336

NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE

screw locking bolts. Again no chafe or wear was encountered and the
gudgeon remained undamaged. The two 5 ft. by 3 ft. iron doors were
fitted on each side of the derrick 4 ft. from the spider-band (to clear
topping lift) and bolted with twelve f inch bolts, six on either side of tHe
derrick. Between the doors the space was packed with wood to make

PI.AN OF GOOSLNECK

Fig 13.
the whole firm and solid, and the edges of the doors were again bolted.
The long leads for the steering wires were used to allow any jerks to be
taken up and a spring buffer was also used for this purpose. Length
of derrick, 43 ft. XlO in. (diam.); dimension of doors, 5 ft. x3 ft.; height
of goose-neck above water line, 5 ft.; wires and topping-lift, 2J ins.
(steel mooring wire).
TOWING A DISABLED VESSEL.
Towing.—It is hardly necessary to touch upon the towing of vessels
by tugs in smooth water. It will be mo-re to the purpose here to consider
the best arrangement for towing in bad weather, or in the case of a
steamer falling in with a disabled vessel and agreeing to take her in tow.
Most modern vessels are now provided with steel wire towlines, of
size proportionate to the size of the vessel, and with a coir or manila
spring of equivalent strength for use in connection with the wire hawser