DICTIONARY OF

Charybdis 79 Chevils
Charybdis. Name of one of the whirlpools, or garofali, in Straits of Messina.
Chasse Marees. Bluff-bowed French luggers formerly used for fishing, and in short voyage
trades. Had up to three masts and often carried topsails.
Chatham Chest. Fund for support of disabled and superannuated seamen of R.N. Founded
in reign of Queen Elizabeth, on a voluntary basis which, later, became compulsory.
Abolished during reign of William IV.
Chebacco Boat.* Sailing craft formerly used in Newfoundland fisheries. Had high, narrow
stern. Named after a small river in Massachusetts.
Check. To ease a rope a little, and then belay it.
Checking. Slacking a rope smartly, carefully and in small amounts.
Check Stopper. Length of small chain with one end made fast to a ring bolt, or other
annular opening, then around a wire and back through the ring bolt. By hauling on free end
of chain the speed of a moving wire can be checked and regulated.
Cheek Block. Sheave on side of a spar, etc., and having a half shell on outer side.
Cheeks. Brackets below head of mast and at sides of it. Support crosstrees and mast above.
2. Knee pieces either side of stem. 3. Sides of a wooden (pulley) block. 4. Old name for a
Royal Marine.
'Cheerily.' Injunction to perform an action smartly and with a will.
Cheese Cutter. Form of drop keel for small craft. Has a projecting upper part that is
supported in housing when keel is down. 2. A peak cap.
Cheesing down. Coiling a rope ornamentally with each flake flat, or almost flat, on deck;
usually in a circular or figure-of-eight pattern.
Chequered. Said of a flag or pendant made up of small squares of two different colours; and
of a buoy or beacon painted in squares of two different colours.
Chernikeef Log. Submerged log that projects through bottom of ship. Carries an 'impeller'
that turns as vessel moves through the water. Directly records distance run and, with
electrical attachment, can indicate speed.
Cherub Log. Towed log consisting of a towed rotator, non-kinkable log line and an inboard
registering unit. Measures distance directly, and can be used for speeds up to 12 knots.
Chess Tree. Oak block secured to ship's side abaft fore chains. Used for boarding main
tack, or as lead for fore sheet.
Chest Rope. Long boat rope led from forward to a gangway into ship.
Chetwynd Compass. Liquid type compass for use in quick-turning craft. Drag of liquid on
rim of card was reduced by making card much smaller than containing bowl.
Chevils. Small pieces of timber, inside a ship, to which tacks and sheets can be secured.