This will result in a nicely tapered yard with a very smooth outer skin. This is shown in the exagerrated drawing. I now set to making the hardware. At my favorite scrap-steel yard, I had previously located some steel pipe with a 4 inch internal diameter. With this saddle, which goes above the highest hoist of the gaff jaws, the entire course yard can be easily lowered to the deck in extreme weather.
Toad also carries a raffee above the course.
The coupling is cut into two pieces and tabs welded to the sides in order to cramp the bands to the mast. These are not cramped very tightly, but instead are cramped snugly and rest on the bolster.