- Joined
- Dec 31, 2017
- Messages
- 251
- Points
- 158
What was the point of rigging a brig as a snow? What advantage did the extra mast provide?
Snow Rig
- Thread starter Submarinerblue
- Start date
- Watchers 4
In sailing, a snow, snaw, or snauw is a square-rigged vessel with two masts, complemented by a snow- or trysail-mast stepped immediately abaft (behind) the main mast.
Two views of naval snow, by Charles Brooking (1759)
The word 'snow' comes from 'snauw', which is an old Dutch word for beak, a reference to the characteristic sharp bow of the vessel. The snow evolved from the (three-masted) ship: the mizzen mast of a ship was gradually moved closer towards the mainmast, until the mizzen mast was no longer a separate mast, but was instead made fast at the main mast top. As such, in the 17th century, the snow used to be sometimes classified as a three-masted vessel.
The snow dates back to the late 17th century and originally had a loose-footed gaff sail; the boom was introduced somewhere in the 18th century. It was a popular type of vessel in the Baltic Sea and was employed by a large number of nations during its time. The Snow was considered a handy and fast sailing vessel, typically the largest two-masted vessel around, and was employed in both navy and merchant service. When used as a naval vessel, snows were, in the early 18th century, typically fitted with 5 to 16 guns. Naval snows were mostly used for coastal patrols and privateering whereas in the merchant service snows traded all the way to the Mediterranean and sometimes even sailed as far as the West Indies.
Snow: the largest of all old two-masted vessels. The sails and rigging on the main mast of a snow are exactly similar to those on the same masts in a full-rigged ship; only that there is a small mast behind the mainmast of the former, which carries a sail nearly resembling the mizzen of a ship.
— Captain Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates
Comparison with brig
Two views of naval snow, by Charles Brooking (1759)
The word 'snow' comes from 'snauw', which is an old Dutch word for beak, a reference to the characteristic sharp bow of the vessel. The snow evolved from the (three-masted) ship: the mizzen mast of a ship was gradually moved closer towards the mainmast, until the mizzen mast was no longer a separate mast, but was instead made fast at the main mast top. As such, in the 17th century, the snow used to be sometimes classified as a three-masted vessel.
The snow dates back to the late 17th century and originally had a loose-footed gaff sail; the boom was introduced somewhere in the 18th century. It was a popular type of vessel in the Baltic Sea and was employed by a large number of nations during its time. The Snow was considered a handy and fast sailing vessel, typically the largest two-masted vessel around, and was employed in both navy and merchant service. When used as a naval vessel, snows were, in the early 18th century, typically fitted with 5 to 16 guns. Naval snows were mostly used for coastal patrols and privateering whereas in the merchant service snows traded all the way to the Mediterranean and sometimes even sailed as far as the West Indies.
Snow: the largest of all old two-masted vessels. The sails and rigging on the main mast of a snow are exactly similar to those on the same masts in a full-rigged ship; only that there is a small mast behind the mainmast of the former, which carries a sail nearly resembling the mizzen of a ship.
— Captain Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates
Comparison with brig
a very interesting question - and in moment I have no direct chance to answer
I found a nice model in the NMM showing the snow masting
In the past, this model was restored and the sails added when it was set in a scenic diorama depicting how ships operated in little or no wind. It is shown setting all the sails, including stunsails on either side of the main sails on three levels, which were employed in light airs or when a ship was becalmed due to lack of wind. To provide a better sense of scale and realism for the diorama, a number of crew were added: working the rig, performing duties on deck, and two boat crews, one making ready the cutter to launch and another afloat towing the ship.
This vessel is snow-rigged which means that an additional small vertical spar is mounted on the after side of the mainmast which made handling the large driver or spanker sail easier to handle. These ships carried a variety of cargoes both around the coast and worldwide, as well as the transportation of people for the emigrant trade.
