A standard is a heavy, L-shaped structural timber, similar to a knee, but installed on top of a deck rather than underneath it. The horizontal arm bolts to the deck beams, while the vertical arm extends upward to brace bulwarks, bitts, or mast partners. Shipwrights use them to provide extreme lateral strength to deck fittings that must withstand the massive pulling forces of the rigging.
Heard on the job
Check the bolts on the standard bracing the mainmast bitts, they look a little loose.
Insider tip
Unlike hanging knees which support the deck from below, standards resist deck-level sheer forces from above.
Also heard as
- standard knee