Mystery Tackle on Schooner Gaff Booms

[Ferrus Manus]

Pick a fishing schooner c. first half of the 1900's. Pick any one. I guarantee at the bottom of both fore and main gaff booms you will see a mysterious block-and-tackle with a hook at the fore end. What is that for??

[allanyed]

Ironhand

I know it is a difficult book to navigate as it is a compilation of notes with no useful index, but Chapelle's The American Fishing Schooner is a must, IMHO, for anyone building a fishing or similar schooner from the mid19th through early 20th centuries. 

 

Regarding your question, these are boom guys (or sometimes called boom tackle) which "were carried on main booms, and sometimes on foreboom also.  Their purpose was to hold the booms outboard when running before the wind..........": The American Fishing Schooner. page 357.   This is a full page that has a very detailed drawing to go with text that explains this tackle and how it is rigged.

 

Allan

Edited August 16, 2022 by allanyed