counter

counter, the overhanging stern of a vessel above the waterline, its top, or crown, being formed by the aftermost deck beams and its bottom terminating in, or at, the transom. The term is also loosely used to indicate the small area of deck abaft the sternpost. Most large ships today are built without a counter, the after end terminating in a transom, or a rounded or cruiser stern, but tugs are always built with a pronounced counter, mainly to keep their towing hawsers, when they fall into the water, clear of the propellers. Counter stern, the overhang of the stern abaft the rudder used in the sense of describing a type of stern. Sawn-off counter, as above, but with the aftermost part terminating abruptly in a vertical end instead of being carried on in the normal line of the hull form.