Page 280 - Brion Toss - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

tackle to keep things from fouling; and go to the board. With a copy of the standing rigging list to
next line. hand, begin attaching the pieces starting with the
Cut gantlines, topsail, and staysail halyards to lowers and working up, checking each piece off
the get-someone-out-of-the-water rule. the list as you go. If the mast is tanged, see that
If you’re rigging with manila, which shrinks the clevis pins fit cleanly and are the right length.
when wet, allow enough length for shrinkage. Lines If it’s a spliced rig, be sure the thimbles are set well
that see an extraordinary amount of chafe, such as down on the pin or shackle, with no foul leads. Seize
the foresail vang on some gaff schooners, can do and cotter as you go. With a soft-eye rig, remem-
with extra length for shortening up. If a line leads ber to put on the starboard eye of any pair first and
to the cockpit or to the end of the bowsprit, pace off to seat and lead the eyes as well as you can on the
the distance away from the mast to get the required ground. Attach any spreaders or struts and seize-in
length. On a topping lift for a 14-foot boom, for their wires, lightly, so you can adjust angle and
instance, reeve the end through the block on the tension later. Uncoil the pieces, either after they’re
mast and walk with the end to a point 14 feet out all attached or as you go. Pull them out so they’re
from the gooseneck or boom saddle. Lead the stand- not sagging too much, and lash them to the mast
ing part to its belay point and cut. at gooseneck height. See that all pieces will lead
With any type of rig, keep leads from fouling fair; it’s easy, for example, to thread a backstay or
with other pieces of running rigging. See that the a halyard between an upper shroud and a spreader,
right-diameter rope gets into the right blocks. Leave necessitating a trip aloft to clear it before it can be
the sheets and other low lines until the stepping is set up. Is everything checked off? Good. Examine all
done. When everything else is rove, it’s time to splice attachments once more, and remove the tags.
or whip all ends. Because this is so time-consuming, You’re nearly ready for the pick now, but before
it’s best done before the launching. Splicing parties everyone gets geared up, take note of the wind: More
are great places to teach and learn different tech- than 10 to 15 knots of it can make a mast very diffi-
niques, to socialize, and to become familiar with the cult to handle in transit. If it’s blowing, wait.
gear. Unfortunately, most mast dressings seem to
take place with the crane operator fuming at you, the STEPPING THE
tide cresting, and an expectant crowd looking over KEEL-STEPPED MAST
your shoulder. And no matter how fast you splice or
whip, to others you will look slow and contemplative. For anything bigger than a Whitehall, use hoisting
So if time is short, have good help on hand, assign gear to step the mast. A raising-of-the-flag-at-Iwo-
them specific tasks, and keep them out of each oth- Jima routine is dramatic and emotionally satisfying
er’s way. The priority is lines that dead-end aloft. If when it works, but presents too many opportunities
time is very short, just do the ends you won’t be able for things to go wrong (picture the butt skidding
to reach from deck. If there’s no time, reconcile your- across your pristine foredeck, or the mast falling
self to the prospect of some time in the bosun’s chair. onto hapless guests), and in any event is always
With a lashing or lashings, make the running rig harder than letting pulleys do the work.
off to the mast. The size of the mast and the availability of
equipment and personnel will determine the exact
Standing Rigging form and size of the gear you use. Block and tackle
The standing rigging goes on second because it has of three to seven parts can be hung from beams,
to come loose first, to belay the mast before the yards, bridges, docks, etc. Given strong attachment
crane lets go. and tailing points, you can pick all but the largest
Lay the standing-rigging coils on the ground at masts without a crane. On the other hand, this sys-
appropriate points along the mast, port and star- tem only works if the boat is directly under the gear

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