FIG. 8-5 RIGGING RATLINES
THREAD WITH
NEEDLE – CUT
OFF & GLUE
ALL CLOVE HINGES
CUT OFF & GLUE
LASH
SHROUDS
CLOVE
HITCH
EYE
SPLICE
CLOVE
HITCH
REAL
SHIP
MODEL
OPTIONS
30
pair, then alternate them port and star-
board (
Figure 8-2
). To set up the shrouds,
make a temporary brass wire fixture to
space the deadeyes as seizing progresses
(
Figure 8-3
).
The fixture should be longer than the
final spacing of deadeyes.
Reeving
(to pass
a rope through a block or hole) the lan-
yards will tighten the shrouds to their
final proper spacing. Make a test shroud
first to see how much it stretches.
Figure 8-3
also shows the sequence for
reeving lanyards. When looking outboard
at any deadeye, start the knot in the
upper deadeye left-hand hole. Conse-
quently, port deadeyes have the knot aft,
and starboard deadeyes have it forward.
Rigging shrouds can pull the mast out of
alignment, so keep checking on it.
The bitter end of the shrouds is on the
opposite side from the lanyard knot,
so on the port side the bitter end is
forward, and on the starboard side it is
aft (
Figure 8-4
).
Next, rig the ratlines.
Figure 8-5
shows
several methods. Give the line a generous
coat of beeswax before installing. This will
help hold the ratlines in a slight down-
ward curve. If the ratlines tend to bow
upward, tug them gently into position.
Touching the loops with white glue or
cyano will “freeze” them. Try holding a
group of shrouds between your fingers so
as not to alter their spacing while tying
the knots.
Finally, install the cleats on the shrouds.
The cleats are britannia castings and
have a flange on the bottom, so the cleat
can be secured to the shroud by wrap-
ping both ends with thread. Touch with
super glue.
Topmast shrouds:
There are no topmast
shrouds on this model. However, there
are topmast backstays, discussed in para-
graph 3 below. These do the same job as
shrouds on the
Virginia Sloop
.
Note:
Install the topmast when you are
ready to do the upper rigging.
2. Spreader Yard Horse
This is a single line in front of the mast
from the head of the mast down to the
deck. It functions as an accessory mast to
guide the spreader yard when raising and
lowering. It is required because the yard
parrel would hit the mainsail mast hoops
if around the mast.
Fit the horse over the masthead using
an eyespliced loop. Set the lower end
to deadeyes in front of the mast
(
Figure 8-6
).
3. Backstays
Lower mast backstays:
These are run-
ning backstays port and starboard. The
eye around the masthead is seized below
FIG. 8-1 CHAIN PLATES
DEADEYE
NOTCH
CHANNEL
PIN TO HULL
CHAIN PLATE
COVER
STRIP
FIG. 8-2 SEQUENCE FOR INSTALLING SHROUDS
SEIZING
3. STARBOARD PAIR
1. STARBOARD PAIR
2. PORT PAIR
4. PORT PAIR
FIG. 8-3 SPACING THE DEADEYES
SEIZE
START
KNOT
HERE
TIE AROUND
SHROUD
LANYARD
LOOKING
OUTBOARD
REEVING THE LANYARDS
TWISTED WIRE
JIG TO HOLD
DEADEYES
AT CORRECT
SPACING
FIG. 8-4 UPPER DEADEYE SEIZING
SHORT END
ALWAYS ON
LEFT SIDE
WHEN LOOKING
INBOARD
SHROUD
SEIZE
SEIZE
SEIZE
DEADEYE
LOOKING INBOARD
