Stem (ship)

The stem is the most forward part of a boat or ship's bow [1] and is an extension of the
keel itself. It is often found on wooden boats or ships, but not exclusively
.

Contents
Description
Styles
Stemhead A model of the French ship Soleil-
Royal held at the Musée National
See also
de la Marine de Paris. The most
References forward and lowest curved part of
Further reading the ship is the stem (not normally
the extended part beyond the
hull).

Description
The stem is the curved edge stretching from the keel below, up to the gunwale of the
boat. It is part of the physical structure of a wooden boat or ship that gives it strength at
the critical section of the structure, bringing together the port and starboard side planks
of the hull.[2]

Styles
There are two styles of stems: plumb and raked. When the stem comes up from the
The bow of the oil/chemical
water, if it is perpendicular to the waterline it is "plumb." If it is inclined at an angle to tanker Bro Elizabeth in dry dock
the waterline it is "raked."[1] (E.g., "The hull is single decked and characterized by a in Brest, France. This ship does
[3] )
plumb stem, full bows, straight keel, moderate deadrise, and an easy turn of bilge." not have a stem.

Stemhead
Because the stem is very sturdy, the top end of it may have something attached, either ornamental or functional in nature. On smaller
vessels, this might be a simple wood carving (ornamental) or cleat (functional). On large wooden ships, figureheads can be attached
to the upper end of the stem.

See also
Beakhead
Bow
Deadwood
Prow
V-hull (boat)

References
1. Maloney, Elbert (2006). Chapman Piloting & Seamanship. Hearst Books. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-58816-232-8.
 2. Steward, Robert (1987).Boatbuilding Manual, 3rd ed. Camden, Maine: International Marine Publishing Company
.
ISBN 0-87742-236-2.
3. Xiping Wang, James P. Wacker, Robert J. Ross, Brian K. Bradshaw (2008).Condition Assessment of Main Structural
Members of Steam Schooner WAPAMA (http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fpl_gtr177.pdf) (PDF) (Report).
Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory
. p. 3. Retrieved
December 7, 2011.

Further reading
Steward, Robert; Boatbuilding Manual, 3rd ed. International Marine Publishing Company
. Camden, Maine (1987).
ISBN 0-87742-236-2

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