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Runs of ceiling planks (amuradas) were fastened to frames on the interior of wooden ships’ hulls to prevent ballast stones, or shifting cargo, from damaging the integrity of the outer hull planks. Midships ceiling uncovered on the port side of the mast step consisted of seven common planks, totaling four strakes (continuous longitudinal runs of planks). Ceiling widths are approximately 31 cm to 34 cm with thicknesses ranging from 5 cm to 7 cm. One extremely narrow board (only 5 cm wide) was noted running along the outboard side of the pump sump; it may have been inserted after the wider planks were laid. A butt joint between ceiling planks is visible next to the after section of the mast step. Three square iron fasteners, 2 cm in cross section, fasten the two outermost planks to the frames below. Inner ceiling runs lie unfastened on the frames. Additionally, two large knots were noted on the outer two ceiling planks, suggesting that a lower grade of wood was utilized in this area.
Fig. 13. Looking inboard at footwale, ceiling plank, buttresses and bilge boards. Note ceiling between exposed buttress ends.
Outboard of the third run of ceiling planks is a chamfered foot wale (a thicker ceiling plank), which served to strengthen the hull where elements of the framing (floors and futtocks) are joined. The width of the footwale is 18.5 cm, and its thickness estimated at 15 cm to 16 cm. The top of the footwale is beveled on both inboard and outboard edges; dimensions of the bevels are 4 cm, and 9 cm on the flat part. Two fasteners in squared recesses, 70 cm apart, secured the footwale to frames.