Hammock crane cover

[dafi]

One question I have is about the hammock crane covers. Sources say it was sail cloth either painted or tarred. Very nice detail for smaller scales to omit the nettimg 😉

 

Interesting also for larger scales - like my 1:100 ( 😉 ) to apply some extra detail. But the question is, how was it fixed?

 

Was it simply thrown over and fixed on the cranes i a way to be open from underneath? Was it in multiple parts like a bag with a separate flap or cover on top? Was it also covering the cranes or was it inside with the cranes visible?

 

Are there any contemporary sources giving clues for that?

 

Here is one of the few models of the days of the hammock cranes with cover. Still the question ist, if this is original or was it added in the said restoration?

 

https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/66307.html

SLR0346
Scale 1:48. A contemporary full hull model of a frigate (circa 1805) built plank on frame in the Georgian style. Model is decked, equipped, and fully rigged with a full suit of sails set. The hull is complete with copper sheathing which was added in the 1960s by Jim Lees in the Museum's workshop.This contemporary model is fully rigged together with sails, which are thought to be original. The hull has the solid bulwarks on the upper decks and an enclosed waist, both of which offered greater protection to the crew when under fire. It is has a full complement of boats from the large launch to the smaller jolly boat mounted on davits hanging over the stern. The copper sheathing below the waterline was introduced by the Navy in the 1780s. Its purpose was two-fold: it prevented weed growth, which would reduce the ship’s speed, and to stop damage to the timbers by the marine boring toredo worm.
Date made    circa 1805

 

 

 

 

 

Here some details:

 

 

 

 

In the last pictured one could guess that there is a flap on the outside of the gangwax hammock cover, just onderneath the rope.

 

Here some pictures of later days, when the cranes were replaced by boxes.

 

XXXDAn

 

 

 

 

 

[Morgan]

Daniel,

 

Go back to Turner.  We know the Poop deck cranes were boarded over on the outside, this probably applied to the waist as well, but not the Quarterdeck or Forecastle (although this changed in future years). Netting to the inside of the hammock cranes.  We can see from Turner that the covers sat as an envelope over the hammock cranes, probably in overlapping sections fastened at the bottom to the hammock cranes. These envelopes would have been open at the bottom to allow water and moisture to drain away and dry / air the hammocks.

 

Gary

 

 

 

[dafi]

Gary thank you!!! Lesson learned, look back to the sources you worked already on 🙂

 

Need to double check the other Turner drawings for the details he emphasizes ...

 

 

[Morgan]

Daniel,

 

I would have thought the lower edge of the cover would have a bolt rope like the edge of a sail in order to provide a uniform distribution of tension, it’s where a sailmaker would default to if you think about it, with eyes or loops in the bolt rope at each stanchion for tying down.

 

Gary

[dafi]

The bolt rope is a good hint. My personal guess would have been single pieces from stanchion to stanchion with a decent overlap, tied down with an eye or loop like you wrote. If the sides are longer on the outside with overlap on the deck (gangway) or bulwark (q´deck), then the water should not come in but easily get out, and if the inside is just a bit shorter to allow water to go out (gangway) and to air properly. Sounds at least reasonable and a good working guess.

 

Thank you, DAniel