Page 323 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Figure 8-6. Sojourner Truth’s mizzenmast has a light
section, a long unsupported length below the spread-
Figure 8-5. Nabob’s mizzen is a heavily and redun- ers, and is deck-stepped. The result is an excessively
dantly rigged mast suited for serious cruising. The flexible lower section. “X-spreaders” on the lower
two sets of lower shrouds are complemented by shrouds are an attempt to shorten the unsupported
two sets of uppers, one leading over the spreaders length. Together with careful tuning, this stabilizes
and the other led aft to serve both as backup and the mast somewhat.
backstays. The radar bracket doubles as a strut for
the jumper stays. A lower springstay (just above That leaves the main backstay. It has an antenna
the radar) holds the mast forward, while an upper on it, too (note insulator). But it’s of interest to us
springstay functions as an antenna. The vertical because it splits into two legs just below the radar.
wire between the springstays is also an antenna leg.
This is the standard contemporary method of getting
the main backstay past the mizzenmast. It leaves an
forward by the springstay. Tricky, but it gets the uncluttered area directly behind the mizzen, allow-
job done. ing for an aft cabin on this boat, and splits the back-
There’s also an upper springstay at the mast- stay load between the sides of the hull.
head, but this is solely a place to hang an antenna. You’ll sometimes see two entirely indepen-
Same with the vertical wire connecting upper and dent backstays in lieu of this arrangement. They
lower springstays. The owner is into electronics. make for more weight and windage, are usually

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