Ratlines

[Loracs]

I'm a little confused:   According to Boudriot in the 74-guns ships, the ratlines start at the second or third shroud.  Is this true for ship of the 1577 period?

thanks again,

 

[BANYAN]

Short answer I think is that it depends on the era and nationality of the vessel.  In some ships some of the ratlines started on the leading shroud, but others on the second, and some terminated on different shrouds also, others were staggered in a specific pattern.  For English ships, Lees is a good references.  For French ships I would suggest Boudriot is a good reference as he is very familiar with French ships.  Some research will be necessary to determine what is right for the ship you are modelling for 1577.  Some more knowledgeable people here may be able to assist further if you could provide the name/nationality and rate of the vessel.

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited July 4 by BANYAN

[Loracs]

a thousand thanks...  I did not quite realize the huge amount of variation on a theme from ship to ship, era and nationality.  Will keep looking.

[wefalck]

It will also depend on the top-gear of the vessel, i.e. how many men one needs to bring into the mast quickly to take in sails.

 

On some ships the first or last shroud may also have been slackened in order to allow closer bracing-up of yards or to let booms swing out further.

 

However, I doubt that any useful information can be found for 16th century ships. Perhaps there are some paintings, but at this time painters were rarely that well informed about such details.

 

[dafi]

Have alook at paintings of the said period and nation. Best clue you can get.

 

XXXDAn