Wreck Tips

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I am sure some of these tips will be dispelled as myths but some are very useful in wreck diving:

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Boilers will always be in front of the engine.

Practically:
if you see a boiler then the engine you are swimming towards the stern.

Why:
The propshaft from the engine cannot pass under the boiler and it is logical that the engine is nearer the prop/stern

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The bridge on a steamship will be in front of the boiler:

Practically:
If you find a boiler and are looking for bridge gear go towards the bow.

Why:
The funnel which releases gas from the boilers wil be above it. As this is a dominant piece of the structure the bridge must be in front of it for visibilty etc.

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If a hull is riveted construction the lip on the plates will point to the stern.

Practically:
You can feel the plates and work out which way the front or stern is.

Why:
Waterflow will in general be from bow to stern so the least resistance is if the plate nearer the bow overlaps the one nearer the stern

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Bells will be mounted in a few main positions
The bell on steamships will be mounted either:
1) on a hanger on the forecastle
2) on the foremast
3) on the forecastle railing
4) on the front of the bridge

Practically:
Guess!

Why:
Tradition but also the bell is for signalling. A bell must be sounded in fog according to the shipping regulations and this would often be done by the lookout which would be on the bow where he had the best view. (Hence in sailing ships you may have a bell on the main mast)

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If you find a set of winches you may not have found the bow. However if you find a pile of chain you probably have:

Practically:
A way of identifying the bow on a dispersed wreck

Why:
Large winches would often be found amidships for unloading. However if you find a large pile of chain it is most likely to be the chain in the chain locker. This was for the anchors, and the chain locker was near the bow for the main anchors and fairly low down. This large chunk of metal rarely moves from the point of sinking and will be just behind the bow. Be careful as the stern may also have a smaller locker.

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Portholes are fitted on the inside of the hull and open inwards.

Practically:
When diving a fairly intact wreck, don't bother looking on the seabed for a trophy. (I have seen this way too often). They will be mounted on the inside and will fall into the wreck. Even when you see the backing of a porthole, the remaining bit will have dropped off inside.

Why:
The porthole would be ripped off the hull if it opened outwards.