The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #63274 Message #1026439
Posted By: Gareth
29-Sep-03 - 07:18 PM
Thread Name: meaning of maritime term 'off the peg'
Subject: RE: meaning of maritime term 'off the peg'
Hmmm ! I am not sure that I can offer any erudite comment on this but draw your attention to the navigating practice under sail of the "peg board".
It was the custom in the RN to mark the course desired on a board. With the compass points and quarter points marked by by a serious of peg holes, both for direction and course made good.
The quatermaster (in the Navy term) would mark by means of a peg the course actually sailed, and the time (glasses) sailed on that course.
This was an aid to the sailing master to work up his "dead reckoning" and fix the position.