Beam (nautical)

Beam (nautical)

The beam of a ship is its width at the widest point, or at the mid-point of its length. Generally speaking, the wider the beam of a ship (or boat), the more initial stability it has, at expense of reserve stability in the event of a capsize, where more energy is required to right the vessel from its inverted position. Typical length-to-beam ratios for small sailboats are from 2:1 (dinghies to trailerable sailboats around convert|20|ft|0|disp=s|abbr=on) to 5:1 (racing sailboats over convert|30|ft|-1|disp=s|abbr=on). Large ships have widely varying beam ratios, some as large as 20:1. Rowing shells designed for flatwater racing may have length to beam ratios as high as 30:1 [ [http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc99/7_17_99/mathland.htm Science News Online: Ivars Peterson's MathTrek (7/17/99): Row Your Boat ] ] , while a coracle has a ratio of almost 1:1 - it is nearly circular.

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  • beam — /bim / (say beem) noun 1. a thick, long piece of timber, shaped for structural use. 2. a similar piece of metal, stone, etc. 3. Building Trades one of the main horizontal supporting members in a building or the like, as for supporting a roof or… …  

  • beam-ends — /ˈbim ɛndz/ (say beem endz) plural noun 1. Nautical the ends of a ship s beams. –phrase 2. on its beam ends, Nautical (of a ship) so far inclined on one side that the deck beams are practically vertical. 3. on one s beam ends, in acute distress… …  

  • beam — {{11}}beam (n.) O.E. beam originally living tree, but by late 10c. also rafter, post, ship s timber, from W.Gmc. *baumaz (Cf. O.Fris. bam tree, gallows, beam, M.Du. boom, O.H.G. boum, Ger. Baum tree ), perhaps from PIE verb root *bheue to grow… …   Etymology dictionary

  • beam sea — Naut. a sea striking the vessel at right angles to its keel. [1880 85] * * * beam sea noun One rolling against the ship s side • • • Main Entry: ↑beam * * * beam sea, waves rolling directly against a ship s side, at or nearly at a right angle to… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beam-ends — noun (nautical) at the ends of the transverse deck beams of a vessel on her beam ends means heeled over on the side so that the deck is almost vertical • Topics: ↑seafaring, ↑navigation, ↑sailing • Hypernyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Nautical metaphors in English — Thanks to the historical importance of seafaring in British culture, the English language is rich in related metaphors from the age of sail. Some examples are: * Taken aback * Batten down the hatches * Clear the decks * Loaded to the gunwales *… …   Wikipedia

  • beam sea — noun Nautical a sea which is rolling against a ship s side approximately at right angles …   English new terms dictionary

  • weather beam — same as ↑lee beam (see above). • • • Main Entry: ↑beam * * * weather beam, Nautical. the side of a ship toward the wind; weatherboard …   Useful english dictionary

  • Glossary of nautical terms — This is a glossary of nautical terms; some remain current, many date from the 17th 19th century. See also Wiktionary s nautical terms, Category:Nautical terms, and Nautical metaphors in English. Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R …   Wikipedia

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