DICTIONARY OF

Brown Gyro Compass 58 Bulgeway
Brown Gyro Compass. British made gyro compass with several novel features. See
'Gyro Compass'. B.S.T. British Summer Time.
B.T.H. Curtis Turbine. Steam turbine (British Thomson-Houston) in which kinetic energy
in first wheel is abstracted in two or more stages, and part of turbine is compounded for
velocity and pressure.
Bubble Sextant. Sextant fitted with an attachment carrying a very sensitive bubble that
indicates the horizontal. By use of this instrument sights can be taken when horizon is
indistinct or invisible.
Buccaneer. Literally means 'a smoker of meat or fish'. Name was given to privateers who
traded with the New World, in defiance of Spain, between about 1524 and 1700.
Bucklers. Shaped blocks of wood inserted in hawse holes to prevent the entry of sea.
Bucko. A bullying and tyrannical officer.
Budgee Jack. Flag worn at spritsail topmast by British privateers of 17th and early 18th
centuries. Consisted of Union flag with red border on outer and lower sides.
Budget. Flat vertical plate under after swim of Thames dumb barges: practically a fixed
rudder.
Buffer. Spring unit inserted in rudder chains to absorb sudden shocks. 2. R.N. nickname
for a Chief Boatswain's Mate.
Bugalet.* Small coasting craft of Brittany. Had a very short foremast with two jibs and a
taller mainmast with two square sails.
Buggalow. East Indian coasting vessel having one mast and lateen sail. Has navigated
from Gulf of Cutch since time of Alexander the Great.
Builders' Measurement. Tonnage rating resulting from:
Length – 0.6 Breadth x (Breadth x ½ Breadth)
94
Was legal measurement for merchant ships from 1773 to 1835; and for yachts until 1873.
Building Slip. Sloping erection, in shipbuilder's yard, on which ships are built.
Built Block. Wood pulley block with shell made of more than one piece of wood. Also
called 'Made block'.
Built Mast. Mast made from more than one tree or timber.
Bulb and Plate Keel. Vertical plate with additional weight distributed along lower edge.
Gives additional stability to broad, shallow draught sailing craft.
Bulb Angle. Angle bar having one edge bulbed.
Bulb Lead Keel. Forerunner of 'Bulb and Plate' keel. Introduced by Bentall in 1880.
Bulge. Former name for 'Bilge'. Now alternative name for 'Blister'. The latter is a
cellular compartment built on outside of bilge. Introduced during 1914-18- war to take
impact of torpedo, and so preserve hull plating.
Bulgeway. Bilgeway.