Page 163 - Nicolaes Witsen & Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age

(258 II 4) As for the Tops, they are to hold the masts steady, for which the shrouds are fastened to it at ei- ther side; and also to provide room for the seamen, on which to stand , when they have something to do up there.
The tops are covered with lambskins, for the chaf- ing of sail and ropes.
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(62 II 8) Tops are the round gar lands that lie above around the masts, and on w hich one can stand; made to attach ropes to, and save sails from, etc.
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(274 II 24 ) Underneath the bowsprit top there are clamps, well studded with iron, to support the top.
Aroundthetopshoopsaredrawn,bands,ser ving for the stability of the sailors, w ho have to perform much work on the mast tops; and without these, would easily fall down. Forward they are the lowest, topreventthecha ngofthesailandropes;forwhich it is also hung with servings.
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(95 II 1) The shape of a top is shown in the plate N o. 20 [fig. 2.196]. Most ships have a top to one mast only, but some have two; and that w hen the topgallan t masts are raised, for which the top is also carried on board; around tops of large ships often a railing can be seen, half a man’s height.
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(95 I 47 ) The top has a number of holes, through which ropes pass, w hich expediently are sheathed with iron. But, to arrive at the width of the main top, for every 10 feet of the length of the ship 9 inches are taken.
Figure 2.195.
Mast cap, top, parrel.
How Ships Are Built in Holland Today
(95 I 36) About the Tops.
Our main Top is 10 feet in diameter . The foretop 9
feet.Theothermasttops41⁄2 feet,onthedecking,and thick 2 inches, broad 26 inch es. The knees are broad 4 inches, thick 21⁄2 inches, 14 knees lie on the oor. The capping, broad 5 inches, also rises as much above the
oor, thick 21⁄2 inches. The edges broad 31⁄2 inches, thick 1⁄4 inch.Thedecking31⁄2 inchesthick,thedeadeyesto the mast top are 11 inches, also 7 and 8 inches.
(95 II 10) The main mast cap, is long 3 feet, 1 1⁄2 inches, and broad 2 feet, high 14 inches. The foremast cap,long21⁄2 feet,broad211⁄2 inches,high121⁄2 inches. That of the mizzen, main topmast, and bowsprit, long 16 inches, broad 12 inch es, thick 7 inches; that on the fore topmast and main-topgallant mast, long 14 inches, broad 1 foot, high 6 1⁄2 inches; on the agpole 12 inches, on the spritsail topsail 9 inches.
Figure 2.196.
(left) Plate XXXVI. (below) Plate XLI
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