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Topmasts
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When topsails were introduced in
the late l5th century, the masts had to be extended to carry them.
However, the masts themselves were not lengthened; instead separate
topmasts were added to them. The first half of the 16th century saw the
addition of topgallant masts, and in the 17th century royal masts were
introduced, ending in small flagpoles. In the 18th century the number
of upper masts was reduced again to two, the topmast and the topgallant
mast, the upper part of which was still termed the royal mast, if
royals were carried. If not, the upper part became the flagpole.
Topmast construction
The topmasts are made up exactly like the masts, that
is, a square section strip planed down to 8 and then 16 sides, and
finally
rounded off with glasspaper .
Many model kits include dowelling for masts, topmasts and
yards -do not use them! Dowelling has to be tapered to the correct
degree, an in practice this is much more difficult with round section
material than with square section. Of course, you could use the dowels
withou tapering them at all, (i.e. upwards and outwards) -that looks
clumsy on masts and topmasts, and downright terrible on the yards
The topmast heel
The topmast heel was square in section from the end of the l5th
century (eight-sided in England in the 18/19th centuries), and was
frequently
slightly thicker than the nominal maximum diameter of the topmast at
the
lower cap. It should be a snug, but not loose, fit between the
trestletrees,
so that the whole of the top mast neither wobbles nor leans to one side.
To prevent the topmast sliding through the top a wood or iron bar
termed the fid was passed through the heel of the topmast, resting on
the trestletrees. The lower edge of the fid hole should always be
located twice the thickness of the topmast heel from the foot of the
topmast.
There is a trick worth knowing for making the fid hole neatly:
saw the
foot of the topmast off square at the bottom of the fid hole, cut a
groove of the appropriate width and depth using a circular saw, and
glue
the lower piece back on, using cyano-acrylate glue for preference. A
single
sheave was fitted in the topgallant mast heel, and also in the topmast
heel
in the 16/l7th centuries. In the 18/19th centuries a double sheave was
fitted -please note the differences in the English and Continenms.
These sheaves served to take the topropes, when the topmast was to be
hoisted or sent down.
The topmast head
The topmast head was octagonal in section on
Continental ships, and square on English ships; those on English ships
were fitted with sheaves, those on Continental ships were not. The
topsail tyes (see HALYARDS) reeved through holes below the crosstrees,
the sheaves of which were the same diameter as the topmast to which
they were fitted.
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Topmast and topgallant mast
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