Above you see the fore mast raised successfully ! Even with a semi secure base plate. Below, the side view and right, the scale model.
The whole assembly was quite unwieldy as we haven’t tightened all the bolts yet. Remember the unforgiving welds ? Yes. So do I. The bolts allow for a lot of adjustment. With that said, the second most important part, the gaff and it’s bracket, can slide up and down the mast freely. That allows me to adjust the perfect curve in the foresail. The weight of the topsail helps bow the steel without applying heat which could distort the curve. In my previous update that foresail was bowing the opposite way. Just think of a sail in the wind… this one has captured its breeze.
Back to the technicals, the brackets holding the boom and gaff are not permanently attached yet. Their position will be at a 90 degree angle to the front and back cover on the base pipe. That will allow the sails to swing out perpendicularly in the event of a storm contingency deployment or, “fold it down! there’s a storm comin’!” mode.
Next, we add the bowsprit, the jumbo and the jibs.
The bowsprit serves double duty. Not only is it an integral part of the design, it acts as a lever to raise and lower the mast.
The jumbo is a cross between the topsails and the foresail. It attaches to a boom on the bottom with “straps” but “hooks” on top, like the topsail.
The first jib is assembled to look like it’s floating, sort of.
Below is a sheet of steel (Yes. It does cost more these days) with the Jumbo and the top Jib drawn out.
And, a not-a-plasma torch.
Above, the jumbo cut out and below, the jib, cut out with he acetylene torch.
This is just a little before and after of the cut edges on the jumbo sail.
And, then it rained…
