Unknown part

[Sasa Trickovic]

Greetings,

Can anyone identify and tell me what is this part of the sail ship used for?

[wefalck]

Did you mean to point to the tackle? The resolution is not high enough to see clearly where that tackle leads to.

 

It could be either a backstay that can be cast loose so as not to interfere with the mainsail when sailing before the wind or it could be the tackle to lower and raise the leeboard. Normally, on Dutch ships, the tackle for the leeboard runs horizontal along the rails though.

 

[Sasa Trickovic]

I was thinking about this part.

[wefalck]

That's a leeboard, there is one on each side. As the name suggests, when sailing the one in lee is lowered and the one to windward raised to prevent drifting. Very common on flat-bottomed boats without protruding keel. Mainly used in tidal waters.

 

[Sasa Trickovic]

Thank you. I will research that element's usage.

[Louie da fly]

Yes, to reduce leeway when the ship can't have a deep keel because it works in shallow waters. Here's a Humber keel using one (thanks Lightflite!) - check out from about 20:15 onward.

 

Steven