How did sailing ships deal with 100ft masts?
> Rarely, if at all.
> The classic wooden sailing ship mast was made in sections, usually three.
> The bottom section was relatively short and stout, ran from a step
(socket)
> in the keel and was supported by massive bracing where it passed through
the
> deck some 30% or so of its length above.
> This section was fitted at a dockyard by a crane when the ship was
> commissioned and was rarely shifted in the life of the vessel (could be
over
> 100 years).
> It could stand without guys and could also be used as part of a derrick to
> move heavy gear.
> The masts above were slid up and down through guides on the mast below,
> using tackles that ran down under the base of the top mast and back up
> again. The tackles would be worked via the ships capstan which did more
than
> just haul up anchors. All by man power, in all sorts of weather.
> When in place they sat on a big peg plugged through the lower mast.
> The topmasts could thus be sent up and down, and were lowered in heavy
> weather when the ship was snugged down and only the main sail or course on
> the rugged main mast was set.
> Structures of this sort were used in early radio stations and can be seen
> today as old large flag poles in parks, old signal stations etc.
> In later years masts were made of steel, but were still set up in sections
> rather than as single poles.
> 73
> end
> Barry Kirkwood PhD ZL1DD
> Signal Hill Homestay
> 66 Cory Road
> Palm Beach
> Waiheke Island 1240
> NEW ZEALAND
> www.waiheke.co.nz/signal.htm
>
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