Michelnou

Thanks for all. About the mast's collars, there are none available in the kit's box. I am expected tu add them on the masts. I make them with rope and glue. Is it the right method ? About the level of the topsail yard lift blocks I had put them above the foremast cap, at 0,60 time the cap to uppermost collar distance. When I write piton, it is similar to eyepin. These deadeyes are they the same than those used for shrouds ? This block is it a single or double to make backstay tackle ? Wood hearts could they be used to attach different front stays on bowsprit elements ? About the shrouds and stays diameters, your reasoning is right, but do you think honestly that ship builders took into account the different strengths depending of the mast's height to differentiate rope diameters ? I have at my disposal in dark colors 0,90 and 0,50 mm. In natural color I have 0,75, 0,65 and 0,30 mm. About shrouds, which diameter for laniards ? To finish with yards rigging, the "classical" rule require halyard+lifts+braces+ parrel elements. Knowing that I have fitted the yards with an "opened yoke", and that I wish to reduce aloft rigging, I consider to apply the set-up below , Lower yard : halyard+lifts+braces+ parrel Topsail yard : halyard+lifts+braces Topgallant yard : halyard+braces What is your opinion about this rigging for a Baltimore topsail schooner knowing that, in my opinion, it is not an exact science and that there is certainly not just the right configuration. Take care Mike

Thanks for all. I appreciate that some good Guys focus on Mantua rigging plan which can product nightmares. I am less alone ! Henry, can you advise me (using the plan) about the lift block levels (on fore top-mast) for top-sail yard lift and top-gallant yard lift ? Same question for halyard block levels for these two yards ? I have put Lower yard halyard static block on trestletrees, is it the right level ? I agree with you about attaching points level for topgallant backstay and topgallant stay. It would be the same level. Concerning the attaching method of "Backstays" on the deck, the kit Mantua designer has put brass piton on each side (P and T). What is the right method to attach the ropes to these pitons ? Must I use the same rope diameter (0,85 mm) for stays, backstays and shrouds ? Which rope diameter for halyards, lifts and braces (knowing that I have took 1/50 scale) ? Have a nice day Mike

It is clearer. - I note that the parrels are not quoted. - In the case where I should have Halyard and Lifts, can you tell me for which element the block level is the highest on the fore-mast ? I have sometimes difficulties with English expressions and nautical terms meaning, so : - I suppose that this sentence concern halyard and lifts. What do you mean by "to be lead over the fore stay" ? - Do you mean that braces line must be belayed near the stern ? - Sorry, but which are precisely the spars and sails concerned by "the topsail spar and sail" ? - I enclose the plan of my kit (which contains several errors) to make easier our exchanges. Popeye2sea : I have clearly noted that for the top-gallant yard, the lifts are not essential. Mike

Thank you again for these heated ideas on our subject. But with all these informations, sometimes contradictory, it becomes difficult for me to decide which options to choose... Especially, I still do not know if, assuming a light rigging on a topsail schooner, concerning top-gallant-yard and top-sail-yard on fore-mast, the halyard duplicates or not the lifts. In which case, only one of them would be retained. Maybe that, for safety reasons, it is reasonable to fly setting the top-gallant-yard only (to quickly take off the sail). Mike

Thank you for your post. My ship model is a topsail schooner with one top on the main mast and one top on the foremast. Your "Light rigging" description is it also valid for this Schooner's family ? Mike

This layout is far from the rules that one can read in the books describing Rigging... In this case without lifts, I wonder how the yard could be horizontal. And I who believed that lifts could substitute halyard... Mike

Concerning the yards which were lowered on the desk to work on rigging or sails, what became of the links (braces, lift...) during this descent ? Were they untied ? Mike

Don't be sorry Allan, I have made a mistake about my first ship model characterization, "Errare humanum est perseverare diabolicum"... Mike

I use the books of Howard Chapelle as well as Georges Biddlecombe too. I have to be precise about the ship, she is certainly more a schooner, built near Baltimore during the transition phase 1780-1820 (which predated "Clipper period"), than a clipper. As you know, during this innovative transition phase, on East cost, new fast sail boats were designed in America. This schooner was not at all a big ship : deck length about 65 feet, 2 masts with gaff, square sails with 3 yards on fore mast , racked masts, flush deck, 6 guns and a "Long Tom", certainly little rigging (small crew). We are far from big 1850 trade clipper with 150 feet deck length. That is why, if the rigging is "light", I have a doubt about the components required to hold Top-sail yard and Top-gallant yard, is it realistic to hold them only with lift ropes (without halliards) but with also braces and parral ?

Hello, Thanks for your answers. The ship is a Clipper of Baltimore (built about 1840/1860). After deep reading of the book "The art of Rigging" writen by G Biddlecombe, I have learnt that the Lower yard, heavy and nearly static, was pressed against the mast simply with a rope named "truss" and his weight is held by means of tackles named "jeers". On the other hand, concerning Top-sail yard and Top-gallant yard which are lighter and more mobile, a "parrel" enable a vertical motion along the mast. I thought I understood that for these yards, the weight could be held by Lift ropes. Mike

Henry, I agree with you about the vocabulary employed, the word "fastening" is not adapted for this spar. Nevertheless, this do not change the meaning of my request.

Hello all, I think that I have understood well lower yards fastening system with jeers, lifts ropes (tied to blocks) and parrel arround the mast. But concerning upper yards (top yards and gallant yards), il is fuzzy in my mind. I think I understand there is a simplified support system, maybe with only lift ropes and parrel ? Maybe, top yards and gallant yards are not fastened in the same way ? Can you provide to me some informations about this subject ? I thank you Mike

I have observed that often the mast (at maintop level) and the yards are painted with black colour. Do you know the reason of this rule ? Is it a whim of the captain or a justified technical reason ? Thanks for answer Mike