Minerva, Mass. Bay (p. 73)

Daniel Waterhouse boards the Minerva in Massachusetts Bay to begin his voyage to England, observing the ship’s layout and meeting its captain, van Hoek.

“Minerva’s main deck (which is called the upperdeck…)” — Stephenson’s annotation: “The terminology of Ship Decks was notoriously inconsistent during this period, varying by nation and the size of the vessel.” On a Merchantman like the Minerva, the “upper deck” was the highest continuous deck running the length of the ship, while the Quarterdeck and Poop Deck provided elevated platforms for officers at the stern.

“the huge spoked wheel by which the ship is steered” — The introduction of the Ship’s Steering Wheel to replace the vertical lever known as a whipstaff occurred around 1700. Its presence here marks a specific technological advancement in maritime history, as the wheel allowed for much greater mechanical advantage and control over the Rudder in heavy seas.