SKIDS, or SKEEDS, are long compassing pieces of timber, formed so as to answer the vertical curve of a ship’s side. See Q, R, fig. 5. plate [IX]. They are notched below so as to fit closely upon the wales; and as they are intended to preserve the planks of the side, when any weighty body is hoisted or lowered, they extend from the main wale to the top of the side; and they are retained in this position by bolts or spike-nails.
SKIFF, esquife (scaffa, Lat.) a small boat resembling a yawl. See the article Boat.
SLAB-LINE, cargue à vue, a small cord passing up behind a ship’s mainsail or fore-sail, and being reeved through a block, fig. 1. plate [IX]. attached to the lower part of the yard, is thence transmitted in two branches to the foot of the sail, to which it is fastened. It is used to truss up the sail as occasion requires; but more particularly for the conveniency of the pilot or steersman, that they may look forward beneath it, as the ship advances.
SLACK-WATER, the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide; or between the last of the ebb and the first of the flood, during which the current is interrupted; and the water apparently remains in a state of rest.
SLATCH, is generally applied to the period of a transitory breeze of wind, or the length of its duration.
SLEEPERS, a name formerly given by shipwrights to the thick-stuff placed longitudinally in a ship’s hold, opposite to the several scarfs of the timbers. It is now properly applied to the knees, which connect the transoms to the after-timbers on the ship’s quarter.
SLINGS, elingue (slingan, Sax.) a rope whose ends are fixed in such a manner to its other part, as to encircle a cask, bale, or case, and suspend it whilst hoisting or lowering. Of these there are various sorts, according to the weight or figure of the object to which they are applied. Those which are most frequently used in lading and delivering ships are represented in fig. 9. plate [IX]. being nearly in the form of a pair of spectacles, the tackle being hooked to the middle part a, whilst b and c are fixed on the opposite quarters of the cask, &c.
SLIP, a place lying with a gradual descent on the banks of a river convenient for ship-building.
SLOOP, a small vessel furnished with one mast, the main-sail of which is attached to a gaff above, to the mast on its foremost edge, and to a long boom below; by which it is occasionally shifted to either quarter. See Vessel.
Sloop of War, a name given to the smallest vessels of war, except cutters. They are either rigged as ships or as snows. See Command, Horse, and Rate.