when underway, he shall at once send word to the Sailing-Master or to
the officer of the deck, and obtain his consent before stopping, except
in cases of special emergency, when he will be justified in stopping
without orders, but knowledge of the act must at once be sent to the
officer of the deck.
The chief engineer will have full control of regulating the amount of
steam to be carried, using his own judgment as to what is necessary for
the speed required.
FIRST MATE.
It is common to refer to the first mate as the “chief officer.”
After being appointed the chief officer, he should get an inventory
of everything under his charge, and obtain from the boatswain and
carpenter a list of their stores also, and a memorandum of whatever
else they require. He should see that the windlass is in good working
order, and inspect personally the boats, falls, running and standing
rigging, sails, sail-covers, awnings, etc., and each night should lay
out the work for the boatswain and give him orders concerning his work
for the coming day. He should also observe that the carpenter attends
to the sluices and sounds the well and tanks night and morning.
When underway at sea, if the chief officer does not stand watch, he
should be about the decks all day to see that the boatswain is pushing
the work along.
The chief officer will also keep the log-book, copying into it from the
rough or deck log, and should take sights of the sun for latitude and
longitude, determine the deviation by azimuths of the sun, and keep the
yachts run by dead-reckoning. The log-book must be ready each day at 2
bells (one o’clock P. M.), for inspection by the Sailing-Master.
In anchoring, mooring and unmooring ship, the chief officer’s place is
on the forecastle, directing the handling of the bow-lines.
When heaving up anchor, or when coming to anchor, the chief officer’s
place is on the forecastle directing the handling of the cable
according to orders from the Sailing-Master on the bridge.
If the first officer stands deck watch, his bridge duties will be the
same as those laid down for the second officer.
SECOND MATE.
In mooring and unmooring ship, the second officer’s place is aft, and
he is responsible for any accident that occurs at his end of the yacht
while docking or leaving dock, or when getting underway or coming to
anchor.
When running out lines, or taking them in, he must be careful to keep
them clear of the propeller, and in the event of a line getting foul of
same he must at once make same known to the officer on the bridge, so
that the engines may be stopped.
When docking, a couple of cork-fenders should be kept handy on the
quarters.
After mooring, the ropes should be coiled down neatly and chafing gear
put on where necessary, after which the men should be sent forward to
the boatswain.
When leaving port, the second mate should attend to the secure lashing
of anything requiring it aft, and also see to it that the carpenter has
secured the gangways, ports, etc.
When coming to anchor, the second mate’s place is by the leadsman, when
he does not take the lead himself.
When at sea, before he relieves the bridge, he should take a turn
around the deck fore and aft to see that there is nothing adrift and no
evidences of anything wrong.
He should never hesitate to call the Captain if in doubt about anything
of an important nature--such as fog; if weather looks threatening; if
the barometer is unsteady; if there is the sight or sound of broken
water.
The second mate must be particular to note everything correctly in
the log-book for his watch, reading the patent log the last thing and
entering the distance run for the preceding four hours.
BOATSWAIN.
Upon reporting for duty the boatswain must ascertain the kind and
quantity of the deck stores, cordage, sails, canvas, paints, brushes,
salt-water-soap, brooms, etc., etc., because it is his duty to serve
out such in keeping the yacht in order.
He must inspect every time they are used cat-falls, mooring-lines,
etc., and if they are found defective, he must at once make a report to
the first mate.
The boatswain remains on deck all day and takes charge of all the men
engaged on deck work, receiving his orders each night from the first
mate as to the character of the work to be carried on the following
day; but he must also exercise his own judgment when he sees anything
of a minor nature in his department requiring attention.
CARPENTER.
Upon reporting for duty the carpenter must overhaul all the sluices to
see that they are in proper working order; make himself familiar with
the location of the sounding-pipe, water tanks, etc.
He must also thoroughly understand the working of the windlass, and
take personal charge of it when the anchors are being used. It is his
special duty also to examine all dead lights for leaks, and to attend
to the shipping and unshipping of the gangway ladders.
The carpenter is under the direct orders of the chief officer, and
whenever the carpenter’s services are required by the engineers, the
chief officer must have the application for the carpenter’s services
made to him.
The carpenter must sound the tanks and well every night and morning,
note his remarks on the engine-room slate, and report as well to the
officer of the deck--this must be done both at sea and in port.
It is also the carpenter’s duty to attend to the steering-gear and
report at once to the chief mate any defect in the wheel-chains or
mechanism.
The carpenter has the keeping in repair of all the boats, spars,
bulwarks, blocks, and in fact everything of a wooden nature on board
the yacht.
QUARTERMASTERS.
