The lace piece is a heavy, curved timber bolted to the upper part of the stem to support the figurehead and the projecting beakhead assembly. It acts as a foundational bracket, transferring the weight and wave impact forces of the forward overhang down into the main hull structure. Shipwrights carefully shape this piece to match the sweep of the bow and ensure the decorative and functional forward elements remain secure.
Heard on the job
The rot has spread from the figurehead down into the lace piece, so we'll need to unbolt the whole assembly to replace it.
Also heard as
- lace timber