Like all other vessels, sloops vary in size, but none of them attain to
great magnitude. As a class, they are the smallest decked vessels we
have. From 40 to 100 tons burden is a very common size. A sloop of 40
tons burden is what we ordinarily call a _little_ ship, and one of 100
tons is by no means a big one. The hull of such a vessel being intended
exclusively to carry cargo, very little space is allowed for the crew.
The cabins of the smaller-sized sloops are seldom high enough to permit
of an ordinary man standing erect. They are usually capable of
affording accommodation to two in the cabin, and three or four in the
forecastle,--and such accommodation is by no means ample. The class to
which vessels belong is determined chiefly by the number of their masts
and by the arrangement and the form of their sails.
The distinctive peculiarity of the sloop is, that it has but one mast;
and its rig is, nautically speaking, _fore-and-aft_--that is to say, the
sails are spread with their surfaces parallel to the sides of the
vessel, _not_ stretched upon yards _across_ the vessel. The term
"fore-and-aft" is derived from the _forward_ part and the _after_ part
of the ship. _Fore-and-aft_ sails, then, are such as are spread upon
yards which point fore and aft, not across the ship. We conceive this
elaborate explanation to be necessary for some readers, and, therefore,
don't apologise for making it. A ship whose sails are spread across the
hull is said to be _square-rigged_. Sometimes, however, a sloop carries
one and even two square sails.
The masts, yards, and sails of a sloop are as follows:--As has been
already said, one of the distinctive peculiarities of a sloop is, that
it has only _one_ mast. This mast is sometimes formed of one _stick_,
sometimes of two; the second, or top-mast, being fastened to the top of
the lower mast by _cross-trees_ and _cap_, in such a way that it may be
hoisted or lowered at pleasure. A sloop has usually four sails,--a
mainsail, fore-sail, gaff, and jib. The _main-sail_ is behind the lower
mast. It reaches from within a few feet of the deck to the top of the
lower mast, and spreads out upon two yards towards the stern or after
part of the ship, over which it projects a few feet. The lower yard of
the main-sail is called the boom, and the upper the main-sail yard.
This is by far the largest sail in the sloop. Above it is spread the
_gaff_, which is comparatively a small sail, and is used when the wind
is not very strong. The _fore-sail_ is a triangular sheet, which
traverses on the _fore-stay_; that is, the strong rope which runs from
the lower mast-head to the bow, or front part of the sloop. On the
bowsprit is stretched the _jib_, another triangular sail, which reaches
nearly to the top of the lower mast. The only sail that rises above the
lower mast is the gaff. In stormy weather this sail is always taken
down. If the wind increases to a gale, the jib is lowered and lashed to
the bowsprit.
Should the gale increase, a reef is taken in the main-sail. One, two,
three, and sometimes four reefs are taken in, according to the violence
of the storm; when the last reef is taken in, the sloop is under
_close-reefed_ main-sail. Increased violence in the storm necessitates
the taking in of the main-sail and _lying-to_ under the fore-sail, or a
part of it. Lying-to is putting the sloop's head to the wind, and
placing the helm in such a position that it tends to turn the vessel in
one direction, while the gale acting on the fore-sail tends to force it
in another, and thus it remains stationary between the two opposing
forces. Many vessels thus _lie-to_, and ride out the severest storm.
Sometimes, however, a dreadful hurricane arises, and compels vessels to
take in all sails and "_scud under_ _bare poles_"--that is, _drive
before_ the wind without any sails at all; and it is at such seasons
that man is forced to feel his utter helplessness, and his absolute
dependence on the Almighty. Of course, there are slight variations in
the rig of sloops--some have a _square-sail_, and some have a
_flying-jib_; but these are not distinctive sails, and they are seldom
used in small craft.
Doubtless, those of our readers who have dwelt on the sea-coast must
have observed that boats and vessels frequently sail in precisely
opposite directions, although acted upon by the same wind. This
apparent paradox may be explained thus:--
Suppose a vessel with the bow and stern sharp and precisely alike, so
that it might sail backwards or forwards with equal facility. Suppose,
also, that it has two masts exactly the same in all respects--one near
the bow, the other near the stern. Suppose, further, a square sail
stretched between the two masts quite flat; and remember that this would
be a _fore-and-aft_ sail--namely, one extending along the length, not
across the breadth of the vessel.
Well, now, were a breeze to blow straight against the side of such a
vessel, it would either blow it over, flat on its side, or urge it
slowly _sideways_ over the water, after the fashion of a crab. Now
remove one of these masts--say the stern one--and erect it close to the
lee-side of the vessel (that is, away from the windward-side), still
keeping the sail extended. The immediate effect would be that the sail
would no longer present itself _flatly_ against the wind, but
diagonally. The wind, therefore, after dashing against it would slide
violently off in the direction of the mast that had been removed, that
is, towards the stern. In doing so it would, of course, give the vessel
a shove in the opposite direction; on the very same principle that a
boy, when he jumps violently off a chair, not only sends his body in one
direction, but sends the chair in the opposite direction. So, when the
wind jumps off the sail towards the stern, it sends the ship in the
opposite direction--namely, forward. Reverse this; bring back the mast
you removed to its old place in the centre of the deck, and shift the
_front_ mast near to the lee-bulwarks. The wind will now slide off the
sail towards the _bow_, and force our vessel in the opposite direction--
namely, backward; so that, with the same side wind, two ships may sail
in exactly opposite directions.
By means of the rudder, and placing the sails in various positions, so
as to cause them to press against the masts in a particular manner,
vessels can be made to sail not only with a side wind, but with a breeze
blowing a good deal _against_ them--in nautical phraseology, they can be
made to sail "close to the wind." In short, they can sail in every
direction, except directly in the "teeth" of the wind. Some ships sail
closer to the wind than others; their powers in this respect depending
very much on the cut of their sails and the form of their hulls.
The _Lighter_ is a small, rough, clumsy species of coasting-vessel,
usually of the sloop rig. It is used for discharging cargoes of large
vessels in harbours, and off coasts where the depth of water is not
great. Lighters are usually picturesque-looking craft with dingy sails,
and they seldom carry top-sails of any kind. Being seldom decked, they
are more properly huge boats than little ships. But lighters are not
classed according to their rig,--they may be of any rig, though that of
the sloop is most commonly adopted.