The duties of quartermasters are to steer the yacht, keep the pilot
house in order, clean all bright work belonging to his department
in the way of binnacles, wheel, speaking tubes, steering-gear,
step-plates, etc. They have charge of the bunting and are responsible
for its condition, and it is also required of them that they shall be
familiar with the signal code, and shall take the signal halliards
under their personal care to insure their readiness for use. All
the signal lanterns are under their charge, as is also the hand and
deep-sea leads. When the yacht is at anchor, quartermasters stand
regular watch and watch by day as well as by night, taking charge of
the anchor watch.
STEWARD.
The duties of the steward are varied, and the comfort and happiness of
the yacht depend upon his ability, integrity, and ambition to keep a
contented ship fore and aft.
Whether he is serving on a small yacht or a large one, he should
remember that the money of the millionaire owner should not be any
more recklessly spent by the steward than the money of the man who can
afford yachting in only a very modest way. Besides this, the steward
should be a man of sufficiently high moral character to realize that
waste of any kind is wicked.
It matters not how rich an owner may be, he is just as sensitive to the
foolish expenditure of his money as is his less pretentious yachting
friend, and no steward should conduct his department on the theory
that the owner is too well off to be at all concerned whether it costs
five dollars a day to provision the yacht or five hundred.
There are stewards who personally are strictly honest, but who are
either careless in the quantity of the purchases, or who leave entirely
too much to the cook--who think it too great a trouble to look into
“pots and pans,” or who avoid any such supervision for fear of
offending the autocrat of the galley. This is all wrong. The cook is
under the direction and orders of the steward, and if the latter is the
proper sort of official he will not allow any other interpretation of
his authority.
If under-stewards are carried, they are simply aids to the steward,
whose orders they will at all times unquestionably obey, and to insure
the smooth running of this department, the owner should authorize the
steward to select his subordinates.
It goes without saying that all the provisions on board are under his
care, and that he should at all times know the amount of stores on hand
in his department. He should keep an expenditure book showing credit
and debit sides, so as to be able quickly to know how much money he has
received from the owner, and what amount of same he has expended.
In addition to his care of the owner’s wardrobe, the silverware,
glass, crockery, bedding and linen, both in the cabins and officers’
quarters, he is responsible also for fixtures in the way of lamps,
cushions, furniture, etc.
He should, in addition to his supervision of the cabins, inspect the
officers’ rooms every morning to see that same are sweet and clean.
He must demand that everything in the kitchen is kept shining; that
the brass work on the inside of all skylights to cabin and officers’
quarters, and the hand-rails to companionway are at all times carefully
polished.
Whenever it is desired to brush rugs and mats on deck, he should always
notify the mate, so that proper precautions may be taken to prevent
dust from injuring anything about decks in the way of fresh paint,
varnish, etc.
When it is necessary that he should go ashore for provisions, ice,
etc., he should notify the Sailing-Master sufficiently ahead of time so
that the boat service required may not interfere with the regular deck
work.
In the case of guests his duty is to contribute in everyway possible to
their comfort and pleasure while on board, realizing that by so doing
he is not only fulfilling another of his functions, but that he is
rendering the greatest satisfaction to the owner, whose pleasure it is
to know that the outing offered his friends is being made as pleasant
as possible.
SURGEON.
In the event of a surgeon being carried, it will be the duty of this
officer to look after the general health of all on board, and to be
keenly alive to the sanitary condition of the yacht.
Whenever an inspection of the vessel is being held, it is his place to
accompany the Captain on his rounds, and to offer needful suggestions.
When the yacht’s water tanks are to be filled, he should inspect
the quality of the water offered, and should analyze same if he is
suspicious that it may be unhealthy owing to the presence of vegetable
matter, etc.
Should sickness occur among the crew, he should take proper precautions
to isolate the man so far as possible until a satisfactory diagnosis of
the case assures him as to the character of the illness.
SYNOPSIS OF U. S. LAWS GOVERNING AMERICAN STEAM AND SAIL YACHTS, AND
FOREIGN YACHTS IN U. S. WATERS.
1. A yacht must be licensed.
A license authorizes a yacht to sail from port to port of the United
States, and by sea to foreign ports, without entrance or clearance, and
absolves her from the payment of tonnage duty and light money; but upon
the return of a yacht from a foreign port she must enter at the Custom
House of the port of her first arrival.
To enter a vessel, it is necessary to have a manifest with two copies
ready on arrival. The revenue cutter may take one, the boarding officer
another, while the third is produced by the Master before the Collector.
The Master makes oath to its truth. The manifest should specify ship’s
stores, and state that no cargo is carried.
2. In going foreign a yacht captain may have a certified crew list
and shipping articles (sign his crew to articles), although it is not
compulsory.
3. Whether or not, in going foreign, a bill of health for the vessel
would be needed, would depend upon the laws of the country of her
destination. If it is decided to carry same, it may be obtained from
the Custom House upon demand, provided the port sailing from is in a
normal condition of healthfulness.
