page_title: Masting sheer
hierarchical_section_title: Masting sheer
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Mise en place d'un mât dans un port au XVIIIè siècle. Image extraite de Recueil de toutes sortes de machines, d'outils, et d'ustensiles en usages pour la construction et carenne des vaisseaux, et de tout ce qui a raport à leurs armements dans un arsenal de marine. Pr[emie]re partie par Deslongchamps l'ainé, lieutenant des vaisseaux du Roy et du port de Brest en 1763. Plans des hunes, des barres d'hunes, chuquets, barres de peroquet et autres pièces concernant la construction de la mature des vaisseaux 1767. Manuscrit numérisé de la bibliothèque municipale de Brest, France.
context_page_description: A masting sheer, sheers, shears or masting crane is a specialised shipyard crane, intended for placing tall masts onto large sailing ships. "Sheers" is an old name for a fixed crane formed by one or two wooden beams, fixed at the base and supported by ropes.
  Ancient sailing ships did not require sheers to erect their masts, as they could be lifted into place by ropes and allowed to pivot around their feet. As ships became larger, their larger and heavier masts were no longer able to be handled in this way. A crane was needed, tall enough to lift the entire mast vertically and then lower it into the ship. By the 18th century, such sheers were a necessity in any large shipyard.
  As sheers are not required to move, they were often constructed as masonry towers, with wooden jib structures atop them. Few have survived intact, but some of the towers remain, having now lost their jibs.
  In the late 19th century, the increasing size and capacity of general harbour cranes began to overlap with the lofty but lightweight masting sheer and so their specialisation was no longer required.
context_section_description: A masting sheer, sheers, shears or masting crane is a specialised shipyard crane, intended for placing tall masts onto large sailing ships. "Sheers" is an old name for a fixed crane formed by one or two wooden beams, fixed at the base and supported by ropes.
  Ancient sailing ships did not require sheers to erect their masts, as they could be lifted into place by ropes and allowed to pivot around their feet. As ships became larger, their larger and heavier masts were no longer able to be handled in this way. A crane was needed, tall enough to lift the entire mast vertically and then lower it into the ship. By the 18th century, such sheers were a necessity in any large shipyard. 
  As sheers are not required to move, they were often constructed as masonry towers, with wooden jib structures atop them. Few have survived intact, but some of the towers remain, having now lost their jibs.
  In the late 19th century, the increasing size and capacity of general harbour cranes began to overlap with the lofty but lightweight masting sheer and so their specialisation was no longer required.
caption: 18th century French masting sheer, with treadwheel crane
exif: {}