Excerpt from Sea Life in Nelson’s Time
The keel or backbone of the ship, the first wood to be placed in position, was laid down upon oak blocks distant some four or five feet from each other. The keel was generally of thick elm timbers, placed length ways, which were scarfed together, bolted and clinched at the sides. Under this keel, and to each side of it, in some ships, was placed a false keel of elm, lightly secured by copper staples. This false keel protected the main keel if the ship grounded. On this backbone or groundwork the hull Of the ship was built.
Much of the oak used in the building of the ships was grown in England in the royal forests - such as the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, and the New Forest in Hampshire. The oak was very costly, for the service required the very best wood. It could not be, or should not have been, used for a year after cutting, for it needed to be seasoned before being handled by the Shipwrights. On coming to the yards it was stacked for some months in sheds, in various positions, according to its future use, to allow it to season. Much of it was pickled, or boiled in a kiln for many hours, to allow the workmen to bend it to the frame of the ship. In times of stress much of it was used green - not properly seasoned.
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