Joiner work in general includes all houses above the bridge, or shelter decks, also all subdividing bulkheads, or partitions in the poop and forecastle compartments, as well as any erection, or housing that may be required above either the poop or forecastle decks. While the work may vary greatly in detail design in different localities, and yards, the principles of construction used are very much the same.

The details shown in this chapter, in Figs. 172 to 193 inclusive are for the main part taken from one type of design, and the reader may therefore note that while the arrangement of the named items existing in any particular ship house will very closely follow that shown in the figures, the shape or design of such parts, or items, may, without causing the work to be less attractive, or substantial, be quite different. For this reason, the discussion here on this work will be quite general, and no attempt will be made to describe each plate in detail, except where the construction shown seems to call for explanation.

Figure 172 shows one of several types of construction for bulkheads at the ends of poop, bridge, and forecastle erections. These bulkheads must be very strong and watertight.

Since they are liable to receive severe shocks when water is taken on board in a storm at sea, the ordinary type of mortise for the studding is not considered strong enough in most cases. It is therefore customary to use some such construction as shown in the figure, to develop the full strength of the stud at the upper and lower ends.

The coamings, both outside and inside are scribed to the shape of the deck, being worked from timber wide enough for this purpose. The outer coaming is frequently but not always cut down into the decking as shown in the figure to provide a better calking seam than would result with the coaming simply fayed on top of the decking. This arrangement, while giving a better calking seam, weakens the decking and is therefore open to objection.

The studding is very heavy and is spaced at close intervals. The siding, or planking, may be as shown in the figure, or there may be an inner diagonal course of thinner planks, with an outside course of either special shiplap, or matched stuff, both courses being, on the outside of the studding.

Doors fitted to these bulkheads are generally of special construction, and so fitted as to be watertight.

The is some confusion in the use of the terms coaming, and sill as applied to joiner work. In general the coaming is a rather high, rabbeted member, set either on top of the decking or on the beams, to which the studs are mortised, and which is exposed to the weather. It therefore would appear only at the exterior of the houses, or erections. A similar member, in the interior, fitted always on top of the decking, and at the bottom of bulkheads, or partitions, is generally called a sill.

Figures 173 and 174 show coaming details as commonly used on houses built on calked decks. The fore and aft coamings, as shown in Fig. 173 are set on the beams, and it will be noted that at the ends of the houses they are cut down to the thickness of the deck planking and carried to the center of the next beam. This is to avoid the fitting of a chock between the beams to receive the fastening of the decking ends landing against the end of the coaming, should it be cut off at the corner. Particular note should be taken of the shape of the rabbet across the corner and the corresponding shape of the foot of the corner post shown in Fig. 179.

Figures 175 and 176 show details of coamings as generally fitted on joiner decks. They are as a rule, not so high as the coamings used on bridge decks and they set on top of the decking, both at the sides and ends of the houses. In other respects they are much the same as the higher coamings shown in Figs. 173 and 174.

Thwartship coamings, where too heavy to permit springing must be scribed from wider timber to the shape, or camber, of the deck. All coamings, whether on calked or joiner decks, should be thoroughly fastened with either screw or clinched bolts, preferably the former, passing through the beams, with nuts set up below on large washers.

Figure 175 shows the deck canvas turned up against the coaming. In some yards it is the custom to lay the deck canvas before any coamings or sills are placed, in which case the coamings would be on top of the canvas. So long as the canvas is carefully laid, and the joint against the coaming made watertight by close tacking and. paying with white lead, there is no relative advantage in either arrangement.

It is customary to lay canvas over a layer of tarred felt, but of late, practice in this respect has altered, the canvas being laid directly to the deck, after the latter has received a priming coat of paint prepared specially for this purpose. The felt, where used, should not be tacked.

Figure 173. Showing High Coaming As Used On Bridge Or Shelter Decks - Outboard.

Figure 174. Showing Corner Construction For High OutBoard Coamings.

Joiner Details.

Corner post details, together with the corner studding, plate, and end beam, are shown in Pigs. 177 to 180 inclusive. It should be noted that the corner post is, in a measure, a false member, in that it is so arranged that it can be slipped into place after the corner studding, plate and end beam are set up. The siding and ceiling are nailed to both the corner studs and post.