Interesting is the fact, that sometimes the vessels have only the two normal masts and it is written "snow rigged" checking the drawings at the NMM
F.e. the HMS Cruizer
Signed Joseph Allin [Surveyor of the Navy, 1749-1755].
and afterwards
More here:
www.rmg.co.uk
I found a nice model in the NMM showing the snow masting
Brig (1840); Passenger/cargo vessel; Snow
Scale: 1:32. A contemporary full hull model of sailing merchantman (circa 1840), complete with a full suit of sails of which are modern and added in 1963. The hull is fully equipped on deck including a full set of boats, anchors and the handling gear, accommodation and deckhouses, and a full-length male figurehead on the bow.In the past, this model was restored and the sails added when it was set in a scenic diorama depicting how ships operated in little or no wind. It is shown setting all the sails, including stunsails on either side of the main sails on three levels, which were employed in light airs or when a ship was becalmed due to lack of wind. To provide a better sense of scale and realism for the diorama, a number of crew were added: working the rig, performing duties on deck, and two boat crews, one making ready the cutter to launch and another afloat towing the ship.
This vessel is snow-rigged which means that an additional small vertical spar is mounted on the after side of the mainmast which made handling the large driver or spanker sail easier to handle. These ships carried a variety of cargoes both around the coast and worldwide, as well as the transportation of people for the emigrant trade.
Interesting is the fact, that sometimes the vessels have only the two normal masts and it is written "snow rigged" checking the drawings at the NMM
F.e. the HMS Cruizer
Cruizer (1752) [alternative spelling: Cruiser]
Scale: 1:48. Plan showing the body plan with stern board outline, sheer lines with inboard detail, longitudinal half-breadth, and partially drawn section for Cruizer (1752), an 8-gun, snow-rigged Sloop. It also shows alterations to the foremast position.Signed Joseph Allin [Surveyor of the Navy, 1749-1755].
and afterwards
Cruizer (1752) [alternative spelling: Cruiser]
Scale: 1:48. Plan showing a partially completed inboard profile illustration the mast dispositions for Cruizer (1752), an 8-gun, snow-rigged Sloop. A mizzen mast was added at Sheerness Dockyard per Navy Board Warrant dated 29 November 1753, which meant that the Cruizer was now a ship-rigged sloop.More here:
Collection Results | Royal Museums Greenwich
Find objects, archive records and library items relating to your search, and use the filters to narrow down your results.
so I have the feeling (and not the knowledge) that the third snow mast was not a real mast with a mastfoot on the keel, more like a vertical "yard arm" somehow fixed or based on the deckbeams .....
Howard Chapelle comments on brigs and snows in his book The History of American Sailing Ships.
"These [brigs and snows] gradually came into use in American vessels during the early part of the eighteenth century. They were two-masted vessels square-rigged on both masts. The brig set a gaff spanker on her main mast, schooner-fashion. Above this were the usual square sails. Because of the interference of the gaff-jaws it was difficult to set a square mainsail, and so in a brig this was omitted. A snow set her spanker on a "trysail mast," set on deck, a foot or so abaft the main mast, and secured aloft to the trestletrees of that mast. This enabled the snow to set a square main course and was the only difference in the two rigs. So narrow a definition could not last long: hence the word 'snow' went out of use, though all men-of-war brigs after 1800, in the United States Navy at least, were really snows for they all had trysail masts. Later many full rigged ships adopted this spar on all masts; it was then called a 'Spencer mast.'"
"These [brigs and snows] gradually came into use in American vessels during the early part of the eighteenth century. They were two-masted vessels square-rigged on both masts. The brig set a gaff spanker on her main mast, schooner-fashion. Above this were the usual square sails. Because of the interference of the gaff-jaws it was difficult to set a square mainsail, and so in a brig this was omitted. A snow set her spanker on a "trysail mast," set on deck, a foot or so abaft the main mast, and secured aloft to the trestletrees of that mast. This enabled the snow to set a square main course and was the only difference in the two rigs. So narrow a definition could not last long: hence the word 'snow' went out of use, though all men-of-war brigs after 1800, in the United States Navy at least, were really snows for they all had trysail masts. Later many full rigged ships adopted this spar on all masts; it was then called a 'Spencer mast.'"
Many Thanks for confirming my thoughts - something learnt today
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2024
- Messages
- 13
- Points
- 28
The only note I can add to the foregoing explanations is that in naval service a strong, heavy duty warp could be used to which the luff of the fore and aft trisail could be attached. In battle, a warp is much easier to re-rig if shot away, but replacing a shattered trisail mast is not so easy.