DICTIONARY OF

Turk's Head_________ _367__ ______Twiddling Line
Turk's Head. Knot put in end of rope by unlaying strands, making a 'wall' and crowning it,
then following through twice. Can be made with a single line. Resembles a turban in
appearance.
Turn. Complete encirclement of a cleat, bollard, or pin by a rope.
'Turn.' Order given to man holding sand-glass when heaving the (hand) log and stray line is
out. He then turns glass so that sand runs down, and reports, 'Done'.
Turn Buckle. Stretching screw; bottle screw.
Turned Knee. Beam knee made by curving bar to shape required.
Turner's Reefing Gear. Single-handed gear for yachts. Main boom is on an axis, and can
be rotated by a lever and pawl acting on a ratchet wheel near heel of boom. Thus causes sail
to be rolled up around the boom.
Turning Centre. That point on which a vessel turns when under helm. Any point forward of
this will turn in a direction opposite to that of any point abaft it. In most vessels of normal
form this point lies between 0.3 and 0.4 of vessel's length from forward - but much depends
on trim.
Turning Circle. Circle whose diameter is the distance from the point at which helm is put
over and the point where direction of ship's head has changed 180°, or 16 points. It varies
with speed, draught, trim, and amount of helm.
Turn Turtle. To turn over completely, with keel uppermost.
Turn Up. To fasten a rope securely by taking turns around a cleat or bollard.
Turret Deck Type. Applied to a vessel constructed on a principle introduced by Doxford, of
Sunderland. Side plating curves over to form a harbour deck, and then upwards again to
form a 'trunk' or 'turret'. Ships of this type are practically self-trimming. Hold pillaring is
either very small, or entirely absent. Web frames are used for maintaining strength and form.
Turret Ship. Warship carrying main armament in a turret or turrets. 2. Vessel of turret deck
type.
Twelfths Rule. For finding the approximate amount the tide will fall in a certain time.
1st hour's rise or fall = 1/12 of tide's range
2nd. ,, ,, ,, ,, = 2/12 ,, ,, ,,
3rd „ ,, ,, ,, = 3/12 ,, ,, ,,
4th „ ,, ,, ,, = 3/12 ,, ,, ,,
5tll „ ,, ,, ,, = 2/12 ,, ,, ,,
6th „ ,, ,, ,, = 1/12 ,, ,, ,,
Twice Laid. Rope made from good yarns taken from old ropes.
Twiddling Line. Small line made fast near hand wheel of a sailing vessel and passed round
a spoke of the wheel to ease strain on arms of helmsman. Particularly useful when vessel
makes stern-way. 2. Small line rove through sheaves of a yoke, the end being made fast in
boat, to form a purchase for yoke lines when steering. 3. Name given to the 'twitching line'
of old magnetic compasses of large diameter. These cards were sluggish in action. A small
piece of sail-maker's twine was made fast to card, usually with beeswax, so that helmsman
could give card a twitch if it appeared to be dead.