Ok, in another thread a question I always have
came up. Someone was helpful and corrected me
from "gunnel" to "gunwhale".

So, what IS a gunwhale?

Here is a definition I found googeling:
The name (pronounced GUN'L) given to the uppermost line of planking of a
boat's sides. In the old ships the upper tier of guns used to fire over the
top planking which was therefore specially strengthened by "whales".

So, lets say on my boat. Which of the following is the gunwhale
and what is the other one called??

A) It's a lapstrake hull. So each next higher "plank" overlaps the
one below it. At the top of the side of the hull the last plank is basically
perpendicular to the floor / water.

B) Then, at a 90 degree angle to that last "plank" there is another part of
the
boat. That part is about 8" wide. It' where one could step with one foot
while boarding the boat.

Are these both part of the gunwhale?

What's a proper or descriptive term for B? I've been calling it
the "upper side deck" (as opposed to the decking on the bow or
the decking on the stern).


I know it seems like a silly question but....

Thanks,
Gary

Gary Warner wrote:
Ok, in another thread a question I always have
came up. Someone was helpful and corrected me
from "gunnel" to "gunwhale".

So, what IS a gunwhale?

The correct spelling is "gunwhale," which over the years (centuries?)
has come to be pronounced "gun'l." So it's easy to see why, if you've
only heard it spoken, you'd think it was spelled "gunnel."

"Forecastle" is another one that can be confusing because it's been
shortened when spoken to "foc'sl."

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

To further confuse, Merriam-Webster says "gunwale", not "gunwhale"

Gunwale: fthe upper edge of a ship's or boat's side.
Wale: Any of a number of strakes usually of extra thick and strong planks in
the sides of a wooden ship - usually used in plural.

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...


Gary Warner wrote:
Ok, in another thread a question I always have
came up. Someone was helpful and corrected me
from "gunnel" to "gunwhale".

So, what IS a gunwhale?

The correct spelling is "gunwhale," which over the years (centuries?)
has come to be pronounced "gun'l." So it's easy to see why, if you've
only heard it spoken, you'd think it was spelled "gunnel."

"Forecastle" is another one that can be confusing because it's been
shortened when spoken to "foc'sl."

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Doug Kanter wrote:
To further confuse, Merriam-Webster says "gunwale", not "gunwhale"

Oops...you're right--no "h" in gunwale!

Ok, class...as long as we're on the subject of arcane names for boat
parts...who can tell me what a poop deck is, and how it got its name
(no, it has nothing whatever to do with my area of expertise!)?

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Puppis: Latin for "stern". The poop deck is the aftmost deck at the ship's
stern.


"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...


Doug Kanter wrote:
To further confuse, Merriam-Webster says "gunwale", not "gunwhale"

Oops...you're right--no "h" in gunwale!

Ok, class...as long as we're on the subject of arcane names for boat
parts...who can tell me what a poop deck is, and how it got its name
(no, it has nothing whatever to do with my area of expertise!)?

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Doug Kanter wrote:
Puppis: Latin for "stern". The poop deck is the aftmost deck at the ship's
stern.

Close, but not quite.



"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...


Doug Kanter wrote:

To further confuse, Merriam-Webster says "gunwale", not "gunwhale"

Oops...you're right--no "h" in gunwale!

Ok, class...as long as we're on the subject of arcane names for boat
parts...who can tell me what a poop deck is, and how it got its name
(no, it has nothing whatever to do with my area of expertise!)?

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html






--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

I'll bet you a dozen worms and 3 warm beers that I'm right. :-)

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:
Puppis: Latin for "stern". The poop deck is the aftmost deck at the
ship's
stern.

Close, but not quite.



"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...


Doug Kanter wrote:

To further confuse, Merriam-Webster says "gunwale", not "gunwhale"

Oops...you're right--no "h" in gunwale!

Ok, class...as long as we're on the subject of arcane names for boat
parts...who can tell me what a poop deck is, and how it got its name
(no, it has nothing whatever to do with my area of expertise!)?

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html






--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Doug Kanter wrote:
I'll bet you a dozen worms and 3 warm beers that I'm right. :-)

You're right as far as you go, but not all afterdecks are poop decks.


"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...

Doug Kanter wrote:

Puppis: Latin for "stern". The poop deck is the aftmost deck at the

ship's

stern.

Close, but not quite.



"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...


Doug Kanter wrote:


To further confuse, Merriam-Webster says "gunwale", not "gunwhale"

Oops...you're right--no "h" in gunwale!

Ok, class...as long as we're on the subject of arcane names for boat
parts...who can tell me what a poop deck is, and how it got its name
(no, it has nothing whatever to do with my area of expertise!)?

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html





--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327






--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Well, sometimes it's a partial deck above a ship's main afterdeck. But
sometimes it's not. :-)

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:
I'll bet you a dozen worms and 3 warm beers that I'm right. :-)

You're right as far as you go, but not all afterdecks are poop decks.


"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...

Doug Kanter wrote:

Puppis: Latin for "stern". The poop deck is the aftmost deck at the

ship's

stern.

Close, but not quite.



"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...


Doug Kanter wrote:


To further confuse, Merriam-Webster says "gunwale", not "gunwhale"

Oops...you're right--no "h" in gunwale!

Ok, class...as long as we're on the subject of arcane names for boat
parts...who can tell me what a poop deck is, and how it got its name
(no, it has nothing whatever to do with my area of expertise!)?

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems
and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html





--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327






--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Doug Kanter wrote:
Well, sometimes it's a partial deck above a ship's main afterdeck. But
sometimes it's not. :-)

Nope..ALWAYS a raised afterdeck, high enough to prevent taking on water
over the stern that could, in a heavy following sea, swamp the boat and
even sink it...a condition--as you correctly noted--from the Latin,
referred to as being "pooped." Hence the name "poop deck" for a RAISED
afterdeck.

Care to try this one? What's the origin of the term "bridge" for a
vessel's command center...who invented it, and why?

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html