Old booms should be examined in the wake of bands, and probed for dry rot at the heel. Checks and dangerous cracks—probably puttied up—should be searched for and reported to the Chief Mate.
Storm Oil. The Carpenter should have charge of the storm-oil tank, and should see that the drip cocks and pipes leading to the hawse, or over side, are kept clear, and that the supply of oil required by the U. S. Inspectors is on hand:
- Vessels of over 200 and not over 1,000 gross tons, 30 gallons.
- Vessels of over 1,000 and not over 3,000 gross tons, 40 gallons.
- Vessels of over 3,000 and not over 5,000 gross tons, 50 gallons.
- Vessels of over 5,000 gross tons shall carry at least 100 gallons.
General. The modern ship carpenter is as much a worker with iron and steel as he is with wood. His duty requires that he be familiar with machinery—and his special charge is the braking and releasing of the windlass, under the direction of the Chief Mate.
A top-notch carpenter is a jewel, he is a scarce article in these degenerate days of high wages and indifferent performance. A good artisan can do no better than to go to sea as a carpenter in a well-found modern steamer; the pay is good he will have comfortable quarters, and good food, he will also save money. This holds true of most billets aboard a merchant vessel today.
CHAPTER XXII
THE BOATSWAIN
The Boatswain, for a long time was not in favor on American vessels, this prejudice being a survival of the hard old sailing-ship days, after America had ceased to be great with her white wings.
The cheese-paring policy of many owners denied the common sense arrangement of having a Boatswain—a leading man of the crew—to do the actual roustabout with the men in holds and on deck. The Mates were supposed to attend to such matters, and while they juggled hose, and did other energetic, but senseless duties, other matters of far greater importance went undone.