KEELSON, a piece of timber which may be properly defined the interior or counter-part of the keel; as it is laid upon the middle of the floor-timbers, immediately over the keel, and like it composed of several
Keeler. veral pieces scarfed together. In order to fit with
Keeping. more security upon the floor-timbers and crotches, it
is notched about an inch and a half deep, opposite
to each of those pieces, and thereby firmly secured
down upon them to that depth, where it is secured
by spike-nails. The pieces of which it is formed are
only half the breadth and thickness of those of the keel.
The keelson serves to bind and unite the floor-timbers
to the keel. It is confined to the keel by long bolts,
which, being driven from without through several of
the timbers, are fore-locked or clenched upon rings on
the upper-side of the keelson.