The BOWSPRIT was stepped in the bow, supported by its shrouds, bobstay,
martingale lines, etc. At the time of the American Revolution, a
squaresail was often set from under the bowsprit, entailing much of the
same rigging as the normal square sail plus a few guys to properly
brace it. This was called a SPRITSAIL. Fig. 62.
A JIBBOOM was usually set atop the bowsprit and to it ran
the fore topgallant jib and royal HEADSTAYS. The jibboom was held by a
cap similar to the mast cap, and the bowsprit by gammoning other of
rope or thin chain as in Fig. 63. The heel of the jibboom was
originally fitted over a shaped saddle and lashed down over the
bowsprit but after the introduction of iron bands and caps, a hinged
iron clasp was used instead. The jibboom was invariably drawn in, when
in dock, to take up less room and avoid damage.
Bobstays introduced about 1700 were heavy rope
straps, but changed to heavy chains early m the 19th century and
finally fitted in modern windjammers as solid iron bars. They took a
very heavy strain and the chain should be much heavier than the
martingale, chains, etc.
The DOLPHIN STRIKER or MARTINGALE was a means of bracing the jibboom
with its various headstays. Early ones were thick wooden poles bolted
by iron bands to the cap but by the mid 19th century they were slender
wooden ones or solid iron hooked into an eyebolt underneath the cap.
The thick wooden variety had holes through them to pass the martingale
stays but the slender ones had cleats on each side and eyeplates at the
bottom end, Fig. 62 and Fig. 63.
For the dolphin striker, use a hard, tough wood such
as maple or lemonwood. Birch is suitable, too. Some modelmakers make
the striker of brass with eyes and hook cleats soldered in place.
Moving up the masts, let us consider the attachment
of the upper masts to the lower, the joining called the DOUBLING, the
length where the two masts overlapped, Fig. 64E.
The TRESTLETREES were bolted to the lower mast and
had several important functions: to serve as a step for the topmast; to
carry the CROSSTREES which spread the topmast shrouds; to shoulder the
lower shrouds; to give the foundation to the TOP which was a platform
for seamen working in the rigging or a fighting position for marines
with muskets.
