Fore topgallant mast, half the length of the fore topmast, exclusive of the pole, which is half the length of the topgallant

mast.

Mizen topmast, three fifths of the mizenmast.

Mizen topgallant mast, half the length of the mizen topmast, and the pole half the length of the topgallant mast.

Jib-boom, the length of the bowsprit, two thirds of which length is rigged without the bowsprit cap.

Main yard, twice the ship's extreme breadth.
Main topsail yard, two thirds of the main yard.
Main topgallant yard, two thirds of the main topsail yard.
Fore yard, seven eighths of the main yard.

Fore topsail yard, two thirds of the fore yard.

Fore topgallant yard, two thirds of the fore topsail yard. Royal yards, two thirds of the length of their respective topgallant yards.*

Crossjack yard, same length as the main topsail yard.

Mizen topsail yard, the same length as the main topgallant yard.

Mizen topgallant yard, two thirds of the mizen topsail yard. Spritsail yard, five sixths of the fore topsail yard.

REMARK.-Some have the spritsail yard the length of the fore topsail yard, or nearly so. If it should be much shorter, the jib sheets will chafe against the spritsail braces.

Spanker boom, the length of the main topsail yard. It is, however made, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, according to fancy.

Mizen gaff, two thirds of the spanker boom. Liable to the same variation.

THICKNESS OF SPARS.

Musts. It has been customary to allow for every three feet of the mainmast's length one inch of diameter in the partners: and for every inch of diameter at the partners, nine tenths of an inch of diameter in the middle, between the partners and the extremity of the head, and the two thirds under the hounds, and all other masts in the same proportion; and with these proportions masts have been usually made. I am, however, of opinion, that one and a quarter inch of diameter in the partners for every three feet of length is much better.

Yards.-For every four feet of their length allow one inch of diameter in the slings, and half that diameter within the squares, at the yard arm.

BREADTH OF TOPS.

Main top, half the ship's beam.

Fore top eight ninths of the main top.

These dimensions of the yards include the yard arms.

Rule for Placing Masts in a Ship.

Take the ship's length, from the after part of the stem to the fore part of the sternpost, and divide it into sevenths. Place the foremost one seventh of this length from the stem; the mainmast three sevenths from the foremast; the mizen mast two sevenths from the mainmast; and then there will be one seventh distance between the mizen mast and the sternpost.This rule is for a full built ship. It must therefore be varied when applied to vessels that are sharp, and the stem and sternposts of which rake. The foremast must accordingly be placed further aft, the mizen mast further forward, and the distance between the masts proportionably regulated.

Anchors.

In regulating the necessary weights of the anchors, five hundred pounds is allowed for every hundred tons of a ship's measurement, for a merchant vessel. Ships above five hundred tons do not, however require so great a proportion.

The anchor stock must be the length of the shank and half the diameter of the ring, and for thickness, one inch is allowed in the middle to each foot in length, and reduced to half that at the ends.

The channels of a vessel ought to be placed so that the foremost dead-eye be either abreast of the mast, or a little more aft. By this means the foremost catharpins will be prevented from binding against the mast.

Cables and Cordage.

The necessary size of cables is thus ascertained:-for each foot of half the extreme breadth of the ship's beam, allow one inch of circumference for the best bower cable, and for the smaller bower, something less. Thus a ship of thirty-two feet beam will require a sixteen inch cable, &c. &c.

To Cut and Fit Standing and Running Rigging.

The annexed plate represents a ship with the yards hoisted up. From this representation a scale of any ship may be made, by which the running rigging may be cut to its proper length, before it is rove, and also by which a gang of standing rigging may be cut. Make a scale of any convenient proportion, say one tenth of an inch to a foot. Then take the lengths of the spars, and proportion them to this scale; by which means the length of a rope may be measured, and also the dimensions of

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To Cut and Fit Rigging.

345

the sails, and the number of yards of canvas ascertained, in any sail.

How to Cut and Fit a Gang of Lower Rigging.

When cutting the shrouds, according to the scale, proper allowance must be made for their rising one above another on the mast-head. The shroud is put on a stretch, and the worming laid into the lay of the rope, while the rope is a little slack; the shroud must then be bowsed taught, the parsling put on with the lay, and the spunyarn put on against the lay. When serving, your left side ought to be kept next to the rope, so that you must serve a hawser-laid. rope towards you, that is, you must walk backwards. The shrouds must be parsled and served two feet below the catharpings. The foremost shroud, of both fore and main rigging, and also the after mizen shroud, must be served quite down to the dead-eyes. The forward and after shroud of the main rigging of a brig, which carries a square mainsail, must be served quite down to the dead eyes. The lower shrouds are generally wormed in the wake of the eyes, with 4, 5 or 6 yarn spunyarn, it not being so liable to cut, when the eyes of the rigging lay upon each other. The other part of the shrouds is wormed with small line. All the eyes of the shrouds must be seized of equal length; so that, by one shroud rising above another on the mast-head, the seizings will rise one above another also; and therefore be less liable to chafe against each other, than otherwise. The collar of the stay must be of such a length as will not allow the foot of the topsail to reach the mousing, when flapping. When the leather is sewed on the eye or collar of the stay, the seam must be underneath. The stay must be parsled and served about three feet below the mousing, and also in the wake of the main topmast staysail sheets, and on the fore stay, in the wake of the jib sheet. After the masthead is tarred, and the trustle-trees put on the masthead, the bolsters must be put on, having several thicknesses of canvas, well tarred. The topmast should be hung so as to have its mast-head two or three feet above the lower mast-head, and the girtline block lashed on the topmast head. In this way the shrouds may be put over the mast-head with ease. board shroud is the first put over the mast-head, and the rest in succession; and of course the starboard shroud must be the first that is set up, and the rest in succession, as they have been put over the mast-head. The stay should be kept above the eyes of the rigging, and set up, until the shrouds are set up, as otherwise the collar of the stay might prevent the rigging from settling on the mast-head. After which, the eye of the stay must be laid over the back of the rigging, and the stay set up;

The star