Mast Mounts & Steps
In the case of "schooners" they are typically 2-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel with a foremast and a mainmast stepped nearly amidships. Typically 2-masted fore-and-aft rigged vessel with a foremast and a mainmast stepped nearly amidships
The following are some images of 1800's wood "schooners" (and a few other types) showing the main deck and the mast. Note the variation in how the "step" differs. The "step" is a framework that allows the mast to "penetrate" the main deck to the lower portions of the ship where the mast is fastened and secured. See some of the ship drawings showing how and where various masts penetrate the main deck and how far below deck they penetrate before being secured.
The following are some images of 1800's wood "schooners" (and a few other types) showing the main deck and the mast. Note the variation in how the "step" differs. The "step" is a framework that allows the mast to "penetrate" the main deck to the lower portions of the ship where the mast is fastened and secured. See some of the ship drawings showing how and where various masts penetrate the main deck and how far below deck they penetrate before being secured.
Main Mast Rigging
If you noted carefully above all masts support a pleura of rigging! This rigging consists of "lines" (not rope ... see "Ship Terms" and more specifically standing rigging & running rigging (again, see "Ship Terms").
A SHROUD is a set of cables or ropes . The main purpose of this structure is to create pressure lines on each side of the boat mast, holding the pole(s) tight.
Such a cable usually connects the mast/pole to the gunwale, but some models utilize channels to transfer the linking points. A channel, therefore, is an additional structure attached near the gunwales to create a panel for shroud joins.
To understand the concept of shrouds (aka sidestays) you must get to know the ship rigging. Vessels use systems of lines, ropes, and/or links to stabilize masts and sails. These systems are called rigging and sidestays are a member of them, being an arrangement of ropes to balance out the sheet holding pole(s).
So, rigging is a general term referring to all the cable structures balancing out specific components on the deck. That’s while the term shroud points out a particular member of the rigging system, specialized in cleaving to the masts/poles.
Understanding how the shroud & riggings works can sometimes be valuable in determining the location and the number of masts on a old degraded shipwreck. Specifically, looking for the location of rigging and sidestays along with perhaps the debris of the mast step can help in the shipwreck's ID. Here are some images that may be helpful in understanding these concepts:
A SHROUD is a set of cables or ropes . The main purpose of this structure is to create pressure lines on each side of the boat mast, holding the pole(s) tight.
Such a cable usually connects the mast/pole to the gunwale, but some models utilize channels to transfer the linking points. A channel, therefore, is an additional structure attached near the gunwales to create a panel for shroud joins.
To understand the concept of shrouds (aka sidestays) you must get to know the ship rigging. Vessels use systems of lines, ropes, and/or links to stabilize masts and sails. These systems are called rigging and sidestays are a member of them, being an arrangement of ropes to balance out the sheet holding pole(s).
So, rigging is a general term referring to all the cable structures balancing out specific components on the deck. That’s while the term shroud points out a particular member of the rigging system, specialized in cleaving to the masts/poles.
Understanding how the shroud & riggings works can sometimes be valuable in determining the location and the number of masts on a old degraded shipwreck. Specifically, looking for the location of rigging and sidestays along with perhaps the debris of the mast step can help in the shipwreck's ID. Here are some images that may be helpful in understanding these concepts:
On 1700 & 1800 woodend sail vessels there were many variations of masts & mast rigging. Knowing how many and where can be a useful tool in identifing an old shipwreck.