MAK41

This is a great topic and sure to create hours of good discussion whatever you finally decide but, as stated by JerseyCity Frankie and, the lead I find most probable for the staysail (working jib) and indeed the only images I found of Pickle (repro.s), is where the working jib is lead to the rail. It was not a self-tending sail on a club or other spar and so a horse or bridle would not be appropriate. There are two lines running up the bowsprit to tighten the stays (and /or the luffs of the jib and staysail ..I can't be sure from the pics) which are lead back to the forecastle deck and probable made fast on a cleat on the sprit. The flying jib is on a stay that does not appear to have an adjustment but we can assume the tack of that sail can be hauled down by a line which would run through a block at the tip of the sprit and lead back to the deck. The flying jib luff tension would then be adjustable with that line so, a cleat on the sprit or on the rail at the bow would seem appropriate. This is the biggest thing that stood out to me when watching the otherwise excellent videos. H.M.S. Pickle had block and tackle and not spliced eyes at the tacks of the staysail and jib.

Well, I had the three pix inserted but received and error msg. stating I couldn't use that file extension ...whixh was .jpg ... the same as the pic in the first post. IDK So, anyways this is getting off topic... I will read through the tutorial, Thanks. I'll try adding the url to pix below. http://modelshipworld.com/uploads/gallery/album_1299/gallery_21953_1299_87917.jpg Sister ship http://modelshipworld.com/uploads/gallery/album_1299/gallery_21953_1299_26177.jpg Original ad http://modelshipworld.com/uploads/gallery/album_1299/gallery_21953_1299_10368.jpg My first pic out of box.

The way a Capt. or, if they were asked, the way a crew prefers to "run the deck" would determine where best to belay such that the coiled lines, flaked lines and, stowed lines would be out of the way / not under foot. The less often used, the more out of the way, is a good rule. Seldom were lines coiled on the deck except as a show when at dock-side on holidays. The old time tall ships / large vessels were wood and easily altered by the ship's carpenter. Not so easy with the new fiberglass boats and even tough on steel ships.

JerseyCity Frankie: I was unsuccessful at uploading the pix I have, here in the reply text so, I've uploaded a new photo album under private collections, titled; New Model Pond Boat. These pictures represent all that I know of the style and "replica" attempt by the builder. One picture is of the model I have in the advertisement where I bought it. Another is of the model after I opened the box on day one. The third is a picture a friend found. It is another ad for a "sister ship" model. I did not put the bowsprit on my model when I had taken the pix. There was an unusually long dowel packed with the boat that had some flattening at one end. I assume this was to facilitate the sprit having an upward angle.

To wefalck; Actually; I have found numerous photos of 19th century sloops, cutters and schooners to support the idea that the vertical cloth panel design was more common. There is always innovation in sail design and probably never more true than in the golden age of sail. They didn't have computers or wind tunnels but the on-board sailmakers had a lot of time and sometimes great incentive! I recently remarked to my friend, about another subject concerning square rigged ship sails, that in a run for its life from a privateer or, if trying to run a blockade, a square rigged ship would hang laundry from every yardarm, rail and broomstick! Those 'ol sailors of yore were, in a word, creative.

Thank you one and all! More thoughts: I posted a gallery album 19th Century Sloops and because I am not sure about how postings and links work, I've added a comment to the album and will copy it here, below. In my post about Mystery Topsail; I've settled on (but not cemented in) the notion that the topsail which came with my model, is either strung upside-down and, the short side should be on a yard at the top (as in the picture above http://modelshipworld.com/uploads/gallery/album_1291/sml_gallery_21953_1291_261.jpg) or more like the lowest sail configuration shown above on the green hull; http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/gallery/image/12302-19th-cnty-gaff-rigged-4/ but, I'm not as sure about this latter rigging as the dimensions of my sail would make the fitting awkward. The middle picture; http://modelshipworld.com/uploads/gallery/album_1291/sml_gallery_21953_1291_5874.jpg (in silhouette) shows, and there are better examples to be found, that more than a "cut-out" for the throat of the gaff, some sails were lead at the tack to a point on one side of the main, to a belay pin at the base of the mast. Sails were set on one side or another for long legs on that tack and seldom were tacked as frequently as pleasure boaters do. Much tacking required? Then the topsail was probably not set at all. Would anyone concur?

Absolutely, Wefalck. Another hour of searching (I type slowly ...from the shoulder) and I found some relevant photos (I've uploaded an album "19th Century Sloops"). I'm still a bit unsure how I'll lead the sheet with the clew dipping below the throat but maybe, when I get the sail turned around and on a yard, it'll meet the mast at the throat. Or, like some in the album, there will be a gap. The one I see where there is a dip below the gaff, I think it appears to be lead to the main boom. Not sure how that would work. As for the cloth; you're right about that too. I didn't loft these. It seems to be prevalent in pond boats that the design is more of a modern style. These sails on my boat are one piece cotton with stitching to simulate lofted sails. I expect from the quality of work that this is a novice's home-built pond boat of no particular make. A run of the mill sloop / perhaps cutter. Her hull dimensions are LOD 23.5", LWL 22.75", Beam 4.5", Draft 4.5", Freeboard 1.25" (with no sheer), Mast step is 10" aft of stem on deck. The bow is a spoon bow that is quite like that of a cat boat. From my rigging setup I’ve determined these staysails had their tacks made fast about 1.5” apart from one another, on a 3” bow sprit. Quite good for what it is, I've rescued it at a bargain price which will no doubt run me a goodly sum to finish up but, a good winter project. Where is the best place to shop for small fittings if I'm not too concerned with authenticity? (Or should I start a second thread?)

I'll try to attach my photo but it is a 4-sided topsail but I can't figure how to sheet it off. Is this properly rigged. This is how I got it but it doesn't fit anything I know of. Almost looks like a flying fisherman off a schooner. (I have the hull but I mounted the rig in this plank just to untangle and figgure out the rigging.) Thanks in advance for any input. I Google searched for over an hour and can't find anything similar. Maybe I just don't know the right key words?