Main and fore stay, second half of
the 19th century
Mast head: 1. Double stay 2.Single stay
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After
this time it was set up with blocks or deadeyes at the mainm head or
-rarely at first, then more commonly in the
18th century
reeved through a leading block, and set up with a tackle on the deck
abaft the main mast, in a similar fashion to the main topmast stay.
The topgallant stays
The topgallant stays had no mouse, but were shipped over
the masthead with a spliced or seized eye. Until 1720 the fore
topgallant stay passed through a leading block in the sprit topmast
crosstree and ended in a tackle in the sprit top. Thereafter, until the
introduction of the dolphin striker it reeved through a block on the
jib boom, and belay on the forecastle.
After the introduction of the dolphin striker the stay led
through a sheave on the jib boom and through a hole in the striker and
into
the head on the starboard side. The main topgallant stay passed throw a
leading
block on the fore topgallant crosstrees and was set up in the foretop
with
blocks or thimbles. The mizen topgallant stay also reeve through a
leading
block, and set up with thimbles in the main top.
The royal stays
Generally speaking the information on the topgallant stays
also applies to the royal stays. Please refer to the drawings in the
section
JIB RIGGING for the arrangement of the fore topgallant, fore topgallant
preventer and fore royal stays to the jib boom and the outer jib boom.
Crowsfeet
To prevent the topsails blowing underneath the tops,
crowsfeet were fitted between the fore edge of the tops and the stay.
These consisted of a number of ropes which were laced from holes in the
edge of the top and the euphroe. The euphroe was fixed to the stay with
a simple tackle. Crowsfeet were always carried on the main and fore
tops, and frequently also on the mizen top. Towards the end of the 18th
century the crowsfeet disappeared.
Staysail
When staysails began to be introduced on large ships around 1660, they
were set on staysail stays - with the exceptioQ of the mizen staysail
and the mizen
topmast staysail. These staysail stays ran below the stay proper, and
were
fitted to fore topmast stay, mainmast stay, and main topmast stay. The
staysail
stay was fitted to the stay below the mouse with a spliced eye, and
made
fast at its lower end with blocks or deadeyes to the mainstay collar,
and
foretopmast stay strop or the foretop.
The staysail stays only have to be fitted if you wish to
set the staysails, as if the staysails were not set, the staysail stays
were also
taken down. In the first half of the 18th century most of the staysail
stays
disappeared, the staysails being set On the stays themselves or on the
preventer
stays.
Snaking the stays
In warships of the 18th and 19th centuries the stays and preventer
stays were "snaked" together by a thin rope in wartime. It is important
that the distance between stay and preventer stay is not altered by the
snaking. It is advisable to fit temporary spacers when fitting the
snaking, which can be removed later . |