4. A foreign yacht arriving from abroad must be entered at the port
of her first arrival; but tonnage duty is not exacted, provided she
belongs to a regularly organized and incorporated yacht club.
5. A pleasure vessel purchased by a citizen from an alien has the same
privileges as a vessel built in the United States, except that she
cannot be documented. She is subject to light money of fifty cents per
ton on arrival at each port, although this is seldom enforced.
6. If a foreign yacht should be wrecked in U. S. waters, and be
purchased by a citizen, who expends upon her in repairs three times as
much as he paid for her as a wreck, she could be documented as a yacht
of the United States.
7. A foreign-built yacht owned by a citizen may fly the U. S. flag,
but not the American yacht ensign, according to law, which ensign
is prescribed for American-built yachts only; but it is often flown
contrary to law.
8. For a sailing yacht the name of the vessel and port must be placed
conspicuously upon the stern. The letters to be not less than three
inches in length.
9. The name of a screw steamer yacht, and her port, must be placed on
the stern in letters six inches in length, and upon each outer side of
the pilot house; but if she be a side-wheel vessel, the name must be
painted on the outside of each paddle-box also.
10. The painting of the name upon the bows of yachts is optional with
the owner.
11. Any vessel propelled in whole or in part by steam is declared a
steam vessel within the meaning of the law.
12. The hull and boiler of a steam yacht is subject to annual
inspection by the U. S. Board of Local Inspectors.
13. No steam yacht, whatever her size, is permitted to be navigated
without a licensed master or pilot, and engineer, under penalty of a
fine of one hundred dollars for each offense.
14. Masters, mates, pilots, and engineers, upon giving satisfactory
evidence of their qualifications, may be licensed by the U. S. Local
Inspectors for the term of five years, but the license may be revoked
for cause.
15. Every licensed officer must have his license framed under glass,
and posted in a conspicuous place on board the vessel, under penalty of
revocation or one hundred dollars fine.
16. Any one who employs an unlicensed officer is subject to a fine of
one hundred dollars.
17. The Local Inspectors are authorized to suspend or revoke, upon
satisfactory evidence, the license of any officer for bad conduct,
drunkenness, inattention to duty, or incapacity.
18. If an owner proves to the Local Inspectors that his engineer has
allowed his boiler to burn, and that he has not kept his engine and
machinery in good order, the Inspectors are authorized to degrade him.
19. The fees previously charged for licenses to officers, and for
inspections and examinations of vessels of the United States, were
abolished in 1886.
20. A yacht of any foreign nation, which extends like courtesies to the
United States, provided the yacht belongs to a regularly organized and
incorporated yacht club, is privileged to arrive at and depart from
port to port of the United States without making entrance or clearance,
but when arriving from a foreign port she must enter at the port of her
first arrival in the United States.
If the yacht does not belong to such a nation, or does not belong to
such a yacht club, she must enter at and clear from every port of the
United States she goes into.
21. A commission to sail for pleasure, in any designated yacht
belonging to a regularly organized and incorporated yacht club, may be
obtained from the Treasury Department through the Collector of Customs
at the port where the yacht may be. It does not supersede the license,
but is in addition to it, and is only issued by yachts going abroad to
secure more extended courtesies. It is issued for the voyage only, and
must be surrendered at the port of her first arrival on her return to
the United States.
22. Yachts of 20 tons and upwards must also be enrolled. (1899 Laws.)
23. According to law, the owner of a steam yacht may secure a license
to command and pilot his own vessel, provided he passes the examination
required by the U. S. Local Inspectors of Steam Vessels.
INDEX
BOAT SERVICE. PAGE
Boat Ceremony and Discipline, 49
Boat Orders, 49
Boat Salutes and Management, 51
Particulars Concerning Boats, 47
CEREMONIES AND COURTESIES.
Captain of Visiting Yacht Pays Respects, 29
Commodore’s Duties--Commissioning Club, 35
Commodore’s Duties--Club in Commission, 36
Commodore’s Duties--Going Out of Commission, 38
Duties of the Fleet Captain, 40
Honors to the Captain Embarking, 39
Honors to the Captain Disembarking, 39
Putting Yacht In Commission, 34
Putting Yacht Out of Commission, 34
Quarter-Deck to be Saluted, 29
Reception of the President, 30
Reception of the Vice-President, 31
Reception of Secretary of Navy, 31
Reception of Cabinet Officers, 31
Reception of a Governor, 32
Reception of Foreign Sovereign, 32
Reception of Royalty, 32
Reception of Naval Officers, 32
Reception of Army Officers, 32
Reception of Other Officials, 33
Reception of Flag Officers, 33
Reception of Diplomatic Corps, 33
Senior Officer Returns Salutes and Visits, 29
Senior Officer Tenders Civilities, 29
Yacht Joining Squadron, 29
COLORS IN GENERAL.
