What is channel bends?

[White]

Hi, I'm novice here. I'm trying to translate a book. Could you help me?

 

What is channel bends in the text below (the text is already in public domain)?

 

In entering dock, carried away starboard cathead and started starboard chain plates; held survey of damage done: decided to take off channel bends, renew through bolts, straighten plates and replace same; also to renew cathead and caulk ship's side in wake of plate, six seams, &c. &c.

 

Thank you.

Edited January 26, 2021 by White
punctuation mistake

[allanyed]

White, 

Welcome aboard MSW.  

Can you tell us the source of this quote?    It is a new term for me, but based on the few words they give regarding renewing the through bolts, it sounds like it MAY be that this is the strip of wood molding (moulding)  that goes on the outboard edges of the channels which would cover the through bolts and close the slots in which the deadeye chains fit.  Remove this molding, replace the bolts, then replace the molding &c.    Hope someone has a clear answer regarding what this term is.

Allan

Edited January 26, 2021 by allanyed

[White]

> Can you tell us the source of this quote?  

 

It's from The Disbursement Sheet by W. W. Jacobs. The story can be read here for free.  

 

 

[druxey]

Channel bends is an alternate name for the channel wale planks.

[White]

Thank you both very much.

[Mark P]

Good Evening Gentlemen;

 

This is a good example of how words shifted in meaning over the years. The most recent meaning of 'bend' is actually the frame timbers, or 'ribs' of the ship. 

 

However, back in the 17th century, a 'bend' was also used to describe the wales, both main wales, and channel wales as Druxey says above. Presumably because of the great amount of curvature with which wales were at that time constructed. It was also used to describe the more prominent of the planks which form the internal planking of the hold, all of which was known collectively as the 'ceiling', or 'seeling', or 'footwailing'. Early contracts talk of 'bends' or 'strakes' of sleepers etc. Only the word strake has kept is meaning, while 'bend' has migrated. However, it would be interesting to know the date of the passage quoted above, which would give some indication of how long the meaning survived in the vernacular, even if it had dropped out of written usage long before. 

 

All the best,

 

Mark P  

[Louie da fly]

1 hour ago, Mark P said:

it would be interesting to know the date of the passage quoted above, which would give some indication of how long the meaning survived in the vernacular, even if it had dropped out of written usage long before

 

Written by W. W. Jacobs - 1863-1943, born in England - his father "worked as a dockhand and wharf manager on the South Devon Wharf. Jacobs seems to draw heavily upon his father's experiences working at the docks and his stories often feature the adventures of wayward seamen and mariners working themselves in and out of precarious predicaments."

 

Most famously wrote the horror story The Monkey's Claw.

 

Steven

[Mark P]

Thanks Steven;

 

That's interesting: the word retained its meaning in the vernacular long after it ceased to be used in writing. I don't remember seeing any use of 'bend' meaning strake, in writing later than the early 18th century. The word is no longer used in contracts, and Falconer's 'Universal Dictionary' only defines bend in its non-shipbuilding meaning of fastening a rope to something. 

 

All the best,

 

Mark 

[popeye2sea]

Meriam Webster still lists a definition of bend as something that is bent: as in a wale.

 

Regards,