TUCK, a name given to that part of the ship where the ends of the bottom-planks are collected together immediately under the stern or counter.
When this part, instead of being incurvated, and forming a convex surface, assumes the shape of a vertical or oblique plane, it is said to be square, as represented in fig. 8. plate [IX]. A square tuck is accordingly terminated above by the wing-transom, and below and on each side by the fashion-pieces.
TUMBLING-HOME, encabanement, that part of a ship’s side which falls inward above the extreme breadth, so as to make the ship gradually narrower from the lower deck upwards. This angle is represented in general throughout all the timbers in the plane of projection, plate [I]. It is also more particularly expressed by Q T in the Midship-frame, plate [VII]. where it is evident, that the ship grows narrower from Q towards T. N. B. In all our old sea-books, this narrowing of a ship from the extreme breadth upwards is called housing-in. See Upper-work.
TURNING-to-windward, chicaner le vent, that operation in sailing wherein a ship endeavours to make a progress against the direction of the wind, by a compound course, inclined to the place of her destination. This method of navigation is otherwise called plying. See also Beating and Tacking.
TYE, itague, a sort of runner or thick rope, used to transmit the effort of a tackle to any yard or gaff, which extends the upper part of a sail.
The tye is either passed through a block fixed to the mast-head, and afterwards through another block moveable upon the yard or gaff intended to be hoisted; or the end of it is simply fastened to the said yard or gaff, after communicating with the block at the mast-head. See also the article Jears.
V.
VAN, avante-garde, the foremost division of any naval armament, or that part which usually leads the way to battle; or advances first in the order of sailing. See Center, Fleet, and Rear.
VANE, a thin slip of bunting hung to the mast-head, or some other conspicuous place in the ship, to show the direction of the wind. See b, fig. 1. plate [I]. It is commonly sewed upon a wooden frame called the stock, which contains two holes whereby to slip over the spindle, upon which it turns about as the wind changes.
Dog-Vane, panon, a small light vane, formed of a piece of packthread about two feet in length, upon which are fixed five or six thin slices of cork stuck full of light feathers. It is usually fastened to the top of a staff two yards high, which is placed on the top of the ship’s side on the quarter-deck, in order to shew the direction of the wind to the helmsman, particularly in a dark night, or when the wind is extremely feeble.