SURVEY, an examination made by several naval officers into the state or condition of the provisions, or stores, belonging to a ship, or fleet of men of war.
SURVEYORS of the navy, two officers, who sit at the navy-board, being invested with the charge of building and repairing his Majesty’s ships, at the different dock-yards of the kingdom: for which purpose they are trained to the theory and practice of ship-building. It is also their office to know the state of the navy; to audit the accounts of all boatswains and carpenters serving therein; and to enquire into the condition of all naval stores, at home or abroad, in order to supply whatsoever may be deficient.
SWAB, fauber, (swabb, Swed.) a sort of mop formed of a large bunch of old rope-yarns, and used to clean the decks and cabins of a ship: hence the person, who uses it, is called the swabber.
SWEEPING, draguer, the act of dragging the bight, or loose part of a small rope, along the surface of the ground, in a harbour, or road, in order to hook and recover some anchor, wreck, or other material, sunk at the bottom. It is performed by fastening the two ends of this rope to the sides of two boats which are abreast of each other, at some distance. To the middle of the rope are suspended two cannon-shot, or something which weighs heavy, in order to sink it to the ground; so that, as the boats advance, by rowing ahead, the rope drags along the bottom, to hook any anchor, &c. for which they are searching.
SWELL, enflement, generally denotes an heavy and continued agitation of the waves, according to a particular direction: as there is a great swell setting into the bay. It is, however, more particularly applied to the fluctuating motion of the sea, which remains after the expiration of a storm: as also, to that which breaks on the sea-shore; or upon rocks, or shallows.
SWIFTER, a rope used to confine the bars of the capstern in their sockets, whilst the men are heaving it about; for which purpose it is passed through holes in the extremities of the bars, so as to strain them firmly together like the spokes of a wheel; which is accordingly called swifting. See the article Capstern.
Swifter is also a strong rope, sometimes used to encircle a boat longitudinally, as well as to strengthen and defend her sides, as to enable her the better to resist the impression of other boats which may run against her occasionally. It is usually fixed about a foot under the boat´s upper edge, or gunnel.
Swifters are likewise two shrouds fixed on the starboard and larboard side of the lower masts, above all the other shrouds, as an additional security to the masts. The hoisters are never confined, like the other shrouds, by Cat-harpings. See that article.
To SWING, to turn round the anchors, or moorings, at the change of the wind, or tide: it is usually expressed of a ship, either when she is moored by the head, or riding at a single anchor.