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In connection with a forthcoming publication, a colleague and I are looking
for a line-drawing of a traverse-board. That's the device, rather like a
dartboard, with holes to represent compass-points, that was hung up on a
bulkhead near the wheel. Pegs (on strings) were pushed in to mark the
successive courses steered during a watch, and another block of holes,
below, was used to indicate the successive speeds logged. Using such a
device, a watchkeeper did not need to be literate.

I know of two photos of traverse-boards, one in E G R Taylor's "The
Haven-finding art", and one on J E D Williams' "From Sails to Satellites".
For clarity, though, a line drawing is greatly preferred to a half-tone
picture. Any suggestions?

George.

   

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