Top sail lift rigging question

[traumadoc]

I am working on a Calder craft Victory and struggling with the top sail lifts. They start on the mast, out to the block on the end of the spar, then back through a block in the upper shroud. Now comes the problem, how does it get down to the lower shroud cleat that is labeled as the belaying point. The directions say it goes back out of the fighting top, (okay) so out of the upper shroud, then back through the lower shroud to get to the shroud cleat, or is the shroud cleat actually on the OUTSIDE of the lower shroud???

 

[Bilge Ratt]

According to James Lees, whose book I thoroughly recommend if you seriously want to make as good a job of the rigging as you can, the lift was reeved through the lower sheave in a sister block seized between the topmast shrouds, and led down through a hole in the lower top (this could be the lubber's hole, or not; this is not specified) This would make it most likely that the shroud cleat was inboard.

However, I find it hard to believe that a rope carrying as heavy a load as a yard lift would be belayed to a shroud cleat. I may be wrong, of course, but I would suspect that the topsail lifts were belayed to the pin-rail of the bitts at the base of the mast, or that on the bulwarks.

 

[traumadoc]

Actually just got a new rigging book that I really like, wish I had it for the entire project, I feel like I am finishing up now. My problem now is that it seems every time I get something done, I break something else and end up going backwards a step or two. at some point it will be done and I will be okay with it, Honestly, this is a great book, can’t recommend it enough. As I am doing this more and more, I am beginning to realize there is not always a right and wrong and there is some variability.

 

[AllanKP69]

However, I find it hard to believe that a rope carrying as heavy a load as a yard lift would be belayed to a shroud cleat.

I LOVE Lees' book. I wish he had more lists of belaying points than he does, but the following that he provides may help,,,,,,,,,or maybe cause more confusion.

First rate 1733 Establishment Main and fore topsail lifts belayed to timber heads
Medway, 60 gun 1742 Main and fore topsail lifts belayed to the shrouds

Neither applies to the dates of Victory after her rebuild in 1803.

David Steel's The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship. This is from about 1795 so probably more appropriate for Victory

LIFT-BLOCKS are strapt with an eye to the size of the yard-arm. The lift reeves through the lower sheave in the sister-block in the topmast-shrouds, and through the block on the yard-arm. The standing-part hooks to a becket round the topmast-cap, and the leading-part leads down the side of the mast, and belays to the dead-eyes in the lower shrouds.

 

[AllanKP69]

There is some good information in the Petersson book but it is based on a single model of the 36 gun frigate Melampus 1785 so not necessarily appropriate for any other time period, nation or rate. It gives no information on the sizes of lines, blocks, deadeyes, etc. so is rather limited.

I don't think it is legal to post a link to an entire book that has a copyright.

Allan

 

[Peter Schaap]

There is some good information in the Petersson book but it is based on a single model of the 36 gun frigate Melampus 1785 so not necessarily appropriate for any other time period, nation or rate. It gives no information on the sizes of lines, blocks, deadeyes, etc. so is rather limited.

I don't think it is legal to post a link to an entire book that has a copyright.

Allan

Hi Allan,
I wasn't aware of that. Apologies to the forum for my ignorance.

 

[AllanKP69]

I wasn't aware of that. Apologies to the forum for my ignorance.

Hi Peter, Not the end of the world, it looks like the moderators removed it. I am pretty sure a paragraph or two or a picture or two is considered fair use in most countries as long as the author and title, and possibly the page number is given. Best is to include the IBN number as well, but I think that is unnecessary. A few paragraphs or a picture or two is actually a good advertisement to buy the book.
Allan

 

[Peter Schaap]

Hi Peter, Not the end of the world, it looks like the moderators removed it. I am pretty sure a paragraph or two or a picture or two is considered fair use in most countries as long as the author and title, and possibly the page number is given. Best is to include the IBN number as well, but I think that is unnecessary. A few paragraphs or a picture or two is actually a good advertisement to buy the book.
Allan

Hi Allen,
Thank you for your explanation. In the meantime, I’ve had a quick look on Google for the site and I see that there are several different categories.
At least now I know how it works!
Greetz, Peter

 

[AllanKP69]

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