Lead of the Fore and Main Yard Slings and bolster for the lifts, Royal Navy approx. 1800

[dafi]

Did not have the chance to real tinker in 3D so I tinkered at least a bit digital in 3 D 😉

 

Gives the chance to overwork the parts, try out things and so to clarify the last issues and uncertenties that I have in some points. After the cleat for the fore and main yard jeers*** comes the other one 🙂

 

But first, also here the difference between the kit on the left and the classically tinkered fore mast on the right, which can be recognised by the missing rake of the bolsters 🙂

 

 

 

Redefined the mastcap, showing the splitlines and now also including the small and seldom seen detail, the triangles of the leather lining in the hole for the topmast.

 

 

My uncertinty is upon the two bolsters of the cap:

The front one with two thin grooves is for the lifts, the thicker aft one is for the yard slings. Were they in use in about 1800?

 

 

The two thin grooves are meant for the yard lifts, a version seen in Portsmouth and Klaus Schrage and K. H. Marquardt.

Here the blocks are not hanging on eyebolts underneath the cap, but are led on a doubled rope over this bolster, as shown by Schrage.

 

 

Here is the question, if there are any information about the attachement of those lift blocks in 1800. Was the front bolster used for the blocks of the lift or were they fixed with an eyeblot from underneath the cap?

 

Next question is about the aft bolster with the thicker groove for the lead of the yard sling (blue arrow). Again this use is found in Portsmouth. Here also I found two versions, as most other sources, contemporary and also modern ones indicate a stopper clamp on the aft side of the mast head (green arrow).

 

 

The aft bolster is according to Portsmouth and Pettersen. The aft cleat according to most other sources.

 

Another point that I was realising. Lees claims, that "... these rope slings were changed to chain slings during wartime ...". As 1803 to 1805 the war against France was raging fiercely i was opting for those chain slings for my Vic. A test fit revealed that the version with the bolster keeps nicely clear the jeer block lashing. - do not mind the top tackle in the picture 😉

 

 

On the other side the cleat in the back is a quite tight fit. Here in my opinion the stopper cleat in the back is to low and the cleat for the jeer block lashing too high, so that they collide.

 

 

Again any information about this issue available? Is the bolster obsolete or a good version? Also, if the cjain slings are used, was there still a preeventert rope sling?

 

As always, greetings from a wondering dafi ...

 

XXXDAn

 

***

 

Edited October 25, 2021 by dafi

[druxey]

The 'over the top' sling arrangement is the logical one from a mechanical point of view, as well as your demonstration of the interference if slung from the back of the mast head.

[dafi]

Thank you druxey, I am quite with you there, but still ...

 

And I've gone through the different possibilities that come into question for the hangers. The ropes are just place holders. The jeer cleat could be placed a tiny bit down what would ease the case, but still ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

One sees, that the bolster on the cap is the most elegant solution. I don't know to what extent the hanger running over the jeer block lashing tends to chafe here, since both parts are static. Above all, the fact that the stopper cleat at the rear is the only version mentioned in contemporary sources gives me reasons for further investigations. 

 

Only the bow-shaped jeerncleat I would have reservations about the hanger running over it; here the two actually interfere with each other.

 

I'll keep digging.

 

XXXDAn

 

[druxey]

Is, perhaps, the cleat for a preventer jeer? The jeer over the cap means that the weight is taken under compression - mechanically more sound than suspended on a cleat. As well, the angle of the jeers is a better one when taken over the mast cap.

[dafi]

Thank you @druxey,

 

this one is for the hanger. But you are correct in times of war most systems were redundant. This would then be like the last picture in my last post showing the chains and the rope over the top. It makes sense to attach the chain on the cleat in the back, as there are the sharper angles, no problem for the chain. The rope instead would profit from the radiuses of the bolster.

 

Would the chain be smartened in the ared of cleat, edge of the masttop and the jeers cleat? Would make sense but never really jumped to my attention.

 

Also still have to fiddle out how all that fitted to the yard ...

 

🙂

 

XXXDAn

Edited October 25, 2021 by dafi