Reflections on Machines and Maneuvers for Use on Board

Francisco Ciscar, squadron leader in the Spanish Royal Navy, was involved in mapping coastlines for Vicente Tofiño's Maritime Atlas, and wrote other treatises such as the "Cartilla de Artillería de Marina" (Book of Marine Artillery), published posthumously in 1830. He published his book ''Reflexiones sobre las máquinas y las maniobras de uso de a bordo'' (Reflections on Machines and Maneuvers for Use on Board) in Madrid in 1791, which led to significant advances in naval shipbuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The book is divided into 3 parts: the first concerns machines, the second considers the application of certain mechanical principles to maneuvers, and the final part is about the movement of ships, studied 20 years previously by the midshipman Jorge Juan.

The text was used for training military engineers using rigorous physical and mathematical language that analyzes and explains the essentials and uses of every part of a warship.