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Author Topic: What type & what rigging  (Read 3799 times)

martinthefirst

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What type & what rigging
« on: July 05, 2018, 08:20:04 am »

I have had this model 60 years, it was found in a house my parents bought from a ships carpenter. I have always wanted to attach some rigging but have no idea what type of vessel it is or the appropriate sail configuration . Can someone advise? Thanks.
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tigertiger

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2018, 09:48:30 am »

Without seeing it in detail, I would guess it was gaff rigged.
both of the booms are for the mainsail, top and bottom.
You have have had a bowsprit fitted, the skinny one, and it looks like it pushes into the bow. the foresail would be run up the forestay from the bow to the mast. On the bowsprit there would also have been a jib, like in the picture.
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Brian60

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2018, 10:06:41 am »

This suggests a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter I include a couple of drawings. There is plenty of info available on Google is you search for that term. Also a Facebook page dedicated to Bristol channel pilot cutters (yes I'm on there as well)

tigertiger

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2018, 10:09:19 am »

Looking at your photo, your standing rigging might look like this. Shown in red.
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tigertiger

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2018, 10:48:19 am »

If this was made by a local carpenter, it might help to know what part of the country you are in. It could be a Lancashire Nobby, or Morecambe Bay Prawner, if you are from that part of the world. But there are other regional variations like the Bristol Pilot Cutter.
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martinthefirst

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2018, 01:03:23 pm »

Thanks all, that has given me something to go on.


The house where the model was found was in SE London (Forest Hill), but I have no idea where the carpenter plied his trade. I was 4 years old at the time, but for some reason I remember his name, Mr Blows, quite appropriate. I also member the workshop he had built , the bench was made of solid 2 inch thick mahogany boards. about 4 feet deep and the length of the house long. When my parents moved, I wanted to salvage the boards but didn't <:(


Martin



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tigertiger

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2018, 02:36:05 pm »


East coast shrimping smack, or Colchester oyster smack, perhaps. Lots of images online if you do a Google images search.
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martinthefirst

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2018, 03:18:09 pm »

Thanks again,


Yes,  Colchester Smack images seem to fit the bill perfectly. Now I don't suppose there is anywhere to purchase suitable sails? I can make up the masts, boom and whatnot (you can tell I know nothing about ship rigging terms), but I am rubbish with a sewing machine.


Martin
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tigertiger

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2018, 04:06:56 pm »

I have seen adverts for making cotton model sails and I think people are looking for 200-300 quid for a set. Cotton sails will look better than any synthetic. You can use bed sheet, and then wash it to pre-shrink the cotton. You could also use more expensive Egyptian cotton from a model making supplier.
There is lots of stuff about making sails and how to choose the best direction/orientation for cutting (relates to the weft and weave, the direction of the threads) it sounds more complex than it is (NB only really important if you are going to make this a working model).  I would then cut a paper template of finished sail area, and then take the whole lot to a local seamstress (or find someone with a sewing machine who want to earn a few bob, and ask them to do it. They will hem all of the edges and make it nice. As you are in London, there are fashion design students who will maybe have more time for a little job like this.
Any seems that would be in a real sail can be mimicked with a line of stitches, or even a pencil.
Once the sails are made you can sew a bolt rope around the sail yourself, it does not take long, or get your sewing person to do it for you. Again, lots of instruction on line for this. Loops in the bolt rope can be used for attaching your running rigging, you don't need to worry about using grommets and eyelets.
I made a set of sails myself, did the sewing and made a mess of it. Next time I will make the cutting patterns from paper, and ask someone else. The bolt ropes I did myself and they are OK.


If you are going to put her on the water, once the sails are made, you can buy water proofing fluid designed for cotton jackets, and that will stop the tendency to rot. This can be purchased in outdoor sports shops. I got mine in either Blacks or Millet's.
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SailorGreg

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #9 on: July 05, 2018, 05:11:36 pm »

Or, if you are intending to make a display piece of this and are happy to spend a bit on professionally made sails, you could do a lot worse than contact Frank Parsons at Nylet - www.nylet.co.uk - as he specialises in sails for vintage and pond yachts.  You will need to give him the dimensions of the sails you need, and the material you want them made from, but then he will do the rest.  (I have some of his sails and can vouch for the quality, although they are more modern in style than those you need.)  A quick chat with Frank or even a quick cruise around the website should help clarify your current uncertainty.
Good luck
Greg

martinthefirst

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #10 on: July 07, 2018, 11:03:03 am »

Thanks All. I have a friend who is a good seamstress so I will make paper templates and ask her to make up the sails. I think this will be  A project for the winter months. I will hopefully post a picture of the completed model in due course.
Martin
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tigertiger

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #11 on: July 07, 2018, 01:12:21 pm »

I look forward to that. :-))
Don't forget to come back with any other questions about your restoration.
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martinthefirst

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2022, 02:10:52 pm »

Well 4 and a bit years later I have started on this project. I have attached a few pictures and you can see my progress so far (which I am making up as I go along). My question is are the brass eyes that I have screwed into the (temporary) mast suitable for the mast to the gunwale stays or is there a better way?, I was thinking maybe drill through the mast and form hooks with a wire through. Thanks in advance
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tigertiger

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2022, 03:25:10 pm »

On my Victor Models kit, the static rigging is attached using brass split/cotter pins, that have been inserted into drill holes in the masts and booms.The fitting is vern snug. They can be snipped to length after being fitted. If you want to insert one on either side, you will need to either off set them or snip to length before inserting.
However, the mast on the model is keel stepped, and it runs through a deck, and so there is little tension on the mounting points. Although as the tension forces will not be horizontal, this may not be an issue. If this is going to stay as a standing model (does not go on the water) then there are no major forces to worry about.

I cannot remember the size of cotter pin, but the hole in the top of the pin was just wide enough to run the rigging lines through.
The running rigging ran through screw eyes, like the ones in your picture.
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martinthefirst

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2022, 03:46:09 pm »

Thanks for your comprehensive reply, I had not thought of split pins, and I have an antique box of mixed ones to hand.
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roycv

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2022, 04:02:29 pm »

Hi when you cut the sails out from the cloth make sure that the longest side of each sail is lined up with the selvedge of the cloth.  That is the place where the cloth does not stretch.

When you cut the bottom corner of the main sail where the boom connects to the mast (gooseneck) this is not a right angle.  It is a bit less and makes all the difference to how the sail hangs.

I usually set the gaff at 45 degrees to the mast.
Good luck
Roy
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martinthefirst

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2022, 05:50:42 pm »

Thank you, I will bear that in mind.
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Circlip

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #17 on: November 25, 2022, 11:51:30 am »

What about a ring like the main boom fitting with eyelets silver soldered on?


  Regards  Ian.
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martinthefirst

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Re: What type & what rigging
« Reply #18 on: Today at 02:31:36 pm »

Well the project is at last finished apart from lettering for name and reg. Only taken nearly 6 years (plus the other 60 I have had ownership). In the end I decided that rather than a replica, it would be an "objet d'art", giving me the excuse to take liberties, hence the sails are made from some scrap alloy sheet. I am quite happy with it , even the wife likes it! Thanks for everyone's help and advice.
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