Absent Flag, 14
At Anchor with Naval Vessels, 13
Before Colors or After Sunset, 13
Boat Engaged in Funeral Ceremony, 19
Burgee and Private Signal Broken Out, 16
Colors in Yacht’s Boats, 15
Colors to be Well Hoisted, 16
Commodore Cruising with Another Club, 24
Commodore’s Night and Day Pennant, 25
Commodore’s Private Signal, 25
Day Signals for Pilots, 21
Death of Captain, 17
Death of Club Member, 18
Death of Flag Officer, 17
Death of One of the Crew, 19
Dressing Ship, 22
Ensign When Passing Light Houses, Etc., 15
Ensign When Passing Naval Vessels, 15
Entering or Leaving Port, 13
Flag Officer Entering Another Harbor, 25
Flag Officer’s Pennant, 16
Hauling Down Half-Mast Colors, 18
Hours for Half-Masting Colors, 19
How to Half-Mast Colors, 18
Jack--When Displayed, 26
Making Colors, 19
Making Sunset, 20
Mastless Yachts, 16
Meal Pennants, 14
National Mourning, 17
Night Pennant, 13
Night Signals for Pilots, 21
Off a Naval Station, 13
Permission to Half-Mast Colors, 19
Place to Display Colors, 11
Saluting with Ensign Half-Mast, 18
Senior Officer Gives the Time, 12
Signal for Towing-Boat, 22
Single Stickers, 14
Sunrise and Sunset, 12
Time to Make Colors, 11
Visiting Another Club, 13
Yacht Flags and How They Are Used, 11
Yacht Short-Handed, 16
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
Boatswain, 76
Captain, 65
Carpenter, 76
Chief Engineer, 70
First Mate, 73
Quartermasters, 77
Sailing-Master, 68
Second Mate, 74
Steward, 78
Surgeon, 81
GOVERNMENT OF THE YACHT.
At Anchor at Night, 62
Boat Hails, 62
Concerning Watches, 63
Ship’s Bells, 56
The Boatswain’s Call, 57
Underway at Night, 61
Yacht Routine, 58
SALUTES IN GENERAL.
Boat Salutes, 46
Colors and Sunset Gun, 41
Dipping the Ensign, 42
Flag Officer’s Official Visit, 44
Guns Between Sunset and Colors, 41
Guns on Sunday, 41
Judges’ Yacht not Saluted, 45
Junior Officer Entering Harbor, 43
Official Salute to Another Club, 44
Ordinary Salute to Commodore, 43
Postponed Salutes, 45
Salute of Passing Yachts, 42
Salute to Quarter-Deck, 46
Salute to Yacht Entering, 42
Salutes Between Squadrons, 45
Salutes to Naval Vessels, 41
Salutes Upon Entering Harbor, 42
Salutes When Meeting at Sea, 42
Senior Officer Leaving Harbor, 44
Single Yacht and Squadron, 45
Special Salute to Commodore, 43
Steam Whistles Not to be Used, 42
When Firing Guns is Prohibited, 46
When Making Signals is Prohibited, 46
SPECIAL LIGHTS.
Absent Lights, 27
Commodore’s Lights, 27
Dinner Light, 28
Lanterns Under Boom, 28
Rear-Commodore’s Lights, 27
Vice-Commodore’s Lights, 27
SYNOPSIS OF U. S. YACHTING LAWS.
Bill of Health, 82
Documenting of a Foreign Yacht, 83
Entering a Yacht, 82
Fine for Unlicensed Officers, 84
Foreign Yacht May Fly American Flag, 83
Foreign Yacht Must Enter, 83
Foreign Yachts Visiting the U. S., 85
Hailing Port Must be Shown, 83
Inspection of Hull and Boiler, 84
Licensed Master, Pilot and Engineer, 84
Light Money, 83
Name of Yacht to be Displayed, 83
Owner’s Licenses as Master and Pilot, 86
Shipping Articles, 82
Suspension of License, 84
Tonnage Duty, 83
What Constitutes a Steam Vessel, 84
Yacht Commission, 86
Yacht Enrollment, 86
Yacht License Privileges, 82
Yacht’s Manifest, 82
Transcriber’s Notes
Italics have been represented by _underlines_. Small caps have been
represented by CAPITALS.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation and capitalization have been silently
addressed.
Obvious printing errors have been silently corrected. Other
changes:
When the date of going out of commission is fixed[,]
They are set tau[gh]t by lanyards.
but the rules, regulations[,] etc., laid down for the government of
such large craft
Flag illustrations have been moved from pages 8 and 9 to a place in the
text where each flag is mentioned. The flag not specifically mentioned
in the text remains in its original location.