These marks can identify and date the timbers. On some of the deck beams are cut shipwright’s marks, known as raze or scribe marks. On the lower deck 90% pre-date 1923 and on the middle deck this figure is about 50%. In the orlop 90% of the deck beams are thought to have been present at Trafalgar. Thirteen percent of the beams on the middle deck have had repairs to their ends, but this only represents about 3% of the total length of original material. They are fastened with iron or copper bolts at each end onto timbers known as the beam shelves or deck clamps. The beams are generally made from several overlapping pieces of oak. They support the decks and provide stability and rigidity. The deck beams are the very large timbers that run across the width of the ship.
Present at Trafalgar - Yes, especially on the orlop.
