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The Skegg.
Is that little part of the Keele, which is cut slaunting, and is left a little without the sterne-post: The reason and use whereof, is only intended to be, that it should save the Rudder from beating-off, if the ship should chance to beate a-ground, but these Skegges are very unusefull and inconvenient: for first they are apt to snap-off, and so endanger the sterne-post next in a Harbour or River: Where ride ma∣ny ships, they are apt to catch an other ships cabels, betwixt that and the Rudder: And lastly, when the ship is under-saile, they hold much dead-water betwixt them and the Rudder, therefore it is better •…•…ve no skegg, but to hang the Rudder downe close to the sterne-post, with the bottom ever to the bottom of the Keele, only pared away a little sloaping towards the after-most side of it.