Attaching yard arms

Neil_jo · Tuesday at 12:32 PM

Hi, I need help attaching the yard to the bowsprit on my HMS Ontario build. There are no pictures of this in the manual that I can see and the plans don't show much either. I guess I'll have the same issue with the yards on the masts when I get there. Is there a standard way for this for British ships of that era.

Thanks
Neil

Y.T. · Tuesday at 1:19 PM

Spritsail yard is mounted under bowsprit with the sling. This drawing shows two designs of the sling.

Neil_jo · Tuesday at 5:47 PM

Thanks, one more question. The yard has two cleats? near the center, would the sling go on the inside or outside of them?

Thanks Neil

Y.T. · Tuesday at 6:17 PM

Sling is inside of cleats. Cleats are for retaining the sling.

Y.T. · Tuesday at 6:19 PM

Also as shown on drawing right at the center of the yard there is a strap with thimble for hauling the yard up the bowsprit. Without explaining this the drawing might be confusing.

Neil_jo · Tuesday at 6:39 PM

Thank you very much

Neil

danielsje · 2026-02-07T14:07:17-0600

For modeling I have attached yards directly to a mast or bow sprit using a nail…drill through the yard and through the mast…then pin the yard to both with a drop of CA. I then simulate the rigging by wrapping rigging around the yard and mast. The result is a yard firmly in place but simulating the yard drawn up tight to the mast or bow sprit.

Neil_jo · 2026-02-07T14:17:05-0600

Thanks, that's a good idea and will keep the yard in place while you tie it.

Neil

AllanKP69 · 2026-02-07T14:27:16-0600

Neil_jo said:
Thanks, one more question. The yard has two cleats? near the center, would the sling go on the inside or outside of them?

There were also yardarm cleats set up to the same proportions as the topgallant yards just as the sling cleats are of the same proportion as the topgallant yards. Hopefully they all match up.
Allan

From Lee's Masting and Rigging English Ships of War ---Proportions for the topgallant yards -

JKB · 2026-02-08T09:20:35-0600

This was very helpful. I am still working on the rigging and yardarms of Rattlesnake

AllanKP69 · 2026-02-08T12:36:31-0600

Did Petersson give permission to have his book made available for free with this download? This seems unusual to see an entire book made downloadable considering it is copyrighted. If he did give permission, applause to him for sharing!
Thanks

Allan

From the book Rigging Period Ship Models by Lennarth Petersson