Sheer Poles

[Smithy]

Sheer poles are horizontal steel rods attached across the base of the shrouds to prevent the shrouds twisting. Multiple on line definitions and photos associate them with bottlescrew tension adjusters rather than deadeyes and lanyard. screws (turnbuckles) are adjusted by twisting so the advantages of a sheerpoles are clear. I’m not so sure about their use with deadeyes.

Zu Mondfeldt says vaguely that they were introduced in the ninteenth century.

Does anyone know when exactly they were introduced?

Were they used in deadeye and lanyard equipped shrouds?

 

[JerryTodd]

They basically prevent the shrouds/upper deadeyes from twisting, or the rigging-screws from unscrewing.
With dead-eyes they're normally seized to the shroud just above the dead-eye. With screws, they normally go through the upper eye, or are seized across the flats of the upper loops, as in this picture...

 

[alpayed]

Lees description is similar, 2" steel poles, Around 1803.
Darcy Lever, Wooden staves called Stretchers or Squaring Staffs. Lever was published 1808 so they could have been use for at least 10 years.
Marquardt states 1748 on a Russian vessel.
Regards
Allan

 

[Smithy]

Lees description is similar, 2" steel poles, Around 1803.
Darcy Lever, Wooden staves called Stretchers or Squaring Staffs. Lever was published 1808 so they could have been use for at least 10 years.
Marquardt states 1748 on a Russian vessel.
Regards
Allan

Excellent. That is a full answer to my questions, with references, and a very helpful illustration too. (I think I just about have enough slack available for the deadeye lashings, thank goodness!)

I could not ask for more. Thanks very much, Allan

Regards, Smithy.