in to row
and manage it.

BOATABLE. Water navigable for boats and small river-craft.

BOAT-BUOYS. Means added to increase the buoyancy of life-boats, &c.

BOAT-CHOCKS. Clamps of wood upon which a boat rests when stowed on a
vessel's deck.

BOAT-CLOAK. A mantle for the officer going on duty; when left in the
boat it is in the coxswain's charge.

BOAT-DAVIT. A curved piece of timber with a sheave at its outer end,
which projects over the boat's stern, while the inner end is shipped
into a cleat on each side of the bottom of the boat, for weighing
anchors when needed. (_See_ DAVIT.)

BOAT-FAST. _See_ PAINTER.

BOAT-GEER. A general name for the rigging and furniture of a boat.

BOAT-HIRE. Expenses for the use of shore-boats.

BOAT-HOOK. An iron hook with a straight prong at its hinder part; it is
fixed upon a pole, by the help of which a boat is either pulled to, or
pushed off from, any place, and is capable of holding on by anything.

BOATILA. A narrow-sterned, flat-bottomed boat of the Gulf of Manar.

BOATING. Transporting men, munitions, or goods, in boats.

BOAT-KEEPER. One of the boat's crew who remains in charge of her during
the absence of the others. In small vessels he is sometimes called the
boatman.

BOAT-NAILS. Those supplied for the carpenter's use are of various
lengths, generally rose-headed, square at the points, and made both of
copper and iron. (_See_ NAILS.)

BOAT-ROPE. A separate rope veered to the boat to be towed at the ship's
stern.

BOAT'S CREW. The men appointed as the crew of any particular boat, as
the barge's crew, cutter's crew, &c.

BOAT'S-GRIPES. Lashings for the secure stowage of boats. (_See_ GRIPES.)

BOAT-SKIDS. Portable pieces of plank used to prevent chafing when a boat
is hoisted or lowered. (_See_ SKIDS.)

BOATSWAIN. The officer who superintends the boat-sails, ship's-sails,
rigging, canvas, colours, anchors, cables and cordage, committed to his
charge. He ought also to take care that the blocks and running ropes are
regularly placed to answer the purposes for which they are intended, and
that the sails are properly fitted to their yards and stays, and
well-furled or reefed when occasion requires. He pipes the hands to
their several duties, seeing that they attend his call, and ought to be
in every way a thorough seaman. Although termed boatswain, the boats are
not in his charge. They, with the spars, &c., and stores for repair,
belong to the carpenter. The boat