DICTIONARY OF

Hand Mast 163 Harbour Log
Hand Mast. Mast made from one timber, so distinguishing it from a built mast.
Hand over Hand. To haul on a rope by putting one hand before the other on the rope,
alternately; so keeping a continuous movement instead of a succession of pulls.
Hands. Persons employed to man and work a ship.
Hand Organ. Large holystone fitted with beckets and lines; dragged by two men when
cleaning decks.
Handsail. Small sail managed and controlled by hand.
Handsomely. Slowly and carefully. Keeping a rope or fall well in hand.
Hand Spar. Straight piece of timber of circular section. Usually a trimmed trunk of a tall
tree.
Handspike. Short wooden lever, often shod with iron.
Hand Steering Gear. Wheel, and its connections to rudder, when operated entirely by hand.
Hand Taut. Said of a rope when it is hauled as taut as possible by hand. Said of a rope
under similar tension even when not hauled taut by hand.
Hand Tight. 'Hand taut.'
Handy Billy. Small and light purchase used for hauling ropes taut and for miscellaneous
jobs of a light nature. Has one single and one double block.
Hang. Of a timber, is its downward droop. Vessel is said to hang in the wind if her head
comes to it and she does not fall off. To hang a rudder is to suspend it by its pintles and
braces.
Hanger. A cutlass; so called because it hangs from a belt at waist.
Hanging Bracket. Bracket with its horizontal edge facing downwards, so that attachment is
made underneath.
Hanging Compass. Compass having its binnacle overhead and its graduated card facing
downwards.
Hanging Knee. Vertical knee or bracket attached to underside of a deck or beam.
Hang Judas. Said of a rope when not properly secured; and of any stop, yarn or small line
that hangs down freely.
Hank. Skein of sailmaker's twine, spunyard or small line. 2. One of the metal rings, or ash
wood hoops, used for confining luff of staysail to a stay.
Hank for Hank. Said of two sailing vessels when tacking or wearing at the same time.
Colloquially used to denote a fair exchange, or equal terms.
Harbour. Port or haven in which a vessel may lie in good safety.
Harbourage. Shelter or refuge.
Harbour Gaskets. Special gaskets for giving a smart and neat appearance to furled sails
when in harbour.
Harbour Launch. Small vessel used for conveyance of harbour officials.
Harbour Log. Log book giving details of ship's work done while in harbour, together with
usual log entries in harbour.