Glossary of Terms

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Aft: Behind, or toward the stern of the ship near the stern of a ship
Barge: A large flat-bottomed square-ended vessel used for transporting bulk cargo such as railcars, pushed or towed by a tugboat, or pushed by a sternwheeler.
Beam: The width of the vessel at its widest point
Boat: Generic term for a small vessel; the vessel may be propelled by oars, power or sail; A vessel that can be carried on board a ship.
Boiler: A tank that generates steam under pressure with the application of heat. The steam from the boiled water then runs the engines. The early sternwheelers had wood-fired boilers that were switched to coal after the coal was readily available from the Crowsnest Pass area via the Southern Provincial Railway.
Bow: The front end of a ship.
Bucket: The individual paddle sections of a paddlewheel.
Capstan: A type of winch, mounted vertically, that is used to haul in heavy lines or weights. It could be rotated by hand or mechanically. At the shipyards, horses were used to rotate the capstan to pull the ships up onto the ways out of the water for inspection and repair. The Moyie has a capstan on her bow.
Chainstays: The cables that run between the hogposts and the main structure, to stiffen the shallow, flexible hulls of barges and sternwheelers to prevent the hull from arching (hogging).
Captain: The person in command of a vessel.
Cylinder: The part of the steam engine containing the piston. Sternwheelers have two cylinders.
Composite hull: A hull made with different materials. The Moyie's upper hull, frames and bulkheads are iron, while her lower hull is made of wooden planks.
Deadhead: A sunken or partially submerged log that is just below the water's surface.
Deck: The individual floors on a vessel.
Draft: The measurement from the waterline on the hull to the lowest point below the surface of the water on the hull.
Displacement: The weight in (2240 lb) tons, of water displaced by a vessel and its contents, and hence an indication of its size.
Fender: A timber hung on the side of the sternwheeler to reduce damage when coming along side of pilings and wharves.
Fireman: The person who tends to the boiler, feeding the fire.
Foredeck: The foremost part of the main deck of the vessel.
Freight (or Main) Deck: The lowest deck of the ship.
Galley: The kitchen or food preparation area.
Gangplank: A moveable board or ramp used to board a vessel.
Hawser: A thick rope or cable that is used for towing or mooring.
Hog chains: A truss system consisting of vertical beams (hog posts) and iron hog chains (or hog) rods that supports the hull and prevents the vessel from hogging.
Hog posts: The posts that support the hog chains.
Hogging: The tendency of center of the ship to bulge upward while the bow and stern to drop downwards. This occurs because of the concentration of weight from the boiler, engines and paddlewheel cause the wooden hulls to flex. The shallow hulls on the river boat style sternwheelers were prone to this condition.
Hull: The outer shell or structural body of a vessel exclusive of masts, yards, sails, rigging and superstructure.
Keel: The main timber that extends along the centre of the bottom of a vessel.
Keelson: An interior longitudinal timber or iron beam that runs along the centerline of the vessel and rests on top of the frames or ribs. Often forms the base of a large bulkhead running from bow-to-stern in the hull, called the centre keelson. Two side keelsons are common, and together with the hog post and hog chain system, these structures stabilize the hull and prevent hogging.
King posts: The largest hog posts, they are typically located along the centreline of a vessel and centred above the keel.
Moor: To secure a vessel to a wharf or dock.
Paddlewheel: A turning wheel inset with paddle boards used to propel a boat, it is the means of propulsion for a paddlewheeler.
Pile, piling: One or more poles or posts driven into the bottom of a waterway to serve as support for an aid to navigation or for a dock.
Pilothouse: The enclosed area from where the vessel's operations are directed by the Captain and Officers.
Pitman Arm: A massive driving arm that connects the piston to the crank of the paddle wheel.
Planking: The boards which form the hull of a wooden boat.
Port: The left side of a vessel when facing forward.
Purser: The person who is responsible for the welfare of the passengers and for handling money.
Rudder: A flat steering instrument, hinged vertically, attached to the stern of a vessel. Sternwheelers have multiple rudders.
Sagging: The opposite of hogging, sagging is when the middle section of the hull bulges lower than the ends of the vessel.
Screw: The prop; the propeller.
Scuttle: To deliberately sink a vessel.
Starboard: The right-hand side of a vessel, looking forward.
Stateroom: A private room or cabin on a ship for the accommodation of officers and passengers.
Steamboat (steamer): A vessel propelled by a steam engine.
Stem: The large vertical timber or beam at the bow of a vessel to which the planks are attached.
Sternwheeler: A steamboat propelled by a paddlewheel positioned to the stern.
Superstructure: The part of the ship built above the main or freight deck.
Texas Deck: Upper accommodation deck on a sternwheeler.
Windlass: A type of winch, horizontally oriented, on a vessel's deck used to pull in lines or cable.