours, and at 4:00 a.m. eight bells for the eight half hours passed. This sequence is repeated for each new watch. See Bells
  
• Ship's Stability - The seaworthiness of a ship regarding the centrifugal force which enables her to remain upright.
  
• Shipmaster - A person in command of a ship. A person certified as competent to command a ship. A master mariner.
  
• Shipwright - A ship builder, or one who works about a ship. Does wood carpentry on the ship and keeps ships faired. Builds launching ways and launches ship.
  
• Side Lights - Green and red lights on the starboard and port sides of the boat required for navigation at night. Each light is supposed to be visible through an arc of 112.5°, beginning from directly ahead of the boat to a point 22.5° aft of the beam.
  
• Single Sideband - A type of radio carried on a boat to transmit long distances.
  
• Sirens - Mythical sea nymphs who charmed men with their melodious voices. Enchanted, the men would stop all work to listen and they would ultimately die of starvation because of their inability to sail any further.
  
• Sixteen Bells - Eight double strokes on ship's bell; customarily struck at midnight when new year commences.
  
• Skeg - An extension of the keel for protection of propeller and rudder.
  
• Slack Away - To let out a line
  
• Slack Tide or Slack Water - A short period at the turn of the tide. The time between flood and ebb tides when there is no current flow.
  
• Smartly - A rate of action. In this case, quickly.
  
• Smelling the Ground - Said of a vessel when her keel is close to the bottom and all but touching it.
  
• Snub - To stop the running out of a line by taking a turn around a cleat, piling, etc.; to suddenly stop or secure a line. A ship with too much way can be snubbed by letting an anchor go.
  
• Sole - Cabin or salon deck or floor; the inside deck of the ship
  
• South Wind, Southerly Wind - Wind coming from the south.
  
• Spill - To spill the sails is to take the wind out of the sails, either by heading up into the wind, or by easing the sheets to the point where the sails can hold no wind.
  
• Spooning - Running directly before wind and sea.
  
• Spring Line - A dock line leading forward or aft, to prevent a vessel from moving ahead or astern. The after bow spring line is attached near the bow and runs aft, where it is attached to the dock. The forward quarter spring line is attached to the quarter of the boat, and runs forward, being attached to the dock near the bow of the boat.
  
• Spring Tides - The tides found during a New Moon or Full Moon. They run the strongest and are the highest and lowest tides experienced in the tidal cycle.