Stern facts for kids
The stern is the rear part of a ship or boat.
The stern area has always been the place near the steering apparatus (rudder, tiller, ship's wheel, etc.), and by extension became the domain of the ship's captain and other officers. In particular, the stern was the location of the officers' quarters, and during the age of sail became the most opulent part of the ship, with rows of windows, galleries, walkways, and fine decorations. That meant that this part was rather vulnerable, and the goal of much maneuvering in battle was to achieve the stern rake, in which a ship would pour its entire broadside into the stern.
Other features of the stern included lanterns and the ensign.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Stern of a Severn class lifeboat (UK)
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Stern of a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser Mobile Bay
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Detailed schematic of an elliptical or "fantail" stern
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Illustrations of several kinds of sterns: Fig. 21 Fantail; Fig. 22 Transom; Fig. 23 "Compromise"; Fig. 24 "V" stern; Fig. 25 Round; Fig. 26 Torpedo; Fig. 27 Canoe.
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The Constanzi stern of Queen Mary 2
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The stern of the cargo ship Sichem Princess Marie-Chantal
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1. Keel (light peach) 2. Skeg (dark purple) 3. Deadwood (olive drab) 4. Stern post (forest green) 5. Filling chock (bright yellow) 6. Filling transoms (pale yellow-green) 7. Wing transom (turquoise) 8. Helm port (orange) 9. Counter timbers (pale violet) 10. Margin (indigo) 11. Horn timber (green) 12. Stern timbers (apricot) 13. Side-counter timbers (pale yellow) 14. Quarter-timbers (red) 15. Fashion timber (fuchsia) 16. Cant frames (blue) 17. Square body frames (uncolored)
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The stern of the Dutch East India Company ship Amsterdam (transom stern)
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The stern of a modern sailboat (Tirion28)
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The tall ship Christian Radich, showing her elliptical stern
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The elliptical stern of the metal-hulled Empire Sandy
See also
In Spanish: Popa para niños
