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Bowsprit,
sprit topmast, jib boom
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The bowsprit
The bowsprit is really nothing more than a mast canted
forward; it appeared from the 13th century onwards. Its angle to the
horizontal varied quite considerably: in the Middle Ages it was 50°
to 60°, 15th century around 50°, in the first half of the 16th
century 30 to35°, in the second half of the 16th century
25-30°, around 1630 20°, 1650 30°, around 1665 40°,
around 1675 35°, in the 18th century 25 to 30°, in the first
half of the 19th century 20 to 25°, in the second half of the 19th
century 14 to 18°. Naturally, these angles are only approximate.
Like the lower masts, the bowsprit featured wooldings and hoops.
From the early 16th century until about 1650 (occasionally as late as
1670), the bowsprit was routed past the foremast on the starboard
side.It
did not lie parallel to the keel, but at an angle, so that the head of
the
bowsprit was on the centreline of the ship. After this time the
bowsprit's
heel was stepped in line with the foremast, and supported by the stem
-thus
it was situated with all its length exactly on the centreline, like all
the
other masts and topmasts.
The sprit topmast
From the late 16th century until about 1720 a small mast was
carried on the bowsprit, known as the split topmast. At the head the
upper surface of the bowsprit was flattened off slightly to provide a
support surface for the split topmast knee. The lower arm of this knee
was the same length as the fore masthead, the other leg arm was 2/3 of
it. This knee carried the crosstrees and the cap.
The split topmast itself was similar to a topgallant mast, but
without a sheave for the topmast tye. It was vertical or very slightly
inclined forward (up to about 5°). Take care here. The split
topmast must be firmly
attached, and clamped securely to the knee. The stays and topmast
backstays
exert a powerful pull on the split topmast when the rigging is set up,
and
it must not bend back further than the vertical.
The jib boom
Around 1715 an extension of the bowsprit came into use -the jib
boom. For a short period it was carried below the sprit topmast then the
split topmast disappeared. The bowsprit was then fitted with a
cap through which the jib boom passed. At its after end it rested
on a saddle and was lashed with a chain. The jib boom was either fitted
on the centre of the bowsprit, or displaced to starboard. Two timbers,
the bees, to right and left of the head of the bowsprit, served to
attach the fore topmast stay, and the fore topmast preventer stay (see
STAYS ) .The dolphin striker was fitted under the bowsprit cap, and the
martingale stays (see BOWSPRIT RIGGING) passed under this. In late 18th
century a flying jib boom was introduced, which, supported on the
bowsprit cap, passed through an iron cap on the forward end of the jib
boom, and thus extended the latter even further
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Cap with dolphin striker, 19th
century merchant ship
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Bowsprit and jib boom
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