balance lug—See LUG.
bale, baler—To bale or bale out is to remove water from a boat by means of a baler, which may be any small container capable of holding water.
ballast—Weight deposited in a ship’s hold when she has no cargo, or too little to bring her sufficiently low in the water. It is used to counterbalance the effect of the wind upon the masts and give the ship a proper stability, that she may be enabled to carry sail without danger of upsetting, and is sometimes used in steam vessels to increase their stability or to correct their “trim”; that is, in order that neither bow nor stern will float too high.
balloon canvas, or press canvas—The extra spread of canvas (i. e., sail) used by yachts in racing, generally, in a great sail often called a “ballooner.”
bank (of oars)—A tier of oars all on one level. In ancient oar-driven ships there were often several banks. All the oarlocks that were at the same distance above the water level mounted oars said to be in the same bank.
barbette—The heavy armoured foundation on which the turret of a modern battleship is mounted.
barge—A general name given to most flat-bottomed craft. In ancient and mediæval times the name was given also to large boats of state or pleasure, and in later days to one of the small boats of a man-of-war. The barges of to-day are of various descriptions, being either sea-going, river, or canal.
barkentine—A three-masted sailing vessel, square rigged on the fore- and mainmasts, and fore and aft rigged on the mizzen. For illustration see page [201].
barometer—An instrument for measuring the weight or pressure of the atmosphere. A careful study of its changing record makes it possible to foretell many of the changes in the weather.
batten—A long strip of wood. Battens are used for many purposes, such as covering seams inside the hull. To batten down—To cover up tightly; usually spoken of hatches when they are closed tightly.