Constitution - All Sails Up and FlyingIt was 1989 when I started building a large 1/4"= 1 foot scale model of Constitution and today, 16 years and 18,000 hours later, I honestly believe this is how she was rigged during her last chase, exactly one hour prior to her last battle against the British HMS Levant and HMS Cyane. I had already invested more than four thousand hours in the construction of this model, and had intended, upon completion of the hull, to proceed with the stepping of masts and rigging her just as I had done previously on other models. However, In February 1992, when Commander Martin presented me with an original typescript of Midshipman Edward Clifford Anderson's notes on the rigging of the ship in 1834-35 at Boston, the earliest such specific information known, I decided I would follow Midshipman Anderson's directions and record the progress, step by step, discovering for myself what was done and how. This meant creating additional scaled parts relating to sheer poles, etc. to simulate exactly how the masts and the bowsprit, etc. were stepped in this era, and for this reason. Due to the equipment available today, and rightfully so, I do not believe that Constitution, or any ship's from this era, will ever again be rigged, including the stepping of the masts, using sheer poles and tackle only, and so I chose, while this one and only opportunity lent itself, to show this pictorially. |
Contents
HAWSERLAID SHROUDLAID AND CABLELAID SPLICES AND KNOTS HITCHES AND BENDS | 19 |
STEPPING THE LOWER MASTS | 38 |
SECTION RIG THE FORE BUMKINS | 56 |
RIG THE LOWER MASTS | 67 |
JIBBOOM | 88 |
RIG AND SWAY UP THE LOWER | 107 |
RIG THE DAVITS AND STOW THE BOATS | 130 |
ARMAMENT AND RIGGING OF GUNS 18121815 | 138 |
TOPSAIL | 172 |
MAKE AND BEND THE MIZZEN | 194 |
SAILS | 210 |
19 | 221 |
58 | 227 |
INDEX TO RIGGING DRAWINGS | 238 |
67 | 239 |
DIMENSIONS OF CONSTITUTIONS SAILS 18241825 | 246 |
Common terms and phrases
alike backstays belay to pin belays bight block lashed block seized bowline bowsprit braces Brady Ref Brady Ref.36 brails bridle bulwark pinrail buntline catharpins cleat clinched Constitution cringle crosstree davits deadeyes deck diameter double block downhaul Excerpt eyebolt fairlead fall belaying fall leading fore and main fore fiferail fore topgallant fore topmast foretop futtock staff gaff grommet halliard handrail hanks haul head hitched hooked Hull model jib boom laniard leading block leech lifts lower yard MAIN TOPGALLANT main topmast mainmast masthead mizzen top MIZZEN TOPGALLANT outboard end outer pair to port pair to starboard parcel and serve peak cringle pendant preventer stay quarter blocks rigging rope rove ROYAL SAIL sheave sheave hole ship skysails spritsail squaring staff STAYSAIL strap studding booms studding sail studdingsail Sway tack tackle taut topgallant mast TOPGALLANT SAIL TOPGALLANT STUDDING topmast shrouds topmast stay topsail yard U.S. Navy width yardarm