33
Stage 9:
Installing Running Rigging
As noted earlier, even if this model is to
be rigged without sails, it was common to
leave many of the lines for handling the
sails in place, obviously including their
blocks. Having some running rigging on
the model enhances its authenticity and
appearance, so the more lines the better.
Also, there will be some eyebolts and
cleats on the model that are not used
because of the sail omission.
Seize blocks in place before adding rig-
ging. Although the rigging sequence isn’t
critical, starting at the bow and working
aft is recommended. Do the fore and aft
sail rigs first, then add the square sail rig.
Plan Sheet 4 has a suggested belaying plan
for belaying all lines. However, there are
no hard and fast rules where to belay. Feel
free to modify any belaying point if you
feel a line runs better to another point.
All the standing rigging was installed
using Plan Sheet 5. Plan Sheets 6 and 7
show all the running rigging lines and
their blocks and where they are attached
to any standing rigging.
If you have not done so already, install all
the cleats necessary for belaying running
rigging. The cleats are britannia castings.
Cleats for the deck and spars have a pin
molded into the bottom of the cleat. Set
these cleats in a drilled hole with a touch of
super glue or epoxy. Cleats on the shrouds
have a flange at the bottom. Secure these to
the shrouds with glue and thread.
1. Fore Staysail, Jib, and Flying Jib
These three sails, called headsails, would
have a halliard tackle at the head and a
downhaul that would also be attached to
the head and run down to the bowsprit or
jibboom, where it goes through a block
and back to belay on the ship. The sails
would also have port and starboard sheets.
For the model without head sails, it is
assumed the sheets are removed with the
sails and only the halliards and downhauls
remain. The eyebolts and cleats for the
sheets will be unused. When rigged, locate
the lower halliard block (or just the halliard
for flying jib) down near the bowsprit/jib-
boom close to the downhaul block. Belay
the downhaul lines to the cleats at the bow
as shown on the belaying plan. The head-
sail halliards belay to cleats on the mast.
The fore staysail halliard and jib halliard
blocks are seized to the throat of the
stays. The flying jib halliard block is
seized around the topmast head.
Figure
9-1
shows the entire rig for the jib. The
other two sail rigs are similar, as shown
on the plans.
Rigging with head sails:
If the sails are
added, you will need to include the
sheets. Eyebolts and cleats are already
FIG. 9-1 RIGGING THE JIB HALLIARD AND DOWNHAUL WITHOUT SAIL
MASTHEAD
JIBSTAY
SEIZE SINGLE BLOCK TO JIBSTAY – PORTSIDE
SINGLE BLOCKS
HITCH DOWNHAUL TO
HALLIARD BLOCK
SEIZE DOWNHAUL
BLOCK TO JIB STAY
BOWSPRIT
DOWNHAUL
BELAY LINES PER
BELAYING PLAN
HALLIARD
FIG. 9-2 RIGGING WITH A JIB SAIL
HALLIARD
DOWNHAUL
JIB
SINGLE BLOCK
P/S
SHEET ON OTHER
SIDE OVER TOP
OF FORESTAY
SHEET P/S
EYEBOLT IN RAIL P/S
ADD HANKS – A SPLIT
BRASS RING IS
RECOMMENDED
JIBSTAY
FIG.9-3 RIGGING THE GAFF PEAK HALLIARDS
MASTCAP
STOP CHOCK
FORWARD
DOUBLE BLOCK
SEIZE
DOUBLE BLOCK
BELAY TO RIDING
BITT RAIL
EYEBOLT IN DECK –
STARBOARD SIDE
OF MAST
SINGLE BLOCK
JIG TACKLE
GAFF
STOP
CHOCK
SINGLE
BLOCK
EYESPLICE
PEAK HALLIARD
