Model Shipways 2003 - Manual (Page 17)

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Before starting on the running rigging, have all
your blocks stropped and/or seized to a line as
much as possible. Some running lines may
pass through a sheave hole, they require a
block. If so try starting at the block and rig-
ging backward. Of course, if in such a
situation a block is required on both sides of
the sheave, you are stuck with having to seize
at least one of the blocks on the model.
1. Jib Rigging
The only head sail lines shown on the plan are
for a jib. There should have been more head
sails such as a fore staysail and a jib topsail. If
you desire to add any additional sail lines to
your model, consult the Baltimore Clipper
book in the Bibliography. It would be advis-
able and add to the model if you at least add
halliards and downhaul at the fore topgallant
stay. Rig it like the jib halliards.
The jib halliard (47) is seized to the topmast
cap, goes down through a single block, back
up through a cheek sheave on side of the mast-
head, and down to its belaying pin on deck.
With no sail, the lower block is brought down
and placed just above the bowsprit and
hooked to the jib sheets (49). But wait, the
lines are floating in thin air. That’s because a
line is missing from the plan. There should be
a downhaul for the jib sail. To correct this
omission, add a single block lashed to the trav-
eler ring. The downhaul will be hooked along
with the sheets to the lower halliard block. The
downhaul then goes thru the block on the
traveler ring and belays on the pin rail at the
bow. The jib sheets could be omitted, but if
fitted the standing end is secured to an eyebolt
on the port and starboard cap rail, and the line
belayed to the pin rail on the bulwarks. Figure
H-1 illustrates the entire set-up.
2. Lower Yards
Jackstays - The jackstays were already installed
when you detailed the yards in Stage E so no
further work is required.
Footropes (10) & Stirrups (11) - Remember
these are black standing rigging lines. Beeswax
the footropes heavily so you can droop them
into a natural hanging curve and they will stay
in place. Note the stirrups and inboard end of
the footrope goes on the aft side of the yard
(Figure H-2).
Braces - For now, just add the brace blocks
at the ends of the yard (also Figure H-2).
The main yard blocks face forward and fore
yard blocks face aft. The brace rigging will be
discussed later.
Clew Garnets (27), Sheets (26), & Tacks
(25) - These are all sail lines hooked together
when the sails are removed. The clew garnets
are the only lines actually attached to the yard.
You could hook up the sheets and tacks after
the yard is installed on the model, or add them
now. Both the sheets and tacks go to the hull
thru sheaves in the bulwark and belay to cavils
on the bulwark stanchions with one exception.
The forward tacks go to the end of long poles
called boomkins protruding from the hull
(Figure H-3).
Topsail Sheet Blocks - Refer to the topsail
sheet discussion in the next paragraph.
Slings - The lower yards have no halliard and
tye, but a fixed sling (24), since the yards are
not hoisted like other yards. The sling can be
attached to the yard now, but cannot be fully
completed until the yard is in place since the
sling goes around the masthead (Figure H-4).
Truss - The truss (not numbered) holds the
yard against the mast. The line is pulled up
tight by the port and starboard ends which are
attached to a tackle at the deck (also Figure
H-4). On some ships the truss is flipped and
the tightening tackle placed at the top above
the yard instead of at the deck.
Lifts - The lifts (15) for this particular ship
reconstruction appear to be fixed standing rig-
ging at the caps. However, on most ships of the
period a more common arrangement would be
to have the lifts pass through blocks at the cap
and down to a tackle on deck. See Figure H-5
for both the fixed lifts and running option.
STAGE H: RUNNING RIGGING
FIG. H-1 JIB HALLIARD, DOWNHAUL, & SHEETS
FIG. H-2 YARD FOOTROPES & STIRRUPS, BRACE BLOCKS
CHEEK
BLOCK
JIBBOOM
BELAY
TO FORWARD
PIN RAIL
JIB SHEETS
EYEBOLT
IN CAP RAIL
BRACE
BLOCK
FORWARD
JACKSTAY
STIRRUP
FOOTROPE
CL
BELAY TO PIN RAIL
ON STARBOARD BULWARK
BELAY TO PIN RAIL
ON BULWARK
HOOK TOGETHER
JIB DOWNHAUL
JIBSTAY TRAVELER RING
JIB HALLIARD
SET FIXED END TO EYEBOLT
OR WRAP AROUND THE CAP
P
S