Late 19th-Century Merchant Ship Anchor Cleats

[CDR_Ret]

This topic pertains to the proper securing of bower anchors in latter 19th-century merchant ships.

 

I have several poor-quality photos of the foredeck of a brigantine merchant ship (the Galilee) taken sometime during 1905–1908, showing how her anchors were secured when underway. This is probably the best of the lot.

Photo showing the brigantine Galilee being fitted out as a geomagnetic research vessel in 1905, probably somewhere in the vicinity of San Francisco Bay, California. The circled area is where the chains/lines securing the lower end of the anchor were tied off.

(This and following photos Courtesy of the Carnegie Science Library.)

 

Closeup of the area circled in the above photo.

 

I am in the process of adding the remaining deck furniture and fittings to my digital model of Galilee. My questions pertain to the size, shape, and orientation of the cleats evidently used to secure the lower end of the anchors.

1. What would be the size of the cleat? I've seen the rule of 1 inch of cleat length per 1/16 inch of line diameter. However, in many diagrams showing stowed anchors, it is small chain that was used for this purpose. So, what is the rule if chain is used? Galilee's anchors would have been a minimum of 600 lb. each, about half of which would have been borne by the anchor cleat. Would this have been a factor in selecting the cleat size?
2. Determining the likely shape of the cleat is important for a historically-accurate model. I have found a source of so-called "antique" cleats here. The shapes are quite varied as one can see.  Would the type most likely be just a basic cleat such as this one?
3. I have read about—and also experienced—the proper orientation of lines taken to mooring cleats. Typically, the line secured to a cleat should run horizontally perpendicular (or tangentially) to the cleat. Cleats are weakest when the tension pulls upward. So would a cleat securing an anchor likely be bolted to side of a rail or to the deck adjacent to the rail? The latter configuration would result in a more upward tension. However, Figure 430 in Plate 94 of the USNA's Text-book of Seamanship (Luce, 1884) suggests this could have  been the case.

Diagram of the method for securing a bower anchor in a mid-19th-century warship from the cited USNA reference. The circled cleat appears to be fastened to the deck or a waterway. (The image is found in Plate 94 located between pages 246 and 247.)

 

    Any comment or directions to other sources to resolve these questions would be very much appreciated.

 

Terry

[Jim Lad]

Terry, it's very hard to find photographs of the anchor release gear, however here is a description and some drawings from John Bowen's excellent little book, "A Ship Modelmaker's Manual" which might be of some use to you.

John

[CDR_Ret]

Hey @Jim Lad.

 

Thanks for this information. This will be something else to look for in the ship photos, since I'm sure releasing a 600-pound anchor was not a trivial task!

 

I was mainly trying to nail down how the anchor was secured for sea, since I am finishing up modeling the various deck gear and fittings in the forecastle of my ship plan reconstruction. But the release mechanism is certainly something to ascertain as well. The USNA textbook had some diagrams of similar gear to consider, though I'm not sure how applicable the type would be to a merchant ship.

 

Terry

[CDR_Ret]

As it turns out, one photo of the ship I have in my collection provides a suggestion that Galilee indeed had some sort of anchor release mechanism similar to that provided by @Jim Lad. This photo is the only one that shows the aft side of the cathead with sufficient resolution to make it out.

The arrow points to the probable anchor release gear installed in the brigantine Galilee. (Photo courtesy of Carnegie Science Library, c. 1906–7)

 

Another interesting detail to include in the plans.

 

Thanks Jim!

 

Terry

[BANYAN]

Terry, I have found, that in this period, there were several variations of what were called "Trick" anchor release mechanisms in this period.  If you would like a copy of what I have assembled please let me know and I will PM the info.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[CDR_Ret]

@BANYAN, yes sir, any information will be appreciated.

 

I'll PM you with my email address, if that would be more convenient.

 

None of the DTM (Carnegie Institution Department of Terrestrial Magnetism) photos from their charter period are clear enough to discern the details of such devices. I am having trouble even figuring out from the photos what were the cat stoppers, cat falls (if used), and the other components involved in catting and letting go an anchor in this period. There appears to be only a single sheave in the cathead and no cat blocks. Just a bight of chain through the anchor shank ring.

 

I found this image at a Pinterest account online—no attribution—showing a detail of the mechanism @Jim Lad provided earlier:

This arrangement was supposedly representative of ground tackle gear around 1850. None of my photos reveal any cleats or eyebolts near either end of the cathead like this diagram shows.

 

Terry