DICTIONARY OF

Goring 155 Grain Space
Goring. Said of a sail that increases in width downwards.
Goring Cloth. Side cloth of a topsail. Has oblique edge, at side, to increase width of foot.
Gottlieb's Log. Submerged log fitted near keel in early 19th century. Way of ship caused a
wheel to turn, and so actuate registering mechanism inside ship.
Grab. Steel bucket consisting of two hinged parts which are open when lowered but closed
when weight is taken for hoisting. Used when discharging, or loading, fluid cargoes such as
shingle, coal, grain, etc.
Grab Lines. Becketted line around outside of a lifeboat. Fitted for men in water to grasp
them.
Grab Rail. Protruding rail around sides of a deck house. Fitted for grasping in heavy
weather.
Grab Ratline. Taut wire stretched just above rim of lower tops. Placed to assist men going
aloft by futtock rigging.
Gradient. Rise or fall of barometric pressure as related to distance. Said to be 'steep' when
pressure changes quickly with change of position; 'low' when it changes slowly.
Gradient Wind. Air movement due to a barometric gradient.
Graduated Meridian. Meridian, on a Mercator chart, graduated for the measurement of
distance. Is generally in chart border, but may be a central meridian.
Graduated Parallel. Parallel of latitude, on a Mercator chart, graduated for measuring
Mercatorial distance and determining longitude. Usually in upper and lower borders, but
may be along a central parallel.
Graduations. Series of marks, or lines, for facilitating measurements.
Graft. Decorative finish to an eye splice in rope. A certain number of yarns from ends of
tucked strands are left out, the other yarns being tapered and marled to rope. Over the marled
yarns the other yarns are woven—the yarns forming the warp, sailmaker's twine being used
for weft.
Grafting. Making a graft around a rope.
Grain. Defined as 'any corn, rice, paddy, pulse, seeds, nuts, or nut kernels'. 2. The water
ahead of a ship, and through which she will pass. Opposite of 'Wake'.
Grain Laden. Technically, applied to a vessel carrying an amount of grain equivalent in
weight to two-thirds of her registered tonnage; or bulk equal to 100 cubic feet for each
registered ton.
Grain Certificate. Document giving particulars of a vessel loading grain, her draught and
freeboard when loaded, quantity and kind of grain, method of stowing and measures taken to
prevent shifting.
Grains. Harpoon with four barbs and 5-ft. wooden handle.
Grain Space. Internal volume of all holds in a ship. Measured from tank top to underside of
deck, and from ship's side to ship's side in holds.